...Susan Niditch, in the book Ancient Israelite Religion, provides a study of Israelite religion based on critical reading of the biblical text. Niditch discusses the Old Testament story, some archaeological discoveries, and the worldview. The book looks into the experiential, mythical, ethical, and ritual components of the Old Testament story. In an effort to greater understand the way this text informs my reading and interpretation of the Old Testament, I will go through each chapter and discuss elements that impacted my understanding of the Old Testament text. Niditch begins with a discussion of the experiential elements of the Old Testament. In this chapter she looks into covenant making, annunciations to women, Jacob at Bethel, Saul’s encounter with the deceased Samuel, Moses and his return to Egypt, and visions of heaven. The most impactful element of this discussion, was perhaps that of the annunciations to women. Niditch suggests that, “[The annunciation to women] is probably male-generated, is perhaps patronizing in its implications for modern women, but is nevertheless an empowering cameo of the experiential for women.” As a young woman in the church, it has often been hard for me to read the Old Testament and feel validated. I often looked at these texts and saw the patronizing elements, and the churches response to those texts did not make matters easier. I rarely saw the empowering nature of these stories. In reading Niditch’s book, I was able to see a more...
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...SEMINARY IPAJA, LAGOS, NIGERIA. COURSE TITLE: OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS COURSE CODE: OT 614 COURSE LECTURER: PASTOR AKINOLA TOPIC: BOOK SUMMARY OF “A STUDY OF THE MAJOR AND MINOR PROPHETS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT” by Emmanuel Itapson & George E. Janvier prepared by: AYOBAMIJI JOSEPH OLUWAGUNNA March 2013 CHAPTER 1 It is pertinent to have a good understanding of hermeneutics in order to have a correct content and context concepts in the interpretation of the prophets. Because the Bible is quite uniquely different from all other types of literature – its divine Authorship and inspiration, being the major distinguishing feature and prominent hallmark, the interpretation requires divine guidance. Inspiration is the act of the Holy Spirit in leading a man to record the message of God in written documentary while Interpretation is the act of a man in determining the meaning as intended by God in the original passage and how it applies to us today. Interpretation involves skill, but more critically involves Spirit in keeping to rightness. The grammatico-historical method is generally applicable in Biblical hermeneutics to both basic, broad types of writings contained in Biblical literature. Categorized broadly as prose and poetry. Further insights is gained when there is understanding of the literature type being interpreted. Features of Old Testament prophecy: • Bible prophecy is for both CURRENT as...
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...Bishop Patteson Theological College Kohimarama 2013 Eschatology and Soteriology Assignment One (What cultural module you would use to explain Eschatology to your congregation) Name: Ellison Gito Course: THEO 235/ESCHATOLOGY/SOTERIOLOGY Semester: One Diploma: Three Year: 2013 Due date: March, Lecturer: Rev. Fox Mark CONTENTS Page 1) Introduction 1 2) Definition of Eschatology 1 3) Traditional Belief to Eschatology in Isabel 2 4) Biblical Foundation to Eschatology in the Old Testament 3 5) Biblical Foundation from the New Testament 3 a) Eschatology from Saint Paul b) Eschatology from the Gospels 4 6) Theological Reflection to Eschatology 4 7) Conclusion 5 8) Bibliography 6 1) Introduction In this 21st century people continue to wonder what their destiny will be after death; perhaps people have many definitions and explanation about it. Hence, people are struggling to reconcile to one common understanding. This questions I believe remain their and our question today. Now, having this understanding in mind I believe there is a great need for a clear and coherent explanation of Eschatology to my people. Therefore, in this essay I will begin to explore and try to instil to my people a clear understanding of eschatology by looking into our traditional belief about the last day. Then, later I will align this understanding to the Biblical texts of eschatology...
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...Gabrielle Van Tassell Professor Shadi Halabi Journey of Transformation 8 December 2016 Hope Where All Hope Is Lost The novel The Road, by Cormac McCarthy, is a post-apocalyptic story that consists of underlying biblical references. McCarthy, with or without intention, incorporates themes and stories directly related to the Christian Bible. The boy and the man are living in a seemingly godless world trying to survive, and the novel describes this as “On this road there are no godspoke men. They are gone and I am left and they have taken with them the world.” (McCarthy 32). McCarthy creates a post-apocalyptic world in which a man and a boy are attempting survive off of hope, and he uses biblical references to exude this hope on their journey....
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...Israel” . In this paper, however, the position that will be defended is pre-millennial view. To help us get a grasp of this discussion, let us look at the biblical history of premillennialism in the Old Testament. BIBLICAL HISTORY OF PREMILLENNIALISM IN THE OLD TESTAMENT A good student...
