Reading The Torah / Genesis and Exodus Resources

 

Resources

 

These range from the basic and introductory to the academic.

 

Some of the following is relevant for any Bible reading, some is more particular to the Torah or Genesis & Exodus.

 

You may find some kind of study Bible helpful. The NIV Proclamation Bible gives a useful one sentence summary of each Bible book, some notes on introduction and structure etc. and some suggestions for further reading.

 

Best Commentaries - https://bestcommentaries.com/

 

A bible atlas and dictionary (again I use the ones published by IVP)

 

The Bible Project – videos on how to read the Bible, Genesis and Exodus and themes such as sacrifice - https://bibleproject.com/

 

Dr Alistair Roberts comments on lectionary passages for much of the Bible - https://audio.alastairadversaria.com/explore/

 

Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (IVP)

 

Some kind of Bible Overview is probably very useful e.g. the work of G. Goldsworthy

 

Vaughan Roberts, God’s Big Picture (IVP)

 

Full of Promise (Good Book Company) – Old Testament Overview – interactive Bible Studies

 

http://rosclarke.co.uk/bible-overview/ - Part 1: Creation and Covenant (talk, handout, PowerPoint)

 

Resources on how to read the Bible and Bible Studies on Exodus - http://rosclarke.co.uk/bible-study-guides/

 

James M. Hamilton Jr., Typology: Understanding the Bible’s Promise-Shaped Patters – How Old Testament Expectations are Fulfilled in Christ

 

Vern S. Poythress, The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses (P&R)

 

Jean Danielou, From Shadow to Reality: Studies in the Biblical Typology of the Fathers (Ex Fontibus Company / Bloomsbury)

 

Christopher J. H. Wright, Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament (IVP)

 

‘The Bible as Holy Scripture’ Katherine Sonderegger Pro Ecclesia Volume 31 issue: 2, 127-141 (2022) This essay argues that the governing motif for a Doctrine of Scripture should be writing (a holy text) rather than speaking or disclosing, and Instruction rather than history or story. Paying close heed to Scripture's own self-identification as writing, as Book, brings the Five Books of Moses (the Pentateuch) to its proper place as head of the Scriptures, and places the New Testament as written text as proper complement to the Old. Torah is seen not mainly as narrative but testimony (a direct pointer to divine being and presence). Not all is prophetic / Christological / Messianic. We must not allow even the saving acts of God to eclipse God himself.  

 

The Torah has a temple-like status. It is where God is found. The Lord dwells here for his people.

 

The Law first and principally.

 

We should not read the bible above all Christo-centrically or sotereologically but theologically and for encounter with God.

 

The Bible is a holy, redeemed, elevated social creature of human-making.  

 

Prayerful spiritual metaphysical reading of these deep and unsearchably rich words.

“I advocate for Israel’s Scriptures as Magistra for Christian doctrine. Israel’s Scriptures, under several descriptions, are the great Teacher of Christian dogma, and the long history of the Trinitarian and Christological debates are unthinkable without them. Unlike the narrative or Messianic notion of Scripture, however, I want to underscore here that the Five Books of Moses, the Torah, is the proper and original, the lasting Teacher of Christian doctrine, and I urge its return to prominence in Christian conceptions of Holy Scripture, and as guiding force in doctrine. The original ordering of the elements of Israel’s Scriptures, I say—the Law, first and principally, followed by the Prophets, and the Writings—will invigorate Christian teaching by grafting it more firmly to its Root, the Life-blood of Israel and of its Cultus.” (135)

 

* * *  

 

Churchpodmatics https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/church-podmatics/id1626400036  A really interesting discussion of Katherine Sonderegger’s writing as somewhat flowery, homiletical, even mystical and worth taking time over. There is an argument but its affective as well as analytical.

 

* * *

 

The Task of Dogmatics: Explorations in Theological Method Los Angeles Theology Conference Series ed. Oliver Crisp and Fred Sanders (Harper Collins, 2017)– ‘Holy Scripture as Sacred Ground’ pp131-143 – The Bible as the Burning Bush, God speaking, and we take our shoes off at this Holy Fire, meeting God there, the divine presence is here to be encountered

 

* * *

 

 

Some of my own stuff can be found here - https://marc-lloyd.uk/home/my-stuff/ - I’ve got some material on Leading Better Bible Studies that I hope to get round to adding soon