Is there a “center” to Biblical theology (an over-arching theme that unites all 39 books of the OT)? What are the “centers” that have been proposed and who proposed them? Who denies that there can be just one “center” that unites all 39 books of the OT?

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Not in my opinion; however, during the last century, many Old Testament theologians tried to show that the Old Testament was organized around a central theme. The origin of the concept that the Old Testament can be studied according to one central theme is usually traced to Walther Eichrodt, who organized his study of the Old Testament around the theme of “covenant”. Since his time, many other scholars have put forward suggestions as to what the central theme of the Old Testament might be.

Below are some of these proposed central themes and the names of some of the scholars who support particular themes as central.

The Concept Covenant: Walther Eichrodt.

God the ruling Lord: Ludwig Köhler, H. Seebass.

God’s communion with the human race: T. C. Vriezen.

God who acts: G. E. Wright.

Presence and action of God: Edmond Jacob.

Obedience to Yahweh the one God: Walther Zimmerli.

God’s sovereignty and communion with humans: Georg Fohrer.

Holiness of God: J. Hanel, E. Sellin.

Sovereignty of God: J. Heller.

Kingdom of God: H. Schultz; B. Hessler; G. Klein; Hans-Joachim Kraus; Roy Zuck, Eugene Merrill, Darrell Bock.

Promise (blessing, rest, oath, seed): Walter C. Kaiser Jr.

Election: R. C. Denton, H. Wildberger, Horst D. Preuss

Election / Covenant: R. de Vaux.

Elusive Presence: Samuel L. Terrien.

God’s Design: Deliverance, Community, Knowledge of God, Abundant life (land): Elmer A. Martens.

God’s Glory in Salvation through Judgment: James Hamilton.

Actually, Many Scholars rejected the idea of a central theme to the Old Testament has led to at least one scholar concluding that without a center, the best we can do is to talk about “the different theologies of the Old Testament” and that “the idea of an Old Testament theology as such must be permanently abandoned.” As Kaiser said. Also, as D. A. Carson wisely observed with regard to single-center approaches, “How shall one avoid the tendency to elevate one book or corpus of the NT and domesticate the rest, putting them on a leash held by the themes of the one, usually the book or corpus on which the biblical theologian has invested most scholarly energy?”

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