...Imprecatory Psalms? A research paper submitted to Dr. B. Keith Lester. In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the course OBST 520 Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary By Lynchburg, Virginia Friday, July 03, 2015 Contents INTRODUCTION 3 IMPRECATORY PSALMS 3 Context Matters 4 Problematic Solutions 7 Author’s view of Imprecations 9 Should Modern Day Christians Pray Imprecatory Prayers? 10 “Wrong” is not the same as “Sinful” 12 Concluding Thoughts 13 Bibliography iv INTRODUCTION Between the September 11th terrorists, ISIS, and other terror plots and organizations which openly call for the extension of Christians, more Christians than ever are wondering how to properly think about and handle such violent and gruesome persecution. One idea which is regaining traction is imprecatory prayers or “cursing” prayers. These prayers of cursing are found throughout the Bible but the most notable examples are found in Psalms. Christians struggle, however, with whether or not praying these prayers is in keeping with the orthodox teachings of Christ whose teachings involved mercy, grace, and forgiveness. So can and should Christians utilize the imprecatory psalms as part of their regular prayer life or not? This paper will attempt to answer this question by first briefly examining an example of an imprecatory psalm and the context surrounding it and then comparing it to the New Testament teachings of Christ. IMPRECATORY PSALMS According...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Book Critique Fee, Gordon D. and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for all it’s Worth, 4th ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014. 304 pp. USD $18.99 Submitted to Dr. Roy Lucas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of NSBT 610-D03 Hermeneutics by David P. Velez March 12, 2015 Contents Introduction....……………………………………………………………………………………..1 Brief Summary…..………………………………………………………………………………...1 Critical Evaluation...………………………………………………………………………………2 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………...5 Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………6 Introduction In the rise of the early Orthodox Church, the early church fathers were among the few privileged ones exposed to the Scriptures, thus, the Scriptures, not available for the common person to read, created a problem in understanding God’s written Word. But times have changed. Now that the believer has access to the Bible, the problem is not the lack of understanding, but the inability to obey the Word of God. According to Fee and Stuart: “In fact we are convinced that the single most serious problem people have with the Bible is not a lack of understanding but with the fact that they understand many things too well!... the problem is not understanding it, but obeying it.” Today there a more Bible translations than we can keep up with. While revising the third...
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...Week 4 Chapter 15 JOB Describe the enormity of Job's losses. Why did God allow this to happen to him? God allowed Satan to take everything from Job including, eventually his health. God does this to prove Job's righteousness to Satan. pg. 176 Chapter 16 PSALMS What is the major purpose of Psalms in regard to worship? Many were written to be sung as expressions of faith and worship/ express full range of human emotions. pg. 183 Chapter 17PROVERBS In what way does Proverbs exhibit the wisdom of God? Fear of the Lord as the key to wisdom and knowledge. God is the ultimate source of truth. pg. 200 Chapter 18ECCLESIASTES AND SONG OF SONGS What is unique about the author's approach in writing Ecclesiastes? The author was frustrated by injustice and the inability of man to straighten what is crooked. He was also frustrated by the transitory nature of life and the inability of wisdom to provide any sense of guarantee over what tomorrow might bring. pg. 203 5. Describe the various types of proverbs with biblical examples. Marriage and Sexuality Wealth and Poverty Power of the Tongue Principles on Child-Rearing Personal Discipline Friendship 6. How did these tragedies impact Job's wife? She says "Why don't you curse God and die?" out of realistic agony of losing all her children and soon to lose her husband. pg. 176 7. How does the Song of Songs caution the reader? Cautions the...
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...disagree with the statement put forward is that by not taking the Bible at face value and looking deeper you can find its true meaning. Some people are put off believing in the Bible due to unrealistic stories within it such as the creation account instead of looking at it as a metaphor which makes it easier to understand and still maintains the meaning and teachings of the Bible. The method of hermeneutics (the art of interpretation) also enables us to put stories into context and discover the deeper meaning that can make sense to our present day. It also helps us to relate the bible to contemporary issues such as IVF Treatment as issues like that were not present when the Bible was written. This is supported by Bultmann who believes by interpreting the bible it allows Christianity to be understood from a wider range of perspectives and that it lets us demythologise it. Another point that disagree with this statement is that if the Bible says what it means, then it makes it very hard for a reader to grasp a complete understanding of it. This is because of the many contradictions in the Bible such as in...
