Plundering the Egyptians: The Old Testament and Historical Criticism at Westminster Theological Seminary (1929-1998) [Paperback]

Plundering the Egyptiansfocuses on the study of the Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary from 1929 to 1998. More specifically, it presents the lives and academic labors of Robert Dick Wilson (1929-1930), Edward Joseph Young (1936-1968), Raymond Bryan Dillard (1969-1993), and Tremper Longman III (1981-1998). These featured scholars were highly influential in changing the shape of Old Testament studies at Westminster through the introduction of novel scholarly tools and ideas that reveal methodological and theological development. Their individual historical contexts, scholarly contributions, and interactions with historical-critical scholarship are presented and analyzed. Modifications in their respective methodologies are highlighted and often indicate significant shifts within the Old Princeton-Westminster trajectory from an anti-critical stance toward a position of openness toward historical-critical methodology and its conclusions. The implications of these shifts within Westminster are important because they mirror the current changes and challenges in evangelicalism today.John J. Yeois assistant professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Georgia. He received his M.A. at Westminster Seminary California, his Th.M. at Fuller Theological Seminary, and his Ph.D. from the University of St. Michael's College, University of Toronto.

A well-structured and researched piece of work written in a pleasing style&an excellent job of absorbing and assessing the work of the Westminster faculty in a way that is sympathetic without lapsing into hagiography. Dr. Brian P. Irwin, assistant professor of Old Testament/Hebrew scriptures, Knox College, Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto

[This study is] crucial for understanding the way theological traditions develop and even diverge from the founding generation's original vision&particularly valuable for critics and defenders of recent changes at Westminstl3"