Old Testament Interpretation Part 1 - Lecture 1

Summary

This lecture introduces the importance of studying Old Testament interpretation, emphasizing its long-standing intellectual tradition in the Western world. The speaker highlights the challenges of understanding the Old Testament, given its unfamiliarity to many modern readers, and addresses common misconceptions such as the idea that the Old Testament has been superseded by the New Testament. The course aims to help students become responsible biblical interpreters by exploring the text's relevance, understanding its content, and engaging with its rich interpretive history.

Takeaways

• 📚 This course focuses on Old Testament interpretation, aiming to help students understand the Old Testament and become responsible interpreters.
• 📜 The study of the Old Testament is part of the longest-lived unbroken intellectual tradition in the Western world, extending back to the 1st millennium BC.
• 📖 The Old Testament continues to play a crucial role in the lives of Christians, Jews, and Muslims, but it is often unfamiliar to modern readers, even within faith communities.
• 🤔 Many people today are unaware of the contents of the Old Testament, with some assuming it contains sayings that aren't actually in it.
• 📅 The Old Testament often plays a small role in the Christian church today, with only a limited selection of readings included in church lectionaries.
• 🚫 Supersessionism, the belief that the New Testament replaces or supersedes the Old Testament, is a widespread issue, both theologically and secularly.
• ⚖️ Theological supersessionism was declared a heresy by the early church, as the New Testament is heavily based on the Old Testament.
• 💡 Secular supersessionism is more dangerous because it suggests the Old Testament is outdated and irrelevant to modern life.
• 🔄 Old Testament interpretation should not focus on making the text relevant to modern times but rather on understanding it within its historical and interpretive tradition.
• 🎓 The course will explore the concept of canon and the history of interpretation, emphasizing the ongoing process of interpreting the Old Testament for each generation.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the course discussed in the transcript?

The course focuses on Old Testament interpretation, aiming to help students understand what the Old Testament is, how it has been interpreted historically, its contributions to contemporary religious communities, and how to become responsible biblical interpreters.

Why does the instructor emphasize the academic significance of studying the Old Testament?

The instructor emphasizes the academic significance because the study of the Old Testament represents the longest-lived unbroken intellectual tradition in the Western world, surpassing even the classical tradition of Greece, which was interrupted and later revived.

What challenge does the instructor identify regarding modern readers' familiarity with the Old Testament?

The instructor notes that many modern readers, even those within faith communities, have little knowledge of what is actually in the Old Testament, leading to misconceptions and a lack of understanding of its content.

What is supersessionism, and how does it relate to the study of the Old Testament?

Supersessionism is the belief that the Old Testament has been replaced or made irrelevant by the New Testament. It exists in two forms: theological, which views the Old Testament as theologically irrelevant, and secular, which considers it culturally outdated and irrelevant to modern believers.

Why does the instructor argue against the attempt to make the Old Testament 'relevant' to modern communities?

The instructor argues that trying to make the Old Testament 'relevant' implies that it is currently irrelevant or outdated, which is presumptuous. The problem lies not with the Old Testament but with the modern community's understanding of it. The text's relevance is inherent, and interpretation should focus on understanding it within its historical and theological context.

What role does the concept of 'canon' play in the study of the Old Testament, according to the instructor?

The concept of 'canon' signifies the fixed nature of the text, indicating its authority within a community. The instructor explains that while the text is fixed, interpretation involves understanding what the text says and how it is relevant to contemporary questions about God.

How does the instructor view the relationship between the Old and New Testaments in terms of interpretation?

The instructor views the Old Testament as foundational for understanding the New Testament, as the early Christian community relied on the Old Testament for its theology. Therefore, knowledge of the Old Testament is crucial for interpreting the New Testament accurately.

What does the instructor suggest about the role of interpretation in religious communities?

The instructor suggests that interpretation is an ongoing process that each generation and community must undertake. It involves understanding the text within its historical context and applying it to current theological and social questions.

Why does the instructor believe that the Old Testament is still relevant to contemporary believers?

The instructor believes the Old Testament is still relevant because it continues to speak as the Living Word of God to various communities, both Jewish and Christian. The issue of relevance lies more with modern interpreters' understanding than with the text itself.

What will be the focus of the upcoming lectures in the course?

The upcoming lectures will focus on understanding the concept of 'canon,' exploring the history of interpretation, and examining how these elements contribute to the ongoing process of interpreting the Old Testament within religious communities.