Transcript Scripture Workshop Episcopal Church of the Resurrection

Can you read the whole
Bible in one year?
Yup. But here are some
things to keep in mind.
April 24, 2013
Who wrote it? When? Who was it written for?
Why do people disagree so much about what
it says? Why is it so full of contradictions?
What’s the deal with God in the Old
Testament? Is it factual? Is it historical? Is it
metaphorical? Why are there so many
gruesome stories? Why are there two
testaments? Who chose what books made it
into the Bible? What books didn’t make it in?
How close is our version to the original? If it
was written for the ancient world, what good
is it today?
Versions of the Bible
• For most of history, most people did not read the
Bible. They listened to a Latin version of it. Books
were rare and literacy was low
• Started to change with reformation
• Luther’s German version and King James Version
become normative
• Today there are dozens of versions: KJV, NRSV, NIV,
The Message, New American, Good News, etc
• Translation is interpretation
GET ONE WITH GOOD NOTES!
How has the Bible been read?
• Origen, 3rd C., said it could be read literally, morally
and allegorically
• Allegory was deepest reading. It opened up
meaning and metaphor
• This view dominated interpretation for most of the
next 1300-1400 years
• Whether or not details were factually accurate was
not an issue. That level was just assumed
• Meaning was far more important
How has the Bible been read?
• People didn’t argue about the details so much as
the meaning of the story they supported
• Miracles didn’t require a leap of faith because they
weren’t articles of faith
• Miracles were just part of the background of the
way people perceived reality
• Meaning of stories resided on this background like
paint canvas
Enlightenment Changed This
• Enlightenment elevated reason as primary lens by
which many things, including religion, were viewed
• This brought tremendous benefit to science,
medicine, history, role of the individual
• But it often stripped out allegorical/metaphorical
meanings out of the Bible
• The factuality and historicity of stories grew to
become the most important parts and in the
process the meaning of stories was often lost
Higher Criticism and Fundamentalism
• In 19th century higher criticism began literary,
textual, historical analysis, linguistic analysis etc,
to take deeper look at Bible texts
• Conservative Christianity responded, ironically,
with tools of enlightenment to defend itself
• Sought certainty and a literal, formulaic,
historical reading of the Bible
• “Reduced” the Bible to facts
• “The Fundamentals” were first published in
1915. They included, among other things:
“The Fundamentals” and the Bible
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Literal virgin birth, certainty of bodily resurrection
Divine inspiration of Bible
7 days of creation – rejection of evolution
Mosaic authorship of Pentateuch
Literal OT authorship (Isaiah, Daniel)
Literalism around the devil
Literal, personal second-coming
• Socially, the Bible now carries a lot of this baggage
Projection and the Bible
• Bible takes multiple positions on so many issues,
that literal interpretation becomes arbitrary
• Literal reading often says more about the reader
than the writer
• This is projection
• We project our opinions, biases, later theology,
current events onto Bible and find what we want
• Sexuality, women, slavery, economics, etc
• We ask questions of Bible which its writers never
conceived of in the ancient world
• Implies need for careful interpretation
Interpretation is Important and Hard
• To avoid just finding what we want, need to
interpret thoughtfully
• Learn as much as possible the text (language, key
words, translations, ties to other texts, etc)
• Learn as much as possible about context
(concerns of original audience, history, cultural
issues, etc)
• Figure out what the authors were trying to say to
their intended audience
• Apply that package to issues today
Test Cases:
Old Testament & Creation
New Testament & Christmas
Story
