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Jesus Christ: Perpetuator of the Mosaic Covenant
JESUS CHRIST: PERPETUATOR OF THE MOSAIC COVENANT Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation with honors to the Department of Theology, Carroll College Helena, Montana by Patricia H. Nelson April 1986 lC®RET E L,BRARY CARROLL COLLEGE 5962 00083 291 This thesis for honors recognition has been ii TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ................................ 1 Mosaic Covenant .......................... 1 Christian Covenant ........................ 2 II. COVENANT IN JUDAISM ...................... 3 The Period of the Patriarchs............. 5 The Tribal Confederacy ................... 6 The Age of Kings.......................... 8 The Two Kingdoms.............................10 Covenant and Judgment .................... 10 The Prophets and Covenant.................. 11 Amos Hosea Isaiah Micah Jeremiah Ezekiel Summary..................................... 15 III. COVENANT IN CHRISTIANITY.................... 16 Christology................................. 16 Baptism of Jesus............................. 17 Ministry of Jesus...........................17 The Beatitudes............................... 19 The Twelve Apostles........................ 20 IV. ARK OF THE COVENANT CONTINUED IN JESUS . 20 The Holy Place and Holy of Holies .... 21 The Four Types ofO ffering................... 26 Jesus, Mediator of the New Covenant ... 27 V. CONCLUSION................................... 28 BIBLIOGRAPHY .............................. 30 iii I. INTRODUCTION Holy Scripture is rooted in covenant theology. The "berit" of the Old and -
1 Calvin and Witsius on the Mosaic Covenant
1 1 Calvin and Witsius on the Mosaic Covenant J. V. FESKO hen it comes to the Mosaic covenant, an ocean of ink has been spilled by theologians in their efforts to relate it both to WIsrael’s immediate historical context and to the church’s exis- tence in the wake of the advent of Christ. Anthony Burgess (d. 1664), one of the Westminster divines, writes: “I do not find in any point of divinity, learned men so confused and perplexed (being like Abraham’s ram, hung in a bush of briars and brambles by the head) as here.”1 Among the West- minster divines there were a number of views represented in the assembly: the Mosaic covenant was a covenant of works, a mixed covenant of works and grace, a subservient covenant to the covenant of grace, or simply the covenant of grace.2 One can find a similar range of views represented in more recent literature in our own day.3 In the limited amount of space 1. Anthony Burgess, Vindicae Legis (London, 1647), 229. 2. Samuel Bolton, The True Bounds of Christian Freedom (1645; Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2001), 92–94. 3. See, e.g., Mark W. Karlberg, “Reformed Interpretation of the Mosaic Covenant,” Westmin- ster Theological Journal 43.1 (1981): 1–57; idem, Covenant Theology in Reformed Perspective (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2000), 17–58; D. Patrick Ramsey, “In Defense of Moses: A Confes- sional Critique of Kline and Karlberg,” Westminster Theological Journal 66.2 (2004): 373–400; 25 Estelle Law Book.indd 35 12/12/08 3:36:48 PM 26 J. -
Covenant in Judaism and Christianity
168 Theological Trends Covenant in Judaism and Christianity Dan Cohn-Sherbok HE CONCEPT OF ISRAEL AS GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE has been a constant T feature of Jewish thought from biblical times to the present. In the Bible the Hebrew root 'bhr' (to choose) denotes the belief that God selected the Jewish nation from all other peoples. As the Book of Deuteronomy declares: 'For you are a people holy to the Lord your God: the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his own possession out of all the peoples that are on the face of the earth' (Deut 7:6). According to Scripture, this act was motivated by divine love: It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love upon you and chose you for you were the fewest of all peoples; but it is because the Lord loves you. (Deut 7:7-8) Such love for Israel was later echoed in the synagogue liturgy, especially in the prayer for holy days, which begins" Thou hast chosen us from all peoples; thou hast loved us and found pleasure in us and hast exalted us above all tongues; thou hast sanctified us by thy commandments and brought us near unto thy service, O king, and hast called us by thy great and holy name. Through its election Israel has been given an historic mission to bear divine truth to humanity. Thus, before God proclaimed the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, he admonished the people to carry out this appointed task: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to myself. -
