GLOBAL INTERPRETATIONS OF CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES

RLST 206 AND DIV 3845

Feb 15, 2010

Today 3:10 Contemporary Models for the

Interpretation of Scriptures: SACRAMENTAL-LITURGICAL HERMENEUTICS

4:05-4:55 Group Discussions: Group 1: JOHN Petros Vassiliadis, Group 2: HEBREWS Stelian Tofanâ, 5:00 Lecture: Classical Models of

Interpretations of Scriptures

John (Petros Vassiliadis, Greece)

Presenter Taylor Schomp, Leader Anna Leigh Keith ____Matthew Calderwood__ ____Annie Wong ____Mark Wells ____Wendy Aluoh ____Arlonzo Williams _____Basye Holland

 Hebrews (Stelian Tofana, Romania)

Presenter Anna McReynolds Leader: Jordan Nelson _____Chance Dillon _____Erin Higgins _____Lakendra Scott _____Iris Ankrom _____Adesewa Adelekun _____Ben Pflederer

Choosing Your Biblical Text For The Paper DUE Feb 21 by 10am

Give me 3 ranked choices of biblical texts, not previously discussed in class

For each choice, tell me in two (2) to three (3) lines why (the contextual reasons; the issue, the problem, the concern; Singular; 1 specific context!) you chose each given text. Why is it significant for you? Why is it more significant for you than other texts of the Bible? You may use the same context for the 3 texts In your paper proposal, you will explain in detail what

you intend to do with it I will tell you by class time what text was assigned

to you (obviously, hopefully your first choice)

Three weeks ago: Contextual studies may be focused on Inculturation

all interpretations are “inculturated” = influenced by the (cultural) context from which we read. This means that our

Textual Choices are viewed as LEGITIMATE, = grounded in the text, according to our culture

Theological/hermeneutical choices are viewed as PLAUSIBLE according to our culture

Contextual Choices are viewed as VALID (= valuable) according to our culture

Two weeks Ago: Contextual studies may be focused on Liberation

Focused on Interpretive Contextual Choices Ethical/moral test: Loving Neighbor How is this text helpful in a specific life-

context? Involves a particular Theological-

hermeneutical choices: Scripture as corrective lenses

Last Week: Inter(con)textual Character of Interpretations

Contextual studies may be focused on the Inter(con)textual Character of Interpretations

Focused on Interpretive Theological /Hermeneutical Choices How to make sense of the biblical text? Issue: PLAUSIBILITY of the text and what it says about

human life.

The Biblical Text Makes Sense if, and if only, we read it in terms of other texts of our lives and cultures.

Bible as Scripture read in Worship, Sacramental-Liturgical Contexts

Scripture is read by believers in Sacramental-Liturgical Context Community Worship Context in which “liturgy” is rejected

for a more informal worship service (another form of liturgy!)

Personal worship related to individual religious experience!

Each case includes: “Religious experiences” and “Rituals” as realities no human (including no agnostic & no atheist) can escape Without a vision of life that frames our lives we cannot live (and

commit suicide when we lose it) Without rituals this vision of life crumbles

Ritual Theory

Victor Turner, The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure (Lewis Morgan Lectures) (1969)

Catherine Bell, Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice (Oxford University Press, 1997). Ritual: Perspectives and Dimensions. Revised edition. (Oxford University Press, 2009)

Turner’s view of Ritual

threefold structure of rituals (e.g. rites of passage): a pre-liminal phase (separation), a liminal phase (transition), and a post-liminal phase (reincorporation).

Turner: in liminality, individuals are "betwixt and between": a limbo, an ambiguous period characterized by humility, seclusion, tests, sexual ambiguity, and communitas (an unstructured community where all members are equal);

A stage where one’s autonomy as individual is suspended (heteronomy) and

where rules of society (relationality) are suspended (so the ‘communitas’ of heteronomy):……. enough theory!

Religious Experience and Ritual

“I Love You” … most powerful three words in the English language. (This is Valentine’s Day!)

Express a “feeling” … a strong feeling regarding One’s relationship [“I”] to someone else [“you”] “love” : An intimate relationship that so totally frames who “I” am,

and who “you” are that “we” have a new life together as “us”. This “feeling” is for “us” a reality = Being in Love

The really real -- the most real reality A reality that “happens” in an encounter, a powerful encounter

(“seeing him”; “seeing her” for the first time; “falling in love”) that transforms our lives

And is reenacted, maintained, and strengthened through rituals of love.

