Intro to Exegesis Week 7: The Interpretive Journey - OT Amos S. Yang, MD All material amosyang.net and may not be reproduced or redistributed without permission from the author. 1! The interpretive journey - OT Keep in mind that we read and interpret the Old Testament as Christians. That is, although we believe that the Old Testament is part of God s inspired Word to us, we do not want to ignore the Cross and thus interpret and apply this literature as if we were Old Testament Hebrews. We affirm that we are New Testament Christians, and we will interpret the Old Testament from that vantage point (J. Scott Duvall, J. Daniel Hays). During Step 1 (grasping the text in their town), of course we will focus on what the text meant to those living in the Old Testament era. However, it is critical that we not stop there! After we have defined the width of the river (Step 2) and formulated a theological principle (Step 3), we need to insert a new step. Before we move to application, we want to run the theological principle through the grid of the New Testament, looking for what the New Testament adds to that principle or how the New Testament modifies it. Thus, while the Interpretive Journey has remained a four-step journey throughout the New Testament, it will expand to a five-step journey in the Old Testament. 2!
The interpretive journey - OT Understand that the interpretive journey in the OT includes an additional step not in NT: Step Task Description 1 Grasp the text in their town What did the text mean to the biblical audience? 2 Measure the width of the river to cross What are the differences between the biblical audience and us? 3 Cross the principializing bridge What is the theological principle in this text? 4 Cross into the New Testament 5 Grasp the text in our town Does the New Testament teaching modify or qualify this principle? And if so, how? How should individual Christians today apply the theological principle in their lives? 3! Genres of the OT Genre Narrative General representative portions of the Bible Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, Jonah, Haggai Law Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, Deuteronomy Poetry Prophets Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, large portions of the prophetic books Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, the 12 minor prophets Wisdom Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon Many OT books are comprised of more than one genre, so the above is only a general guide 4!
The interpretive journey OT narrative Narrative (stories) comprise nearly half of of the Old Testament (It) is a literary form characterized by sequential time action and involving plot, setting, and characters. It is the story form of literature. The meaning of a narrative derives primarily from the actions of its characters. Rather then telling us how to live or how not to live, the narrative shows us how to live or how not to live by the actions of the characters It is essential that we be able to discern the good guys from the bad guys. One of the most common errors made in interpreting Old Testament narrative is to assume that everyone in the story is a hero, a model for us to copy. This is simply not true Also keep in mind that most of the main characters (excluding God) contain mixtures of good and bad traits (J. Scott Duvall, J. Daniel Hays). Fundamental to interpreting Old Testament narrative correctly is reading the passage carefully There are many similarities between the New Testament Gospels and reading Old Testament narrative It is important to locate the episode you are studying into the context of the narratives that surround it Literary context is important. Placing the smaller narratives that we study into proper context within the overall story is crucial to developing a correct understanding of the passage (J. Scott Duvall, J. Daniel Hays). 5! Literary features of OT narrative: Feature Plot Setting Characters Viewpoint of narrator Description Expands on the what? and how? questions Usually progresses through: 1) The situation (a.k.a exposition ) 2) The conflict 3) The resolution Expands on the when? (time setting) and where? (place setting) questions (e.g. Ruth 1:1) Expands on the who? question Usually the meaning being conveyed in the text is tied to the behavior of one or more characters Sometimes is explicitly described in summary statements (e.g. 2 Ki 17:7, Judg 21:25) Sometimes never explicitly described but implicitly communicated through literary choices 6!
Literary features of OT narrative: Feature Comparison, contrast Description Analyzes similarities and differences between different situations or characters e.g. Achan and Rahab (Josh 2, 7), Hannah s son Samuel and Eli s sons Hophni and Phinehas (1 Sam 1-4), Saul and David (1 Sam 9-17) Irony Situations where the literal or surface meaning of an event is quite different the narrator s real intended meaning e.g. 1 Ki 10:26-28, 11:3 c.f. Deut 17:16-17 It is important to locate the episode you are studying into the context of the narratives that surround it. Likewise, it is important to keep relating the parts to the whole Placing the smaller narratives that we study into proper context within the overall story is crucial to developing a correct understanding of the passage (J. Scott Duvall, J. Daniel Hays). An excellent example of the interpretive journey in an OT narrative text can be found for Joshua 2:1-24, 7:1-26 in GGW, pp. 310, 323-325: 7! Old Testament narrative subgenres: Subgenre Description Examples Report A brief, self-contained narration, usually in the third-person style, about a single event or situation in the past. Judg 1:16-17, 1 Ki 7:2-8, 12:25, 14:25-26, 2 Ki 24:20b-25:7 Heroic narrative A series of episodes that focus on the life and exploits of a hero. Moses, Deborah, Gideon, Samson Prophet story Comedy / Irony Farewell speech A recounting of the events in the life or a prophet, particularly those that demonstrate virtues worthy of emulation. A narrative whose plot has a happy ending, in some cases through a dramatic reversal. An address in the first-person voice reportedly given by someone shortly before his or her death. Klein, William et al. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. 326-336. Elijah, Elisha, Daniel Esther, Joseph Moses, Joshua 8!
