Comments on Joshua's Q&A

These comments (from Dennis) are based on Q&A prepared.

Joshua

Does God reveal Himself in history? Yes and since this is so with regards to Joshua, what then are we to make of the moral difficulties involved? Is there a justification for war? Joshua 11:16-20

From your write up, I sensed that you wanted to seek justification for war but end up stating that there is no justification for war. How about going to war in "defence", would this be more acceptable? Verse 20 gives us some similiarity in that it was the Lord who hardened hearts just as He had hardened the heart of the Pharoah in contention with Moses. You have provided a broad backround to the passage compare to the exegetical content i.e. what was the author trying to get across to the readers of that time. Perhaps this further exegetical exercise would help us find justification in war. Additionally, perhaps if we could study into more details on the culture of that period, we may be able understand better. Is war a common thing then? Are they skirmishes or an all out war like between countries. The broader question I would asked is, "Can God use war to fulfill His purpose?" Could it be that we struggle to find justification for war because of its atrocities and also that we are also troubled on the personal level if we try to justify it.

PT Asia: Snapshots on 18 Nov 2007

May Yin: "I believe Ruth followed Naomi because....."

Past Q&A for Joshua

Dear Ron,

Can you give us the notes and any Q&A done on Joshua in the past? We have a few Q&A topics in mind but we want some inspirations.

Our quadruplets consist of Pastor Richard, Pat, Kathleen (my wife) and me.

Thank you.

Loong

Questions and Agenda for 3rd Session (Novemeber 18th)

Dear PT Tutors,

For the next meeting on Nov 18 (3 pm at Sea Park), we have the following agenda

1. 3 Testimonies (5 mins, with 10 mins review).

a. