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God's Design, 4th Edition: A Focus on Old Testament Theology

Paperback |English |149821858X | 9781498218580

God's Design, 4th Edition: A Focus on Old Testament Theology

Paperback |English |149821858X | 9781498218580
Overview

How does one summarize the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament? How might one determine the message of the Old Testament with others? This book attempts an answer to these questions. The answer is taken from a single Scripture passage, Exodus 5:22-6:8, which is here considered a theological ""Table of Contents"" for the Old Testament. In addition to such topics as Deliverance, Community, and Experiencing God, the book has an extended discussion on ""Land,"" a subject which deals with a wide range of interests but which only rarely receives attention in books on biblical theology. The current edition features reflections and a set of discussion questions following each of the seventeen chapters--a boon for university and seminary teachers and students, and of large help for church study groups. ""Taking his cues from a key biblical text (Exodus 5:22-6:8), in God's Design, Elmer Martens has seized upon basic threads of biblical theology and woven them into a magnificent tapestry of divine grace and redemption encompassing the entire Bible. Through his careful exegesis of individual texts, judicious synthesis of fundamental theological concepts, and an engaging literary style, readers learn how the motifs of salvation, covenant, divine revelation, and land all play together in God's grand design of creation and redemption. Martens' presentation is neither overly technical nor esoteric; on the contrary, he often pauses to guide us in relating biblical theology to life. I am delighted that through the republication of this volume another generation of readers of Scripture will have ready access to his brilliant work."" --Daniel I. Block, Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College ""God's Design provides the best traits of a good Old Testament Theology: thematic focus on God and his work with his creation and his people; clear, concise writing by a veteran scholar; sound and irenic evangelical teaching; and a method that can be used by students, pastors, and scholars. Martens' wise, careful, and helpful volume deserves wide use. I am grateful for this fourth edition, and look forward to introducing my students to it."" --Paul House, Beeson Divinity School of Samford University ""Elmer Martens has captured the essential message of the Old Testament in God's Design. The diachronic presentation of key biblical themes illuminates the nuances and development of God's revelation. Each of the four main themes is complex and draws on the scholarship of many others in order to offer an informed theological perspective on the First Testament. The fourth edition intensifies the attention given to the contemporary relevance of the biblical message. God's Design is a logical sequel to Old Testament survey studies and an excellent textbook for college students."" --R. Jerome Boone, Professor of Old Testament and Christian Formation, Lee University ""Built around four rich themes, God's Design is a most stimulating and useful study of the coherence of Old Testament theology. Not only is it a good introductory textbook, but it has opened up for me new vistas on how to bridge between exegesis and systematic theology."" --Ian W. Payne, Principal and Head of Theology, South Asia Institute of Advanced Christians Studies (SAIACS) Elmer A. Martens is President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Fresno Pacific University Biblical Seminary (formerly Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary). In addition to Bible commentaries (e.g, Jeremiah), three of his many articles appear in his Festschrift edited by former student Jon Isaak, The Old Testament in the Life of God's People (2009). An active church member, he has taught internationally in twelve countries.
ISBN: 149821858X
ISBN13: 9781498218580
Author: Elmer A. Martens
Publisher: Wipf and Stock
Format: Paperback
PublicationDate: 2015-11-11
Language: English
Edition: 4th ed.
PageCount: 384
Dimensions: 6.0 x 0.87 x 9.0 inches
Weight: 18.4 ounces

