Intro to Exegesis - amosyang.netamosyang.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/introexegesispart7.pdf ·...

Intro to Exegesis Week 7: The Interpretive Journey - OT

Amos S. Yang, MD

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The interpretive journey - OT

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•  “…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.”

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 Does the New Testament teaching

modify or qualify this principle? And if so, how?

5 Grasp the text in our town How should individual Christians today

apply the theological principle in their lives?

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Genres of the OT

Genre General representative portions of the Bible

Narrative 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 Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, large portions of the prophetic books

Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, the 12 minor prophets

Wisdom Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon

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•  Many OT books are comprised of more than one genre, so the above is only a general guide

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).

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The interpretive journey - OT narrative

•  Literary features of OT narrative:

Feature Description

Plot

•  Expands on the “what?” and “how?” questions •  Usually progresses through:

1) The situation (a.k.a “exposition”) 2) The conflict 3) The resolution

Setting •  Expands on the “when?” (time setting) and “where?” (place setting) questions (e.g. Ruth 1:1)

Characters •  Expands on the “who?” question •  Usually the meaning being conveyed in the text is tied to the behavior of

one or more characters

Viewpoint of narrator

•  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

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•  Literary features of OT narrative:

Feature Description

Comparison, contrast

•  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:

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•  Old Testament narrative subgenres:

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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

A recounting of the events in the life or a prophet, particularly those that demonstrate virtues worthy of emulation.

Elijah, Elisha, Daniel

Comedy / Irony A narrative whose plot has a happy ending, in some cases through a dramatic reversal.

Esther, Joseph

Farewell speech An address in the first-person voice reportedly given by someone shortly before his or her death.

Moses, Joshua

Klein, William et al. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. 326-336.


•  Understand that the story of OT narratives is being told on three levels:

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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. 2nd ed. 79-80.


•  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.

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Rahab Achan

Woman Man

Canaanite Hebrew (from tribe of Judah, the best)

Prostitute (unrespectable) Respectable

Should have died, but survives and prospers Should have prospered, but dies

Her family and all she owned survives His family and all he owned perishes

Nation perishes Nation prospers

Hides the spies from the king Hides the look from God and Joshua

Hides the spies on the roof Hides the loot under his tent

Fears the God of Israel Does not fear the God of Israel

Has only heard of God, yet obeys Him Has seen the acts of God, but disobeys Him

Her house survives while the city is burned His tent is burned

Cattle, sheep, and donkeys of Jericho perish Cattle, sheep, and donkeys of Achan perish

She becomes like an Israelite and lives He becomes like a Canaanite and dies

Duvall, J. Scott et al. Grasping God’s Word. 310.


•  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?

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•  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?

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!  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?

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3) What is the theological principle in this text? 4) Does the New Testament teaching modify or qualify this principle? And if so, how?

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1)  What did the text mean to the biblical audience?

2)  What are the differences between the biblical audience and us?

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3) What is the theological principle in this text? 4) Does the New Testament teaching modify or qualify this principle? And if so, how?

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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

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