I’ll admit that I’m married to a pastor and our Bible studies at church hinge on his personal research and due diligence. Still, he offered some great insight in yesterday’s class that got me thinking. I’ll offer a few suggestions but feel free to add your own for shared ideas for Old Testament Bible Studies.
So much emphasis is put on characters and setting. Fine and well. But let’s have one on Trinitarian references and the Trinity in the Old Testament! Let’s chronicle and explore references to the Angel of the Lord, particularly including Jacob’s blessing Joseph’s sons in Genesis 48:15-16!
“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;
and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
How is that not a clear Trinitarian reference and equation/inclusion of the Angel with Elohim?
Anyway, wouldn’t I know better if one of you wrote a study on that! 😉
I’d also love to see one on blessing, particular in more laymen’s terms than my own Blessed: God’s Gift of Love. (How I continue to kick myself over not doing one more rewrite for better structure!)
What else are shared ideas for Old Testament Bible Studies?
- Covenants, which would probably need to contrast beliefs between differing denominations
- Sacramental elements in Temple worship
- Lamb of God language!
- Life Blood language!
What would you add to the list? Anti-gnostic matters? Symbolism of water, womb, Sheol, etc.? There’s the dandy contrast between Patriarchal practices and Israelite laws regarding things like food, sacrifice/sacrificial places, inheritance, etc. OOoooh, there could also be a contrast between emphases to the Israelites pre-promised land and post-Conquest! Though that might lack a snazzy title.
Ah, snazzy titles. How tempting you are, letting us think there’s a book within a phrase!
Anyway, good thing there is the Word-made-Flesh, the Living Bible Himself, the Lord of Lords, and . . . (ok, how to make this more Trinitarian . . .): The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the God who has been my Shepherd all my life long; the Angel who has redeemed me from all evil! Thanks be to God!
More suggestions? Comment away. Maybe publishers will google the topic! 😀
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