Holiness in the Old Testament

A Textual and Thematic Analysis

Author: Matt Ayars & John N. Oswalt

"You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." Leviticus 19:2

The holiness of God and Israel's call to be holy are arguably at the theological center of the theological vision of the Old Testament. Thus, a careful and thorough analysis and evaluation of the theme of holiness is critical for understanding both this God and this call.

In Holiness in the Old Testament, thirteen respected Old Testament scholars come together to provide a cohesive view of Scripture's testimony to the nature of holiness. They explore the historical and cultural context of the Hebrew terms related to holiness and aptly argue that any definition relating to God must include both his incommunicable and communicable attributes--those qualities that belong to him alone, such as his eternality and transcendence, and those qualities that he expects his people to emulate, such as his steadfast love and ethical purity.

Furthermore, the authors demonstrate that human holiness must be understood "not just as a response to God's holiness but as the restoration of the image of God in humanity--a key notion for the fulfillment of God's plans and purposes for the creation as a whole." By surveying the notion of holiness in each major section of the Old Testament and how this notion relates to other critical Old Testament theological themes, the authors provide a comprehensive biblical and theological study of Holiness in the Old Testament. The careful student will walk away with both a deeper understanding of their holy God and of their holy call.

Author:

Matt Ayars (PhD, University of Chester) is currently serving as the Lead Pastor of Wellspring Church in Madison, MS. Prior to pastoral ministry, Matt served as the President of Wesley Biblical Seminary and Emmaus University of Haiti. Matt is the author of several books, including a co-author of Holiness: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Theology.

John N. Oswalt (PhD, Brandeis University) is currently Visiting Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is the author of the two-volume commentary on Isaiah in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament. He has also written Called To Be Holy: A Biblical Perspective, which traces the concept of holiness through the Bible.

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