Autonomy-Relationality-Heteronomy: 3 modes of existence

We Necessarily Have 3 modes of Existence

Our individual life: Autonomy

Our life in relation with others in social networks & community: Relationality

Our religious, mystical, “in love,” proprioceptive experience(s) (ranging from infant-mother to mystical experience) Heteronomy

Autonomy-Relationality-Heteronomy:

Coakley, Sarah. “Kenosis and subversion,” pp. 82-111 in Daphne Hampson, ed. Swallowing a Fishbone? Feminist Theologians Debate Christianity. London: SPCK, 1996.

Grenholm, Cristina, Motherhood and Love: Finding Space for Thought Beyond the Gendered Stereotypes of Theology. Grand Rapids, Mi: Eerdsman, 2011 

Hampson, Daphne. “On Autonomy and Heteronomy” pp. 1-16 in Daphne Hampson, ed. Swallowing a Fishbone? Feminist Theologians Debate Christianity. London: SPCK, 1996.

Three modes of existence; each can be the center

1. Autonomy-Centered = Individual-Centered Life = “I” am in control

Relational Life and Heteronomous Life are shaped and defined by individuals

2. Relationality-Centered = Community/Society Centered Life = “the community” is in control

Individual Life and Heteronomous Life are shaped and defined by Community/Society

3. Heteronomy-Centered = Religious Experience Centered Life

Individual Life and Relational Life are shaped and defined by Religious Experience (including Absence of & Negative Religious Experience)

1. Autonomy-[= Individual]-Centered

A. “I” as a “self” have an identity defined by what “I” choose to do and not to do; “I” am an “agent”; autonomy-centered life. knowledge, will, ability

B. “I” as an “agent” control and shape the networks of relations in which “I” am involved: = “I” am responsible for the RELATIONAL networks in which I participate

C. “I” am responsible for my religious experience, and thus control “my” HETERONOMOUS experiences = e.g., “I” decided to give my life to Christ; “I” fell in love

2. Relationality-Centered life

A. “We” as a group have an identity defined by the network of relations which characterizes our group; relationality-centered life

B. “We” are individuals with identities defined by our place and role in and for our group; autonomous experiences.

C. “We” share religious experiences that shape our life and vocation as a group; communal heteronomous experiences. “We” (you and I) fell in love, // to We participate in our community’s vocation … and community rituals.

3. Heteronomy-Centered life

A. True religious experience is abandoning or losing oneself, as individuals and as community, into the OTHER, and thus submitting to the Other. heteronomy-centered life.

B. Our identity as a community, its ideology, and its relational networks are shaped by our collective heteronomous experience in rituals, sacraments.

C. “My” identity as a “self” and “agent,” “my” autonomy is shaped by my heteronomous experience in religious experience.

Identity “If you are the Son of God” = 3 Rootproblems: in each case, “I” is not based on Heteronomy/worshiping God

AUTONOMY =“I” with an identify = will; knowing what I want “Matt 4:2-3 Jesus “was famished… command these stones to

become loaves of bread.“ = this is what your WILL should be = your self-centered will is wrong; Matthew 4:4 4 But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not

live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.‘” = living by word from God.'“ = Heteronomy = Will shaped by one’s experience of God

RELATIONALITY: “I” with ideology Matt 4:6 throw yourself down; for it is written, God will save you; wrong IDEOLOGY: God is at our service (as other people

are) Matthew 4:7 7 Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not

put the Lord your God to the test.'“ not tempting/testing God = submitting to God . = Heteronomy

Identity “If you are the Son of God” = 3 Rootproblems: in each case, “I” is not based on Heteronomy/worshiping God

RELATIONALITY: “I” with power and authority over others Matthew 4:8-9 Again, the devil took him to a very high

mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9 and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.“

Wrong “Power” “authority” over others gained through relationality = worshiping idols

Matthew 4:10 Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'“

worshiping God alone “falling before God” alone = Heteronomy

Love and God’s Love: Kenosis = Heteronomy

Philippians 2:5-8 Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied [ekenôsen] himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross.

Bible as Scripture read in Worship, Sacramental-Liturgical Contexts

Sacramental-Liturgical Context in which Scripture is read by believers: Discerning Problems in THIS context Offering Solutions in THIS context

Is this Liturgy-Sacrament-Religious Experience: Helpful? Constructive? life-giving? Life-giving? Or Deadly? Death-giving? Destructive? Oppressive?