How does one summarize the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament? How might one determine the message of the Old Testament with others? This book attempts an answer to these questions. The answer is taken from a single Scripture passage, Exodus 5:22-6:8, which is here considered a theological ""Table of Contents"" for the Old Testament. In addition to such topics as Deliverance, Community, and Experiencing God, the book has an extended discussion on ""Land,"" a subject which deals with a wide range of interests but which only rarely receives attention in books on biblical theology. The current edition features reflections and a set of discussion questions following each of the seventeen chapters--a boon for university and seminary teachers and students, and of large help for church study groups. ""Taking his cues from a key biblical text (Exodus 5:22-6:8), in God's Design, Elmer Martens has seized upon basic threads of biblical theology and woven them into a magnificent tapestry of divine grace and redemption encompassing the entire Bible. Through his careful exegesis of individual texts, judicious synthesis of fundamental theological concepts, and an engaging literary style, readers learn how the motifs of salvation, covenant, divine revelation, and land all play together in God's grand design of creation and redemption. Martens' presentation is neither overly technical nor esoteric; on the contrary, he often pauses to guide us in relating biblical theology to life. I am delighted that through the republication of this volume another generation of readers of Scripture will have ready access to his brilliant work."" --Daniel I. Block, Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College ""God's Design provides the best traits of a good Old Testament Theology: thematic focus on God and his work with his creation and his people; clear, concise writing by a veteran scholar; sound and irenic evangelical teaching; and a method that can be used by students, pastors, and scholars. Martens' wise, careful, and helpful volume deserves wide use. I am grateful for this fourth edition, and look forward to introducing my students to it."" --Paul House, Beeson Divinity School of Samford University ""Elmer Martens has captured the essential message of the Old Testament in God's Design. The diachronic presentation of key biblical themes illuminates the nuances and development of God's revelation. Each of the four main themes is complex and draws on the scholarship of many others in order to offer an informed theological perspective on the First Testament. The fourth edition intensifies the attention given to the contemporary relevance of the biblical message. God's Design is a logical sequel to Old Testament survey studies and an excellent textbook for college students."" --R. Jerome Boone, Professor of Old Testament and Christian Formation, Lee University ""Built around four rich themes, God's Design is a most stimulating and useful study of the coherence of Old Testament theology. Not only is it a good introductory textbook, but it has opened up for me new vistas on how to bridge between exegesis and systematic theology."" --Ian W. Payne, Principal and Head of Theology, South Asia Institute of Advanced Christians Studies (SAIACS) Elmer A. Martens is President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Fresno Pacific University Biblical Seminary (formerly Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary). In addition to Bible commentaries (e.g, Jeremiah), three of his many articles appear in his Festschrift edited by former student Jon Isaak, The Old Testament in the Life of God's People (2009). An active church member, he has taught internationally in twelve countries.

Books - New and Used

The following guidelines apply to books:

  • New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
  • Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
  • Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.

Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.

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  • Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
  • Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
  • No additional fees and charges.

Delivery Times

The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.

Estimated delivery times:

  • Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
  • Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days

Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.  

Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times. 

Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.). 

If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.

You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
  • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
  • Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.

Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.

If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:

  • Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
  • Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
  • Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

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If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

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Overview

How does one summarize the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament? How might one determine the message of the Old Testament with others? This book attempts an answer to these questions. The answer is taken from a single Scripture passage, Exodus 5:22-6:8, which is here considered a theological ""Table of Contents"" for the Old Testament. In addition to such topics as Deliverance, Community, and Experiencing God, the book has an extended discussion on ""Land,"" a subject which deals with a wide range of interests but which only rarely receives attention in books on biblical theology. The current edition features reflections and a set of discussion questions following each of the seventeen chapters--a boon for university and seminary teachers and students, and of large help for church study groups. ""Taking his cues from a key biblical text (Exodus 5:22-6:8), in God's Design, Elmer Martens has seized upon basic threads of biblical theology and woven them into a magnificent tapestry of divine grace and redemption encompassing the entire Bible. Through his careful exegesis of individual texts, judicious synthesis of fundamental theological concepts, and an engaging literary style, readers learn how the motifs of salvation, covenant, divine revelation, and land all play together in God's grand design of creation and redemption. Martens' presentation is neither overly technical nor esoteric; on the contrary, he often pauses to guide us in relating biblical theology to life. I am delighted that through the republication of this volume another generation of readers of Scripture will have ready access to his brilliant work."" --Daniel I. Block, Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College ""God's Design provides the best traits of a good Old Testament Theology: thematic focus on God and his work with his creation and his people; clear, concise writing by a veteran scholar; sound and irenic evangelical teaching; and a method that can be used by students, pastors, and scholars. Martens' wise, careful, and helpful volume deserves wide use. I am grateful for this fourth edition, and look forward to introducing my students to it."" --Paul House, Beeson Divinity School of Samford University ""Elmer Martens has captured the essential message of the Old Testament in God's Design. The diachronic presentation of key biblical themes illuminates the nuances and development of God's revelation. Each of the four main themes is complex and draws on the scholarship of many others in order to offer an informed theological perspective on the First Testament. The fourth edition intensifies the attention given to the contemporary relevance of the biblical message. God's Design is a logical sequel to Old Testament survey studies and an excellent textbook for college students."" --R. Jerome Boone, Professor of Old Testament and Christian Formation, Lee University ""Built around four rich themes, God's Design is a most stimulating and useful study of the coherence of Old Testament theology. Not only is it a good introductory textbook, but it has opened up for me new vistas on how to bridge between exegesis and systematic theology."" --Ian W. Payne, Principal and Head of Theology, South Asia Institute of Advanced Christians Studies (SAIACS) Elmer A. Martens is President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Fresno Pacific University Biblical Seminary (formerly Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary). In addition to Bible commentaries (e.g, Jeremiah), three of his many articles appear in his Festschrift edited by former student Jon Isaak, The Old Testament in the Life of God's People (2009). An active church member, he has taught internationally in twelve countries.
ISBN: 149821858X
ISBN13: 9781498218580
Author: Elmer A. Martens
Publisher: Wipf and Stock
Format: Paperback
PublicationDate: 2015-11-11
Language: English
Edition: 4th ed.
PageCount: 384
Dimensions: 6.0 x 0.87 x 9.0 inches
Weight: 18.4 ounces

