12:40 pm - 1:20 pm
Abraham: Return to Genesis
A Bible study of Genesis 11:27–25:10
Although many of the Bible stories of Abraham are familiar to many people, a grasp of the overall “narrative arc” of the stories is not. We will pick up at the end of chapter 11, which is the division of humankind into people who speak many languages and thus have spread out over the earth. Abraham is called by God to start a new way whereby earth and heaven can be connected. And that connection will involve eventually the begetting of a son. However, before that can happen, Abraham has to experience‚Äîas a sort of foreshadowing, or anticipatory recapitulation‚Äîthe subsequent history of his people. It is this “anticipatory recapitulation” that is often not seen.
The approach which this class will take to the Bible is one of respect for the text as a text, as much as possible without preconceptions either pious or sceptical. We will assume that the text is worth our attention, and try to let the text show us how it is best to interpret it.
In this study, Father Austin will draw upon especially the insights of Robert D. Sacks, tutor at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, whose commentary on Job he has previously used.
This Bible study will meet weekly at 10am on the 5th floor of the parish house, beginning Sunday, January 18.
The study will also be repeated on many Mondays at 12:40pm on the 2nd floor of the parish house, beginning Monday, January 26.
Each class lasts about 40 minutes. Visitors are always welcome.