Do not brush aside religious experience and rituals! Religious experiences and Rituals are realities no human

(also no agnostic & no atheist) can escape Without a vision of life that frames our lives we cannot live (and

commit suicide when we lose it) Without rituals this vision of life cannot be maintained and

crumbles

Sacramental-Liturgical Context:Root-Problem

Root-Problem: NOT a lack of understanding /lack of knowledge, or wrong knowledge A liturgy does NOT presuppose that “People need to

understand, in order that they may believe properly” Root-Problem IS a lack of faith/vision, or wrong

faith/vision, or inappropriate faith/vision A liturgy presupposeS that “People need first to believe, to

have faith, before seeking to understand.” Solution: having a (good, valid) religious

experience encountering the Divine; God; the Lord; as a mystery

Sacramental-Liturgical Context:Religious Experience as Solution

Experience of the Mystery Experience of a mysterious reality which has

power upon me/us = Heteronomy Being “in Love” = acknowledging the mystery of the

beloved… always beyond what I can know about her/him… can never be taken for granted; reduced to something can tell about her [[Valentine’s Day!!!]]

I-Thou relationship = being lost in the other, the beloved, God

Being “in Love” = completely shape one’s existence, one’s life, all aspect of one’s life – being under the spell of the loved one – beyond understanding

Sacramental-Liturgical Context:Understanding Religious Experience

Understanding this Experience of the Mystery NOT explaining away this mystery (this is destroying the mystery = denying this mystery Denying/ betraying this love relationship; Denying/betraying the I-Thou relationship

Understanding this Experience of the Mystery Fides quaerens intellectum

Anselm of Canterbury (c1033-1109), Faith seeking understanding

= Acknowledging this experience; Claiming this experience and its implications; [[not all religious experience is good]] “I do” “Credo” = ‘I” believe

Explaining this experience to others

Sacramental-Liturgical Context:Nigeria: Chukwuma Okoye

Book of Revelation and Worship: Problem: Is Worship Helpful? Constructive? Life-giving? Or Deadly? Death-giving? Destructive? Oppressive?

Root-problem: wrong faith/vision (from the perspective of the biblical text) “What we see depends on where we stand” (112)

Worship ministering to death (112-120) following the model of worship on earthly Sphere (worship

of the Beast, of the Roman State) Worship ministering to life (120-124)

following the model of worship in the Heavenly Sphere (throne liturgy in heaven Rev chaps 4-5)

Sacramental-Liturgical Context:Nigeria: Chukwuma Okoye

Reading the book of Revelation in a Liturgical Context

Revelation-based Worship ministering to death as a glorification of martyrdom

= cult of victimhood (passive acceptance of our economic and political plight as colonized and oppressed) (113-115)

As total rejection of State: African Traditional political leaders are/were not

demonic; but “personified the order of the world and harmony… for the benefit of humankind’ (115)

Sacramental-Liturgical Context:Nigeria: Chukwuma Okoye

Revelation-based Worship ministering to death

As separating faith and culture: African traditional Culture as a whole is not evil,

pagan; must discern which traditional practices and symbols are contrary to the gospel and which are compatible (116-118)

As fostering violence against heretics and non-believers; symbolic, metaphorical violence (in liturgy, in

worship is always very powerful) (118-120)

Sacramental-Liturgical Context:The Power of Liturgy, Ritual

Liturgy, ritual, and Scripture have power Because they convey CONVICTIONS to believers

Convictions as based on experience of mystery Convictions = self-evident truth

Not demonstrated truth, not ideas that we accept because they are backed by evidence

Convictions have power upon us, because they impose themselves upon us Define what is good/euphoric and bad/dysphoric They drive us to do the most sublime things… or the most evil

things Symbolic/metaphorical violence = actual violence Violence in the name of our faith; religious wars; crusades,

Shoah/Holocaust

Sacramental-Liturgical Context:Nigeria: Chukwuma Okoye

Revelation-based Worship ministering to Life: A liturgy that establishes for believers

the interrelation of spiritual, metaphysical sphere/level and the human, political sphere/level (120-122) Confirms that struggle against evil is taking place also at the

spiritual level & that “the present victory of God will usher in the universal and

manifest reign of God to be revealed in the future. Christ as the conqueror of all visible and invisible forces

= Christus Victor ( 1931 Gustaf Aulén) (122-123): “The greatest need among African is to see, to know, and to

experience Jesus Christ as the victor over the powers and forces from which Africa knows no means of deliverance” (Mbiti, 123)

“The death of Christ has to do with much more than just the spiritual salvation of the soul” (123)

Sacramental-Liturgical Context:Nigeria: Chukwuma Okoye

Revelation-based Worship ministering to Life: A liturgy that establishes for believers

A holistic vision of all of life (122): “the African person is not an individual, for

personality is defined by relationship” (122) Seeing oneself as having an intrinsic

relation to other humans, to sky, to earth,; “I am because we are; and because we are, I

am”

