The Historicity of the Patriarchal Narratives

The Historicity of the Patriarchal Narratives PDF

Author: Thomas L. Thompson

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2002-11-01

Total Pages: 414

ISBN-13: 9781563383892

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Archaeology seems to have become an active partner in the attempt to prove the historical truth of the Bible. Biblical archaeologists have gone to the field in search of Noah's ark or the walls of Jericho, as if the finding of these artifacts would make the events of scripture somehow more true or real. Thomas Thompson is one of the most vocal contemporary critics of biblical archaeology. His simple but powerful thesis is that archaeology cannot be used in the service of the Bible. Focusing on the patriarchal narratives the stories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob he demonstrates that archaeological research simply cannot historically substantiate these stories. Going further, Thompson says that archaeological materials should never be dated or evaluated on the basis of written texts. Looking to the patriarchal narratives in Genesis, he concludes that these stories are neither historical nor were they intended to be historical. Instead, these narratives are written as expressions of Israel's relationship to God. Thomas L. Thompson is Professor of Old Testament, University of Copenhagen. His books include The Mythic Past and The Early History of the Israelite People.

The Historicity of the Patriarchal Narratives

The Historicity of the Patriarchal Narratives PDF

Author: Thomas L. Thompson

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG

Published: 2016-05-24

Total Pages: 404

ISBN-13: 3110841444

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In der Reihe Beihefte zur Zeitschrift f r die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft (BZAW) erscheinen Arbeiten zu s mtlichen Gebieten der alttestamentlichen Wissenschaft. Im Zentrum steht die Hebr ische Bibel, ihr Vor- und Nachleben im antiken Judentum sowie ihre vielfache Verzweigung in die benachbarten Kulturen der altorientalischen und hellenistisch-r mischen Welt.

Essays on the Patriarchal Narratives

Essays on the Patriarchal Narratives PDF

Author: A. R Millard

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2008-05-07

Total Pages: 250

ISBN-13: 1725221543

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Today, there is renewed interest in the history and traditions of the patriarchal period. Recent publications have sought, among other things, to show that the biblical patriarchs were a literary, even fictional, creation of the first millennium BC, produced to provide the nation of Israel, which came into prominence only then, with "founding fathers." Much of this new writing is helpful in distinguishing what are traditional or speculative interpretations from the basic texts of Genesis. Sometimes archaeological evidence has been adducted in support of the historicity of the patriarchs and their cultural background in the second millennium BC which can no longer be sustained. Sometimes, however, the value of such evidence is ignored or belittled. -- from the preface

Essays on the Patriarchal Narratives

Essays on the Patriarchal Narratives PDF

Author: A. R Millard

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2008-05-07

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13: 1556356668

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Today, there is renewed interest in the history and traditions of the patriarchal period. Recent publications have sought, among other things, to show that the biblical patriarchs were a literary, even fictional, creation of the first millennium BC, produced to provide the nation of Israel, which came into prominence only then, with founding fathers. Much of this new writing is helpful in distinguishing what are traditional or speculative interpretations from the basic texts of Genesis. Sometimes archaeological evidence has been adducted in support of the historicity of the patriarchs and their cultural background in the second millennium BC which can no longer be sustained. Sometimes, however, the value of such evidence is ignored or belittled. -- from the preface

Creation, Sin and Reconciliation

Creation, Sin and Reconciliation PDF

Author: Robert Ignatius Letellier

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Published: 2016-02-08

Total Pages: 310

ISBN-13: 1443888508

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This volume considers aspects of the Book of Genesis; as the first book of the Torah, and hence of the Bible, its position is unique, especially in its provision of the foundational stories of Creation, the emergence of mankind, and the beginning of human society. Through close reading of chapters 1–11, 32–33 and 37–50 (the beginning, middle and end of Genesis), with consideration of the language, style and possible implications of the text, this approach explores the fundamental themes of Berishit and the enduring relevance of its powerful message for humanity and our place in the world. The method is both synchronic (a literary, exegetic analysis of the received text), and diachronic (a more historical consideration of other forms of interpretation, whether archaeological, theological, philosophical, generic or comparative). The mystery of creation and the origins of the world and humankind are enduringly important, and with the rise of interest in cosmology and ever-growing ecological concerns for the earth and its sustainability, nothing could be more topical. Where do we come from? What is our place in the world? What is our responsibility for it? Intimately related to Creation are the nature of human origins and the mystery of the beautiful yet disturbing imperfection of human nature and society. Why are we as we are? What does this mean for concepts of family, community and nation? The Patriarchal Narratives of the forebears of Ancient Israel (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph) provide some of the most enduring stories of election, mission, endeavour and interaction in the annals of world literature. The power and unwavering truthfulness of these stories hold a mirror to human behaviour with seemingly fathomless implications. They provide a dynamic, a positive way forward in reflecting on the intractable hostility that perennially blights the history of humankind. The recurrence of universal themes and symbols generated in Genesis and found throughout the Bible (and in wider folk literature) emphasizes the conceptual unity of a Great Code of meaning, and is pertinent to a canonical reading of Scripture; for example, Joseph’s story prefigures that of Jesus, and posits reconciliation as the very harbinger of salvation.

