OLATUNDE ALLEN TIMILEHIN
MARCH 2010
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHICAL ENTRY
NAME: Zamani B. Katang
BOOKS AUTHORED: An Introduction to the Intertestamental Period
HIS ACADEMIC TRAINING: Zamani B. Katang attended and completed SIMPrimary School, Samaru Kataf. His love for God, the Bible, the church and knowledge took him to ECWABibleTraining School, Zabolo; ECWA Theological College Kagoro (Dip. Bib.), ECWA Theological Seminary, Igbaja (Dip. Theo.); Houghton College, USA, B.A.: Teachers’ Dip. ETTA: StateUniversity of New York at Buffalo (M.Ed.), and Trinity International University, USA (M.A.; M.Div.; and PhD).
HIS CAREER: Zamani B. Katang has taught at TafawaBalewaMemorialSecondary School, Samaru, Kataf; GovernmentTeachers College, Kafachan; PrincipalECWAWidowsTraining School, Samaru Kataf; and ECWA Theological Seminary, Jos. He is presently an Old Testament Lecturer of the ECWA Theological Seminary, Jos, Nigeria.
BIOGRAPHICAL ENTRY TO THE BOOK
Title of the Book: An Introduction to the Intertestamental Period
The Authors: Zamani B. Katang
Publisher: Baraka Press and Publishers Ltd, Kaduna
Year of Publication: 2001
Pages: 209
The purpose of intertestamental period is to outline those central elements that exerted influence on the social, political, economic and religious life that has impact on the socio-cultural aspect of Jews in Near East and history of Israel that is charted from patriarchal, commonwealths until modern era of eighteenth century. The Babylonian invasion of Judea reflects that Deportees were from the leadership class and the contention between the divine prophecy and the false word of men was the issues on ground that changed Israel’s identity and government around 586BC in plundering. Exile becomes shame, death, devastation for Jews but non Jews saw it as mere deportation. Pagan Idol worship legalized. This raises theological question on the covenant of God to David. Jew began to live as agriculturist, limited human right, still practice monotheism, emergence of scribe institution ands study of law.
The edict of King Coresh –Cyprus was primarily propaganda of granting special privileges to the restoration of religious center, thereby exploited Israel religiosity by granting them freedom back to their cities. The return from exile varies in waves and years as led by Zerubbabel, Ezra; The scribe and Nehemiah; the reformer. The weaving of the Book of Ezra serves the custodian nr the book of report of events of post-exilic period full of restoration. Conquest of Alexander the Great began the era of anew dispensation of the Near East with the introduction of Hellenism that cultured everyone in one way of life. Power shift in the process promulgated development in politics in which super power leaders from Ptolemies to Antiochus were involved. Hellenistic was less successful in the interior as they embraced Semitic character than city residents. The political struggle among the Jewish leader on the freedom phenomenon reorganized the political structure from Judas Maccabeus to Aristobulus all under Hasmoneans dynasty.
The rise and the progress of Judaism was traced to the era of first and second temple and the before and after exilic period which became national religion of the Jews. It becomes the religion of manner and customs. The monotheistic belief was strengthened through the rabbinic literature like, torah, Talmud, Gemara, Targum, LXX and others mostly taught in synagogue that as place for education, social center, and worship, not a replacement of temple. Christianity that was born out of Judaism was widely accepted because of emphasis on the belief and conviction on the End of Days, and the death, resurrection of Jesus Christ. This actually unfolded the sects like the Pharisee, Sadducees, Essenes and others in the scene and the interrelation with the kind of Christian such as Hellenist and Jew (Hebraist). The practice of the Law, the God of Old Testament, the eschatology and the fulfillment of promises are sharp contrast with Christianity and Judaism. The approaches to these differ. Christianity accepted OT but Judaism has noting to do with NT but sticks only to Torah and its traditions. It was the misconception of the Judaism seeing Christianity as a movement with much suspicion. Others issues like Trinity, (anti-monotheism), threat to Jewish authorities, church verses synagogue, and the destruction of temple led to the great break off of Judaism from Christianity.
The inspiration of the scripture has been in the Old Testament on the phrase of “Thus sayeth the Lord of Host” and later used as inspired (breathed) word of God by inspiration through Holy Spirit using individual’s either by dictation or plenary. The unity of scriptures runs from the OT to the NT having the same theme by different authors in the process of narration. There is essentiality in the themes of the scripture inter-explained the spiritual with physical phenomena. The truth in OT is wisely interpreted symbolically in NT. Canonity of scripture especially OT was an emergence of language dilution among the Jew in Diaspora and the attempt to preserve the scripture in as much that the temple was destroyed, however, the Torah (scripture) will not be lost also. This gave birth to other canon exercise by Christian having diverse canons which accommodate other books apart from protestant (evangelical) tradition.
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