How does one summarize the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament? How might one determine the message of the Old Testament with others? This book attempts an answer to these questions. The answer is taken from a single Scripture passage, Exodus 5:22-6:8, which is here considered a theological ""Table of Contents"" for the Old Testament. In addition to such topics as Deliverance, Community, and Experiencing God, the book has an extended discussion on ""Land,"" a subject which deals with a wide range of interests but which only rarely receives attention in books on biblical theology. The current edition features reflections and a set of discussion questions following each of the seventeen chapters--a boon for university and seminary teachers and students, and of large help for church study groups. ""Taking his cues from a key biblical text (Exodus 5:22-6:8), in God's Design, Elmer Martens has seized upon basic threads of biblical theology and woven them into a magnificent tapestry of divine grace and redemption encompassing the entire Bible. Through his careful exegesis of individual texts, judicious synthesis of fundamental theological concepts, and an engaging literary style, readers learn how the motifs of salvation, covenant, divine revelation, and land all play together in God's grand design of creation and redemption. Martens' presentation is neither overly technical nor esoteric; on the contrary, he often pauses to guide us in relating biblical theology to life. I am delighted that through the republication of this volume another generation of readers of Scripture will have ready access to his brilliant work."" --Daniel I. Block, Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College ""God's Design provides the best traits of a good Old Testament Theology: thematic focus on God and his work with his creation and his people; clear, concise writing by a veteran scholar; sound and irenic evangelical teaching; and a method that can be used by students, pastors, and scholars. Martens' wise, careful, and helpful volume deserves wide use. I am grateful for this fourth edition, and look forward to introducing my students to it."" --Paul House, Beeson Divinity School of Samford University ""Elmer Martens has captured the essential message of the Old Testament in God's Design. The diachronic presentation of key biblical themes illuminates the nuances and development of God's revelation. Each of the four main themes is complex and draws on the scholarship of many others in order to offer an informed theological perspective on the First Testament. The fourth edition intensifies the attention given to the contemporary relevance of the biblical message. God's Design is a logical sequel to Old Testament survey studies and an excellent textbook for college students."" --R. Jerome Boone, Professor of Old Testament and Christian Formation, Lee University ""Built around four rich themes, God's Design is a most stimulating and useful study of the coherence of Old Testament theology. Not only is it a good introductory textbook, but it has opened up for me new vistas on how to bridge between exegesis and systematic theology."" --Ian W. Payne, Principal and Head of Theology, South Asia Institute of Advanced Christians Studies (SAIACS) Elmer A. Martens is President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Fresno Pacific University Biblical Seminary (formerly Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary). In addition to Bible commentaries (e.g, Jeremiah), three of his many articles appear in his Festschrift edited by former student Jon Isaak, The Old Testament in the Life of God's People (2009). An active church member, he has taught internationally in twelve countries.

Books - New and Used

The following guidelines apply to books:

  • New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
  • Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
  • Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.

Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.

Shipping Fees

  • Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
  • Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
  • No additional fees and charges.

Delivery Times

The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.

Estimated delivery times:

  • Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
  • Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days

Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.  

Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times. 

Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.). 

If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.

You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
  • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
  • Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.

Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.

If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:

  • Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
  • Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
  • Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.


Shipping Cost


We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.

If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

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