Covenant of Mount Sinai
mark h lane www.biblenumbersforlife.com COVENANT OF MOUNT SINAI SUMMARY The children of Israel were slaves in Egypt. The Lord brought them out with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm. He brought them into the desert of Sinai and made them a nation under God, with the right to occupy and live in the Promised Land, AS TENANTS, subject to obedience to the Law of Moses. To have the privilege to continue to occupy the Promised Land Israel must keep: The ritual law concerning the priesthood and the continual offering of animal sacrifices, etc. The civil law concerning rights of citizens, land transactions, execution of justice, etc. The moral law: Love your neighbor as yourself The heart law: Love the LORD your God and serve him only In the Law of Moses there were blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Penalties for disobedience went as far as being shipped back to Egypt as slaves. All who relied on observing the Law of Moses were under a curse. It is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law” (Deut. 27:26). None of the blessings under the Law of Moses concern eternal life, the heavenly realm, or the forgiveness of sins necessary to stand before God in the life hereafter. The people under the Covenant of Sinai did not even enjoy the privilege of speaking to the Lord face to face. The high priest, who crawled into the Most Holy Place once a year, was required to fill the room with incense so that he would not see the LORD and die. -
Rereading Paul on Circumcision, Torah, and the Gentiles Asha K
A Seal of Faith: Rereading Paul on Circumcision, Torah, and the Gentiles Asha K. Moorthy Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 2014 © 2014 Asha K. Moorthy All rights reserved ABSTRACT A Seal of Faith: Rereading Paul on Circumcision, Torah, and the Gentiles Asha K. Moorthy It is generally held that the Apostle Paul dismissed the rite of circumcision for Gentiles. This dissertation, however, offers a different perspective. Through examination of relevant sources regarding the role of circumcision in conversion along with consideration of Philo of Alexandria’s depiction of Abraham as an exemplar of and for the proselyte, this project will suggest that Paul, in Rom 4:11‐ 12, uses the example of Abraham in order to explain the value of circumcision for Jews as well as for Gentiles. It will be argued, moreover, that Paul’s objections to circumcision, as found in Romans as well as in Galatians, Philippians, and 1 Corinthians, were not to the rite per se but rather to the notion that circumcision was necessary for entering the Abrahamic covenant, “becoming a Jew,” justification, salvation, spiritual transformation, protection or identity in Christ. A case will be made, moreover, that in Paul’s day there were two competing forms of circumcision and that Paul was opposed to the more radical procedure. Finally, divergences in Paul’s handling of the topic of circumcision in different letters will be explained through attention to particular audience concerns. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Introduction 1 1. -
“Washing Your Hands Before Eating.” Actually, It Is a Pivotal Moment That He
Rev. Glen Mullan The Law of Moses August 29, 2021 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) (Dt 4:1-8; Mk 7) Jesus has an argument with the Pharisees about “washing your hands before eating.” Actually, it is a pivotal moment that helps to define Christianity as a movement distinct from “traditional” Judaism, and it is because of this argument, that Christians today are able to eat bacon with their eggs! At issue is the Law of the Moses, that extensive body of rules and precepts which are set forth in the first five books of the Bible, and summarized by Moses in the book of Deuteronomy. Or rather, at issue is the purpose of the laws, and their relationship to holiness. Jesus – and Christianity – does not actually reject the Law of Moses, including those precepts about washing hands and avoiding pork. In my household, we were taught from childhood to “wash your hands” before coming to the dinner table. Likewise, to wash all the dishes afterward (cups, jugs, kettles), to bathe every day, and to regularly launder the bedding (cf. Mk 7:4). We were quite “Jewish” in this regard. Likewise, we followed very careful rules with regard to the preparation, cooking, eating, and storing of meats, aware that pork has more dangers than beef or chicken. The precepts of the Law of Moses are filled with incredible wisdom which modern science has only confirmed. In the era before electricity and refrigeration, stoves and antibiotics, the rules kept people healthy and strong, and enabled the community to deal swiftly with illnesses and infections. -