Sacramental-Liturgical Context:Nigeria: Chukwuma Okoye

A liturgy that establishes for believers that “Human beings cannot be fully saved’

Saved from evil powers of all kinds unless the co-determinates of authentic human

life are simultaneously saved.” (122) I am saved if, and if only, other people and the creation

are also saved see Rom 8:21 “the creation itself will be set free from its

bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God”

Liturgical Hermeneutics:Nigeria: Chukwuma Okoye

Revelation-based Worship as Liturgy in the Presence of God A liturgy that is

A worship of a living God, a world who still acts in this world and in the present “Hence, miracles are nothing extraordinary”

(123) the African sense of cosmic oneness, which

includes God as the origin of the life force (124)

Liturgical Hermeneutics:Nigeria: Chukwuma Okoye

Revelation based Worship as Liturgy in the Presence of God A liturgy that is

A worship of a living God, “who lowers God’s self to human, and a renewed earth becomes the Holy of Holies” (124)

“”Worship transmutes into the beatific vision” Beatific vision in the Present: the immediate

apprehension of God's self = entering into the very embrace of God

not after death as In Western medieval theology In the present worship…. In the liturgy

Petros Vassiliadis, Greek Orthodox Church

I will interpret John’s Gospel from the life-context of both post-modernity and Eastern Christianity.

Post-modernity has challenged the priority of the texts over experience,

in the context of Eastern Christianity, post-modernity has even challenged the priority of faith over the eucharistic communion experience of the Kingdom of God.

A eschatological-eucharistic communion experience

Petros Vassiliadis

The ritual (be it in a social setting or in an actual liturgical setting) gave rise to the story [the Gospel of John; other Gospels]

Rather than the opposite.

Christianity started around a table, a normal messianic Jewish banquet, meant as a foretaste of the coming Kingdom of God,

STELIAN TOFANĂ School of Orthodox Theology, Romania

I write this commentary from a didactic and sacerdotal context…

As an orthodox priest, its [Hebrews’s] content is part of the mystical reality I experience in every holy liturgy, at the altar on which Christ sacrifices himself continuously for each person, being there in a sacrificial state forever.

So I read Hebrews from the liturgical context of a permanent sacerdotal relation with the eternal high priest—Jesus Christ—in his continuous sacrifice for God’s people. This liturgical context encompasses heaven and earth, and thus daily life in society and in the natural world, where Jesus Christ, the high priest, offers his continuous sacrifice.   

= mystery of the incarnation continues

Mystical Reality

The Orthodox Church views the Bible + Ecumenical Councils + liturgy + icons as integral parts of an indivisible whole: Holy Tradition.

Liturgy and iconography are not seen as only teaching tools or ‘decoration’ that can be thrown away. Rather, they are sacramental POINTS OF CONTACT between God and human,

made directly possible through God the Son’s becoming human

An Orthodox church has been described as ‘heaven on earth’, and that is exactly what it is: a place where heaven and earth meet.

Mystical Reality: Bible

Bible = Word of God NOT the Word of God is the

content/teaching of the Bible; Bible = “Logos,” incarnated Logos:

a mystery Incarnation as “mystery”

Mystical Reality: Bible

Holy Bible = Sacred Book Book through which one encounters

the Divine/God Remember: Pharisees/Rabbis “Where

two or three are gathered and exchange words of Torah, the Shekinah is among them” (see also Matt 18:20 = “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.“)

Divine Liturgy: St. Athanasius c.295-373

“You will see the Levites [i.e. deacons] bringing the loaves and a cup of wine, and placing them on the table. So long as the prayers and invocations have not yet been made, it is mere bread and a mere cup.”

“But when the great and wondrous prayers have been recited, then the bread becomes the body and the cup the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ...”

“When the great prayers and holy supplications are sent up, the Word descends on the bread and the cup, and it becomes His body. —Athanasius, from his Sermon to the Newly Baptized PG 26, 1325,

ICON (Iconostasis)

Icon: Theotokos (Russia)

Icon: Theotokos (Russia)

CHURCH for Eastern Orthodox

The Church is NOT a “community” of believers… a gathering of believers

The Church is the BODY OF CHRIST … and thus it manifests (or should)

The presence of God in the world It is HOLY Sacramentalization of Society Sacramentalization of the World

John (Petros Vassiliadis, Greece)

Presenter Taylor Schomp, Leader Anna Leigh Keith ____Matthew Calderwood__ ____Annie Wong ____Mark Wells ____Wendy Aluoh ____Arlonzo Williams _____Basye Holland

