the theological message - jan age sigvartsen class presentation...the theological message that can...

OLD TESTAMENT

The Theological Message

THE

CANON

Jan Sigvartsen

INTRODUCTIONThe Theological Message of the Old Testament

1. The theological message that can be gained by exploring the overall structure of the Old Testament Canon.

2. We will explore how this message can support the core Adventist identity.

The Two Ways – The Two Threes

Deut 27-30Gen 1-3

Lev 16

Gen 22 PassoverExodus 12 Jesus’ Death

19 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life anddeath, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and yourdescendants, 20 by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him;for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORDswore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." (Deut 30:19-20, NAS)


Genesis 3:15 – The Proto-Evangelium

I will put hostility between you and the woman,and between your seed and her seed.

He will strike you head,and you will strike his heel

ה אש ין ה ינך וב ית ב ה׀ אש ואיב

ה ין זרע ין זרעך וב וב

אש הוא ישופך ר

ב׃ נו עק ה תשופ ואת


Pentateuch is composed of four major literary types:

1. Genealogy

• Toledot

• Provides structure to Genesis

2. Law

• The legal portions of the Pentateuch are clustered in the center of the book

• However, they are not the means for shaping the book

3. Narrative

4. Poetry

LITERARY STRUCTURE OF PENTATEUCHMajor Literary Types

The last two literary genres, Narrative and Poetry, shapes the structure of the Pentateuch:

• Narrative – Poetic Speech – Epilogue• Both at the Micro-structural level and the Macro-structural level

Narrative Poetry Epilogue

CreationFallCain

Gen 1:1-2:223:1-134:1-22

Gen 2:233:1-194:23

Gen 2:243:20-244:24-26

LITERARY STRUCTURE OF THE PENTATEUCHNarrative – Poetry - Epilogue

The last two literary genres, narrative and Poetry, shapes the structure of the Pentateuch:

• Narrative – Poetic Speech – Epilogue• Both at the Micro-structural level and the Macro-structural level


Patriarchal NarrativeExodus NarrativeWilderness NarrativeMoses Narrative

Gen 12-48Exod 1-14Num 1-22Num 23-Deut 31

Gen 49Exod 15:1-21Num 23-24Deut 32-33

Gen 50Exod 15:22-27Num 25Deut 34


The last two literary genres, narrative and Poetry, shapes the structure of the Pentateuch:

• Narrative – Poetic Speech – Epilogue• Both at the Micro-structural level and the Macro-structural level• This is the overall structural pattern of the Pentateuch


Gen 1 – Deut 31 Deut 32-33 Deut 34


Macro-Structural junctures• Poetry

• Genesis 49• Numbers 24• Deuteronomy 31

• What they have in common• A central narrative figure (Jacob-Balaam-Moses)

• Calls together an audience in the imperative (Gen 49:1; Num 24:14; Deut 31:28)

• What will happen (Gen 49:1; Num 24:4; Deut 31:29)

• In “the end of days” (Gen 49:1; Num 24:14; Deut 31:29)

MACRO-STRUCTURE IN THE PENTATEUCHNarrative – Poetry - Epilogue

ים ית הימ באחר – “In the Last Days”• A prophetic phrase occurring 4 times in the Pentateuch:

• Gen 49:1• Num 24:14• Deut 4:30• Deut 31:29

• In three out of the four segments of the higher structure, the central character (Jacob – Balaam – Moses) calls together or addresses the audience and proclaims, through poetry, what will happen in “the end of days.”

• The rare use of this phrase makes it an important key to unlock the overall strategy of the author of the Pentateuch.


Genesis 49:1

NAS Targum Pseudo-Jonathan

Then Jacob summoned his sons and said, "Assemble yourselves that I may tell you what shall befall you in the

days to come ים) ית הימ אחר ”.(ב

And Jakob called his sons and said to them, Purify yourselves from uncleanness, and I will show you the hidden mysteries, the ends concealed, the recompense of reward for the righteous, the retribution of the wicked, and the bower of Eden, what it is. And the twelve tribes of Israel gathered themselves together around the golden bed whereon he reclined, and where was revealed to him the Shekina of the Lord, (though) the end for which the king Meshiha is to come had been concealed from him. Then said he, Come, and I will declare to you what shall befall you at the end of

the days .(בסוף יומיא)


• The prophetic phrase points to the final period of history – as far into the future as the speaker can see.

• Points to the ideal or Messianic future.

• The purpose of these three major poetic segments was to reveal what would happen with God’s people “in the end of days.”

• These prophetic discourses are “eschatological.”

• They show a relationship between the past and the future

• What happened to God’s people in the past foreshadows future events

• Past events work as pointers to future events, while future events are written to remind the reader of past narratives

• Narrative Typology


The coming of the Messiah is the eschatological focus of the Torah1. Gen 49 – Jacob’s blessings of his 12 sons => 12 tribes (Gen 49:1; 49:28)

• Jacob gives Judah and Joseph an extended blessing• Points beyond the tribe to a future messianic figure that will appear “in the last days.”• Judah (49:8-12) – cluster of Messianic imagery picked up by later Old Testament writers

• Both the inauguration and consummation of Christ’s salvation history• The Royal Messiah

• Joseph (49:22-26) – a number of Messianic allusions• 1 Chron 5:1-2 – Joseph received the birthright, the double blessing• The Suffering Messiah

