The Mind of Brian

Finals interrupted my reflection (or at least my ability to type up my reflections) on my semester at Trinity this Fall. I now will reflect on my fourth class, Lukan Writings (aka Luke-Acts). This was a good class, really giving me a better grip on these two books. While we spent some time on individual passages (as I have done before), the biggest thing I got out of the class was a broader framework to think about Luke-Acts. The emphasis on the church throughout and the connecting points of the themes of the two works were very insightful. Some passages or ideas that did not seem to make any sense in terms of their relevance to the rest of the book make more sense now (and I have a better appreciation for how to preach on them). In addition, I got a better taste of scholarship in the gospels.

What I will ultimately take away, though, is a good reminder for deep study of the text, to ask questions of the text and of my readings. That is how new discoveries are made. All too often, I do not ask many questions–or deep enough questions. I do not do the research to try to answer the questions, looking at other places in the text where similar thoughts or ideas emerge.  I guess I know that I should and need to do these things before, but I have been challenged again (as I have in many ways) through doing more in-depth study of the texts.

So, I take a break from studying to try to reflect on what I have learned this semester (also to keep me from growing too frustrated or going insane from my studying). Today, I reflect on my learnings from Intertestamental Period. This is a class that, as you might guess, talks about what happens politically, socially, and culturally between the Old and New Testaments. This helped me get a better grip on how the times helped to shape the culture; there was a lot of information to cover. I also have a greater knowledge of the different texts that emerged during this period that reflect the time. The overall point, which I knew going in, was that there was a lot of diversity in this period; there was not simply one branch of Judaism at the time but many. I also found interesting many of the different parties and viewpoints in Second Temple Judaism are similar to the different segments of contemporary Protestantism. For example, their views on the end of the age have similarities to our millennial debates in theology today. This leads me to wonder if we have more of a connection to these groups than we would have thought; perhaps early Christianity was diverse too because of different viewpoints that were imported from Judaism. It is also a good reminder that theology might not change as much as we think….because we cling to similar ideas. Recognizing this can help us be more honest with ourselves.

Something interesting I have taken away is that for all the information and insights that knowledge of the context of the NT can give you, it is no real replacement for reading the text. I read a lot of texts and I was often bored. I know my difficulty in understanding them often was tied to a lack of time and experience in studying them, but there is no substitute for studying the word of God. My appreciation for the word has increased by studying extra-biblical literature.

Today, I want to reflect on what I have learned in my New Testament Theology class. The nature of this class is to examine the theology of the New Testament documents, to see how teachings emerge from the individual writings (we didn’t get much time for synthesis in class) as opposed to the categories of systematic theology. Hopefully, our systematic is influenced by the different trajectories of Scripture. This was an interesting class in the format, in that after the 3rd week or so, the professor never lectured, it was students giving the material. I liked the fact that the professor made us get practice teaching; however, this lead to some uneven presentations. It also caused, in some ways, me to possibly not put as much work into it as I could/should have. I might have payed closer attention if it was the “expert” doing it. In the process, I learned some things about my style and way of presenting things.

My project was on Matthew and I gained a new appreciation for this gospel reading through it multiple times (and doing much research). It is a highly theological document that is often overlooked. In many ways, this has become my favorite gospel and book and probably will continue. I also had to do a paper on social concern/materialism in Luke. It was good to reflect on the message of the book but also to connect some different dots. In some ways, through the reading and lecture material I truly discovered the truth that the NT is “One Gospel, Many Witnesses” as attested in the subtitle of Marshall’s text (though I like Thielman’s much more). The writers of the NT were pastors and missionaries more than theologians; much of their theology is assumed (and the gospel at the heart of it) and they are working out the practical implicaitons of it. Therefore, the NT is a highly missional document; it is pastoral in its nature but we usually make it more theological because we are searching for it. The applicaiton of the gospel truths are what we should be looking for in it. The fact that they were pastoral and assumed certain theology is why we have “contradictions” and difficulties in the material. As I have often thought, drawing on certain parts leads to certain traditions. However, that might be okay. Some denominations might have been more influenced by certain works, as a community is always influenced by its leaders. We simply must acknowledge it.

I have a new appreciation for mission and the gospel. And I continue to hope that my teaching is grounded on the theology of the books, that I teach them as they teach as oppose to imposing my tradition or thoughts on the texts.

My classes are over (just finals and papers left) so it is time for me to reflect on what I have learned this semester, both for my benefit but also for the benefit of anyone else that cares I will begin with my last class and then go forward.

What I have learned in the course Septaugint and the NT? I must say that first and foremost, I learned much from Dr. Yarbrough (I do not usually name names, but I do when it is positive!). He has really helped me rediscover the joys of biblical scholarship, as I am studying the Word of God–even in translations!. He has helped me rediscover the joy of the church through his commitment to the local body and the universal body. He has helped me grow a new appreciation for English translation. He has shown me that we do not need to apologize for being “conservative,” reminding me of the power of the gospel as well as the problems of other sorts of scholarhsip. Oh yeah, he has also helped me understand the Septuagint (Greek translation of the OT, henceforth LXX). I have realized that difficulty of calling anything the LXX, as it was translated in different communities and times. I have also seen how this was the OT for the NT community, so we should pay attention to it. Its relationship to the Hebrew Scriptures can be difficult to discover, but the more we read the Greek version of it, the more we see how certain passages might connect that we might not see a connection to otherwise. I also have a greater knowledge and appreciation of the Letter of Aristeas. In addition, my Greek knowledge and skill has been refreshed and enhanced. If nothing else, we have more lexical data to draw upon. In looking at the LXX, we have the product of the community of faith wrestling with how to bring the Scriptures to their world; therefore, it is both an academic and spiritual doctrine.

My focus in some ways has been on Messianism in the LXX (looking at some passages in Isaiah). While it seems that it does not show as much of a growth as usually expected, this is not a knock against Christianity, as the LXX was a product of Diaspora, not Palestinian Judiasm. In my mind, it makes the claim that Jesus is the Messiah even more powerful, as he might not have been expected as we often think he was. Even in challenging usual convictions, our faith is not threatened.

I thank God for the chance to study, I thank God for Dr. Yarbrough, and I thank God for the LXX.