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...that texts will be misinterpreted if studied only in minute detail. He encourages reading the text in context to understanding how it connects with the whole book. Dempster’s over-arching point is that the Hebrew Bible is more than just literature, it is the divine word of God. Dempster begins by acknowledging the challenge today of interpreting the Old Testament as the original readers would have, rather than through New Testament eyes. He describes...
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...must center around by Dr. Daniel Wallace. His case is built in both the Old Testament and New Testament. He examines sermons in Acts and the letters written by Paul to show the foundational necessity of the resurrection; he also show the hope the people in the Old Testament times had found in Daniel also, giving balance between the prophecy and those that had seen or experienced Christ . Wallace examines multiple different positions that hinge on the resurrection being real. Wallace’s writing easy to read and to the point. The way he writes you do not need to be a scholar to understand it and thus makes it open to all people not just the educated. The way he used his scripture references was one of the strengths I found in reading this article. There is great importance in using scriptural fact to support and backing the opinion put forth. He draws out all the main points to the resurrection with concise detail putting it all plainly before the readers. The quote by George Eldon Ladd used by Wallace, “If Christ is not risen from the dead, the long course of God’s redemptive acts to save people ends in a dead-end street, in a tomb.” I found this the most thought provoking, for if Christ is not risen everything ended long before I ever heard the good news. There are very few weaknesses to be found in this article, yet if pressed you can always find at least one. For me it was the lack of Old Testament scriptures used to lay the foundation for the resurrection. This had been...
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...Review of Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament by Christopher J.H. Wright James Pruch Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary May 2012 Introduction Dr. Christopher J. H. Wright (Ph. D., Cambridge) is an Old Testament scholar, an ordained Anglican ministry, and is the director of international ministries with the Langham Partnership International. In Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament, Wright seeks to display the continuity between the Hebrew Scriptures and Jesus’ self-understanding. Wright maintains that Jesus’ self-understanding rooted in the history of salvation that God planned and worked for Israel. This review will show that Wright’s book provides the reader with a rich understanding of Jesus’ unique identity as the Hebrew Messiah and gives helpful insights for understanding how the OT should be viewed from the Christian perspective. Brief Summary Wright’s thesis is that one cannot fully know the story of Jesus unless he sees “it in the light of a much longer story which goes back for many centuries.”1 He works this out in five chapters, which he summarizes at the end of the book: We have seen that the Old Testament tells the story which Jesus completed. It declares the promise which he fulfilled. It provides the pictures and models which shaped his identity. It programmes a mission which he accepted and passed on. It teaches a moral orientation to God and the world which he endorsed, sharpened, and laid as the foundation for obedient discipleship.2 He argues...
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...……………………………………………………………………………….. 1 Theology of Mission ………………………………………………………………………. Old Testament Missions …………………………………………………………... New Testament Missions …………………………………………………………. God’s Nature in Missions …………………………………………………………………. Relating Mission Theology to Individuals…………………………………………………. Church Leaders ……………………………………………………………………. Lay Members ………………………………………………………………………. Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………. Bibliography ………………………………………………………………………………. ii Introduction Many Christians wonder why God would leave them on such a horrible place full of danger, strive and envy. Christians believe that God uses them on earth by his holy power to gather and encourage those that are lost. This is done by the message that Christ gave to the kingdom. 1 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Christians no matter the race or gender must know that God reigns and that God is the only one who can give favor, peace, love and joy through faith in his son Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1-2 states, “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have power with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. The implication that God is supreme means all mankind must submit themselves...
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...Religion is the cause of many good and bad things around the world. Many would say that religion separates and divides all humans and causes conflict. Our society today has developed far beyond what we had expected. Human civilization has evolved intellectually and also technologically. Humans have come so far on their own and they are only going to get farther. Humans have proven that they do not need much to advance but knowledge. Religion is still needed in our society, not for our civilization to advance but for humanity to maintain aspects of its roots. Religion differentiates all of the unique cultures we have around the world, teaches and emphasizes the role of morals and gives people hope and faith in themselves and the world. There are one hundred and ninety-six countries in the world as of today. We are all the same people but what separates us is our cultures and traditions. Every ethnic group of people in this world have unique traditions, languages, political and social ideologies, cultures and lifestyles. According to Professor Billikopf who teaches at the University of California in his article he says that knowing each other’s cultural differences brings the sense of unity and understanding to the human race. If all humans were the same there would be nothing to understand about our species and our similarities would make our race unbalanced. Unbalanced in the sense that humans would not be as significant as they are today. People would feel as if they are...
