Each essay in this collection presents fresh perspectives on ezekiels treatment of theology and anthropology through the use of newer methodologies e. In the fifth year of his captivity god called the young priest to prophesy to a rebellious nation, impudent and stubborn. He is the author of numerous books, including the classic bestseller knowing god. Click on any part of the bible below to start reading. Jensons work should find a home on the desk of any pastor, minister, or lay person who is interested in serious theological engagement with ezekiel. In the first 24 chapters, the book contains a succession of oracles that promise judgment against the people of israel. Unlike other prophetic books, ezekiel unfolds in basic chronological order. Best commentaries and books on ezekiel logos bible software. Most of the book of ezekiel contains prophecies that were given before the final fall of jerusalem to the babylonians. The prophets wrote over a period of 250300 years, spanning the decline, the exile, and the return of the children of israel.
A word against the high placesnow the word of the lord came to me, saying. Michael lawrence serves as the lead pastor of hinson baptist church in portland, oregon. The bizarre opening vision catches us off guard and tempts us to stop reading. A younger contemporary of jeremiah, and influenced by him, ezekiel was a priest ezek. Ezekiel with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The prophet is so overcome by the vision that he falls on his face. Ezekiel study guide for growing christians ministries.
The seven general essays and two studies of particular texts in this collection explore the times, the message, and the methods of the prophetic priest. This is not only the concise overview of the book of isaiah, but also of the book of ezekiel, except that ezekiel adds one more principle, the principle of individual responsibility which was also touched by the prophet, jeremiah. The message of ezekiel, which is ultimately eschatological. Study the book of ezekiel, and your life will be transformed. In ezekiels call, he is referred to as son of man, which is a phrase used throughout the book. Yet this book contains one of the strongest reiterations of gods missionary intent. A commentary on the book of ezekiel by pastor galen l. Ezekiel, like each commentary in the series, is designed to serve the churchthrough aid in preaching, teaching, study groups, and so forthand demonstrate the continuing intellectual and practical viability of theological interpretation of the bible. The first reason to study ezekiel is that it will help you see yourself, and. Dyer, notes on the book of ezekiel, unpublished class notes in 304 preexlic and exilic prophets, dallas theological seminary, fall 1993, 4. Ezekiel religious and theological studies loras college library. This is an experience far above that of common man. Book of ezekiel overview insight for living ministries. This is the first of two volumes of essays on ezekiel and his book.
The theology of work bible commentary is an indepth bible study tool put together by a group of 8 biblical scholars, pastors and working christians. Ezekiel was a fascinating man who wrote a wonderful book filled with strange and powerful visions. It is intended to help you better understand some of the background and issues in ezekiels prophecy. Ezekiel looked beyond the sufferings of christ to the glory that should follow. In exile in babylon, ezekiel receives a dramatic call from god. The first dated message in ezekiel is from the summer of 593 b. Ezekiel was a sincere priest and a prophet who cared deeply about the priestly code. The seven general essays and two studies of particular texts in this collection explore the times, the message, and. A commentary on the book of ezekiel southside christian. This is important to remember when discerning the meaning of this great vision. Ezekiel, book of cyclopedia of biblical, theological and. Jeremiah, ezekiel, and daniel were all prophets, but each had a particular and.
The book of ezekiel follows the prophet ezekiel and his message to. The books theological center is the unfolding of gods saving purposes in the history of the world from the time in which he must withdraw from the defilement of his covenant people to the culmination of his grand design of redemption. Along with ezekiel s declaration of judgment to israel came a message of hope in a future restoration, though the message was veiled by mysterious symbols and events that still generate wonder and debate today. Ezekiel and work bible commentary theology of work. Ezekiel, perhaps more than any other biblical prophet, wanted to know godand god revealed himself to this prophet in mysterious and mighty ways.
