Here is D. A. Carson’s foreword to How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament: Twelve Steps from Exegesis to Theology:

FOREWORD

I HAVE A confession to make: by default, I am suspicious of books with titles like Ten Ways to Something-or-Other and Five Steps to Overcome This or That. So what shall I make of a book titled How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament: Twelve Steps from Exegesis to Theology? It sounds painfully mechanical, and good readers know full well that good reading cannot be broken down into a small number of “steps.” Such titles may reflect robust marketing strategy, but hype should not be confused with subtlety and rigor. Right?

Well, usually right. This outstanding book is the exception. Jason DeRouchie tackles an amazing range of material, and does so in an orderly fashion that never feels boxy or merely theoretical. Partly this is because he provides many, many concrete examples of Old Testament exegesis; partly it is because his work, while rigorous, never fails to arouse wonder and worship. This book doubtless demands the hard work of intellectual discipline, but it is more than an intellectual exercise.

Part of the reason for the book’s length turns on the fact that DeRouchie writes at a beginning level, an intermediate level, and an advanced level (the latter requiring a reasonable grasp of Hebrew), with all the sections of the book clearly marked. Many of the book’s features make it an admirable textbook; its biblical indexes will be worth consulting by anyone preaching or teaching from the Old Testament, to check out whether DeRouchie has something to say on any particular passage. He provides penetrating structural analysis of several Old Testament books, and probing exegesis of many passages.

The heart of this textbook, however, is its competent and up-to-date treatment of the elements that go into faithful exegesis: competent comprehension of literary genres, accurate treatment of clausal dependence on which so much structural analysis depends, text-critical decisions that must be made, word studies (both how to do them and how not to do them), and careful study of the historical and literary contexts in which any particular passage is embedded. Most of these elements, of course, are nowadays grouped under discourse analysis. But DeRouchie is not satisfied to stop there: he leads his readers to think through how to read Old Testament passages in a canonical context. Discourse analysis is wedded to biblical theology. Moving from Old Testament exegesis in an Old Testament matrix to an Old Testament exegesis in the context of the Christian Bible opens up a plethora of challenges. DeRouchie avoids the common mistakes and reductionisms, but still wants to remind his readers that the Old Testament books constituted the only Bible that Jesus had—and what he did with it has binding authority on those who confess him as Lord. And having gone so far, DeRouchie then reflects on what appropriate application looks like to contemporary Christians reading their Bibles.

All of this is packaged in twelve steps, complete with useful charts, symbols, thoughtful discussion questions, and other guides to make this an extraordinarily useful and reliable textbook. What this volume does not bother with is treatment of the so-called new (now aging) hermeneutic: the omission is a wise one.

It is a pleasure and a privilege to commend this book.

D. A. CARSON

RESEARCH PROFESSOR OF NEW TESTAMENT

TRINITY EVANGELICAL DIVINITY SCHOOL;

PRESIDENT AND COFOUNDER

THE GOSPEL COALITION

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Here is the full list of endorsers (listed in alphabetic order) for Jason DeRouchie’s book.