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...proven guilty. Mistake 3: Confusing Fallible Interpretations with God’s Infallible Revelation While the Bible is infallible, our interpretations are not. Although the Bible is accurate in all that it records, our understanding of what it records is subject to interpretation and error. There are times when we read something into a passage that is not there. For instance, passages such as Psalm 104:5, which reads, “He established the earth upon its foundations. So that it will not totter forever and ever.” The text seemed to support the idea that the earth was the center of the universe. That led the Roman Catholic Church to reject Galileo’s idea of the Sun being the center of the solar system, not the earth. The interpretation of the passage was in error. The passage does not say that the earth is the center of the solar system. The Bible did not contradict science, the interpretation did. Both the Bible and nature are revelations of God and as such they cannot contradict one another. When it appears that there is a contradiction, there is either an error in interpreting nature or an error in interpreting the Bible. Mistake 4: Failing to Understand the Context of the Passage Without a doubt, this is the most common mistake that critics make. One can prove or disprove anything in the Bible by ignoring the context of a passage. You can even show that God does not exist using the Bible. For example, Ps. 14:1 says “there is no God.” However, it says the exact opposite when you view the...
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...HOW TO READ THE BIBLE F O R A L L I T S W O RT H The primary task of Bible study is to determine what the Scriptures meant at the time they were written and how that meaning applies to us today. This vital guide focuses on the historical contexts of the Bible and explains differences between the Old Testament narratives, the Epistles, Gospels, Parables, Psalms, and more. It's a practical approach to Bible study -- one that makes good sense and is easy to understand. This new edition includes, among other changes, a new section on the Song of Songs and an updated list of recommended commentaries and resources. “A practical approach to Bible study in an easy to understand style.” —Bookstore Journal “A very useful reference book for the layperson who is engaged in study of the Bible.” —Booklist “...provides keys to interpreting the genre, and discusses the hermeneutical questions it raises for today’s Christians.” —New Testament Abstracts “This is a book about hermeneutics, without jargon or footnotes. It is very readable and makes good sense.... Carefully thought out and written.” —Journal for the Study of the Old Testament “...readable, clear, and well-written book on hermeneutics.” —Christian Standard “Fee and Stuart have delineated the hermeneutical principles for the valid interpretation of the variety of literary genres found in Scriptures. Fee and Stuart fulfill the objectives they set for themselves admirably. A book with this focus meets an obvious need.” —Journal of...
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...jdunn62@liberty.edu Due Date: Monday @ 11:59 PM (EST) -- midnight James Dunn Name: LU Email Address: BIBL 350 – Inductive Bible Study Assignments for Week #6 Assignment 10-1: Explain the Difference Between Reader Response and Authorial Intent (p.202). (20 Points) Note, this assignment is worth 20 points and should reflect considerable thought and effort in your response. Make sure you include in your explanation definitions of the terms involved. What role do presuppositions play in interpreting the Bible? Who controls the meaning of a biblical text? What is the source of reader-response view? What are the two main interpretive questions involved in these two views of who determines meaning? Reader Response: Reader response is the result of when the reader overlooks or neglects to discover what the author is intending to communicate in a biblical verse or passage. This method is dangerous as the reader attempts to bend the Word to their particular situation or circumstance. The question for this method by the reader is, “What does this verse and or passage mean to me?” rather than asking, “What is it that God is trying to communicate to me?” Or, “What does God want to teach me from this?” Reader response must be avoided at all cost as it has the potential to lead someone astray and down the wrong path. Scripture in the practice of this method is quoted out of context and is not taught or quoted as the author intended. Authorial Intent: Authorial intent would...
