© John Stevenson, 2010 Interpreting the Old Testament.

© John Stevenson, 2010

Interpreting the Old TestamentInterpreting the Old Testament

Do you have a favorite section Do you have a favorite section of the Old Testament?of the Old Testament?

Literary theory has suggested that Literary theory has suggested that narrative can offer a more powerful narrative can offer a more powerful medium of truth than propositions. medium of truth than propositions.

• Why would this be the case?• Should we look to construct our

theology on the basis of stories?

• What do you think of the idea of God as a character in the narratives?

Genesis 3:15Genesis 3:15“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

Seed of the WomanSeed of the WomanSeed of the SerpentSeed of the Serpent

SatanSatan Jesus ChristJesus Christ

His head bruised His head bruised on the crosson the cross

(A fatal wound)(A fatal wound)

His heel bruised His heel bruised on the crosson the cross

(Humanity)(Humanity)


SatanSatan Jesus ChristJesus Christ

His head bruised His head bruised on the crosson the cross

His heel bruised His heel bruised on the crosson the cross

Seed of the WomanSeed of the SerpentSeed of the Serpent

Abel & SethAbel & SethCainCain

LamechLamech

EnochEnoch

NoahNoah

ShemShemHamHam

AbrahamAbrahamCanaanCanaan


IshmaelIshmael IsaacIsaac

AbrahamAbraham

JacobJacobEsauEsau

Whose SeedWhose Seedare You?are You?

Genesis 3:16Genesis 3:16To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you.”

Genesis 3:17Genesis 3:17Then to Adam He said,

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life….”

Genesis 3:18-19Genesis 3:18-19“Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field;19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”

Examples of Retributive IronyMore crafty than any beast of the

field...

The Serpent

...is now made lower than all of the

other animals.Bruises Christ on

the heel...Satan ...is bruised on the

head.Desires to rule her husband...

The Woman

...finds that he shall rule over her.

Made of dust who would rise to

be like God...

Man ...is returned to dust again.

Warren GageWarren Gage

Abram called to Faith: Promise of a Seed (12:1-9)Sojourn in Egypt & Denial of Sarai (12:10-20)

• Lot separates from Abram (13)War on Sodom; Rescue of Lot by Abram (14)

Covenant Ceremony; Animal sacrifice (15)God who sees; Ishmael born (16)

Covenant Sign; Circumcision (17)Destruction of Sodom; Rescue of Lot by Angels (18-19)

Sojourn in Gerar & Denial of Sarah (20)• Ishmael separates from Abram (21)

Abraham’s Faith Tested: Blessing of the Seed (22)

• Abram / AbrahamAbram / Abraham• IsaacIsaac• JacobJacob• IsraelIsrael

• Story of concubine when there was Story of concubine when there was no king in Israelno king in Israel

• Saul and the men of Jabesh-gileadSaul and the men of Jabesh-gilead• Saul and AmalekitesSaul and Amalekites• Saul and the witch of EndorSaul and the witch of Endor• Ahijah and JeroboamAhijah and Jeroboam

Deuteronomy & the Suzerain Deuteronomy & the Suzerain TreatiesTreaties

• The PreambleThe Preamble• The Historical PrologueThe Historical Prologue• The StipulationsThe Stipulations• Deposit and Reading of the Deposit and Reading of the

CovenantCovenant• WitnessesWitnesses• Curses & BlessingsCurses & Blessings

What is poetry?What is poetry?

• Synonymous ParallelismSynonymous ParallelismThe First line is restated in The First line is restated in

the Second linethe Second line

Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? (Psalm 2:1).



The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together (Psalm 2:2a).



He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. (Palm 2:4).

• Synonymous ParallelismSynonymous Parallelism• Antithetical ParallelismAntithetical Parallelism

The First line is followed by its The First line is followed by its opposite in the Second lineopposite in the Second line

For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with You. (Psalm 5:4).

• Synonymous ParallelismSynonymous Parallelism• Antithetical ParallelismAntithetical Parallelism• Synthetic ParallelismSynthetic Parallelism

The Second line continues The Second line continues and expands the thought and expands the thought

begun the first linebegun the first line

• Synonymous ParallelismSynonymous Parallelism• Antithetical ParallelismAntithetical Parallelism• Synthetic ParallelismSynthetic Parallelism

I was crying to the LORD with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah. (Psalm 3:4).

• Synonymous ParallelismSynonymous Parallelism• Antithetical ParallelismAntithetical Parallelism• Synthetic ParallelismSynthetic Parallelism• Emblematic ParallelismEmblematic Parallelism

As the deer pants for the water brooks, As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God (Psalm So my soul pants for You, O God (Psalm 42:1).42:1).

• Synonymous ParallelismSynonymous Parallelism• Antithetical ParallelismAntithetical Parallelism• Synthetic ParallelismSynthetic Parallelism• Emblematic ParallelismEmblematic Parallelism

The LORD is my shepherd, The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1).I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1).

