would be less relevant were it not for the fact that much of the wisdom literature stands in tension if not opposition to his own theology. While Fretheim's catch phrase, “Metaphors matter,” can be universally affirmed, he is sometimes guilty of thinking that they matter too much. This leads him at time to engage in an overly literal reading of scripture. Metaphors reveal God to us, but they are not God himself. “The modern interpreter’s challenge, which is not adequately confronted in this book, is to discern how the Old Testament understood its metaphors.” He overstates his case when discussing incarnational metaphor and theodicy. White says, “There is no need for Fretheim to argue (as he does) that all theophanies were in human form in order to substantiate the interrelationship between theophanic motif and the prophet.” Saying that a human figure can be inferred within the pillar of cloud or the burning bush (p. 94–95) is speculative at best, and Fretheim doesn't need it to advance his argument. Published reviews Bellefontaine, Elizabeth. Review of The Suffering of God: An Old Testament Perspective, by Terence E. Fretheim. Horizons 13 (Spring 1986): 151–153. Harr, Murray J. Review of The Suffering of God: An Old Testament Perspective, by Terence E. Fretheim. Theology Today 42 (April 1985): 140–142. Luker, Lamontte. Review of The Suffering of God: An Old Testament Perspective, by Terence E. Fretheim. Currents in Theology and Mission 12 (December 1985) 376–378. Patrick, Dale. Review of The Suffering of God: An Old Testament Perspective, by Terence E. Fretheim. Word and World 5 (Fall 1985): 444–445. Theiss, Norman. Review of The Suffering of God: An Old Testament Perspective, by Terence E. Fretheim. Interpretation 40, no. 1 (January 1986): 81–82. Ward, James M. Review of The Suffering of God: An Old Testament Perspective, by Terence E. Fretheim. Journal of Biblical Literature 105, no. 3 (Summer 1986): 516–518. White, John B. Review of The Suffering of God: An Old Testament Perspective, by Terence E. Fretheim. Journal of the American Academy of Religion 54, no. 3 (Fall 1986): 578–579. See also Abraham Joshua Heschel Jürgen Moltmann Kazoh Kitamori 1984 non-fiction books Religious studies books 1984 in religion