Microsoft Word - Review_Mark Kreitzer_Concept of Ethnicity_04_09.doc


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Review 
The Concept of Ethnicity in the Bible: A Theological Analysis by Mark Kreitzer     

Lewiston, NY: Mellen.   

 

Reviewed by Enoch Wan 

.  

Published in Global Missiology, Review & Preview, April 2009,  

 

www.globalmissiology.org 

 

 
 

 

This volume is a progress report  

of Dr, Mark R Kreitzer’s  

extensive study on the topic of 

”ethnicity, ” prompted by 

• His professional service as a  

       missionary in South Africa; 

• Full-time study in the two 

 doctoral programs at 

 Reformed Theological Seminary; 

• Personal reflections on his missionary career and in-depth research of many years on 

“ethnicity” 

 

This volume should be a prescribed reading for those who are interested in issues related 

to: 

• The topic of “ethnicity” discussed within the framework of a biblical worldview; 

Table of Contents 

List of Abbreviations  

List of Figures 

Foreword 

Acknowledgements 

Introduction 

1. Ethnicity: Background Literature 

2. Ethnicity: Ethnicity and Interdisciplinary 

3. Ethnic Solidarity: Preliminary Definitions 

4. Dominion Covenant, Babel, Ethnic Solidarity 

5. Primal History, Abraham, and Mission 

6. Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants Impact Esol 

7. Esol and the Covenants in Wisdom Literature 

8. Esol in the Prophets and Mission Success 

9. Esol, Babel-Pentecost, and the New Covenant 

10. Esol, Paul, and Covenant Theology 

11. Conclusion and Application 

Glossary of Philosophical Terms 

Reference Terms  

ISBN10:  0-7734-4898-5   ISBN13:  978-0-7734-4898-

8    Pages:  516    Year:  2008     



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• The turmoil of inter-ethnic conflicts both internally in many countries and 

internationally among cultural-distinctive groups that have Kingdom implications; 

• The challenge of pluralism, multiculturalism and post-modernism to evangelicals 

in the 21
st
 Century; 

• The search for an alternative epistemological paradigm for evangelical Christian 

scholars; 

• The best option in research methodology for students of many disciplines and 

scholars of different persuasions. 

 

This is not a volume for light reading for it is: a book of 400+ pages, extensive “reference 

list, carefully documented footnotes, complicated framework, multi-disciplinary approach, 

etc.   

The book is consistently and convincingly framed in the covenantal tradition of 

Reformed orientation that might not sit well with those of Armenian persuasion.  It is a 

bold attempt to critique popular convictions, shared by evangelical scholars, such as 

“homogeneous unit principle,” critical realism epistemology, church growth movement, 

etc.  Yet evangelical researchers on “ethnicity” cannot easily dismiss the argument of the 

author who has developed strong biblical foundation, sound theological conviction and 

systematic/theoretical formulation of ethnicity. 

 

The readers will find the “Glossary of Philosophical Terms” at the end of the book to be 

very helpful. The comprehensive “Reference List” with hundreds of helpful publications 

is handy for those who desire to pursue the topic further. 

 

Here are some suggestions for those who are ready to make the most of this book of 

extensive length, complicated argument, wordy style, and other challenges: 

   

• Start with “Glossary of Philosophical Terms” of pages 425-430 to have the basic 

understanding of many key-terms; 

• Then read the last chapter “Conclusions and Applications” of pages 399-423 to 

have a good grasp of the theory, theology and major themes covered by the author 

• Then peruse the many figures (see listing on page xvii) to familiarize with the the 

theoretical framework of the author; 

• Then scan through the various chapters for a general understanding without being 

distracted by word study (of Hebrew and Greek) and extensive footnotes.  

 



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If one can persevere, the reward of reading a challenging book like this volume is to 

journey with the author through selected biblical passages of OT and NT on “ethnicity,” 

exciting theoretical formulation and missiological implication of “ethnicity.”