Speaking to the Exiles: How the Theme of Exile in Jeremiah Addresses 21 st Century Congregations

Abstract

The book of Jeremiah is the starting point for historical and theological investigation of the Babylonian exile. In recent years, scholars from several theological disciplines have identified the exilic period as a useful analogy for understanding the church's relationship to Western culture in a postmodern age. This article traces the theme of exile from the poetic utterances of the prophet to the formation of the book in its final form and demonstrates how the exile provided a framework for interpreting the contents of the Jeremiah tradition. The article then suggests ways in which Jeremiah can provide pastoral and theological resources for contemporary congregations that interpret their present circumstance through the metaphor of exile.