Entry for ezekiel, book of cyclopedia of biblical, theological and ecclesiastical literature one of 8 bible encyclopedias freely available, this encyclopedia, with its nearly 50,000 entries and 17 millin words, dwarfs modern bible encyclopedias with the depth of knowledge. The book of ezekiel he will be strengthened of god. In the new testament, it takes on a messianic tone under the influence of daniel 7. Ezekiels priestly lineage shines through in his prophetic ministry. Ezekiels contribution to a biblical theology of mission. These 12week studies lead participants through books of the bible and are made up of four basic components. The overall theme of the prophecy of ezekiel is the glory of god. In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day. You will also find options for commentaries on ezekiel that help pastors, teachers, and readers with application of the bible, commentaries that approach the scripture versebyverse, classic christian commentaries, and much more.
The book of ezekiel proclaims gods uncompromising judgment against his rebellious people but also his promise of of restoration if they repent. As peter said of the prophets, they saw the sufferings and they saw the glory that would follow 1 pet. The assyrian empire that had once conquered the syropalestinian area and destroyed the. A series of studies in the old testament book of ezekiel st albans. These doubts were strong enough, in those early days, to raise the question of whether ezekiel should be one of the biblical books. According to dates given in the text, ezekiel received his prophetic call in the fifth year of the first deportation to babylonia 592 bc and was active until about 570 bc. Study guide for ezekiel 1 by david guzik blue letter bible. Ezekiel describes his vision as an elaborate and complex image that symbolizes the majesty of yahweh and proclaims yahwehs sovereignty over all the nations of the earth. Ezekiel s priestly lineage shines through in his prophetic ministry. Like many other prophets, ezekiel includes a series of oracles against the nations in his book 25. This commentary is based upon my personal devotional notes and reflections on the book of ezekiel. Ezekiel among the captivesnow it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as i was among the captives by the river chebar, that the heavens were opened and i saw visions of god. This is god reaching to ezekiel, not ezekiel reaching to god. What is known of ezekiel is derived solely from the book that bears his name.
A series of studies in the old testament book of ezekiel. Packer dphil, oxford university serves as the board of governors professor of theology at regent college. Pastor steve will move through the book in a methodical fashion to unveil the lords message to israel and all believers. Ezekiel among the captivesnow it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as i was among the captives by the river chebar, that the heavens were opened and i saw visions of god a. Upwards of 75 times god expresses his own concerns in the book as for my names sake or that ye shall know that i am the lord. The books theological center is the unfolding of gods saving purposes in the history of the worldfrom the time in which he must withdraw from the defilement of his covenant people to the culmination. In contrast to various other prophets ezekiel has not been criticised as much. I think ezekiel saw it better than any of the other prophets. These studies are meant to be a compliment to the ezekiel sermons. The latest dated oracle is 22 years later, in april 571 b. In this tensession lifeguide bible study, you will catch something of the awesomeness of god. The result of jensons study is a creative and rich christian reading of ezekiel that exemplifies the theological aims of the brazos commentary series. The glory of god may well be viewed as the theme of the book, because ezekiels ministry begins with a vision of gods glory and emphasizes it throughout the book 1.
Ezekiel brazos theological commentary on the bible. Ezekiel cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. The autobiographical style of the book supports ezekiel as the author of the book i, me, my are in almost every chapter of the book. Ezekiel is hardly the first biblical book to spring to mind on the topic of a biblical theology of mission. The book of ezekiel gives a compelling account of how the jewish people suffer a severely diminished life of deprivation and oppression and even death. Lawrence is the author of biblical theology in the life of the church. This simply means human and is meant to contrast ezekiel to god. This is ezekiel chapter one part 2 of our study on the book of ezekiel and then in the next post i will add final comments for chapter one i would recommend that you read all of ezekiel chapter one, if you have not yet done that recently. After the fall of jerusalem ezekiel was recommissioned to show the necessity and inevitability of judahs restoration to fellowship by god chaps.
Historical, literary, and theological studies in the book of ezekiel. Ezekiel lived during a time of international upheaval. The commentary is available for free in it entirety online. Along with ezekiels declaration of judgment to israel came a message of hope in a future restoration, though the message was veiled by mysterious symbols and events that still generate wonder and debate today. God gives to ezekiel a real living parable and to do so he takes him to the valley of dead bones.
