John W. Hilber is Professor of Old Testament at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. He has been both a teacher and pastor, and he has authored several books and numerous academic articles relating the Old Testament to its ancient Near Eastern background. His books include Ezekiel (Cascade Books, 2019), Behind the Scenes of the Old Testament (coeditor, 2018), and Cultic Prophecy in the Psalms (2005).
"As with any archaeological dig, unearthing ancient Near Eastern
backgrounds for Old Testament exegesis is a delicate affair, and
those who attempt it quickly get their hermeneutical hands dirty.
John Hilber brings a new tool, relevance theory, to the task,
enabling him to sift through cosmological assumptions and identify
the ones that are operative. What Hilber here discovers is not an
artifact, but a precious interpretive insight that shines new light
on the divine accommodation of Scripture."
--Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Research Professor of Systematic Theology,
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
"By engaging with relevance theory, Hilber has provided a dimension
of comparative studies that was both lacking and sorely needed.
This approach will help readers to understand the concept of a
cognitive environment and how important it is for interpreting not
just the opening chapters of Genesis, but the entire Bible. . . .
Hilber's judicious balance is evident throughout the book and his
insights will become a fundamental aspect of my writing and
teaching. Brilliant!"
--John H. Walton, Professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College
"How many adjectives can I pile up to describe the helpfulness of
this work? In its content, it is knowledgeable, thoughtful,
conscientious, and judicious. In its style it is clear, engaging,
and inviting. . . . Professor Hilber has served us all well, and we
owe him our thanks!"
--C. John Collins, Professor of Old Testament, Covenant Theological
Seminary
"In communicating to ancient Israel, God accommodated his message
to Israel's cultural context. But what are the dynamics of this
contextualization strategy and how does it impact our understanding
of the Genesis 1 creation account? John Hilber tackles these issues
with mature scholarly insight, using relevance theory to support
his thesis. Along the way, one finds concise, well-researched
discussions of relevance theory, ancient cosmology, and
accommodation. This is a must-read."
--Robert B. Chisholm Jr., Chair and Senior Professor of Old
Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary
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