An Introduction to the Old Testament - Exodus

Dillard, Raymond B. & Longman, Tremper III. "Exodus."  An Introduction to the Old Testament.  Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1994.  57-71.

Exodus seems to be a clear continuation from Genesis.

  It begins with "and."

  It repeats Genesis 46.8.

  It continues the saga of what to do with Joseph's bones.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

 - Authorship and Composition

     Exodus seems consistent with Genesis.

     The Decalog is integrated.  There are possible redactions (editorial changes) but they are not necessarily considered later editorial additions.

 - Nature and Date of the Exodus

     Based on the census of men of combatant age the total population is probably in the millions.

     The people leave slavery in Egypt by the hand of Moses.

     1 Kings 6.1 is clearly dated at 967 B.C. and states the Exodus is 480 years previous.

     Judges 11.26, which is not as clearly dated, indicates the Exodus is about 300 years before Jephthah.

     Various questions about the dating are raised briefly on pp. 59-62 of the text.

LITERARY ANALYSIS

 - Structure - the book basically divides into three parts, whether thematically or geographically.

     Geographically: 1) Israel in Egypt (1.1-13.16), 2) Israel in the Wilderness (13.17-18.27), Israel at Sinai (9.1-40.38).

     Thematically: 1( God delivers Israel from Egyptian bondage (1.1-18.27), God gives Israel His Law (19.1-24.18), God Commands Israel to Build the Tabernacle (25.1-40.38).

 - Genre - prophetic or theological history with an important role of the Law.

THEOLOGICAL MESSAGE

     God can deliver his people.  He gives his law in the wilderness, a place of wandering and lostness.  He provides salvation through the Gospel, signified by the Tabernacle, all parts of which look toward Christ.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com

Housing Search Update

Here's a quick update on our planned move to Fort Wayne, thus allowing me to attend seminary either toward a degree or at least for some very serious ongoing education.

1) Our house in Huntington is now on the market.  The virtual tour has had a lot of hits.  Hopefully we'll have lots of people looking at the house in person.  We would like someone to find the house and enjoy living in it as we have.

2) We have looked at houses in Fort Wayne on the Internet and for one day in person.  We have a list of houses lined up for another trip to Fort Wayne.  We're watching for a good bargain but there are some related thoughts we are bearing in mind.

  a) It would be great to own the place we move to outright before I would start seminary classes.

  b) The seminary plan has two years of classroom work, a relocation for a vicarage year, then another year of classroom work.  It would be good to be able to rent the house to a seminarian during the vicarage year.

  c) Retirement happens to everyone eventually.  If we find a house and community we like a lot, I may consider continuing to own the house while working as a pastor then returning there for retirement one of these years.

Generally we have been pleased with what we see.  In nearly every location there are some houses around which show evidence of care.  Of course, some are less cared-for.  But the community seems to be quite pleasant.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com

Agricola Urbanus - Take Dominion over a Yard

This post is a follow-up on the benefits and drawbacks of a cash economy.  Did you ever think of the biblical command to take dominion over the earth?  Want to do it?  Think you need a huge farm?  Think again.  Regardless of your circumstances, you have been placed in a location where the Lord would have you take care of this world and your surroundings.  Maybe it's a multi-thousand acre farm.  Maybe it's a 30x60 foot lot like where I now live.  Maybe it's an apartment or a dormitory room.  When I think of taking dominion over a yard, it may be a lawn or it may be a "yard," i.e., a three foot by three foot area.  We've all got at least a few of those.

I started thinking about the idea of urban farming some years ago when I noticed someone in our neighborhood had fancy colored lettuces among the flowers along the sidewalk.  Why not?  Actually, I wouldn't be likely to do that since I am not fond of lettuce.  But if there's something you want and it can fit tastefully into a planted area you have, why not put it in?  Here are a few really simple ideas.

 ~~ Apple trees produce apples, blossoms, and shade.  If you're going to plant a tree, think about a fruit tree.

 ~~ An herb garden may well fit into a foot-wide place along a porch or walk.

 ~~Raspberry and blackberry under windows could prove very interesting if someone wished to break into that window and rob your house.

 ~~ Some vegetables have large yields in small sunny places.  I especially think about pole beans and carrots.  More posts on those later.