The Law
Pre-History Songs, Sagas, Laws & Treaties (from Babylon, tribal culture,
(pre-1200s) Egypt, Canaan, etc) Oral and written sources
900s
Yahwist source (Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel, Babel, Flood
(parts), frames much of narrative)
800s
Elohist source (Patriarch sagas, Joseph saga)
700s
Yahwist/Elohist comb. & editing, Addtl sagas, legends,
genealogies, cultic regs, holiness code
600s
Portions of Yahwist/Elohist migrate to Deuteronomy
500s
Priestly source (7 days, most laws, cultic stuff)
400s
Yahwist/Elohist/Priestly comb. & editing, Deuteronomy
separated
200s
Torah/Law/Pentateuch near final form
90AD
Complete Hebrew Bible delimited by Rabbinic Assembly at
Jamnia
The Prophets
800s
700s
600s
Laws, treaties, songs, proto-Deuteronomy
Sagas, legends, annals, historical narratives, Isaiah 1-31,
Amos, Hoseah, Micah
Deuteronomy, first eds. of Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1&2
Kings, Jeremiah 1-45, Zephaniah, Nahun, Habakkuk
500s
Isaiah 40-55, second eds. of Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel,
1&2 Kings, Haggai, Zechariah 1-8
400s
Isaiah 32-35, Jeremiah 30-31, Ezekiel 1-37 & 40-48, Joel,
Malachi, Obadiah, Jonah
200s
Isaiah 24-27, Ezekiel 38-39, Zechariah 9-14, Book of the 12
100s
Former and latter prophets
90AD
Complete Hebrew Bible delimited by Rabbinic
Assembly at Jamnia
The Writings
1000s
Sagas
900s
Aphorisms, numerical sayings, hymns, laments, Thanksgiving songs,
royal songs
800s
Folktales behind Job 1-2, 42:9-17
700s
Proverbs 10-22, 25-29, Egyptian proto-Proverbs 22:17-24
600s
Proverbs 22:17-24, Job 3-31, 38-42:6, Midrashes of Kings & Prophets for
Chronicles
500s
Written sub-collections of some Psalms, more Proverbs, Job complete,
Lamentations
300s
Psalms complete, Proverbs complete, song of songs, Ruth, Chronicles,
Ecclesiastes
100s
Esther, Daniel
90 AD
Complete Hebrew Bible delimited by rabbinic assembly at Jamnia
Notes on Old Testament
• Little sense of individual authorship in OT (or NT).
“Schools” of followers wrote and re-wrote texts
• Others wrote in the name of schools or individuals
to derive credibility
• Great tension in OT comes between temple and
prophets.
• Temple maintained authority through ritual.
Prophets constantly criticized temple for corruption
Notes on Old Testament
• “Exodus Motif” reverberates throughout OT (and
NT). It is the primary reference point
• Israel was dominated by Egypt (perhaps), then
threatened by Canaanites, fought among itself,
conquered by Assyria, exiled by Babylon, conquered
by Alexander, ruled by the Ptolemies, and
conquered by Rome, which destroyed the temple
and scattered the Jews
• Stories created in one context were constantly rewritten to apply to new contexts
Test Case
Genesis 1:1-5:32
Creation
Two Creation Stories?
Genesis 1:1-2:4a
Genesis 2:4b-5:32
Creation of light
Earth and heavens
Separation of the waters
Man (not woman)
Land and vegetation
Garden
Sun, moon, stars
Trees, Tree of Life
Fish and birds
River to other places (that are
already created?)
Land animals, man and woman
Animals
Sabbath
Woman
Genesis 1:1-5:32
• Literally, the two stories can’t be reconciled
chronologically or theologically or literarily or
narratively.
• Meaning collapses in literal reading
• Different authorship: Priestly source vs. Yahwist
source
• Different names for God, different vocabulary &
style
1:1-2:4a – Possible Meaning
• Before creation earth is formless, dark wasteland
and wind swept over waters
• Creation takes on clear pattern:
– “Let there be…”, creation, complete day
• Very orderly. God is distant, not anthropomorphic
• Similarities between this story and a Babylonian
version, re-done for Israel’s theology
• Something exists before creation, but it is chaos –
similar to Babylonian accounts
1:1-2:4a – Possible Meaning
• Darkness considered to be evil, its origin mysterious
• God creates through the spoken word – naming
something signified power over it
• Humans are culmination of creation
• God’s “us”. Difficult to interpret. Divine council?
• “Image”: God’s representative on earth?
