Week 4 - Cain + The Flood

So we're four weeks into our study of Genesis. You can get the past week's notes by clicking here or if you'd prefer a PDF file of the same document, you can click here.

Additionally, for those of you whose mind flipped out when someone asked, "Where there dinosaurs on Noah's ark" - this is a website of the Institute for Creation Research, based out of Dallas. The ICR is filled with reputable Ph.d-level Scientists who are followers of Christ who write articles about various issues. You can type in "Noah's ark" or "Dinosaurs" on the search button. For example, I found this article on the scientific feasibility of Noah's ark quite interesting.

Also, we had a question about interpreting the Bible.

I do have a question. You talked about exegesis and eisegesis as if they were equally valid ways to approach Bible reading. I have always heard that we never should use eisegesis, as that is putting our own meaning into God's word which may not at all be what the writer intended. We should always read trying to understand what the writer meant. What definition are you using for eisegesis?

This is an important question; you can read my response here.

Also, if you'd like, here's the reading schedule for the next month, just so you know where we are. Hope to see you this Thursday at 7 p.m.

Imago Dei: Why Disabled Children Are Crucial

This is a stunning, beautiful article by Al Hsu (my new favorite columnist from CT). Hsu and his wife have a baby boy named Elijah who was born with Down Syndrome, so he isn't just writing from a theological perspective:

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and the public needs to know that Down syndrome is not nearly as scary as many imagine. Recent articles in both the American Journal of Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis report that more than 90 percent of pregnancies prenatally diagnosed as Down syndrome are terminated. As prenatal testing becomes normative, expectant couples may be more likely to abort babies who are not exactly what they had hoped for.

Jean Vanier, founder of L'Arche communities, which bring abled and disabled people together under one roof, warns in Living Gently in a Violent World that in a few years there may be no more children with Down syndrome in France because they will have all been aborted. In China, babies with disabilities are often abandoned. Extremist groups in the Middle East have even used people with mental disabilities as unwitting suicide bombers. The church must advocate on behalf of those most vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Care for the disabled is a global justice issue.

You can read the whole article here

Blble75 Reading Schedule

Here is the list of what we'll be covering in the coming weeks. Click here if you weren't at last week's class and want the notes.

Remez

During class this week, I stumbled while attempting to explain the principle of "remez" - a rabbinical model of teaching Scripture. Here is a brief explanation, cobbled together through various internet sites

The great teachers (rabbis) during Jesus' day used a technique that was later called remez. In their teaching, they would use part of a Scripture passage in a discussion, assuming that their audience's knowledge of the Bible would allow them to deduce for themselves the fuller meaning of the teaching. Apparently, Jesus, who possessed a brilliant understanding of Scripture and strong teaching skills, used this method often.

Example:

Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”(Matthew 27:46)

Here, Jesus is quoting Psalm 22:1. In doing so, He is actually "hinting" at the entire text of Psalm 22. Go read it, and you’ll see. Pay particular attention to verses 13-18.

Here is another simple one from Jesus’ words (this was the example from class).

But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.”Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
” ‘From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise’?” (Matthew 21:15-16)

Here, Jesus is quoting Psalm 8:2

From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

Why is it God has ordained praise from their lips? Because of His enemies, in order to silence them.

Who is Jesus suggesting are the enemies of God? The chief priests and Torah teachers.

This is why the chief priests and teachers of the law became indignant (Matt. 21:15). The religious leaders realized that Jesus was implying that they were God's enemies.

Jesus best fit the type of rabbi believed to have "s'mikhah" - the authority to make new interpretations of the Torah. Whereas most teachers of the law could only teach accepted interpretations, teachers with authority could make new interpretations and pass legal judgments. Crowds were amazed because Jesus taught with authority (Matt. 7:28-29), and some people questioned his authority (Matt. 21:23-27).

September 18 - Links

Notes from tonight are here.

Article from N.T. Wright about "How Can the Bible Be Authoritative." or you can click here to download it in PDF format.

Click here to read Marilyn Robinson's reaction to atheist Richard Dawkins' book "The God Delusion." It's good stuff, though you will have to have another browser window open for dictionary.com just to get through it.