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PREACHING FROM THE PENTATEUCH Foundations of Faith. comprises five scrolls (Pentateuch) labelled Torah by the Jews translation: ‘instruction’ (rather than ‘law’) varied genre (e.g. narrative, law, poetry, genealogy). PREACHING THE PENTATEUCH The Story of Faith. A story about
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PREACHING FROM THE PENTATEUCH Foundations of Faith • comprises five scrolls (Pentateuch) • labelled Torah by the Jews • translation: ‘instruction’ (rather than ‘law’) • varied genre (e.g. narrative, law, poetry, genealogy)
PREACHING THE PENTATEUCH The Story of Faith • A story about • God and this world • God takes humanity seriously • God involved in the nitty-gritty of life • the people of God
PREACHING THE PENTATEUCH Entering the Story
STRUCTURE OF THE PENTATEUCH The Story Unfolds Gen 1 -11 Gen 12-50 Ex 1-18 Ex 19 – 40 Num 1-10 Num 1-10 Num 11-36 Deut 1-34 The formation of the world - the formation of the people of God
THE BOOK OF GENESIS A story of beginnings • Genesis means birth (note toledot structure) • the Song of creation and period pre-flood • a new beginning - the flood and the • consequences • ancestor stories – the beginning of a nation
THE BOOK OF EXODUS A story of redemption • Exodus 1:1 - 15:21 – A story of liberation • Exodus 15:21 – 40:30 – A story of formation • God creates a people for himself by.... • rescuing and sustaining them • establishing a covenant with them
THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS A story of ideal living • the holiness of God and of his people • the holiness code (Leviticus 17-26) • Holiness suggests • the separateness (otherness) of God • righteousness (and justice) - seen through • conformity to the law
THE BOOK OF NUMBERS A story of the wilderness • the journey from near Sinai, via Kadesh, and • in the Plains of Moab • final 40 years of Moses’ life and work • the death of the old generation, the rise of • the new
THE BOOK OF DEUTERONONY A story of preparation • on the threshold of the Promised land • Moses’ farewell speeches (preached law) • Moses’ final days and death • Deuteronomy mimics ANE legal documents – a covenant treaty and law code
THE MESSAGE OF THE PENTATEUCH In different times and settings • 12th C - guarded optimism • 10th C - celebration and protest • 7th C - reassurance to the dispirited • 5th C - hope in difficult times Gordon Wenham Exploring the Old Testament Volume 1 The Pentateuch
PREACHING THE PENTATEUCH Take care when retelling the story • don’t...... • allegorise historical narrative • take out of context • moralise • apply too individualistically • redefine Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth
THEOLOGY OF THE PENTATEUCH God at the centre • God - transcendent creator • humanity made in his image • sinful humanity in need of his salvation • God – holy, loving, faithful, just • God – active as creator, as Lord • active in redeeming and caring • active as judge
THE SHAPING OF THE PENTATEUCH Take care when retelling the story • Source criticism • Documentary Hypothesis (JEDP) • Form criticism • Oral Tradition (and the form of the story) • Redaction Criticism • Canonical Criticism • Literary Criticism • Rhetorical Criticism