• Humans created male and female in God’s image
• adam means humanity in Hebrew
• God is outside of universe
2:4b-5:32 – Possible Meaning
• Yahwist account. More narrative, less orderly,
creation feels more haphazard, less logical
• Focus on relationships: humans/God,
humans/world, humans/humans
• Not sure what exists before creation
• Story clearly written from agrarian setting,
considering the allusions to farming
2:4b-5:32 – Possible Meaning
• Adam means human. Adamah means soil.
Play on words and mixed imagery. Creation of
humanity, not a man
• No concept of soul. God’s breath animates
Adam
• Breath = Ruach. Same word for wind in first
story and for spirit later in the OT
2:4b-5:32 – Possible Meaning
• No notion of humans created in God’s image
• “Eden” means delight. Garden is common
image in ancient creation myths.
• Humans are God’s caretakers in the garden, and
must follow Gods’ rules
• Tree is common feminine fertility symbol in
myths. Here tree symbolizes wisdom or hubris
• It wasn’t an apple
2:4b-5:32 – Possible Meaning
• Woman is crowning event of creation, yet passage
has been used to subjugate women. Later readers
give strongly misogynist interpretation
• Use of rib is uncertain, may be legacy of Sumerian
mythology
• Woman is helper, but not subservient.
• Story seems to explain and validate 10th century
covenantal marriage
• Finishes with short hymn and divine mandate for
sex. Hmm, maybe sex isn’t that bad
2:4b-5:32 – Possible Meaning
• No mention of “sin” or “original sin” in Hebrew.
That’s from Augustine
• Snakes were ancient symbols of wisdom, fertility,
immortality. Not seen as the devil here. That is
much later interpretation
• Snake also symbol of Canaanite religion
• Original source of evil is elusive
• Story shows connections breaking down
2:4b-5:32 – Possible Meaning
• Snake is half right, God is wrong. Adam & Eve are
not put to death, they see good and evil
• The question is this: Who knows what’s best for the
creature, the creator or the creature?
• Humans refuse responsibility for their error. Adam
blames Eve and God. Eve blames serpent
• God’s love for humanity continues in spite of error
• “Us” may refer to ancient court of gods
• Maybe God feared humans would become God-like
(See Nephilim later)
New Testament
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When was it Written(ish)?
Jesus: 3-33?
Paul’s Letters: 51-58
Roman/Jewish War: 66-70
Oral forms of gospels (33-110)
Gospel of Mark: 68-73 (set in 33)
Rome destroys Jerusalem temple: 70
Gospel of Matthew: 80-90 (set in 33)
Luke/Acts: 80-90 (set in 33-58)
Gospel of John: 80-110 (set in 33)
Revelation: 92-96 (set in 110s)
Other Epistles: 70-130 (set in 51-58)
Didache: 100-150
Justin Martyr: Mid 2nd Century
Gospel of Thomas: Mid 3rd Century (set in 33)
Late 4th/early 5th century, canon assumed closed
Relationship of Gospels
Mark
Matthew
Luke
John
Mark Oral
Tradition
Q Tradition
Matthew
Oral
Tradition
Luke Oral
Tradition
John Oral
Tradition
Thoughts on NT
• Gospel accounts all set around year 33, but not
written until decades later
• Gospels, Acts and Paul’s letters differ substantially
on details, chronology, characters, theology
• We think of Gospel as one story, but is at least four
stories
• Mark, Matthew & Luke are synoptic. John is very
different
• Little of it written in Israel
• Oral tradition in Aramaic and Greek
• Written in Greek (which Jesus did not speak)
Reading 3 Stories at Once
1. Jesus’ story took place around 33. That’s the
story on the surface
2. Gospels written decades later and they
completely re-interpret Jesus story for new
audiences and new issues
3. Writers consciously using Old Testament
themes, theology and stories, and often
Greco-Roman theology and philosophy.
