In this study, we explore the stories of Abraham from the perspective of Jesus, Paul, and their Jewish contemporaries in an attempt to read the Old Testament the way they did. The readings include the Genesis account of Abraham, other verses of Scripture, and other writings from Jewish, Christian, and Islamic perspectives. For the general outline of the teaching, I used How to Read the Bible by James Kugel. This was one of our first studies, and I send only one email each week with an attached study outline and readings. This study covers six weeks.
(Autumn 2013)
Abraham – An Introduction
This first week we’ll look at the Call of Abraham, followed by Melchizedek, Hagar/Ishmael and Sarah/Isaac, and finishing with the Sacrifice of Isaac. The readings will be not only the Biblical account of Abraham, but also may include other verses of Scripture and some extra-biblical Jewish and Christian perspectives.
Abraham – The Call of Abram
It is through these stories of Abraham that I want us to develop a deeper and broader understanding of how to read Scripture.
Abraham – The Call of Abram (Notes)
Genesis tells us very little about who Abram was and why God called him specifically to leave his home. At first reading, the story appears as simply a quaint historical account with little relevance today. The book of Joshua and the oral Torah fills in these gaps.
Abraham – The Call of Abram (Readings)
We are told that Abraham took his wife Sarah, and the souls they had gotten in Haran, and they went forth into the land of Canaan. By this is meant the souls that they had brought away from idolatry and brought to the knowledge of the living God.–Gen. Rabba 84.
Abraham – Melchizedek
Melchizedek is the “king of Salem” and blesses Abram after his victory in battle. Melchizedek only makes this one appearance throughout the Abrahamic narrative, but he will appear again in Psalm 110, Jewish apocalyptic literature, and in the Letter to the Hebrews.
Abraham – Melchizedek (Notes)
This week we are going to work through the different layers of meaning of the narrative of Abram and Melchizedek found in Genesis 14, Psalm 110, and Hebrews 7 – the literal, allegorical (spiritual), moral, and anagogical (end-times).
Abraham – The Covenant
This week we are looking at the Covenant with Abraham and Paul’s use of this Covenant as the foundation for his message. The readings for the discussion this week are Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, and Galatians 3:6-14, 25-29.
Abraham – The Covenant (Notes)
For Paul, it isn’t that God makes a covenant with his people through Abraham and in the same way God makes a covenant with his people through Jesus; rather these covenants are the same covenant.
Abraham – Hagar and Sarah
Paul will use this story in Galatians 4:21-31 in his argument as to how the Church is the true heir of Abraham and successor to God’s promises to him.
Abraham – Hagar and Sarah (Notes)
Outline Paul’s allegory in Galatians 4:21-31. In the allegory, what groups of people does Paul say are descended from which mother, and how does this part of Paul’s allegory turn the historical account of Hagar and Sarah upside down?
Abraham – Hagar and Sarah (Islamic Readings)
Ishmael’s mother used to drink water from the water-skin so that her milk would increase for her child. When Abraham reached Mecca, he made her sit under a tree and afterward returned home. – Hadith 4:584
Abraham – The Binding of Isaac, week 1
This coming week, we’ll look at the Binding of Isaac in Genesis 22 from a close reading of the passage and the moral perspective arising from the horrific demands made by God upon Abraham and Isaac.
Abraham – The Binding of Isaac, week 1 (Notes)
Why would God make this demand upon Abraham himself, and why doesn’t Abraham protest this request? Below is a series of questions to contemplate as you read through Genesis 22, followed by a series of commentaries on the narrative and its ethical implications.
Abraham – The Binding of Isaac, week 1 (Readings)
The account of Abraham our father binding his son includes two great ideas or principles of our faith. First, it shows us the extent and limit of the fear of God. Moses Maimonides “Guide for the Perplexed”
Abraham – The Binding of Isaac, week 2
There are few passages in the Old Testament that speak more directly or predictively about the Passion than does Genesis 22.
Abraham – The Binding of Isaac, week 2 (Readings)
Accordingly, to begin with, Isaac, when led by his father as a victim, and himself bearing his own wood, was even at that early period pointing to Christ’s death; conceded, as He was, as a victim by the Father; carrying, as He did, the wood of His own passion. – Tertullian “An Answer to the Jews”