Studies in the Old Testament
Check out this video:
How does the story of Job talk about this? Would Job be on board with this guy or not? What do you think Job’s “friends” would say about this?
Write a response of your own and respond to at least one other student.
This will be due by Tuesday, February 10th.
After reading Ruth in its entirety, name one thing that stands out to you and name one thing that doesn’t seem to make sense. You don’t need to reply to others’ comments, just post your own.
Was King Saul a bad king or a good king misrepresented? Read the texts below and come to a conclusion on either side. Also, remember that sometimes the Bible doesn’t comment on everything that might be right or wrong, it just kinda tells the story, so some critical thinking might be in order. When formulating your answers, use specific references to specific texts as that will help the conversation.
So in your comment include these:
1. Is Saul a good or bad king?
2. What evidence do you have to support that claim?
3. Respond to at least one other student.
This will be due by Friday, November 7.
Texts to help your answer: I Samuel chapters 13-15, 18, 28, 31, and 1 Chronicles chapter 10.
Before checking this out, if you are still kind of fuzzy on what a chiasm is, this Wikipedia article is pretty helpful. You don’t need to know all the nutty details, just basically what it is.
So the kind of cool thing about textual stuff (like chiasms), is that we can debate it, and it’s kind of subjective to a point. So below is the artistic literary structure of Ruth. We don’t want to read too much into chiasms, it’s not like they unlock secrets that we can’t find just by reading the text, but they can make things more clear (or maybe they fuzzy up some things, too). But even if we were not to get any information at looking at the text this way (though we can), we can still benefit by giving the author the time of day to appreciate his art, the way he crafted the text. Can you imagine writing a whole story in chiasm? It would be laborious, well thought out, highly structured and time consuming.
A. Naomi- Too old to conceive (1:1 – 22)
B. Possible Redeemer introduced (2:1)
C. Ruth and Naomi make a plan (2:2)
D. Ruth and Boaz’s field (2:3)
E. Boaz comes back from Bethlehem (2:4)
F. Boaz asks, “Whose young woman is that?” (2:5-7)
G. Ruth becomes part of the Boaz clan (2:8-18)
(Ruth brings barley and food to Naomi [2:18])
H. Naomi blesses Boaz (2:19)
I. Boaz a potential redeemer (2:20)
J. Ruth joins Boaz’s workers (2:21-23)
X. The plan laid by Naomi and Ruth (3:1-8)
J’. Ruth identifies herself as Boaz’s handmaid (3:9)
I’. Ruth challenges Boaz to act as Redeemer (3:9)
H’. Boaz blesses Ruth (3:10)
G’. Boaz promises to marry Ruth (3:11- 15)
F’. Naomi asks, “Who are you?” (3:17-18)
E’. Boaz goes to Bethlehem (4:1)
D’. Ruth and field (4:2-12)
C’. Ruth and Naomi’s plan fulfilled: marriage (4:13)
B’. Redeemer not denied (4:13-16)
A’. A son was born to Naomi! (though through Ruth) (4:17)
Epilogue: What a son! Grandfather of King David
There is another decent structure that is more complicated than this found here.
So here’s the question about Ruth and chiasms in general (due by Thursday, 10/30):
How do chiasms help in your understanding of the Bible? They can be more about the art form or about information we get (remember the other two chiasms we spent time on: the creation narrative and Deborah in Judges 4, you might need your notes). You can just post one response, you aren’t required to respond to another student. Of course, you can if you want. 
Well, you finally get to talk about it- does God lie? Use specific references to prove your case. Have at it!
This will be due by Friday, September 26.
1. Give a quick definition of “salvation” and include this in the post.
2. Read Exodus 15:1-21.
3. How does Moses define salvation in his song?
4. If there are any differences, what can we learn from this?
Remember to post and reply to another student by Thursday.
Look up these verses (17 in all):
Gen 1:21, 28; 2:19; 6:19; 7:4, 23; 8:17, 21; 9:10, 12, 15-16; Lev 11:46; Deut 11:6; Job 12:10; Psa 145:16; Ezek 47:9
These are all the references in the Old Testament that have the idea of “every living creature” or “every living thing.” Notice how most of them are in the creation and flood narratives.
In light of the cultural mandate in Genesis 1:28, what are we to think of ecology? What current ideas are in line or not in line with biblical thinking on this topic?
Post at least one response of your own, and reply to at least one other student. Due by Thursday, September 11.
On the stage of life, what can Genesis 1-11 tell us about our director? What parts are we playing? What are some of our lines? Leave a response and respond to at least one other student. This is due by Friday, Sept. 5.
So, here it is- the first post! Here are the general directions:
1. Go to the “Visualizing the Bible” link.
2. Come back here and post a comment on how this idea helps us in our lives: could be on understanding the Scriptures, understanding God, etc.
3. Respond to one other comment. When responding to someone else, be sure to begin the post with an @ followed by their name. So if you are responding to a comment of mine, your response would begin like this: “@Mr. Willson:
That will hopefully remove some confusion. Have fun! Due by Tuesday, August 26.
More to come in August 2008…