Helpful to know those stories too
Thoughts on Paul
• Original to Paul (Circa 50s) – Radical Paul
– Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, I Thessalonians,
Galatians, Philippians, Philemon
– Challenges many social conventions of ancient world
• Disputed (Circa 70-90) – Conservative Paul
– Ephesians, Colossians, 2 Thessalonians
– Challenges and reinforces social conventions of
ancient world
• Non-Pauline (Circa 100-120) – Reactionary Paul
– I Timothy, II Timothy, Titus
– Reinforces many social conventions of ancient world
Is the NT Historically Accurate?
• “…was not composed to record historical
remembrances about Jesus”
• “History” as objective discipline did not exist
until 19th century.
• Evangelists sought to write gospels, “evangelion”
(good news), message of salvation.
• Goal: Preaching for conversion, identity claims
for Jesus, interpreting Jesus stories to Christian
community
Social Context of NT
• Tradition of oppression by foreign powers
• Jewish hierarchy colluded with Roman Empire
• Honor/Shame Society: Pivotal social value was
public reputation. In-group /out-group behavior
• Collectivistic: Individuals defined by communal
identity. No personal relationship with God
• Kinship defines a person
• Spirit world: Good/evil spirits everywhere. Human
issues had spiritual corollaries
Social Context of Text
• Patron/Client structure: “socially fixed relations of
reciprocity between social unequals”
• Purity: System of meaning that determines behavior
as good or deviant. Elaborate rules
• Hellenistic world
• Growing apocalypticism in face of Roman
occupation
• Meals very ceremonial and microcosm of life
• Poor, agrarian
Women in NT
• Property of fathers or husbands
• Extremely ritually unclean when menstruating
• Lived private lives in family, no social lives or
power outside kinship circle
• Double standards
• Jesus treats them in egalitarian way
• Few are named or speak
Relationship to Imperial Rome
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Rome dominated Mediterranean world
Peace through threat of violence
Roman soldiers throughout Palestine
Heavily taxed Jewish commerce, especially
agriculture, reducing people to virtual slaves
• Used powerful Jews in patron/client structure:
appointed Jewish governors and the high priest.
Used Jewish men to collect taxes
• Jews hated the Romans
Relationship to Imperial Rome
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Persecuted some early Christian communities
Rome is focus of apocalyptic projection
Romans considered emperor to be a God
Emperor’s image on all Roman coins, which
Jews had to use
• Before the temple fell, Rome placed statue of
emperor in holy of holies
• ROME DESTROYED HOLIEST JEWISH SITE
Relationship to Imperial Rome
• Rome allowed many religions to thrive in
empire.
• Context was multi-religious, but Rome required
subjects to recognize emperor as God
• Jews did not do this and Rome was suspicious
• Caesar Augustus was believed to be the son of
God who brought peace to the world
• Christians used many of the titles reserved for
Caesar for Jesus. Very inflammatory
Theological Context of the Audience
• Religion inseparable from social, political,
economic and psychological life
• Jesus does not match Messianic expectations
• Growing apocalyptic expectations
• Expected Jesus to return very soon
• Community of Jews, God-Fearers and Gentiles
Relationship to Judaism
• Christianity not distinct from Judaism at that
time
• Jesus not creating a new religion. Fulfilling OT
with Kingdom of God
• Jesus portrayed in prophetic tradition,
challenging oppression
• Jesus challenges Jewish establishment
• Jesus reaches out to Jews and gentiles
Test Case
Matthew 1:1-2:23 &
Luke 1:1-2:52
The Birth of Christ
What is in a Christmas pageant?
Matthew
Luke
Genealogy
Conception of John
Conception of Jesus
Conception of Jesus
Joseph’s Dilemma
Mary visits Elizabeth
Birth of John
Journey to Bethlehem
Birth
Birth
Angels & Shepherds
Star, Wise Men, Herod
Circumcision
Adoration of Magi
Presentation in temple
Flight into Egypt to Escape Herod’s Plot
Slaughter of innocent children
Return from Egypt, Move to Nazareth
Matthew’s Genealogy
• Genealogy
– Begins with Abraham
– All men except for Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, wife of
Uriah (Bathsheba), and Mary. What’s unique
about these women?