Not a Covenant of Works in Disguise” (Herman Bavinck1): the Place of the Mosaic Covenant in Redemptive History
MAJT 24 (2013): 143-177 “NOT A COVENANT OF WORKS IN DISGUISE” (HERMAN BAVINCK1): THE PLACE OF THE MOSAIC COVENANT IN REDEMPTIVE HISTORY by Robert Letham READERS WILL DOUBTLESS be aware of the argument that the Mosaic covenant is in some way a republication of the covenant of works made by God with Adam before the fall. In recent years, this has been strongly advocated by Meredith Kline and others influenced by his views. In this article I will ask some historical and theological questions of the claim. I will also consider how far Reformed theology, particularly in the period up to the production of the major confessional documents of the Westminster Assembly (1643-47), was of one mind on the question. 2 I will concentrate on the argument itself, without undue reference to persons.3 1. Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 3: Sin and Salvation in Christ (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006), 222. 2. Apart from the works of Kline, cited below, others have addressed the matter in some detail - Mark W. Karlberg, “The Search for an Evangelical Consensus on Paul and the Law,” JETS 40 (1997): 563–79; Mark W. Karlberg, “Recovering the Mosaic Covenant as Law and Gospel: J. Mark Beach, John H. Sailhammer, and Jason C. Meyer as Representative Expositors,” EQ 83, no. 3 (2011): 233–50; D. Patrick Ramsey, “In Defense of Moses: A Confessional Critique of Kline and Karlberg,” WTJ 66 (2004): 373–400; Brenton C. Ferry, “Cross-Examining Moses’ Defense: An Answer to Ramsey’s Critique of Kline and Karlberg,” WTJ 67 (2005): 163–68; J. -
The Angels and the Giving of the Law
December 2011 • Volume XIII, Issue 20 The Angels and the Giving of the Law There are five texts in the Bible that speak of the angels’ role in the giving of the law at Sinai. The first occurs in the last recorded speech of the 120-year-old Moses, at the start of the penultimate chapter of the Pentateuch—his blessing of Israel—where he tells us that he saw angels on Sinai thirty-eight years ago: ―The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them‖ (Deut. 33:2). David made the other Old Testament reference to angels at the giving of the law: ―The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place‖ (Ps. 68:17). The psalmist tells us that ―twenty thousand, even thousands of angels‖—Moses refers to ―ten thousands‖ (Deut. 33:2)—came as an army (―chariots‖). Like Moses, David also emphasises the impressiveness and awesomeness of the angels on the holy mount. (The psalmist’s reference to ―angels‖ makes it clear that the ―saints‖ or holy ones in Deuteronomy 33:2 are heavenly messengers.) The first believer recorded in the New Testament as referring to angels at Sinai is the deacon, disputer, apologist and martyr, Stephen. As part of his defence before the Sanhedrin, he stated that the Jews ―received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it‖ (Acts 7:53). -
Who Were the Pharisees?
Making Life Count Ministries Who Were the Pharisees? www.makinglifecount.net No group in Israel was more dedicated to their religion than the Pharisee. The historian Josephus reports that there were over 6,000 members of the party of the Pharisees, but that number doesn’t include many of their followers. The common Jew looked at the Pharisees with the greatest admiration because no one appeared to be more dedicated to God than this bunch. When a boy in a Pharisee family turned two years old, they would take the scroll of the Law, the Torah, put honey on it, and have him lick it so that his earliest memory would be, “How sweet are Your Words to my taste. Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth” (Psalm 119:103). At four years old he would start memorizing the book of Leviticus. By twelve years old, he had memorized Genesis through Deuteronomy. As a teenager, he memorized the Prophets and the Psalms. If you chose to become a Pharisee, you had to publicly promise to “take the yoke of the Torah” upon you. They vowed to yoke themselves to the Law of God. They kept the hours of prayer wherever they were, whether in the Temple, the marketplace, or the street corner. They would fast twice a week. They didn’t just tithe their money, but tithed on everything they had, even down to their herbs and spices. How can you fault a man for trying so hard to please God? Because of their dedication to God’s Law, you would think the Pharisees would embrace the promised Messiah when He appeared in the flesh. -
Religious Studies
