Themes of the Pentateuch Flashcards
What are Dr. Thomas’ three main themes for the Pentateuch?
The Diversity in Scripture
Not just the diversity in sources and all that, but that the scriptures are more diverse than many of us have been led to believe. There are a range of voices in scripture that show us the diversity of God’s relationship with humanity. God engages with the full diversity of human experience. No one perspective fully captures who he is, and how we relate to him. These things are in tension, but it’s there.
The Centrality of Covenant
Covenant is the primary way that the Bible envisions the God-human relationship. This means that God used a known cultural form to interact with Israel, showing God’s care for us in our contexts. Also, God extends grace in understanding and responding to our need for reassurance, in spite of the many promises of God. He makes relational commitments with us, and he expects us to do the same for him. Dr. Thomas sees that as part of God’s grace.
- Noahic Covenant
- Abrahamic Covenant
- Sinai Covenant
The Place of Israel in Its World
Looking at the ancient Near Eastern context of the Pentateuch has helped us to see the ways that the Israelites expressed their unique faith in language and forms that would have been familiar in their context. Also, it shows a willingness to engage in cultural critique of the larger, dominant cultures around them.
-it retold some stories, and said “this is how we relate to our God, and he is THE god, the only one”.
What are some major questions that the Pentateuch poses for us?
Compositional Questions
How did the Pentateuch come about? What time period was it actually addressing? Can we even be certain about these things? How much does it matter?
Hermeneutical Questions
How can we translate these ancient texts for a modern audience? How large of a place should we give to historical methodologies as opposed to making the interpretive leap to today? What in the world are we to do with the: laws, polygamy, incest, theft, murder, violence, etc. that we see in the Bible?
What themes does Cline’s focus on in his study of the Pentateuch?
He focuses on the Abrahamic covenant, and sees three promises:
- Land
- Descendants
- Relationship with God
Who is the 2nd most major character in the bible?
Moses
What roles does Moses play in the Pentateuch?
- Mediator
- One standing between God and Israel - Law-giver
- Prophet
- He spoke for God - Priest
- Levite who established the priesthood - Judge
- King – not really, but he had the roles
- If Israel had had a king, it would have been Moses
What were Moses flaws?
Moses, however, had his flaws:
- Murderer
- Wavered in his faith
- Was prone to mood swings
- Was inconsistently obedient to Yhwh
- Was a reluctant leader
In Deuteronomy 18 the Lord promises to send a prophet like Moses in the future. Who was a prophet like Moses?
- Joshua - took up the mantle
- Samuel - priest, judge, prophet
- Elijah - fiercely Yahwistic, like Moses
- Elisha - Elijah’s Joshua
- Josiah - took up the cause of Deuteronomy
- Ezra - brought the Torah to the people
- John the Baptist
- Jesus
What is the connection between Jesus and Moses?
There are many, many connections drawn in the gospels between Moses and Jesus. In many ways, Jesus is seen as a new Moses, bringing a new law from God.
At what point does Jesus affirm Moses’ Torah?
In Matt. 5.17-20 (// Lk. 16.16-17): “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill”.
At what point does Moses affirm Jesus’ Torah?
During the Transfiguration.
What were Jesus and Moses talking about during the Transfiguration?
Luke gives us the answer:
Luke 9.31: They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure (ἔξοδον “exodus”), which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Jesus’ death (and resurrection?) is here envisioned as a new exodus. Who better to talk with about the exodus than Moses?
What is the relationship between the serpent in Numbers and Jesus being lifted up?
John 3.14: And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.
Remember this story from Numbers? The people are being bitten and killed by serpents/scorpions. Yhwh tells Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. When the people are bitten, they just need to look at the serpent on the pole, and they will be healed. In the same way, when we look to Christ on the cross, we are healed.
In what ways do Moses and Jesus share similar stories?
Moses and Jesus shared a few more things in common. How many of these can you identify?
- endangered from birth, but protected by parents
- returns from exile after oppressor’s death
- comes out of Egypt
- preaches from a mountain
- fasts 40 days and nights
- feeds humanity with divine food
- rejected by those to whom he brought salvation
- rejected by religious leaders
