God's Body: The Anthropomorphic God in the Old Testament

The book "God's Body" by Andreas Wagner explores the differences between ancient Near Eastern body images and modern ones, revealing misconceptions about the biblical notion of God's human shape. It discusses anthropomorphism, the study of body parts, and Israel's understanding of the human body. It also examines the theological aspects of God's body description and the diverse perspectives of ancient Near Eastern cultures. The book concludes by discussing how the depiction of God in the Old Testament fits with the concept of mankind made in God's image.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 208 pages
\n Publication date: 21 February 2019
\n Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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In ancient Near Eastern civilizations, the portrayal of the body diverges significantly from modern body images, which in turn has profound implications for our understanding of the biblical concept of God's human shape and the widespread misconceptions associated with it. Andreas Wagner aims to shed light on these misconceptions and provide a clearer perspective on the ancient pictorial world of body images. He contrasts these with contemporary models and elucidates the Old Testament concept of God's human form, making it accessible and understandable to readers.

Wagner begins by introducing the concept of anthropomorphism, which involves the study of body parts. He then delves into Israel's basic understanding of the human body. He specifically focuses on the body of God, examining why and how certain body parts are emphasized or regularly employed in the biblical text when describing God. Wagner explores the theological implications of these descriptions as well as the diverse range of ancient Near Eastern perspectives on God and the ways in which ancient cultures constructed and understood deities.

In conclusion, Wagner examines how the depiction of God in the Old Testament aligns with the concept of mankind being made in God's image. Enhanced by over fifty illustrations, Gods Body is poised to shape the ongoing debate in biblical anthropomorphism for years to come.

\n Weight: 332g\n
Dimension: 166 x 241 x 14 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780567655981\n \n