RELIGIOUS STUDIES Religious Studies An Introduction to Themes in the Old Testament Unit AS 3 Specification Section Page Introduction 2 1. Covenant and Election 3 2. The Career of King David and the Purpose of the Davidic Narratives 7 3. The Relationship Between Kingship and Prophecy 10 4. Prophecy and the Prophet Amos 13 5. Other Aspects of Human Experience 15 Glossary 23 RELIGIOUS STUDIES Introduction In using the following materials it should be noted that: • The web-sites are intended only to prompt discussion • Each comes with its particular perspective and other perspectives must be considered (see the definition of “Hermeneutics” in the glossary) • The substantive notes for each theme of this course contain a much more in-depth discussion in light of scholarly opinion and debate • The book by Birch, Brueggemann, Fretheim, and Petersen, A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament, should also be consulted pg 2 RELIGIOUS STUDIES 1. Covenant and Election Learning Objective – demonstrate knowledge and understanding of, and critically evaluate the term covenant, including: the theological concept, context, and purpose of covenants including God’s election and call of the ‘chosen people’ as shown in the Noahic (Genesis 9:1–17), Abrahamic (Genesis 12:1–9, Genesis 17:1–27) and Mosaic (Exodus 19:1–15, Exodus 20:1–17) covenants. © Saklakova/iStock/Thinkstock.com A covenant is a solemn and binding treaty or agreement. Covenants can be conditional/ bilateral or unconditional/unilateral. There are four main covenants in the Old Testament: the Noahic, Abrahamic and Davidic, which are unconditional/unilateral; and the Mosaic, which is conditional/bilateral. -
The Mosaic Covenant
TMSJ 10/2 (Fall 1999) 213-232 THE MOSAIC COVENANT William D. Barrick Professor of Old Testament The Mosaic Law is one of six covenants that God made with Israel, all six of which have five concepts in common: their authority resides in Him, they all came at a time of crisis, no covenant nullifies a previous one, salvation from sin is not obtained by keeping any covenant, and significant negative events followed the instigation of each. The theological context of the Mosaic Covenant is Israel’s election by grace and the redemptive context God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. The content of the covenant follows the pattern of the ancient suzerainty treaty. The covenant was the most conditional of all the covenants, and like all the covenants, it promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. The covenant addressed itself to Israel and Israel alone with its divinely authoritative rules that stipulated standards of righteousness. No one can justly separate the moral, civil, and ceremonial parts of the Law from each other; it is a unit. The Law has no authority over Christians because it has been fulfilled by the death of Christ. * * * * * Divine revelation is saturated with pertinent theological pericopes. The pericope containing the Mosaic Covenant is a very important OT passage. Exodus 19–24 had a significant impact on the writers of both the OT and the NT: There is no way to describe adequately the canonical implications of Exodus 19–24. Everyone from Moses (Deut 5:6-21), to Jeremiah (Jer 7:1-15), to Jesus (Mt 5–7), to Peter (1 Pet 2:9), and every other biblical writer who has anything to say about covenant, morality and relationship to God reflects directly or indirectly on this passage.1 1Paul R. -
Capitalization Glossary1 Abrahamic Covenant Age AD
Capitalization Glossary1 Abrahamic Covenant Age AD (Latin abbreviation for “in the year of our Lord”) goes before the date (AD 2014) Apostolic Age Bronze Age church age Iron Age Stone Age Almighty God amillennial, amillenarian Ancient Near East the Antichrist anti-Christian antichrists (many) the Apocrypha (but: apocryphal) apostle(s) (but: the Twelve Apostles, the Twelve) apostolic archaeology ark (any reference) Ascension (specific biblical event) Atonement (of Christ) BC (English abbreviation for “before Christ”) goes after the date (586 BC) Beatitudes believer-priests Bible biblical black theology body of Christ Book of books (Bible) book of Job a book of the Bible book of life (mentioned in Rev. 20:15) Bread of Life bride of Christ Calvary Captivity (the Babylonian; others, lowercase) Catholics Catholicism (but: catholic, meaning universal) 1 For additional resource, see “Appendix A: Capitalization and Spelling Examples,” in The SBL Handbook of Style: For Eastern, Near Eastern, Biblical, and Early Christian Studies (Peabody, MA: Henrickson Publishers, 1999), 154-65. 1 chapter (general term) Chapter 6 (specific chapter) charismatic chief priest(s) children of Israel Christ Child Christian education (but: Department of Christian Education) Christlike Christological Christology Christ’s kingdom church (both universal and local) the early church fathers (but: the Fathers) the commandments (capitalize only when referring to the whole Decalogue: Ten Commandments, but: first commandment) commencement communion (the ordinance) communists,