Theme 3: Reading the Old Testament
In this theme…
a. What is your favourite Bible story?
b. Where is the Old Testament from?
c. What’s in the Old Testament?
d. What is the Big Picture message of the Old Testament?
e. Now we have the New Testament, do we need the Old Testament?
f. Is there something in between the Old Testament and the New?
1. What appeals to you about hearing others tell about their favourite Bible story? What do you notice about the way they tell their story?
2. Identify a story or character from the Bible that made an impact on you. What was it about the story that made such an impact?
3. In what ways might you explore that story further? Consider exploring the context out of which the story was written, finding other versions of the story or just reading it several times over to revisit the characters and message.
1. It can be fascinating to hear about the development of the Old Testament (or Jewish Scriptures) and to know that at the time of Jesus, these texts were not in the format used in the modern Christian church. What new ideas does this understanding generate for you?
2. The Old Testament/Jewish Scriptures is a collection of writings that explore an ancient peoples’ understanding of their relationship with God. Are humans still doing this kind of thinking? In what ways is the modern world expressing this understanding? Identify ways people record the stories of their attempts to understand their relationship with the divine, the transcendent.
3. The ‘new technology’ of the codex (the earliest book form) meant that texts were more easily transportable. What would this mean for the growing early Christian communities?
4. What strikes you about the process of making/establishing a holy text?
1. The Old Testament is such a varied collection of documents that make up one section of our Bible. Can you think of another text like it?
2. Law, prophets, writings...do you have a section you are particularly taken with? Why is that?
3. Marie-Louise talks about some bits of the Old Testament that some might find disturbing. Do any of these come to mind for you? How do you deal with them? Is her advice helpful?
1. What stories/books/characters in the Old Testament show God’s character most clearly in your experience?
2. There are many tools available to those who wish to read the Old Testament, one is the understanding that the Old Testament is a collection of works that explore a peoples’ relationship with God: it is a theological work (a work about God). Try keeping this question in mind as you read your next bit of the Old Testament: What is this story saying about God?
3. What have you noticed about the Old Testament and how it reveals the nature of God?
1. In what ways could the Old Testament be useful for a modern world?
2. What tips do you have for new readers of the Old Testament?
3. Given that the Old Testament is an ancient text, consider approaching one of the books as an archaeologist might: examine where it comes from, the context in which it was written, the way it has been used throughout history, and the purpose for which it was written. See if a rich understanding of the text and its production contributes to your appreciation of the book.
1. Were you aware of the decisions surrounding the composition of the Bible?
2. Understanding some of what contributed to making the Bible can help us read it well. What impact does it have on your appreciation of the Bible?
3. If you haven’t seen an Apocrypha, you can check out a brief history of the debate surrounding the books here.