The Kingdom of God as Liturgical Empire
A Theological Commentary on 1-2 Chronicles
About
1 Chronicles
Endorsements
"For many Christians, the Old Testament is still a closed book, unconnected to the great themes of the church's proclamation and the believer's walk of faith. In this rich theological commentary, Scott Hahn gives a powerful account of Chronicles' inner unity: its creative recollection of Israel's canonical traditions and its inspiring vision of Israel as a priestly kingdom. The church, the sacraments, Marian devotion--these are all shown to have their roots in Chronicles in this profoundly Catholic reading that also offers a bracing rebuke to the long, sad history of Protestant disparagement of ritual, priests, and temple worship in the Bible."
Stephen B. Chapman, associate professor of Old Testament, Duke Divinity School
"Scott Hahn's brilliantly illuminating commentary on First and Second Chronicles represents an important contribution to the renewal of biblical scholarship. Demonstrating a master's command of the entirety of biblical revelation, Hahn shows how the Chronicler both gave focus to the story of Israel and provided the foundation for much of the New Testament meditation on Jesus as Messiah and Son of David. This book is written with extraordinary passion and intelligence. I would recommend it warmly to both scholars and preachers."
Robert Barron, Francis Cardinal George Professor of Faith and Culture, Mundelein Seminary, University of St. Mary of the Lake
"Scott Hahn's The Kingdom of God as Liturgical Empire is a scriptural symphony, weaving together themes from Old and New Testaments into a remarkable theological synthesis. Hahn deftly shows the Chronicler's work for what it is: a rich tapestry that reveals the ways of God with his people Israel in the past, as well as offering hope that God will ultimately fulfill the promises made to his servant David. This lucid and insightful volume deserves to be on the shelf of anyone interested in the burgeoning field of theological interpretation of Scripture."
Rodrigo Morales, assistant professor, department of theology, Marquette University
"During his public ministry, Jesus of Nazareth spoke about the 'kingdom of God' more than any other theme. Yet the exact meaning of the phrase continues to be debated, and the precise expression, 'Kingdom of the LORD,' appears in only one part of Jewish Scripture: the books of Chronicles. In this masterful commentary, Scott Hahn shows that an essential key to understanding the biblical concept of the kingdom lies hidden in the often overlooked work of the Chronicler and his history of the liturgical empire of David. In this book, Hahn has produced something very rare: a commentary that is rigorously exegetical, profoundly theological, and a must-read for both Old and New Testament scholars. This is biblical theology at its best!"
Brant Pitre, professor of Sacred Scripture, Notre Dame Seminary
"Drawing upon a wide array of Jewish and Christian interpreters, Hahn persuasively presents 1 and 2 Chronicles as a powerful exemplar of the typological, covenantal, and liturgical exegesis that has shaped the Christian tradition of biblical interpretation. For readers (like myself) who have tended to think of the Chronicles as rather dull, this book will reintroduce the richness of Scripture."
Matthew Levering, professor of theology, University of Dayton
"I have always been impressed by Hahn's uncanny ability to not only hear and see both the wider and specific meanings of the biblical text--especially understanding the OT in the light of the NT--but to convey this meaning vividly for serious lay readers and scholars alike. Here Hahn demonstrates what Pope Benedict XVI has affirmed, that authentic biblical criticism can be done best with a hermeneutic of faith and continuity. A thoroughly enjoyable read that shows how the key of liturgy unlocks a much deeper understanding of the whole of Scripture, I believe this is Hahn's magnum opus."
Marcus Grodi, author and host of The Journey Home (EWTN)
The Author
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Scott W. Hahn
Scott W. Hahn (PhD, Marquette University) is the Father Michael Scanlan, TOR, Professor of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio, and is founder and president of the Saint Paul Center...
Continue reading about Scott W. Hahn
Reviews
"An unconventional and intriguing commentary on the book(s) of Chronicles. . . . One test of a commentary on Chronicles is its ability to make good sense of the book's peculiar beginning and ending, and Hahn makes helpful progress on both counts. . . . For too long Christian biblical scholarship has sought to emphasize the discontinuity between Second Temple Judaism and the church. This is a nicely written and well produced volume that seeks in a particular way to overcome that tendency. Regardless of whether one thinks this is the best approach to doing to, the effort is highly instructive and most welcome."
Mark McEntire,
Review of Biblical Literature
"Hahn has written a scholarly commentary that doubles as spiritual reading in the sense intended by Benedict XVI in the Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini."
James Chukwuma Okoye, CSSp,
The Bible Today
"An intriguing work, which seeks to demonstrate the overall theological message of Chronicles within the whole story of the Bible."
Ray Van Neste,
Preaching
"A welcome and thorough addition to a growing body of monographs that focus upon this neglected part of the corpus, and that approach the books [of 1 and 2 Chronicles] in terms of usefulness to the faithful community. . . . The book's greatest strength is its exploration of the Chronicler's deft use of typology as not merely a literary technique but a theological reading of salvation history. Compelling insights are offered. . . . Also key is the emphasis upon liturgy coupled with covenant, as well as an apologia for the primacy of worship among God's people. . . . The significance of the Chronicler's work for the Church is made clear. . . . This is a well-conceived volume, rich in detail and insight, delightful in turn of phrase, thought-provoking, and invaluable for those who read the Bible in the context of faith, but not merely devotionally. It deserves to be well received in academic and ecclesial circles alike."
Edith M. Humphrey,
Living Church
"[This book] is filled with insightful textual observations. Furthermore, the book is a valuable resource for detecting the underlying unity of Chronicles and the theological and canonical framework that undergirds the work. It is also a valuable contribution to discerning the role that Chronicles may play in the Bible's theology."
Joshua E. Williams,
Southwestern Journal of Theology
"Scott Hahn's new commentary on 1-2 Chronicles is by far and away the most important book I've read this year. That's not an overstatement. Full of stunning insights--with implications for both Old Testament and New Testament studies--this book should really be on your priority list. If you're familiar with the hype about Hahn's work, but never read any of his scholarship, read this title. . . . It is incredibly clear and well-worth the time of anyone is who is at the 'intermediate' level of biblical studies. . . . [Hahn's] work has important ramifications for liturgical theology, fundamental theology (e.g., what is revelation?), and ecclesiology."
Michael Barber,
The Sacred Page blog