• Synonymous ParallelismSynonymous Parallelism• Antithetical ParallelismAntithetical Parallelism• Synthetic ParallelismSynthetic Parallelism• Emblematic ParallelismEmblematic Parallelism• Climactic ParallelismClimactic Parallelism

Psalm 29:1-2Psalm 29:1-2A Psalm of David. Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty,Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in holy array.

The word which came to Jeremiah The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying, from the LORD saying, 22 “Arise and go “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I down to the potter’s house, and there I shall announce My words to you.”shall announce My words to you.” 33 Then I went down to the potter's Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making house, and there he was, making something on the wheel.something on the wheel.

Jeremiah 18:1-3Jeremiah 18:1-3

But the vessel that he was making But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.

Jeremiah 18:4Jeremiah 18:4

Then the word of the LORD came Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, to me saying, 66 “Can I not, O house of “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.”you in My hand, O house of Israel.”


At one moment I might speak At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; destroy it; 88 if that nation against which I if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it.to bring on it.


Or at another moment I might Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concern-speak concerning a nation or concern-ing a kingdom to build up or to plant it; ing a kingdom to build up or to plant it; 1010 if it does evil in My sight by not obeying if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless good with which I had promised to bless it. it.


PredictionPrediction

If I speak If I speak concerning concerning a nation to a nation to destroy itdestroy it

ContingencyContingency

If they turn If they turn from their from their

evilevil

FulfillmentFulfillment

I will relent I will relent of the of the

calamitycalamity

If I speak If I speak concerning concerning a nation to a nation to

plant itplant it

If they do If they do evil and do evil and do not obeynot obey

I will think I will think better of better of the goodthe good

• Conditional Predictions: “If… then” Conditional Predictions: “If… then” clausesclauses

• Unqualified PredictionsUnqualified Predictions• Confirmed PredictionsConfirmed Predictions• Sworn PredictionsSworn Predictions

Excel Instructor & Course Excel Instructor & Course EvaluationEvaluation

The Loyal OppositionThe Loyal Opposition

Habakkuk’s ProblemHabakkuk’s Problem

1:1 1:12

Problem #1: Why does God allow the wicked?

Answer #1: God will bring judgment

Problem #2: How can God use wicked to punish?

Answer #2: God will also judge them

Observations Observations made by made by Biblical Biblical writerswriters

Revelation Revelation given by Godgiven by God

If God is good If God is good and if God is and if God is all-powerful, all-powerful,

then why does then why does evil exits?evil exits?

Dialogue & Discourse

Chapters 1-2

Historical prologue:

Job Tested

Chapters 3-31

Job’s three

friends

Chapters 33-37

Elihu’s speeches

Chapters 38-41

God speaks

Chapter 42

Historical epilogue:

Job Restored

Prose Section Poetry Section

Plain language Highly ornateWritten in pure

HebrewContains many expressions characteristic of Chaldaean

Are the proverbs…Are the proverbs…

Promises? or Probabilities?

No single Proverb No single Proverb contains all the truth.contains all the truth.

They must all be taken They must all be taken and weighed together.and weighed together.

The pen is The pen is mightier mightier than the than the sword sword

Actions Actions speak speak

louder than louder than words words

You’re You’re never too never too

old to old to learnlearn

You can’t You can’t teach an teach an old dog old dog

new new trickstricks

Proverbs 26:4Proverbs 26:4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him.

Proverbs 26:5Proverbs 26:5Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 17:9Proverbs 17:9He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.

Proverbs 28:23Proverbs 28:23He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor Than he who flatters with the tongue.

Describes a situation in life Describes a situation in life without commenting on whether without commenting on whether

it is good or badit is good or bad

A bribe is a charm in the sight of A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers. Wherever he turns, he prospers. (Proverbs 17:8).(Proverbs 17:8).

The poor is hated even by his The poor is hated even by his neighbor, neighbor, But those who love the rich are But those who love the rich are many. (Proverbs 14:20).many. (Proverbs 14:20).

JobJobThe righteous The righteous

sufferssuffers

EcclesiastesEcclesiastesA lack of A lack of

meaning to lifemeaning to life

Song of SongsSong of SongsIrrationality of loveIrrationality of love

ProverbsProverbsA Basic approach to A Basic approach to

lifelifeExceptions

Progressive RevelationProgressive Revelation

Did Solomon know about Did Solomon know about the resurrection and life the resurrection and life

after death?after death?

Who knows that the breath of man Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the beast descends downward to the earth? (Ecclesiastes 3:21).the earth? (Ecclesiastes 3:21).

© John Stevenson, 2010 Interpreting the Old Testament.

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Transcript of © John Stevenson, 2010 Interpreting the Old Testament.