Understand that the story of OT narratives is being told on three levels: Level Description Top The story of the whole universal plan of God worked out through His creation Key aspects: Creation, the Fall, sin, need for redemption, Christ s incarnation and sacrifice Middle The story of Israel. The call of Abraham, the patriarchs, the enslavement, the Exodus, the Conquest, Israel s frequent sins and disloyalty, destruction and exile, the restoration Bottom Individual stories about specific people and events Fee, Gordon et al. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. 2 nd ed. 79-80. 9! An example of the interpretive journey Joshua 2:1-24, 7:1-26 (in GGW, pp. 310, 323-325): 1) What did the text mean to the biblical audience? Rahab, the Canaanite prostitute, is contrasted with Achan, the Israelite. She believes in the God of Israel and trusts Him with her life, resulting in the deliverance of her and her family from the destruction of Jericho. Achan, however, trivializes God and ignores His strict commands, resulting in his death and that of his family. The two trade places. 2) What are the differences between the biblical audience and us? We are under a different covenant than Achan. Our situation is different. We are not in the Conquest (of the Promised Land), and we are not involved in any type of literal holy war. Nor are we Canaanites (or prostitutes) living in a city about to be conquered. God has not given us the same specific commands as He gave Achan. 10!
Rahab Woman Canaanite Prostitute (unrespectable) Should have died, but survives and prospers Her family and all she owned survives Nation perishes Hides the spies from the king Hides the spies on the roof Fears the God of Israel Has only heard of God, yet obeys Him Her house survives while the city is burned Cattle, sheep, and donkeys of Jericho perish She becomes like an Israelite and lives Achan Man Hebrew (from tribe of Judah, the best) Respectable Should have prospered, but dies His family and all he owned perishes Nation prospers Hides the look from God and Joshua Hides the loot under his tent Does not fear the God of Israel Has seen the acts of God, but disobeys Him His tent is burned Cattle, sheep, and donkeys of Achan perish He becomes like a Canaanite and dies Duvall, J. Scott et al. Grasping God s Word. 310. 11! An example of the interpretive journey Joshua 2:1-24, 7:1-26 (in GGW, pp. 310, 323-325): 3) What is the theological principle in this text? God sees past superficial externals and saves unusual people who place their faith in Him. This is because deliverance is based on true faith (demonstrated by action) and not mere externals, such as ethnicity or religious tradition. God is a God of grace, but judgment comes on those who trivialize God and treat Him as if He does not exist. 4) Does the New Testament teaching modify or qualify this principle? And if so, how? The New Testament reaffirms that God looks beyond superficial externals and saves people based on faith in Jesus Christ. That God chooses some unusual people is likewise reaffirmed in the New Testament. Mere association with the church, rather than true faith, will not result in salvation. 5) How should individual Christians today apply this modified theological principle in their lives? 12!
Carry out the interpretive journey for 1 Samuel 15:1-35: 1) What did the text mean to the biblical audience? 2) What are the differences between the biblical audience and us? 13! Carry out the interpretive journey for 1 Samuel 15:1-35:! Possible issues to consider: Who was the original audience of this passage? Who are the primary characters in this passage? Are there any contrasts among the primary characters in the passage? Which verses each comprise the situation, conflict, and resolution? When did the events in this narrative occur? What are some important events in time surrounding the events in this narrative? What is the viewpoint of the narrator in this passage? 14!
Carry out the interpretive journey for 1 Samuel 15:1-35: 3) What is the theological principle in this text? 4) Does the New Testament teaching modify or qualify this principle? And if so, how? 15! Carry out the interpretive journey for 1 Samuel 15:1-35: 5) How should individual Christians today apply this modified theological principle in their lives? 16!
Carry out the interpretive journey for 1 Samuel 3:1-21: 1) What did the text mean to the biblical audience? 2) What are the differences between the biblical audience and us? 17! Carry out the interpretive journey for 1 Samuel 3:1-21: 3) What is the theological principle in this text? 4) Does the New Testament teaching modify or qualify this principle? And if so, how? 18!
Carry out the interpretive journey for 1 Samuel 3:1-21: 5) How should individual Christians today apply this modified theological principle in their lives? 19! Exegesis class Some concluding thoughts: 1. Observe, observe, observe! 2. Apply, apply, apply! 3. Deliberately use your exegetical skills as often as possible. 4. Become an expert in the Scriptures Read your Bible daily. Read your Bible broadly. NT epistles, NT Gospels OT narrative, OT wisdom literature Revelation, OT prophets 20!