In this first episode of The Milkshake Theologians, Grant Hazell has a sit down conversation with Old Testament Scholar, Professor John Walton from Wheaton College, Illinois, USA.
John H. Walton (born 1952) is an American Old Testament scholar renowned for his expertise in Ancient Near Eastern backgrounds of the Old Testament, particularly the Book of Genesis and its creation narrative, as well as the interpretation of the Book of Job.
He is Professor Emeritus at Wheaton College and previously served as a professor at Moody Bible Institute. Walton advocates for understanding the Genesis creation narrative through the lens of ancient Near Eastern perspectives. He suggests the text functions similarly to a temple dedication ceremony, focusing on functional origins rather than a material account of cosmological beginnings. In his book “The Lost World of Genesis One,” Walton presents the creation account as emphasising purpose and function over material origins. Throughout his career, Walton has authored several influential works, including:
- “Ancient Israelite Literature in its Cultural Context” (1989)
- “A Survey of the Old Testament” (1991, co-authored with Andrew H. Hill)
- “Genesis” (2001)
- “Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament” (2006)
- “The Lost World of Genesis One” (2009)
- “The Lost World of Adam and Eve” (2015)
These publications reflect his commitment to exploring the cultural and literary contexts of biblical texts, offering fresh insights into their interpretation.
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