Job and the Disruption of Identity: Reading Beyond Barth

(Hardback)

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This book offers an original and provocative reading of the book of Job, shifting attention away from what is most often seen as the burden of the book - the problem of evil or unjust suffering - and arguing that its central concern is the question of obedience, sanctification or transformation of self before God. This shift in emphasis was outlined in one of the most significant theological interpretations of Job in the 20th Century, that of Karl Barth. Ticciati brings Barth's theological commentary into engagement with a wide range of current critical work on Job, allowing the divergence between these approaches to stimulate critique and enrichment on both sides. The theological concentration of Barth's commentary is broadened by a psychological and philosophical reading of the text, and by a literary, philological and historical-critical inquiry that sets Job firmly in its biblical context. This interdisciplinary approach finds its focus in an emergent understanding of Job's self, which is at once biblical, psychological, philosophical, historical and theological. Reading beyond Barth, Ticciati provides a thoroughgoing reappraisal of the notion of obedience - or, in Joban terms, of what it means to "fear God for naught." This book will appeal not only to systematic theologians seeking to re-engage with Scripture, and biblical scholars desiring to re-engage with the theology of the Bible, but also to those from other disciplines concerned about the increasingly fragmentary nature of academic research and its concomitant evasion of questions of wider and more fundamental concern.

Reviews

"...this book helps us to a richer understanding of the Book of Job and of faith, or living before God. A fine study in which scholarship does not feed on itself but opens out on to the world." Oxford Journals Clippings: Journal of Theological Studies, vol 60, no 2, October 2009
"This work constitutes a fascinating contribution to Job studies, to Barth studies, and to the task of thinking theologically in dialogue with the Hebrew Bible. It deserves careful attention." Paul Dafydd Jones, Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies, Vol. 26, No. 3, 2008 -- Paul Dafydd Jones
'This is a powerful book on a topic of great interest beyond theologians and biblical scholars. Ticciati brilliantly weaves together biblical scholarship, a range of modern approaches to the book of Job, and the most important treatment of it in contemporary theology by Karl Barth, and she emerges with an original thesis about its meaning. There is both a simplicity about her hermeneutical key - Satan's question 'Does Job fear god for naught'- and an appropriate complexity that grapples with this puzzling classic. She is particularly fascinating on the way in which Job's self develops in the book, and brings considerable psychological insight to bear on this. It is rare that such linguistic, literary, philosophical, psychological and theological gifts come together so harmoniously. One sees why this work won her a coveted Research Fellowship in Cambridge in the face of over 200 other candidates from the whole range of arts and humanities disciplines.' Professor David Ford, University of Cambridge * Blurb from reviewer *
'I am amazed by Ms. Ticciati's work. Ms. Ticciati has written a remarkable book on Job. I am stunned by the felicity and wisdom of her method, as much as I am convinced by the care and strength of her scriptural reading. In this work, Ms. Ticciati draws a philosophic theology from out of a scholarly community's practice of reading scripture. She is not merely performing but also helping advance a non-foundationalist, non-relativist method of scriptural-and-philosophic theology. As Biblical reader, she not only attends to form- and historical-critical approaches, but also extends what we usually mean by literary/rhetorical study of the Bible. Both instructed by Barth's approach to scripture in its own terms, and critical of what she considers its limitations, she draws our attention to patterns of scriptural composition that may not suggest themselves to readers less tutored in philosophic theology. Her readings are therefore innovative, but in ways that draw us closer to the text, not further away. Finally, Ms. Ticciati's sheer performance also merits our attention: I mean the elegance of her writing, the exquisite fluidity and coherence of her new reading of Job, and the philosophic subtlety of her theological use of that reading. Beyond its convincing arguments, 'Journey into Job' also shows us that a significant theologian has newly appeared among us.' Peter Ochs, Professor of Modern Jewish Studies, University of Virginia * Blurb from reviewer *
"Ticciati offers an original and intriguing re-reading of the Book of Job...this stimulating and polished text makes an important contribution to debate about theodicy , but leaves the reader with some troubling loose ends." Nicholas Sagovsky, Westminster Abbey, 2006 * Theological Book Review *
"...a creative and ground-breaking interpretation of Job...illuminating and challenging..." "...employing an impressive array of biblical disciplines..." "...she offers a fascinating and innovative reading of the book of Job, not only emphasizing the human dimension of the text in all its particularity and complexity but also challenging her reader to wrestle once again with its intractable story..." "...carefully and lucidly written, draws on an impressive range of secondary exegetical materials, and offers a large number of penetrating observations. For those interested in deepening their engagement with the enigma that is the book of Job, it therefore comes thoroughly recommended." -- Paul T. Nimmo * Theology *
'a creative and groundbreaking interpretation' 'illuminating and challenging' 'The book is carefully and lucidly written, draws on an impressive range of secondary exegetical materials, and offers a large number of penetrating observations. For those interested in deepening their engagement with the enigma that is the book of Job, it therefore comes thoroughly recommended.' - Paul T. Nimmo, Theology -- Paul T. Nimmo * Theology *

Author Bio

Dr. Susannah Ticciati is Professor of Christian Theology at King's College London.