 Hebrews (Stelian Tofana, Romania)

Presenter Anna McReynolds Leader: Jordan Nelson _____Chance Dillon _____Erin Higgins _____Lakendra Scott _____Iris Ankrom _____Adesewa Adelekun _____Ben Pflederer

Pharisees and Apocalyptic Models See Early Jewish Hermeneutics in Palestine

Pharisees = One Covenant

Election: complete = everything has been revealed on Mount Sinai (Oral and Written Torah)

Haggadah: Closed sacred history; Liturgy; interpreting Scripture by Scripture (Midrash)

Halakah: needs to be reinterpreted again and again (Mishnah, Talmud, constantly interpreted in terms of social, cultural situation)

Apocalyptic = New Covenant (people still in bondage)

Election: God is electing, choosing a remnant/a new faithful people = new interventions of God

Typology; Prophecy are fulfilled

Haggadah = Open sacred history, ongoing activity of God , establishing and reestablishing the covenant through choosing/calling a new people, through interventions of power

Halakah = Very strict; AS BY PRIEST IN THE TEMPLE

Deadly Letter of Scripture and Life Giving Spirit of Scripture

2 Corinthians 3:6-7 [Paul and others are] ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the ministry of death, chiseled in letters on stone tablets…

3:14-17 But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. 15 Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; 16 but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Formula Quotation: fulfilling prophecy: Jesus = the child who was sign of liberation

Matthew 1:22-23 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." = Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 7:14 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. … 16 For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. 17 The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on your ancestral house

Formula quotation; Fulfilling Unknown Prophecy

Matthew 2:23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."

Formula quotation: Jesus Fulfills the Type David and Abraham

Matthew 1:1 1:1 An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Etc. etc. = Jesus Fulfills the Types, David,

Abraham, etc. etc. = in Jesus the “types” of scripture are

fulfilled

Formula quotation: Jesus fulfills the Type Israel

Matthew 2:14-15 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."

Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

Formula quotation: Jesus fulfills the Type Israel

Matthew 4:1-2 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.

Jesus: Fulfilling the Type Moses

Matthew 5:1-2 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

Sermon on the Mount = New Law 18:20 = Jesus = Torah = Presence of God “For

where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."

Everything has been revealed in Jesus 28:20 teaching them to obey everything that I have

commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Christian Haggadah

Sacred History = re-opened (as in Apocalyptic) = new covenant in Jesus = New Moses

Jesus = New Israel Jesus = new liberation from oppression Commission of disciples: Matthew 28:18-20 Sacred History = closed again = everything is

revealed in Jesus Being disciples = following Jesus, reentering the

story, imitating Jesus, teaching what he taught them

Matthew 28:18-20

18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.

And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Jesus as Fulfilling “all righteousness” = Halakah

Matthew 3:13-15 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.

Matthew 4:3-4 The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." 4 But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Jesus as Fulfilling “all righteousness” = New Halakah

Matthew 5:17-18 Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.

Matthew 5:21-22 "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister,

Jesus as Fulfilling “all righteousness” = New Halakah

Matthew 5:38-39 38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' [Ex 21:24] 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;

Matthew 5:43-44 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' [Lev 19:18] 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Paul

1 Corinthians 10:1 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,

2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they

drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.

5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.

6 Now these things occurred as types [often translated “examples”] for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did.

1 Cor 10:1ff

Exodus 14:22 Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.

Exodus 16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not.

Abraham, as “type” of believers

Galatians 3:6-9 Just as Abraham "believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," 7 so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you." 9 For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed. [see also Romans 4]

What is the “gospel”? 1) = the fulfillment of the type Abraham in the

believers’ life; 2) = a promise fulfilled in the present

Abraham = allegory = typology of his two sons

Galatians 4:22-28 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. 23 One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise. 24 Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, "Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children, burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs; for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than the children of the one who is married." 28 Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac.

1 Thessalonians

1:4 For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you,

5 because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.

6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit,

7 so that you became an type (trans. Example) to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 2:14 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you suffered the same things from your own compatriots as they did from the Jews,

Summary

Matthew Pharisaic/Rabbinic

Model BUT Haggadah: Closed

sacred history Jesus and new covenant, etc replace Moses and Mt Sinai and the Covenant on Mt Sinai by.

Halakah: needs to be reinterpreted again and again, as counterculture

Paul Apocalyptic model BUT Haggadah = Open

sacred history, ongoing activity of God , establishing and reestablishing the covenant through choosing/calling a new people, through interventions of power

Halakah: in the world, because you cannot be separated from the world.