Creation and the Patriarchal Histories

Creation and the Patriarchal Histories PDF

Author: Patrick Henry Reardon

Publisher:

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 157

ISBN-13: 9781888212969

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Subtitle: Orthodox Christian Reflections on the Book of Genesis The Book of Genesis is foundational reading for the Christian, concerned as it is with the origins of our race and the beginnings of salvation history. Its opening pages provide the theological suppositions of the entire biblical story: Creation, especially that of man in God's image, the structure of time, man's relationship to God, the entrance of sin into the world, and God's selection of a specific line of revelation that will give structure to history. Early Christian writers such as St. Paul saw no dichotomy between the writings of the Law, of which Genesis is the beginning, and the Gospel. Rather, the Gospel is the key to understanding the Law. In "Creation and the Patriarchal Histories," Fr. Reardon shows clearly how the proper understanding of Creation and the Fall informs all of Christian doctrine, and how the narratives of the patriarchs from Noah to Joseph pave the way for the salvation history that continues in Exodus.

Abraham in History and Tradition

Abraham in History and Tradition PDF

Author: John Van Seters

Publisher:

Published: 2014-03

Total Pages: 350

ISBN-13: 9781626549104

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"An important work which cannot be ignored." -Journal of Biblical Literature "The author has undertaken an objective evaluation of the more serious scholarly attempts at reconstructing the early Patriarchal Period during the past half century of archaeologically oriented research. . . . He presents a wealth of extra biblical material, in conjunction with the biblical, to determine how much of the data dealing with Abraham (and in part with Isaac) are historical and how the data in general are to be handled. . . . The study provides a badly needed whiff of fresh air in a period whose scholarly atmosphere has become stale. Three useful indexes . . . bring this volume to a close." -Harry Orlinsky, JWB Circle "Old Testament Scholars have learned to expect critical precision and provocative insight from the pen of John Van Seters. His book on the Abraham traditions meets those expectations in detail not previously available in print and this must be welcomed by all involved in Pentateuchal research." -George W. Coats, Interpretation Abraham in History and Tradition evaluates previous scholarly insight on the early patriarchal period while challenging many dominant views in Biblical Studies and providing criticism on tradition history and documentary hypothesis. Upon its initial publication in 1975, this landmark work provided fresh insight in the fields of Near Eastern Studies and Biblical Archaeology. Well-researched and cogent, Van Seter's groundbreaking analysis remains relevant and continues to inspire new research in the present. John Van Seters is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Biblical Narratives, Archaeology and Historicity

Biblical Narratives, Archaeology and Historicity PDF

Author: Emanuel Pfoh

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2019-11-14

Total Pages: 328

ISBN-13: 0567686574

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This volume collects essays from an international body of leading scholars in Old Testament studies, focused upon the key concepts of the question of historicity of biblical stories, the archaeology of Israel/Palestine during the Bronze and Iron Ages, and the nature of biblical narratives and related literature. As a celebration of the extensive body of Thomas L. Thompson's work, these essays enable a threefold perspective on biblical narratives. Beginning with 'method', the contributors discuss archaeology, cultural memory, epistemology, and sociology of knowledge, before moving to 'history, historiography and archaeology' and close analysis of the Qumran Writings, Josephus and biblical rewritings. Finally the argument turn to the narratives themselves, exploring topics including the possibility of invented myth, the genre of Judges and the depiction of Moses in the Qu'ran. Presenting an interdisciplinary analysis of the historical issues concerning ancient Israel/Palestine, this volume creates an updated body of reference to fifty years' worth of scholarship.

Women in a Patriarchal World

Women in a Patriarchal World PDF

Author: ELAINE STORKEY

Publisher: SPCK

Published: 2020-04-16

Total Pages: 164

ISBN-13: 0281084084

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‘This immersive, persuasive and triumphant celebration of women is smart, bold and brave, cheering us on and challenging us to live lives of liberation. Faith and ethics dance effortlessly together, as biblical women look us firmly in the eye.’ Rachie Ross, eco-theologian The Bible includes many stories about women: some well-known, others lesser known; some named, others whose names are not given. In some of these stories, men are depicted negatively by the storyteller; in others men barely feature at all, except in the background or as powerful outsiders. All the compilers of these narratives were probably men, and all of them are set within an ancient world of patriarchal norms and conditions. And yet many of these narratives express the authentic voices of women, and in some cases the original sources will have been the women themselves. In Women in a Patriarchal World Elaine Storkey focuses on the stories of women who faced a range of challenges and life-changing decisions. Her investigations will lead you to fully appreciate the authenticity of these accounts. They will prompt you to see the connections with our own lives and times. And above all they will empower you to respond more faithfully and intelligently to the many challenges that women are still confronted with today. ‘This book combines rigour with deep humanity and faith.’ Christina Rees CBE, writer, broadcaster and preacher ‘Each page left me feeling more empowered than the last.’ Ruth Akinradewo, Press Red Ambassador