An investigation into the history of Old Testament criticism through biographical inquiries into many of the major characters involved: Spinoza, de Wette, Wellhausen, Gunkel, von Rad, Albright, and Childs.

The author admits that his investigation is limited, that he comes about things with a conservative viewpoint and a high esteem for Childs, and that there is plenty more to say about the subject and about other figures involved.

Nevertheless, for a beginner or the interested observer, the book does well at introducing some of the major characters involved in OT criticism, their backgrounds, the ecclesiastical, academic, cultural, and philosophical influences in their lives and how they were guided by those influences and/or reacted against them, the great contributions (for better or worse) of each character, the impact they had on the field, and their enduring legacy to this day.

If you've always been interested in how OT criticism has come to be as it is, and why it places so much emphasis on certain foci, this book will prove very useful and helpful.