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...the light of Christ. Many believe that the Second Testament writers simply used parts of the First Testament as proof texts to show that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Messiah of Israel and Lord of the world. But this is not the case. The Second Testament writers consistently quoted or cited large sections of the First Testament, using them to unfold the Jesus story.” 2. The New Testament authors used the sameOld Testament textsindependently of one another. “But that’s not all,” writes Viola in his book Jesus: A Theography from Thomas Nelson Publishers. “They interpreted them in exactly the same way, often citing the texts in the same order. This fact alone demonstrates that the Second Testament authors shared a common method of interpreting the First Testament. The questions emerge, then: Where did they find this method of interpretation? What was their common source? The answer is that Jesus Himself was the common source. The Gospels tell us that Jesus took His followers through...
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...earth” (5). Along with supporting Addy’s interpretation, I also take Longfellow’s description of the reaper as the author trying to convince humans to welcome death by exhibiting the compassionate reaper as an “angel” (5). Young took Wordsworth’s “A Character” to suggests that each person possesses a vast range of emotions since the author describes the “many contrasts in [a] human’s face” (2). However, I gather that by using the numerous emotions that people feel throughout their lives, Wordsworth seems to use these “contrasts” to symbolize human life (2). Interpreting the detail that one must go through “the valley of the shadow” from Edgar Allan Poe’s “Eldorado”, Trevor concluded that one must die to reach his or her goal for happiness (25). While I understand Trevor’s connection, I would go as far as saying that when Poe references the “valley of the shadow of death”, because the allusion originates from Psalms 23:4 Poe seems to connect his poem with the supernatural (25). The author seems to suggest embracing death or “the valley of the shadow” because one must pass through it if he or she “seeks Eldorado”, which could represent the afterlife (24). ...
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...Content Summary I was taught very early on from Godly men in my life that hermeneutics were essential tools in interpreting the Word of God. However, as I traveled through the various stages of life in regard to hermeneutics that ranged from pride, frustration, ignorance, and now a desire to learn these tools. Stuart and Lee set out to offer guidelines for just that, hermeneutics - the art and science of the interpretation of literature and more specifically, the Bible The primary goal of their book seems to be to provide the interpreter with a variety of tools to assist in properly interpreting scripture. From the beginning Stuart and Fee provide reasons for the need of accurately interpreting scripture. For example, the letters and writing of the Bible were written in various times, in various cultures, and in different languages. All of these factors must be taken into account when discerning the original meaning of the text. In addition, I specifically appreciate the fact that Stuart and Fee from very beginning of their book explained that a temptation in exegeting scripture is the motivation of pride. I completely agree that the learning of and teaching of God’s Word should be done in confident humility. In regards to the Old Testament, for example, Stuart and Fee give great caution to properly understanding the nuances of the Old Testament narratives. The Old Testament narratives are primarily, thought not solely, there to gives us a better understand of who...
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...In the 16th Century the Roman Catholic Church had its own way of interpreting salvation. It was common for folks to greatly sin and then have their sins be washed away with a great load of currency. Roman Catholicism was the dominant form of Christianity since 4th century. During this era the Church provided all of the social services for everyone. The people were used to having the church be a part of their everyday lives from birth to adulthood. Priest would baptize, marry, and actually be one of the only people who could read who was of access to the entire church. The church relied so much on the priest to provide them all their information. It came to a point where one day someone realized that the Church was actually running things in an unfair way. He then decided to handle things on his own and steer the church in a brighter direction. Martin Luther was his name. It all began with a man whose name was Johann Tetzel. He went around town trying to sell some indulgences to people and claimed that it would help them be saved. Martin Luther really disagreed with this logic and felt that no such thing was right to do. He then wrote a 95 thesis about all the questions he had and propositions he wanted to debate. Martin Luther had a huge one in mind. He realized that in the Church the congregation was half lost when it came to...
