Ancient Anglican

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

It is through these stories of Abraham that I want us to develop a deeper and broader understanding of how to read Scripture.

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.

In Paul’s invocation of other people in his greeting and benediction, we are reminded that our life in Christ is never an individual endeavor, but that we are always part of a community when we are speaking or when being addressed.

Within this letter, Paul shows the practical application of the gospel teaching to a situation that would normally result in Onesimus’s death or severe physical punishment.

As you read through these verses, think of how verses 4:5-6 should govern our lives with others.

Paul does not say that the use of shadows, observances, or symbols is wrong so long as we don’t mistake them for the true reality of Christ who is the true image of God.

As you read through this section, pay special attention to Paul’s use of the great three theological virtues (faith, hope, and love) and the role they play in the life of a mature Christian community.