Encore Post: This is the beginning of some wandering deeper into the Old Testament. As I stated before I love the Old Testament, so much I earned my Master’s of Sacred Theology in Old Testament Exegesis.
In my reading for such a degree, I was always confronted in one way or another with the question: “What is the Old Testament? And how are Christians supposed to read it?”
Many a theologian has asked those questions. Especially since the Old Testament is the sacred text for the Jewish religion as well as Christianity. How can the same books be read and people come to a different conclusion? How ought the Old Testament be understood? The obvious answer to that question for us is to follow in the way of Jesus, and how He read and understood the Old Testament.
But we humans and our sinful nature try to do it on our own, and that leads us into trouble. We will try to highlight some of those along the way as we see and learn how the greatest exegete, Jesus, explains and interprets the Old Testament showing us that He is the fulfillment of it (John 5:37-40; John 6:44-48; John 8:48-59; Luke 24:26-27; Luke 24:44-48).
Rev. Jacob Hercamp
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
La Grange, MO
see also: The Ebionites
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I begin teaching OT tomorrow to our 1st year confirmation class. I am beginning by doing an over view of the Books in the OT. I seem to remember that at some point Isaiah was so long they considered making it two books. Is that true?
I think I’ll ask Pastor Hercamp to weigh in on this one…
Hi Deaconess Julie Kirk! I am so sorry that I have not responded to you as of yet. It has been a very busy time here in the parish! The question about Isaiah with its length as well as its prophecies is interesting to say the least. Typically I have heard the 2 book theory in regards to the flip of the switch at chapter 40. So chapters 1-39 sometimes is called a “book” and then starting at chapter 40 is another so-called book. A lot of this however comes down to the idea that this book was written by man authors instead of 1 man, Isaiah son of Amoz.
But in our English bibles, we see this concern about length at play with Samuel and Kings (if I am not mistaken). Both those books are considered one book in the Hebrew Bible. But in the English we see 2 books apiece. Hope that helps!
This was really good. I am looking forward to the OT series. Blessings
Thanks be to God. I have been working on additional posts for a while. I had to take some time away form the project to write a few papers for my PhD coursework. Coincidentally, I just finished a substantial paper that dives into “Reading and Worldviews” I am trying to break that paper into smaller bite size chunks now. Those posts should fall in line nicely with this “Digging Series”. God be with you and may He bless you richly! Thanks again for reading!