The whole structure of the book, in fact, points to gods grace to his people in spite of their sin. The book of ezekiel is the third of the books of the major prophets, coming after the books of isaiah and jeremiah in the christian canon. The book of ezekiel takes its title from the priest of the same name, son to a man named buzi. Ezekiel, theology of dictionary definition, verses and bible references on the topic of ezekiel. Packer served as general editor for the english standard version bible and as theological editor for the esv study bible. Here, however, these prophecies take on the added urgency of being set against the crisis of 586 b. He is the author of biblical theology in the life of the church. Mdiv, gordonconwell theological seminary serves as the lead pastor of hinson baptist church in portland, oregon. New testament apocrypha studies synod of hippo textual criticism. The book of ezekiel is the third of the latter prophets in the tanakh and one of the major. The book of ezekiel anticipates and points to jesus christ. A study in the corruptions in ezekiels inaugural vision ezekiel 1. The prophet ezekiel the vision of the valley of dry bones ezekiel 37 ezekiel was carried away captive to babylon at the age of twentyfive one of 10,000 captives.
To many readers the book of ezekiel is a hopeless riddle. Ezekiel s mission to the judean exiles in babylon was to prepare them for the greatest crisis in the history of yahwehs covenant people. The book has a uniformity of language, style, theme, and message which support the theory of a single author. At first glance, ezekiel seems a little eccentric, but getting to know him is worth the effort. He earned a phd in church history from cambridge university and an mdiv from gordonconwell theological seminary. However, if we persist, and if we meditate long and hard on individual utterances and sign actions, we will discover that despite the strangeness. Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of israel, and prophesy against them, and say, o mountains of israel, hear the word of the lord god.
Ezekiel powerfully depicts the grandeur and glory of gods sovereign rule see themes and his holiness, which he jealously safeguards. He was among the jews exiled to babylon by nebuchadnezzar in 597 b. Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of israel, and prophesy against them, and say, o. Well, we know from his book that daniel was acquainted with the prophecies of jeremiah. Wayne palmer received his master of divinity degree from concordia theological seminary in fort wayne. If ezekiel was 30 years old when his ministry began, the final vision of the book came when he was about 50. Theology of work bible commentary free online start. Exposing the depth of israels disobedience, the prophet ezekiel calls the nation to find forgiveness by turning away from their sin and back to god. The book opens with an account of the vision that summoned ezekiel to his prophetic calling. Doughty southside christian church december 2014 introduction. Direct calls to a particular kind of work are rare in the bible, and ezekiel s is one of the most dramatic. The book of ezekiel is the third of the books of the major prophets, coming after the books. You will see god in his transcendent glory like in no other part of the bible.
So prior to the study it is best to have heard the sermon and read the relevant chapters. A common opinion among critical scholars of the nineteenth century was that prophets represented sincere, ethical religion and that priests represented dead legalism, but ezekiel defies that. Even if you do not understand all of ezekiel chapter one, it is a powerful vision ezekiel had. This english translation of the original 1969 german is a classic, magisterial commentary that attends to the minute details of ezekiels text, which one expects from hermeneia commentaries. Upwards of 75 times god expresses his own concerns in the book as for my names sake or that ye shall know that i. The book of ezekiel, one of the major prophetical books of the old testament. Remember, the designation major or minor simply refers to the length of the book, not its importance. The knowing the bible series is edited by theologian j.
The book of ezekiel has always been a problem book. We still find many features of the man and his message difficult and sometimes even shocking, if not offensive. Studies in kingship and eschatology in the book of ezekiel. He is the author of biblical theology in the life of the church j.
Best ezekiel commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. Knowing god is the basic theme of the book of ezekiel. This summary of the book of ezekiel provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of ezekiel. The book of ezekiel has a beginning few readers can forget. But, many are responding, and right now, were in the thick of a theological. The namesake of the book, ezekiel, authored this prophetic book. The theology of ezekiel is notable for its contribution to the emerging notion of. Jerusalem will be placed under siege and destroyed, ezekiel warns, and this will happen because of the peoples sin. The jewish bible in hebrew is called the masoretic text meaning passing. Recommended old and new testament commentaries by the.
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