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...shall see you together with him.” Nevertheless, the particular audience, author has been debated for a long time and it is still uncertain. The main reason of the letter to the Hebrews is to present the Lord Jesus Christ as perfect and superior in comparison to anything Judaism and the old covenant had to offer. The author was writing to a group of Christians who were under intense persecution and some were contemplating a return to Judaism. He admonished them not to turn away from their only hope of salvation. In chapters 1-10:18, the author frequently establishes Jesus Christ as well-known and distinguished over the angels, “let the angels of God worship Him” ; over Moses, “But he is worthy of more “glory” that Moses…” ; over the Old Testament priesthood, “declared by God high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.” The author goes on to explain that the New Covenant is greater than the Old Covenant because Jesus was the perfect, permanent sacrifice, rather than the Old Testament sacrifices. The author also shows the authority and power of the Word of God, “Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” Hebrews 13:24 states: "Greetings to all your leaders and to all the holy ones. Those from Italy send you greetings" and this phrase indicates that the letter was written from Italy. As early as the end of the second...
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...DURATION AND NATURE: The word “millennium” is derived from two Latin words, mille and annus, which is translated as “thousand” and “year”. Thus it is a period of one thousand years. The Greek word that is used for millennium is chilias and this term is found six times in the book of Revelation.[3] It is the time after the church age and the Tribulation and prior to all eternity. All the promises and covenants that God made to Israel will be fulfilled at this royal reign of Christ on the earth.[4] Christ will return to the earth, Satan will be 2 bound, and because Satan’s world system has been destroyed the way is made for Christ’s kingdom on this earth. Because much prophecy of this time has been written in the Old Testament, the book of Revelation does not expand on it as much.[5] This period of time is characterized as being a period of joy and comfort due to Satan being restrained for the thousand years and is called the “theocratic kingdom” because it is ruled directly...
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...05/8/2015 New Testament Bible Dictionary Project: Romans/Paul/Ephesus Romans: This Epistle to the Romans, although usually shortened to just Romans, was written by the Apostle Paul around the times of 55 to 57 A.D. This is the 6th book of New Testament and out of all the letters or epistles that Paul wrote in his time, his letter to the Romans is the longest, most detailed and most ambitious. The two major personalities in this book are: the writer, the Apostle Paul, and Phoebe who delivered the letter to the Roman Christian Church. Paul addressed such things in this letter as; the meaning of the gospel, the importance of the gospel, the nature of Gods salvation, how salvation can be achieved by all whom seek it, the people who are in need of it, the effects of salvation on an individual’s life, and the impact of salvation on the community as a whole. “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you — that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine” (Romans 1:11-12). The most important and probably the central theme seen throughout this book is the faith in God’s righteousness and Christ’s sacrifice, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes... For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith" (Romans 1:16-17). Paul: Paul was personally responsible for writing quite a bit of the New Testament, of which...
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...Response Paper: Gilgamesh and Old Testament Question: Is the biblical flood account a modified copy of the Epic of Gilgamesh? The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Old Testament have their similarities as well as differences. The Epic of Gilgamesh is supposedly a mythical tale, while the Old Testament has proven to be true facts. I feel as if the biblical flood account can’t possibly be a modified copy of the Epic of Gilgamesh because while Gilgamesh is a myth, the Old Testament is a proven true story; notable differences between the two accounts and thirdly, because the word of God tells no tales. Even though “Gilgamesh is the first recorded heroic narrative of world literature (Chambers)”, God is the creator of the world so he had the power to actually make the flood occur even if he did get the idea from that tale. Since it is said that our God is an omniscient God or all-knowing; wouldn’t that mean that he in all actuality created Gilgamesh? I hope you can understand where I am trying to go with this argument because I know what I want to say, but it is so complex that it is hard to explain. I guess that is how it goes when it comes to discuss religion and history! Basically, my stance for saying that it is not a modification is because the Epic of Gilgamesh is not as realistic as the biblical account. ‘The gods were frightened by the flood, and retreated, ascending to the heaven of Anu. The gods were cowering like dogs, crouching by the outer wall (Clinton, Irele, , , , and et...
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...to be looking anxiously around the congregation. The chairman whispered to him, "What’s the problem? Is there someone here who’s heard the sermon before?" "No," replied the minister, "I was looking to see if there’s anybody who hasn’t heard it before!" How embarrassing! I’m in a slightly similar position, because at Easter, it’s almost certain you’ve all heard a sermon based on what happened on the road to Emmaus - although not from me! It’s a story worth repeating again and again because it’s at the very heart of the Gospel. It highlights the living hope found only in the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. St Paul wrote to his friends at Corinth, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead" (1 Cor 15:19,20). But on that first Easter day that living hope was far from being established in the experience of the two people we read of in the New Testament lesson (Luke 24:13-35). Let’s put ourselves in their shoes as they set out on the seven-mile walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus. It was a: HEART-BREAKING EXPERIENCE Have you ever noticed that some of the saddest words in our language begin with the letter D? For example, disappointment, doubt, disillusionment, defeat, despair and death. All of these are summed up in the words of Cleopas and his companion to the stranger who joined them on the Emmaus road. They had left the dispirited and confused band of disciples with the events of Good Friday fresh in...
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