T. Desmond Alexander is senior lecturer in biblical studies and director of postgraduate studies at Union Theological College in Belfast, Northern Ireland. From 1980 to 1999, he was lecturer in Semitic studies at the Queen's University of Belfast. His main field of research is the Pentateuch, about which he has written extensively in academic journals and books. Alexander also has a special interest in the relationship between the Old and New Testaments and is a boss when it comes to making Biblical Theology accessible to the rank and file. Reader here for "You Should Know T. Desmond Alexander", and check out the Festschrift in honor of Dr. Alexander "The Seed of Promise: The Sufferings and Glory of the Messiah: Essays in Honor of T. Desmond Alexander" (Glossahouse Festschrift) here.
T. Desmond Alexander: Nuanced Questions on the Garden, Heaven & the Telos of Humanity
From Eden to the New Jerusalem: An Introduction to Biblical Theology
Join us as we sit down and pick the brain of the gracious T. Desmond Alexander in connection with his book “From Eden to the New Jerusalem: An Introduction to Biblical Theology” (Kregel Academic & Professional). Questions include:
- Are we able to answer the question “What is the chief end of God? And what is the role of creation in that end?”
- What is meant by a “temple-city”? and can we have any idea of what life on earth would have looked like if Adam and Eve didn’t rebel? That is, what would I see if I drove through a suburb of a temple-city?
- In hearing our vocation was to be PRIESTLY and ROYAL, can you give a snapshot of what a day in the life of an image bearer pre-fall might have looked like? Would it include soccer moms and teenagers who love playing video games?
- Do we know what was the NATURE and FREQUENCY of God’s presence with Adam and Eve? I ask that because, it seems that God wasn’t always physically with them…
- In the book you said “There is something of value in seeing the big picture, for it frequently enables us to appreciate the details more clearly.” What aspects of the big picture would you suggest us to make our focal points? What need we always remember that informs our lived-lives?
- In the book you said “Given the complexity of the Bible as a literary anthology, outlining its meta-story is not easy.” I fully agree with this, and for that reason I must confess it’s a lil disturbing… That is, I would have never seen some of these things unless someone like you or Vos, or Schreiner or, Beale, Goldsworthy showed me… granted I now see all over, I cant help but thinking that good Biblical Theology, and tracing themes and types and allegory, is at worst Christian-Gnosticism and at best reserved for the academic elite – either way, those that have found the hermeneutical keys to unlock scripture… Have thoughts like this ever crossed your mind?
- I feel like most people think the purpose of life is to “share the Gospel”, to distinguish between law and Gospel, to see Jesus in the Old Testament (and those are all good things that I myself do), HOWEVER, it seems that, and I don’t know how to say this that wont come off ungrateful, so please don’t hear what I’m not saying, but, it seems that Jesus came on the seen in his saving capacity starting with the fall and then once his saving is accomplished in the New Jerusalem, its back to the original goal – so, all that do say, do we overemphasize the role of Jesus as the BIG PICTURE and the ultimate telos? Is the New Jerusalem about the trinity being with humanity or is it about the atoning work of Jesus?
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