Abstract
In The Good Shepherd, Kenneth Bailey assembles a comprehensive awareness of Middle Eastern cultures and traditions, reflection on five monographs by Middle Easterners who personally herded sheep, ancient treasures of Arabic language commentaries and translations, and multiple personal interviews with students and shepherds who were experienced in the care of sheep. The result is a thoroughly engaging treatment of nine key good shepherd texts found in the Christian Scriptures.
In the Introduction, Bailey sets forth his methodology, which involves examining a cluster of ten recurring theological clusters viewed through a literary approach to Psalm 23; Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 34; Zechariah 10; Matthew 18; Mark 6; Luke 15; John 10; and 1 Peter 5. Each chapter presents one text, carefully examining each cameo (literary segments). Each chapter includes a section of commentary, numerous representations of the literary features of the text and the emerging themes, and concludes with an analysis of which of the ten key themes occur in that text.
The first, and most lengthy chapter, covers Psalm 23. Bailey skillfully develops the key themes, providing exegetical insight from both the Hebrew text and subsequent Arabic translations and commentaries. Each ensuing chapter examines the next text (presented in canonical order) and evaluates how it develops the themes initiated in Psalm 23. Bailey convincingly reveals the movements within Israel’s thought process as the individualistic nature of Psalm 23 is transformed into a nationalistic (militaristic?) view in Zechariah. Bailey then unveils the development of the New Testament’s shift from God as shepherd to Jesus as shepherd. By the end of this encouraging and informative work, the reader realizes that ‘the promises of God to the flock of God in the Hebrew Bible are now promises that can be claimed by the new flock, the church’ (p. 263).
A postscript consists of five reflections: ‘The good shepherd tradition’, ‘Christology from the mouth of Jesus’, ‘salvation’, ‘Christian leadership’ and ‘Jesus as theologian’.
One of the strengths of Bailey’s presentation is also one of its only frustrations. Each chapter ends with a summary of the ten themes and while that is essential for seeing the similarities, diversities and development, it also feels a bit repetitive. But that is a minor distraction amid the pleasure of watching an artist sketch a powerful picture of our shepherd as he is revealed in Scripture.
Any reader familiar with Kenneth Bailey already savours the flavours of the Middle East in his writings. There will be no disappointment in The Good Shepherd. Any reader looking for an example of utilizing literary structures will glean helpful insights from Bailey’s exegesis of nine disparate texts. All who enjoy seeing the relationship among themes as they unfold across the canon will be excited by the deft weaving of textual connections. Readers wishing to know how God and Jesus are portrayed as shepherd throughout Scripture will come away from The Good Shepherd with a full heart and mind prepared for further thought and devotion.