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Why the Old Testament Matters: Brueggemann's Case for Holiness

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Abstract

This paper examines Walter Brueggemann's argument in "Why the Old Testament Must Not Go Away?" (2015) for the continued indispensability of the Old Testament in Christian faith. Drawing on Brueggemann's key concepts, the paper explores God's irreducible holiness as a multifaceted subject of scriptural discourse, the notion of divine agency expressed through active verbs, and the covenantal relationship between Yahweh and Israel. It also considers Brueggemann's warnings against idolatry and passivity, and his vision of new neighborly possibilities that transcend cultural and gender boundaries. Together, these themes illustrate why the Old Testament remains essential as a living witness to an active, relational God.

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What makes this paper effective

The paper closely follows Brueggemann's own conceptual vocabulary — terms like "irreducible otherness," "active verbs," "dialogic passion," and "new neighborliness" — grounding each paragraph in the source text rather than drifting into unsupported assertion.
Each thematic section builds logically on the previous one, moving from the nature of God's holiness, to God's agency, to covenant relationship, to warnings against idolatry, and finally to positive possibility — creating a coherent argumentative arc.
The paper consistently connects abstract theological claims to concrete Old Testament examples, such as the plagues in Exodus and the imagery of Psalms, giving the analysis textual grounding.

Key academic technique demonstrated

The paper demonstrates the technique of theological summary and synthesis: it accurately condenses a scholar's multi-part argument, identifies the key conceptual moves, and presents them in a structured sequence that reflects the original logic. This is a valuable skill in theology and religious studies courses where students must demonstrate comprehension of complex scholarly texts.

Structure breakdown

The paper opens by establishing the central claim — the Old Testament's indispensability — and then develops six interconnected themes drawn from Brueggemann's article: holiness, divine agency, covenant, the pro-life stance of Yahweh, the danger of idolatry and passivity, and the promise of new communal possibilities. Each section corresponds to a distinct concept from the source, and the paper closes by synthesizing how these ideas collectively justify preserving the Old Testament within Christian theological discourse.

Introduction: The Indispensability of the Old Testament

The God of the Old Testament is one that must not disappear from the minds of those who embrace the Christian faith. As Walter Brueggemann notes, "The Old Testament is indispensable…because it is a peculiar witness to elusive, irascible, multilayered, multivoiced holiness that can affect agency in the world" (Brueggemann, 2015, p. 263). It is in the Old Testament that God shows His presence not just in the sense of the beginning, but also the end. Brueggemann describes this inhabiting God as a keeper of the world as well as people's pretensions — penultimate and open — helping believers resist deadly idolatries that come packaged in the guise of something precious.

Holiness as the Irreducible Otherness of God

With regard to the term "holiness," Brueggemann invokes the concept of the irreducible otherness of God. This means that God supersedes and defies formulation, domestication, and morality in pathos and power. Through holiness, God becomes a multifaceted subject of scriptural discourse. It is therefore in the Old Testament that one can examine the infinitely indefinable holiness that is God. Through God's dispatching of both lying and true prophets, and the canceling of plagues and fire as seen in Exodus, the Old Testament provides glimpses of what normally cannot be witnessed outside the stories of the first five books of the Bible.

Divine Agency and Active Holiness in the World

When it comes to holiness affecting agency in the world, Brueggemann states that this God is "the subject of active verbs" (Brueggemann, 2015, p. 265). Specifically, agency exists within a frequently descriptive rather than merely declarative specificity. Brueggemann offers examples: the Lord opens eyes, sets prisoners free, watches over the stranger, loves the righteous, and brings ruin to the wicked, as seen in Psalms. This reinforces the notion that the world is not an independent or closed initiative; rather, it is at the mercy of an active holiness. Divine agency, love, and forgiveness intertwine to form divine intervention.

3 Locked Sections · 280 words remaining

45% of this paper shown

Covenant, Dialogue, and the Relationship Between Yahweh and Israel · 110 words

"Covenant dynamics of freedom, clash, and commitment"

Idolatry, Passivity, and the Old Testament as Witness · 95 words

"Old Testament guards against idols and numbness"

New Venues and Neighborly Possibility · 75 words

"God creates new identity across cultural boundaries"

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Key Concepts in This Paper

Old Testament Divine Holiness Covenant Divine Agency Yahweh Idolatry Active Verbs Neighborliness Scriptural Witness Dialogic Passion