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...An Exegesis of Matthew An Exegesis of Matthew 5:1-12 Matthew 5:1-12, commonly known as the Beatitudes, has been loved by every generation since first pronounced by Christ two thousand years ago. Matthew writes this record of the life, ministry and teaching of Jesus, and he places this message soon after Jesus' baptism and calling of the disciples. The Beatitudes are the opening section of the Sermon on the Mount, the longest recorded teaching during Christ's lifetime. We will begin by looking at this section as it lays within the book of Matthew and then go to a more in-depth exegetical study. Literary Context The most popular approach to Matthew's structure is the presentation of five major discourses, each ending with a formula statement that is foreign to other Biblical discourses, placed in a framework of narrative[1] (Talbert 15). In fact, "the five discourses are so clearly marked, from a literary point of view, that it is well-nigh impossible to believe that Matthew did not plan them" (Carson 63). Each of these discourses brings forth a topic of central importance for both the gospel rendition of the historical Jesus and the later experience of the church (Batdorf 26). The narrative section leading to the first discourse, from Matthew 3:1 to 4:25, chronicles not simply the biography of a man preparing for ministry, but the establishment of Messianic history and authority. We come to an understanding of Matthew's first and foremost discourse, the Sermon on the Mount...
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...Worldview means “a fundamental set of assumptions to which one commits that serves as a frame work for understanding and interpreting reality and deeply shapes one’s behavior” (Christian Worldview). Another way to describe worldview is a set of lenses through which we view the world. Everyone has a worldview but they do not share the same worldview of everybody else. We all make decisions about life, morals, and how we should live based on our worldview. A person Christian worldview is described as someone who has committed their life to following the teachings of Jesus Christ. The essential of a Christian worldview include God, Jesus, and humanity. In Exodus 34:6, shows some of God’s characteristics “… The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” These characteristics shows that God is loving and forgiving God. In 2 Peter 3:9, states “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” This demonstrate that God keeps his promises and his is patient with everyone .God creation was earth and things that lived on earth. He made the sun, moon, land, animals, and people. In Genesis chapter one and two, God tells people how he created the heaven and the earth. God created this world by just saying what he wanted. For example in Genesis 1:3, “…God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” Human...
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...(Dictionary.com). Religion and science are both ways in which we try to understand the world we live in, “but science is a way of knowing that differs from other ways in its dependence on empirical evidence and testable explanations” (Evolution Resources…). If the scientific method, the process by which these observations are made and evidence is collected, is the foundation for the worldview that to understand the universe, one must look only at the universe. On the other hand, religious people use supernatural entities to explain natural occurrences in this world. From this perspective, complex natural occurrences, such as the stars, point toward a Creator: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1, ESV Bible). Because of these contradictions in the way these two fields study the world, and what they hold as valid, they seem like polar opposites. Instead of trying to contradict one another, the two can, and should, be used to benefit each other in the pursuit of understanding...
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...MB532 READING AND INTERPRETING THE NEW TESTAMENT ASSIGNMENT 1: SHORT STUDY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WORLD KRISTINA TODD DR SARAH HARRIS DUE: 6 AUGUST 2015 WORD COUNT: 824 It is important to examine The Temple and Jerusalem’s past, to understand their significance to First Century Jewish People. Acknowledging what the temple meant before and after the diaspora, and the similarities and differences between the first and second temples, is vital to determine Herod’s Temples significance. Before the diaspora Judaism focused solely on using the Temple for sacrifices, festivals and honouring God. The Jews were a community who gathered to celebrate The Passover, Pentecost and Festival of Booths each year to remember their past and thankfulness to God . These festivals gave the Jews a sense of identity, illustrating where they came from and who they were. After the diaspora, when Solomon’s temple was destroyed in 586BC by the Babylonians, Jewish faith changed, to accommodate the lack of a temple and homeland. In their exile, Jews had to discover a way to repent and worship God without the Temple. Before its destruction, “God was inseparable from the Temple,” to the Jewish society. Synagogues were created during their exile to debate scripture and pray, as a substitute for the temple. It has been believed, that Jews dependence on the second temple spiritually speaking was not as strong as with the first temple. Many diaspora Jews chose not to attend festivals regularly...
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