• No manger, shepherds or any of that
• Why Bethlehem? Site of David’s Birth.
Bethlehem means “bread”
The Virgin?
• Mary is passive character –has no choice in
conception. Joseph and the angel drive the story
Matthew 1:23
“Look the VIRGIN shall
conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him
Emmanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14
“Look, the YOUNG
WOMAN is with child and
shall bear a son, and shall
name him Immanuel.”
• The Septuagint, 3rd century BC Greek translation of
Hebrew scriptures translated “young woman” from
Hebrew as “Virgin” in Greek.
Wise Guise
• Wise men are astrologers, learned men from Persia.
• Chief priest quotes Micah to them to show
Bethlehem as the birth place of the Messiah
• Wise men pay homage to Jesus then avoid Herod
• Not kings. Doesn’t say there were three
A Christmas pageant
where all the kids get killed?
• To avoid Herod, Joseph receives dream and takes
family to Egypt
• Jesus’ journey may symbolize the Jewish people:
from Canaan to Egypt and back to Israel
• Like Moses, Jesus avoids mass killing of Jewish boys
• Herod is cast as Pharaoh, kills innocent boys
• Herod’s title was King of the Jews. Matthew
subverts that with Jesus title, King of the Jews
• Angel/dream send family back to Israel and literary
trick sends them to Nazareth
Jesus’ Birth in Gospel of Luke
• Zechariah & Elizabeth conceive John late in life
• Gospel begins right in the temple, the heart of
Judaism
• Miraculous birth echoes Abraham and Sarah and
other miraculous OT births
• John likened to Elijah, whom Jewish tradition said
would herald the Kingdom of God
Annunciation and Magnificat
• Mary and Joseph are poor, humble, live in a
backwater. Why is messiah born to them?
• Annunciation foretells the birth
• “Womb” in Hebrew also means God
• Magnificat based on Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel
• Magnificat opens with joy but talks much about
conflict with the powerful
Nativity
• No historical precedent for a census of whole
world, though regional censes took place.
• Literary device for getting the family to Bethlehem.
May provide contrast with Caesar’s power
• No issues with Joseph and the pregnancy
• No donkey
• Why a manger? A feeding trough. Jesus is
nourishment? Humankind has no place for Jesus?
Angels and Shepherds
• Shepherds had little status in society, considered
unclean and despised
• David was a shepherd too
• Contrast between humble birth and glorious angels
• Angels announce good news –Evangellion– same
word as Gospel
• Caesar’s titles were Son of God, Lord, Savior or the
World, Light of the World. Luke subverts that
Comparisons
• Shared features:
– Mary, Joseph & Jesus
– Birth in Bethlehem
– During reign of Herod the Great
– Conception by the Holy Spirit
• Narrative settings for these events differ
significantly
• Mark and Paul, written earlier, include no mention
of extraordinary birth. John lacks one
What kind of stories are these?
• Parables: Jesus told parables about Kingdom of
God. Jesus’ followers told parables about him
• Parable attempts to show things from unexpected
angle
• Birth stories turn Roman and Jewish royal imagery
upside down
• Birth stories place Jesus in long line of God’s
miraculous action on behalf of Israel
The First Week
Count
Day
Month
Date
Year
Old Testament
Psalm
New Testament
365
Sunday
April
28
2013
Rest!
Rest!
Rest!
364
Monday
April
29
2013
Genesis1-3
Psalm 1
Matthew 1
363
Tuesday
April
30
2013
Genesis 4-6
Psalm 2
Matthew 2
362
Wednesday
May
1
2013
Genesis 7-9
Psalm 3
Matthew 3
361
Thursday
May
2
2013
Genesis 10-12
Psalm 4
Matthew 4
360
Friday
May
3
2013
Genesis 13-15
Psalm 5
Matthew 5
359
Saturday
May
4
2013
Genesis 16-18
Psalm 6
Matthew 6