Reader's Guide
Reading
Respective Prophets
Background Resources for Reading the Prophets
Prophecy
& Renewal: An Historical Synopsis Assignment
The
Prophets & The Promise: W. J. Beecher Assignment
Background Resources for Kaiser's Old Testament Documents:
- How would you describe the book's
setting? Whom was the prophet addressing? Was there a "secondary audience"?
What was the situation? In what ways do "setting" matters impact you interpretation
of the book?
- How would you state the book's
central theme?
- Can you discuss in broad strokes
how the prophet develops his theme?
- In what ways does this prophet
demonstrate transformational leadership?
- Are there elements of theology
in the book which you had not realized were there? What are they? How do
they relate to antecedent theology? To subsequent revelation?
- Are there specific issues related
to date, authorship, genre, etc.? How do you resolve those issues?
- In what ways does the prophet
address issues of personal spiritual formation?
- What particular distinctives
set this prophet apart from the others?
- Handouts: Visual Synopsis, Timelines, Archaeological Chronology
- Photo Archive: Color photos of Bible lands (Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Greece, Turkey) with commentary.
- How would you describe the main
"acts" of the international drama in the Near East from the 9th
to the 5th centuries B.C.?
- How would you describe the main
"acts" of the local, socio-political drama during this period as far as
Israel & Judah is concerned?
- How would you describe the main
"act" in the drama of the Israel & Judah's spiritual pilgrimage?
- What clues do you pick up with
respect to issues related to transformational leadership during this period?
The Prophets & The Promise:
W. J. Beecher
- How do you assess the evidence
Beecher adduces for his definition of messianic prophecy?
- How do you evaluate Beecher's
treatment of the N.T. data with respect to the doctrine of the promise?
- What Hebrew Bible text does
Beecher argue to be the key passage with respect to the N.T.'s treatment
of the promise?
- How does the covenant relate
to the promise?
- What is the "bottom-line" issue
of the promise in its various iterations in the Hebrew Bible?
- What are some of the key terms
associated with the promise doctrine?