2. Deut 33 – Moses’ blessing of the 12 tribes• Moses gives Levi and Joseph an extended blessing

• Levi (Deut 33:8-11) – The “Holy one”• The Priestly Messiah

• Joseph (Deut 33:13-17) – The Nazir - Prince


3. Num 23 || Num 24:7-8• Plural (them, Israel) => Singular (him)• The “him” is the focus of vv. 8b-9 and the fourth oracle• “He” is the Messiah (vv. 14, 17) => The Royal reign of the Messiah and his victory over the forces of evil Messianic king experiences a new eschatological Exodus – He will recapitulate in his life the events of

historical Israel (Exodus from Egypt and conquest of their enemies)

4. Exodus 15• Does not contain the eschatological phrase “in the last days”• Gen 49 || Deut 33 – a pair of poetic passages which gives blessings to the 12 tribes• Exod 15 || Num 23-24 – a pair of poetic passages dealing with the same motif, Exodus

• Exodus 15 – The Song of Moses is open-ended, with a description of a future eschatological safe passage of Israel in the midst of their enemies (vv. 14-17)

• Song of Moses || Oracle of Balaam => highlights the eschatological role of the Messiah in the New Exodus

5. ABBA• A – the motif of blessing the 12 tribes• B – the motif of the Exodus/New Exodus


God

Noah – New beginning

Adam – Beginning

Isaac

Abraham – 3rd beginning

Levi

Jacob/Israel

Joseph

Zerah

Judah

Perez Manasseh Ephraim

Aaron/Moses/MiriamCaleb Joshua

David

Messiah (God’s Son)Priestly Messiah

Deut 33:8

Gen 49:22-26Deut 33:16

Jeroboam – Northern Kingdom

Royal Messiah Suffering Messiah

Gen 49:8-12Num 24:7-8

The narrative portion of the Pentateuch, with the poetic seems => Christiocentric Eschatology.• Narrative portion => Prefigures the eschatological future.• The narrative should be read eschatological.• The focus on the coming Messiah.

What about the large section of legal material in the central portion of the Torah?• Chiastic structure of Leviticus also framed to highlight Christiocentric Eschatology.• Leviticus 16 is the climax of the structure – framed by18 divine speeches.• It is the day of complete or final Atonement, a reference to the eschatological Judgment

before the 2nd Coming of the Messiah.


16

Personal Legislation

Priestly Laws

Sanctuary

Lev 11-15

Lev 21-22

Lev 23-25

Lev 17-20

Lev 8-10

Lev 1-7

MACRO-STRUCTURE IN THE PENTATEUCHChiastic Structure of Leviticus

“And Yahweh said to Moses”A. Aaron should not go into most holy place any time he wishes (16:2)

B. Aaron’s sacrificial victims and special vestment (16:3-4)C. Sacrificial victims provided by the people (16:5)

D. Aaron’s bull, goat to Yahweh, goat for Azazel (16:6-10)E. Aaron sacrifices his bull as a sin-offering (16:11-14)

F. Community’s goat is sacrificed as a sin-offering (16:15)

G. Make atonement (16:16-19)G’ Atonement is finished (16:20a)

F’ Community’s goat for Azazel sent to the wilderness (16:20b-22)

E’ Aaron’s closing activities (16:23-25)D’ Goat for Azazel, Aaron’s bull, goat for sin-offering (16:26-28)

C’ People rest and humble themselves (16:29-31)B’ Anointed priests officiates wearing special garments (16:32-33)

A’ Anointed priest makes atonement once a year (16:34)

“As the Lord Commanded Moses”Angel Manuel Rodriguez, “Leviticus 16: Its Literary Structure,” AUSS 34.2 (1996): 283.

MACRO-STRUCTURE IN THE PENTATEUCHChiastic Structure of Leviticus 16

Christocentric Eschatology is also seen in the seams or stitching that connect the Torah to the Prophets and the Prophets to the Writings.

Deut 34:5-12 – the stitch between Pentateuch and Prophets• Josh 1:7 – God asks Joshua to focus on the Torah => links the Prophets to the Pentateuch• Deut 34:10 || Deut 18:15-16• An Eschatological Prophet like Moses• Joshua is not this promised Prophet, someone else is…• This is the understanding seen in the New Testament which applies this prophecy to

Jesus Christ (e.g. Matthews and Acts 3:22; 7:37) The Messiah is the New Moses

THE SEAMS/STITCHING IN THE TANAKHBetween the Pentateuch and the Prophets

1. Mal 3:22-24 [ET 4:4-8], the stitch between Prophets and Writings• “The Day of the Lord”• Mal 3:2 – The messenger of the Covenant• Mal 3:20 [ET 4:2] – The Sun of Righteousness• Mal 3:22 [ET 4:4] – A call to remember the Torah• Emphasis on the Torah and Messianic Eschatology

2. Psalms 1-2 – The beginning of the Writings• Psalm 1 – The Torah• Psalm 2 – Messianic Prophecy

3. 2 Chronicles 36 – The Canonical conclusion of the Hebrew Bible• Open-ended => Messianic Future• Cyrus, a type of the Messiah in his final eschatological battle (Isa 44:28; 45:1; Rev 18:12)

THE SEAMS/STITCHING IN THE TANAKHBetween the Prophets and the Writings

The Entire Old Testament points to the end-time appearance and work of the Messiah

• Luke 24:37 – On the road to Emmaus Jesus did not read himself into the Old Testament, but Messianic Hermeneutic is the

intended hermeneutic of the Old Testament.

The core message of the SDA church – The three angels message (Rev 14:6-12)• The Everlasting gospel (Rev 14:6)• There will be a judgment (Rev 14:7)• The saints are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (Rev

14:12)

CANONICAL STRUCTURE OF THE TANAKHConcluding Remarks

the theological message - jan age sigvartsen class presentation...the theological message that can...

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