Of course, not all dominion over your space involves food.  Know what's in your yard?  Part of good stewardship is watching the condition of your property.  While you do, keep your eyes open for the wonders of God's creation.  What has he placed right under your nose waiting for you to notice?  Give glory to God and see what you see all around you. 

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com

Soliciting Posts

I wish I could persuade Martha to post here.  Maybe she could even make the blog look a little less utilitarian.  She's along on this long voyage too, after all.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com

Liturgy in the New Year

I've been thinking of learning the service patterns in the Lutheran Service Book more deliberately.  I'm going to try to get a through handle on the Evening Prayer time in the month of January.

I know that is underachieving, but it seems to be about my speed.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com

An Introduction to the Old Testament - Genesis

Dillard, Raymond B. & Longman, Tremper III. "Genesis."  An Introduction to the Old Testament.  Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1994.  37-46.

INTRODUCTION

Genesis covers a tremendously long period of time, from the creation of the world to the captivity of the children of Israel in Egypt.  The book of Genesis is foundational to an understanding of the Torah (Pentateuch) as a whole.  The traditional author is Moses, though there are some areas that appear to be later insertions.  While higher criticism has attacked the unity of authorship, much of this attack does not hold up to serious scrutiny.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

 - Composition and authorship is debated, but basically Mosaic authorship is widely accepted among conservatives.

- Text & Tradition 

    Strictly speaking, Genesis is anonymous.

    There is a long tradition of Moses as the law writer.

    There are some hints of later glosses or contributions in isolated areas.

 - Historical-Critical Approaches

    The 17th-19th centuries saw a rise of the critical method.

    1883-85 Wellhausen published a more clear articulation of JEPD than had been articulated before.  There's a good summary of his views on pp. 41-42.

 - Other critical approaches:

     Fragmentary approach - Genesis is gathered from different sources.

     Supplementary approach - there was originally one document to which other features were added.

     Form & Tradition Criticism - see the work of H. Gunkel.

     Some scholars see an oral tradition and folk-lore like development of Genesis.

EVALUATION OF THE CRITICAL APPROACH

The text critical approach is declining in prominence.

  Problems: It is difficult to come up with definitive criteria to separate sources.  The approach is also dependent on a particular presupposition about theological development.

  There are recent new literary approaches to the Pentateuch, particularly since 1970, seeing it as essentially similar to other ancient literature.  This approach would seem to be more fruitful.

  Conclusion: the documentary hypothesis is waning, being more loosely held by scholars.

LITERARY ANALYSIS

 - Structure - some analysts see an introduction followed by ten episodes each introduced with "these are the generations."  Others look primarily at content and style, generally seeing one segment for chapters 1-11 and the remainder divided by dealings with the various patriarchs.

 - Genre - basically history

 - Literary artistry - while Genesis was typically considered a bit artless recent philological analysis has shown some sophisticated structures within the book.  An example of the structure of chapter 11 verses 1-9 is given on p. 51 of the text.

THEOLOGICAL MESSAGE 

  In Genesis we see God as the maker and ruler of all.  He makes promises to the patriarchs including a promise of redemption despite the unbelief of mankind.  We see God as the one who overcomes obstacles to redemption.

  As we approach the New Testament we see the very same God who has made and governs everything, who makes promises, and fulfills those promises.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com

An Introduction to the Old Testament - Introduction

Dillard, Raymond B. & Longman, Tremper III. "Introduction."  An Introduction to the Old Testament.  Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1994.  17-36.

Introductions to the Bible or the Old or New Testament are very common, being written fairly constantly since the Reformation, though not before then. This introduction is theologically evangelical and self-consciously conservative.  It purposely discusses the various views of liberalism which are contradictory to the conservative evangelical stand.

In the scope of the book we will see a special introduction book by book, reflecting on theological concepts specific to the book.  Because of the amount of material to be covered in the text it only hits the high points in scholarship.

Major topics of each chapter include the historical background of the book of the Bible, a literary analysis of the book, and a summary of the theological message. Each chapter has a section on the New Testament view of the Old Testament book.

Within the introduction there is a lengthy explanation of the authors' overall philosophy of history.  There is also an introduction to the basic categories typically found within literary analysis.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com