Struggles for Shalom: Peace and Violence Across the Testaments

In this review of Struggles for Shalom: Peace and Violence Across the Testaments, the bottom line is clear: this essay collection is essential for readers who want a careful, scholarly engagement with biblical texts on peace, justice, and violence. Edited to honor Perry B. Yoder and Willard M. Swartley, the volume gathers twenty-three authors who bring close readings of ancient Jewish and Christian writings; the result is a measured, text-focused contribution to discussions of nonviolence and retribution that will reward pastors, seminary students, and scholars looking for thoughtful, source-based reflection.

Key Features

• Collected essays: Twenty-three contributors present varied perspectives that deepen understanding of how peace and violence appear across the Hebrew Bible, Dead Sea manuscripts, and New Testament texts.
• Text-centered analysis: Close readings of passages such as Eccl 3:1-9, Ezek 14:12-23, and Luke 22:31-61 provide concrete biblical evidence for debates about wartime language and nonviolence.
• Honors Mennonite scholarship: The volume builds on the life work of Perry B. Yoder and Willard M. Swartley, making it useful for readers interested in the Mennonite tradition and its interpretive priorities.
• Diverse topics: Essays address temple cleansing episodes, sectarian violence in Qumran manuscripts, creation violence themes, and utopian readings of Chronicles, offering multiple entry points for study.
• Scholarly audience fit: The book is organized for readers who appreciate exegetical detail and scholarly conversation rather than popular simplification.

Who It's For

The volume is best for seminary students, biblical scholars, clergy, and informed lay readers who want rigorous, source-based discussion about peace and violence in scripture. Those teaching courses on ethics, biblical interpretation, or peace theology will find useful essays to assign and discuss.

Readers seeking devotional guides, quick answers, or introductory overviews of pacifism that avoid academic detail should look elsewhere; this book assumes familiarity with biblical texts and interest in engaged scholarly debate rather than devotional simplification.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Wide-ranging scholarly perspectives illuminate ancient texts relevant to peace and violence debates.
• Close textual analysis of passages like Luke 22 and Ezekiel gives solid exegetical grounding for ethical reflection.
• Honors the work of key Mennonite scholars, situating new essays within a recognizable interpretive tradition.

Cons

• The academic level and focus on essays make it less accessible for casual readers or those seeking a devotional treatment.

Specifications

Title	Struggles for Shalom: Peace and Violence Across the Testaments
Editors/Authors	Laura Brenneman, Brad D Schantz, Ben C Ollenburger
Contributors	Twenty-three authors
Main topics	Peace, justice, violence in Jewish and Christian texts
Representative texts covered	Eccl 3:1-9; Ezek 14:12-23; Luke 22:31-61; John 2; Mark 11; Dead Sea manuscripts; Chronicles
Intended audience	Scholars, clergy, seminary students

Our Verdict

Struggles for Shalom is a valuable scholarly collection for anyone engaging the intersection of scripture and peace theology; its detailed essays reward readers who want careful exegesis and historical attention. For those who need academic depth and a range of informed perspectives on biblical violence and peacemaking, this volume is good value and a worthwhile addition to a theological library.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book focus more on the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament?
The collection includes substantial treatment of both Hebrew Bible material and New Testament passages, as well as Dead Sea manuscripts and other ancient sources.

Is the book suitable for classroom use?
Yes; the essays are well suited to seminary or upper-level undergraduate courses on biblical ethics, peace theology, or interpretation.

Is this a devotional or popular introduction?
No; the volume is scholarly and exegetical rather than devotional, so it is best for readers comfortable with academic treatment of scripture.