The Use of Irony in Redemptive-History

Dr. G. K. Beale speaks about the use of irony in redemptive-history, which is the subject of his book Redemptive Reversals and the Ironic Overturning of Human Wisdom (Crossway). The Bible is full of ironic situations in which God overturns the world’s wisdom by doing the opposite of what is expected―people are punished by their own sin, the persecution of the church is the catalyst for its growth, Paul claims to have strength through weakness, and more. In this book, Beale explores God’s pattern of divine irony in both judgment and salvation, finding its greatest expression in Jesus’s triumph over death through death on a cross. Unpacking this pattern throughout redemptive history, Beale shows us how God often uses what is seemingly weak and foolish to underscore his own strength and power in the lives of his people today. Dr. Beale holds the J. Gresham Machen chair of New Testament and is research professor of New Testament and biblical interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary. Links G. K. Beale, “The Book of Revelation and COVID-19” in New Horizons Volume 41, No. 9 (September 2020)G. K. Beale, Colossians and Philemon (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)G. K. Beale and Benjamin L. Gladd, The Story Retold: A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament (IVP Academic)G. K. Beale on Christ the Center, episode 54 — The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism Participants: Camden Bucey, Greg Beale