The Beauty with the Veil: Validating the Strategies of Kierkegaardian Indirect Communication Through a Close Christological Reading of the Hebrew Old Testament

This study explores the ways in which the Old Testament complicates and extends Soren Kierkegaard's strategies of indirect communication. It follows a methodology of close reading within a conceptual frame involving: the limitations of direct communication, the dynamics of overhearing, maieutic communication, and the communication of capability. This is an interdisciplinary investigation at the nexus of biblical theology, literary criticism, rhetorical analysis, and communication theory. These come together for an understanding of how the Christological content of the Old Testament relates to the variety of its literary forms. Biblical texts from several genres were selected: parable, historical prose, cultic and prophetic poetry, ritual, apocalyptic, proverbial and non-proverbial wisdom literature, and love song. The major result of this study is that the presence of indirect communication in the Old Testament validates its usefulness for communicating the grace of Christ. The author appeals for research into indirect communication in the New Testament.