• William D. Barrick, Retired Professor of Old Testament, The Master’s Seminary; Old Testament Editor, Evangelical Commentary on the Old Testament
• Derek D. Bass, Assistant Professor of Old Testament Language and Literature, Tyndale Theological Seminary, The Netherlands
• John C. Beckman, Assistant Professor of Old Testament, Bethlehem College & Seminary
• Todd Bolen, Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, The Master’s College
• Ardel B. Caneday, Professor of New Testament and Greek, University of Northwestern—St. Paul
• Bryan Chapell, Pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church, Peoria, IL
• E. Ray Clendenen, Senior Editor of Bible and Reference Publishing, B&H Publishing Group
• C. John (“Jack”) Collins, Professor of Old Testament, Covenant Theological Seminary
• John C. Crutchfield, Professor of Bible, Columbia International University
• Stephen G. Dempster, Professor of Religious Studies, Crandall University, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
• Rodney K. Duke, Professor of Religion, Appalachian State University
• Daniel J. Estes, Distinguished Professor of Old Testament, Cedarville University
• Lee M. Fields, Professor of Bible, Mid-Atlantic Christian University
• William Fullilove, Assistant Professor of Old Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary
• Gloria Furman, Cross-Cultural Worker
• Duane A. Garrett, John R. Sampey Professor of Old Testament Interpretation, Professor of Biblical Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
• Peter J. Gentry, Donald L. Williams Professor of Old Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
• W. Edward Glenny, Professor of New Testament and Greek, University of Northwestern—St. Paul
• Graeme Goldsworthy, Former Lecturer in Old Testament, Biblical Theology, and Hermeneutics, Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia
• Michael A. Grisanti, Lead Professor of Old Testament and Director of the Th.M. Program, The Master’s Seminary
• Nancy Guthrie, Bible Teacher; Author, Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament Bible study series
• Michael A. Harbin, Professor of Biblical Studies and Chair of the Department of Biblical Studies, Christian Educational Ministries, and Philosophy, Taylor University
• Chip Hardy, Assistant Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
• J. Daniel Hays, Professor of Biblical Studies, Ouachita Baptist University
• Douglas S. Huffman, Professor and Associate Dean of Biblical and Theological Studies, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University
• Walter C. Kaiser Jr., President Emeritus, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
• Carol M. Kaminski, Professor of Old Testament, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
• Tom Kelby, President, Hands to the Plow Ministries; President, Alliance for Renewal Churches
• Jeremy M. Kimble, Assistant Professor of Theological Studies, Cedarville University
• Tremper Longman III, Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies, Westmont College
• Elmer A. Martens, President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Fresno Pacific University Biblical Seminary
• Kenneth A. Mathews, Professor of Divinity—Old Testament, Beeson Divinity School
• Benjamin L. Merkle, Professor of New Testament and Greek, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
• Eugene H. Merrill, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary
• J. Gary Millar, Principal and Lecturer in Old Testament, Biblical Theology, and Preaching, Queensland Theological College, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
• Douglas J. Moo, Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies, Wheaton College; Chair, NIV Committee on Bible Translation
• Christine Palmer, Adjunct Professor of Old Testament, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
• David Palmer, Adjunct Professor of New Testament, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; Senior Pastor, Kenwood Baptist Church, Cincinnati
• John Piper, Founder and Teacher, Desiring God; Chancellor and Professor of Biblical Exegesis, Bethlehem College & Seminary
• Robert L. Plummer, Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
• Gary D. Pratico, Retired Senior Professor of Old Testament, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
• Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Associate Dean, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Cochair, CSB Translation Oversight Committee
• Andrew Shead, Head of Department of Old Testament and Hebrew and Lecturer in Hebrew and Old Testament, Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia
• Gary V. Smith, Retired Professor of Christian Studies, Union University
• Sam Storms, Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision, Bridgeway Church, Oklahoma City; President, Enjoying God Ministries
• Douglas Stuart, Professor of Old Testament, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
• Heath A. Thomas, Dean, Herschel H. Hobbs College of Theology & Ministry, Professor of Old Testament, and Associate Vice President for Church Relations, Oklahoma Baptist University
• Kenneth J. Turner, Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, Toccoa Falls College
• Miles V. Van Pelt, Alan Belcher Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages, Director of the Summer Institute for Biblical Languages, and Academic Dean, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson
• Brian J. Vickers, Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Biblical Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Assistant Editor, The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
• Bruce K. Waltke, Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies, Regent College, Vancouver; Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Knox Theological Seminary
• Paul D. Wegner, Professor of Old Testament Studies and Director of Academic Graduate Studies Program, Gateway Seminary
• Stephen J. Wellum, Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Editor, The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
• Paul R. Williamson, Senior Lecturer in Old Testament, Hebrew, and Aramaic, Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia
• Fred G. Zaspel, Pastor, Reformed Baptist Church, Franconia, Pennsylvania; Executive Editor, Books at a Glance; Associate Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary