...WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SYNAGOGUE PAPER PRESENTED TO PROFESSOR LANE OLSON IN PARTIAL FULLFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR RLGN 1301 SCHOOL OF RELIGION BY MICHAEL S. FIA ANCHORAGE, ALASKA MAY 2012 CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. THE NAME: “SYNAGOGUE” 1 III. ORIGIN 2 IV. ORGANIZATION 2 Judicial 3 Liturgical 3 V. LITURGY 4 VI. BUILDING 5 VII. CONCLUSION 6 BIBLIOGRAPHY 7 HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SYNAGOGUE Introduction The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines a synagogue as the local meeting place and assembly of the Jewish people during the late intertestamental and New Testament times. While Jewish tradition claims the synagogue was begun by Moses, there is little in the Old Testament to support this claim. One reason it is hard to pinpoint the exact origin of the first synagogue is because God had commanded that the Jewish people to worship only where God would put His name. You must not worship the Lord your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go. The original center for the Jewish ritual and worship was first the Tabernacle and later the Temple built in Jerusalem by Solomon. If the Jewish people were to build a place of worship other than the Temple they would have been breaching the Law...
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...Q4. While David Bosch sees New Testament as missionary documents, he doesn’t however, seems to consider OT as essentially missionary document. Give an account on what David Bosch means by that assertion. In particular, mission rooted in biblical foundation. There were no Old Testament people of God without a mission. The mission and the message of the Old Testament people, even though both issues can be separated, belong firmly together. The mission includes the proclamation of the message of God. Some scholars argued that in the Old Testament there is no specific call to evangelize the world. There is no commission in the Old Testament (in contrast to the New Testament) to go and evangelize the world. David J. Bosch stated that the New Testament as a missionary document, but he did not neglect the Old Testament. Depicting this idea that without the Old Testament there is no the New Testament document of mission. Bosch hints at an Old Testament notion of mission when he refers to the action of God in history. This activity is seen in history. The most obvious missionary activity is recorded in the Book of Jonah. This prophet was not willing to go and fulfill God’s commission. At the end, he wondered what was wrong with God when He saved the cruel Ninevites. Jonah saw the salvation of Ninevites as evil, and he refused to agree with God’s compassion (Jonah 3:10; 4:1). In a dramatic way, God taught His prophet about the universality of God’s salvation (4:6-11). The Lord demonstrated...
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...the Old Testament Submitted to Dr. Homer Heater, Professor of Biblical Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of OBST 515 –D11 Old Testament Orientation I by Wuan D. Miller November 29, 2014 Introduction Christopher J. H. Right, author Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament, is an Anglican clergyman and an Old Testament scholar. A Ph.D. graduate of Cambridge, he currently is the Director of International Ministries for the Langham Partnership International. Wright records at least ten years prior to the release of this work, three things inspired him to research this topic; his students at Union Biblical Seminary who listened to his initial thoughts; John Goldiway’s articles related to the Old Testament and Christian faith; and a friend, Jim Punton, who personally requested that he write a book on how the Old Testament influenced Jesus. Thus, Wright explores the connection between Jesus and the Old Testament with the intention of showing how his identity, mission, and values are interwoven within its metanarrative. In doing so, he prefaces this work with his conviction that “the deeper you go into understanding the Old Testament, the closer you come to the heart of Jesus.”[1] While there is much to be gained from Wright’s work, a critical examination of the underlying themes will reveal a need for further evaluation of critical theological foundations for understanding Jesus in the context of the Old Testament. Summary ...
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...The Holy Bible contains the mystery to how far the creation of the earth and even the History behind the Holy Bible and this dates back to some 3,500 years ago. “The first five books of the Old Testament is known as the Tora or Pentateuch and these books are named: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.” The Old Testament contains the recorded history before Christ and many biblical scholars give Moses the credit for writing the Tora and this will date back to 3,000 years BC. Many scholars omit The Old Testament written in Hebrew but the New Testament of the Bible written in Greek. The New Testament dates back to the period around 30 AD. However, many scholars reference this era in History as CE for Common Era. The authors...
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...A REVIEW OF KNOWING JESUS THROUGH THE OLD TESTAMENT By Christopher J. H. Wright Rick Mangrum OBST591-D17 Old Testament Orientation I Dr. Doug Wilson November 28, 2010 INTRODUCTION Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament is one of many books written by the Rev. Dr. Christopher J. H. Wright. He is also the author of The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland the son of missionary parents, he was raised as an Irish Presbyterian. He studied at Cambridge earning his doctorate in Old Testament Economic Ethics. Ordained as a pastor in the Anglican Church of England, he has worked as writer, pastor, teacher and missionary. He currently lives and works in London.1 Wright’s purpose in this work is to give the reader a deeper understanding of Old Testament teachings and how they molded and impacted the life of Christ. “For these are the words he (Jesus) read”.2 A book completely without footnotes, it represents the thoughts of only the writer. This book has been in demand and in print since its original publication in 1992.3 The easy, though sometimes wordy style clearly teaches the book’s main idea that the Old Testament begins to tells the story that Jesus completes! Through a deeper understanding of the Old Testament story and promise, and how it molded Jesus’s identity and mission as well as his values, we are lead to a deeper understanding of who Jesus truly was, why he lived the way _____________________________ 1Langham...
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...Research Paper The Babylonian Empire and the Old Testament Submitted to Dr. Curtis Fitzgerald, Ph.D, In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of the course OBST 520 LUO (Summer 2014) Old Testament Orientation II Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary Marcus Banks-Bey_L2444950 June 29, 2014 Thesis Statement This research paper will discuss, and review the history of the Babylion Empire, its rulers, and the Empire’s influential relationship upon some of the major events which developed within Old Testament literature. Introduction Through my research, it is my intent to identify significant points within the history of the Babylion Empire, including its origins, development, expansion, eventual decline, and why it became a focal point of many of the major events of the Old Testament. From the Great Empire of Akkad, Babylon became a major seat of learning, culture, and technology. More than simply a city-state of defiance, and sinful practices, Babylon’s influence, very often viewed through a negative scholarly lens, shaped the history of Asia Minor, Northern Africa, and the world when approached from a biblical standpoint. As such, Babylon remains a critical, powerful nation in relation to its nation-state of Israel, and Old Testament history. Nimrod The Cushite The first nation-state identified within contemporary Biblical literature is the land that is “Ethiopia”, as mentioned...
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...Marten started chapter 15 by saying “much of the material has been a presentation of salvation in history, where the Old Testament is heavily tilted toward history especially that of Israel.” The canonical order begins with creation, which situates Israel’s role in the broader perspective of God’s universal concern. In addition, as with Martens pivotal texts, therefore, Genesis 1-3 makes it clear that God’s design for the universe involves not only God’s role but also the role which the creation is to be discourse. It is a pattern of parallel divine purpose and human’s faithfulness may be traced through the Old Testament. The creation has two dimensions of that of context and critical, for example, the theme beyond Israel motif are highlighted...
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...Grunow Lecturer Department of English Cobelli@aol.com Course Description This introductory class presents a literary perspective on the Bible. Texts from the Bible stand at the center of analysis, while accompanying textbooks help us to contexualize biblical materials within history. Each week revolves around a particular theme with one lecture on the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and one on the New Testament. Themes include creation, birth, the hero, the mountain, the community, the Temple, suffering, and the end of time. As we place biblical texts in their historical contexts, we will consider the Bible as a literary work with distinct genres, themes and conventions. The thematic connections between the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament will be explored at the same time that differences in their style and message are investigated. While reading the Bible, we will develop a vocabulary for discussing literary texts as well as a vocabulary specific to texts from the ancient world. This lively and pluralistic course provides a thorough introduction to the literature of the Bible. Course Objectives The Bible is a central text that has influenced literature, history, and global politics. This course instructs students in reading and interpreting the Bible according to its structure and tropes and within its original contexts. The Bible is read in English according to the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). Students study theories of biblical authorship...
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...Importance of Christ’s Heritage from the Old Testament Although it may seem an outdated medium, stained glass is one of the most striking and intricate forms of expression. Stained glass has been one of the most powerful sources of storytelling during its extended history, especially in telling the history of Christianity in churches, cathedrals and similar notable buildings. However stained glass hadn’t been the method of communication in Christianity before the Gothic style. “The elimination of solid mural surfaces and the transformation of the Gothic building into a skeletal frame led to the ascendancy of stained glass during the twelfth century” (Bleiberg.) Not only does stained glass serve to tell remarkable stories, but it is also a significant part of the architecture. It is unlikely to find original stained glass windows that are still intact, and so it is not surprising that Chartres Cathedral, 50 miles southwest of Paris, is renowned for its well-preserved stained glass. Chartres began construction in 1194 and continued to assemble until 1250, and so the Rayonnant style remains somewhat cohesive throughout the cathedral. Chartres has three rose windows, created around 1235, which show some of the most stunning examples of high gothic intricacy and tracery. The north rose window depicts the glorification of the Virgin, and through its incredible complexity and striking painted glass, it shows the viewer a fragment of history. The north rose window of Chartres captures...
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...like to present four examples from both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Then from these examples and other reading materials, which perspective of the dichotomy the Church privilege shall be evident. Let me introduce the first example of the dichotomy, which compares the Book of Proverbs and the Old Testament as a whole. As the name Hebrew bible suggests, the Old Testament mostly concerns about the history of the Israelite people. For example, one of the most important parts in the Old Testament is the Pentateuch, the five books of Moses that focuses on the history of Jewish people. In these books, it appears that God chooses the Israelites among all the races of men. He leads the Israelites out of slavery and suffering in Egypt and brings them back to the Promised Land. He also makes a covenant with them on Mount Sinai, thus indicating the special status of the Israelites. In Exodus 3:6, God says to Moses: “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” In this sentence, God specifically addresses that He is the God of the Israelites people and shows his favor toward them. This is a good example of particularism. Furthermore, later in the Old Testament the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings all narrate the Jewish history and interaction with God in details. Therefore, we can claim that the Old Testament is somehow particular. Nevertheless, in the Old Testament, there is one book, the Book of Proverbs, which...
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...The old testament was filled with different events. Some moments were more crucial to salvation history than others. Many events happened in the old testament; however, there are a couple that were more impactful than others. These events include creation, the flood, and the ten plagues. Creation is one of, if not the most important event in the Old Testament, and salvation history. It is the story of how the universe and humans were created. There are two different accounts of creation. The story of Adam and eve, and the story of God creating the universe in 7 days. Both of these accounts may not be completely, however they both accommodate major events throughout salvation history. It was the start of salvation history. The great...
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...literally means “little books,” meaning the bible is a collection of many individual books. The word bible is translated from the Greek word biblia. The definition expresses that it is a book that consists of diverse compositions, ranging from poetry, narrative to law, and prophecy. 2. Explain the relationship of the Christian Old Testament to the Hebrew Bible; define the term Tanakh, and name and describe the three main sections into which it is divided. In what way to Protestant editions of the Old Testament resemble the contents of the Tanakh? How do Catholic and Orthodox editions of the Old Testament differ from the Tanakh in content? Define the terms canon, Apocrypha, and deuterocanon. The Christian Old Testament and the Hebrew Bible are looked upon as the same even though there are significant differences between them. The most important of these variations is a change to the order of the books: the Hebrew Bible ends with the Book of Chronicles, which describes Israel restored to the Promised Land, and the Temple restored in Jerusalem; in the Hebrew Bible God's purpose is thus fulfilled and the divine history is at an end. In the Christian Old Testament the Book of Malachi is placed last, so that a prophecy of the coming of the Messiah leads into the birth of the Christ in the Gospel of Matthew. Tanakh is the modern name for the Hebrew Bible. It is an acronym consisting of three consonants that represent the three major divisions of the Bible; the Torah (law), the Nevi’im...
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...“Intertestamental period”, or the “Second Temple Period” represent a period within history, which upholds an interpretation for both Christianity and Judaism. According to Judaism, this era acknowledges the “Second Temple Period”, which exemplifies the Jewish Diaspora. First, “diaspora” simply means “dispersion” or “scattering.” This dispersion or scattering began through the efforts of the Assyrians when they defeated Israel in 722 B.C. In effect, the Jewish nation dispersed all over the Middle East, Egypt, and Babylon. These individuals literally disappeared from antiquity due to the results of the Jewish Diaspora. However, Nebuchadnezzar endured the Jewish populaces to inaugurate a cohesive group within Babylon around 597 B.C. Nevertheless, the subject of this essay will focus on the Christian assessment of the “Intertestamental Period.” For centuries, Christian intellectuals describe the era from the final quarter of the fifth century B.C. to the first century A.D. as the “Intertestamental Period.” This era arises with the reconstructing of the Jewish temple in the late sixth century, and terminating with its annihilation in A.D. 70. The “Intertestamental Period” represents a significant account of the supernatural hand of God throughout antiquity. The “Intertestamental Period” characterizes the period from the concluding of the Old Testament, the book of Malachi to the beginning of the New Testament, the book of Matthew. This era embraces about 400 “silent years”. The meaning...
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...approaches to the Old Testament. I believe that God is the author of the Old Testament through plenary verbal inspiration and by using people to write texts that are viewed to be sacred. I believe the Old Testament could be inspired by one’s personal testimonies or life experiences, which is passed down through oral tradition. As a child in Sunday school you are taught that the stories in the Bible are true, so one must believe that scriptures of a divine nature are without contradictions and discrepancies. In Genesis, it says, Long ago, before earth and all things in it, there was only God. I believe that God was the instigator of the process from the creation that led to other writings of the Old Testament. I believe that this is evidence that the Old Testament was written from the confessional/religious approach. I believe that God spiritually inspired people to write texts in the Old Testament. These people who wrote such sacred texts, God had been at work in their lives rather it be through a vision of God, a miracle performed by God, or a conversation with God. I believe that God spoke to their heart and showed them the way to write what was asked of them. Moses had a conversation with God to free his people which helped him lead the Hebrew people out of Egypt so they could live a great and prosperous life. This is just one example of how God was at work in one’s life and how he inspired written texts. I believe that it could also be argued that the Old Testament was written...
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...stories told, a collection of interpretations, whether they be right or wrong, are ought to form. Throughout the early centuries many altered interpretations, or heresies, regarding the bible formed. Although the heresy of Marcionism was outlandish and heavily disputed against, it actually aided in the emergence of the Catholic Church. According to John Knox, of the University of Chicago, “Among the creative personalities of early Christianity few are so interesting and important as Marcion, who was expelled from the Roman community… and whose activities gave rise to the most vigorous heretical movement within the ancient church”(p.1). According to the article, Marcion and Scripture: The Impact of a Second Century Heretic on the New Testament, Marcion’s early life was filled with disgrace. “At some point later, however, he was “excommunicated by his own father” for having seduced a consecrated virgin and “degraded both her and himself.” Most modern historians think that the story of Marcion's seduction of a virgin may be a symbolic tale in which the virgin represents the church and Marcion's seduction represents his introduction of heretical teaching”(p.1-3). After being excommunicated from the Church, he took his odd beliefs to Asia Minor. Adolf von Harnack, the author of Marcion The Gospel of the Alien God, explained the bishop of Smyrna, Polycarp’s views as “Polycarp sharply...
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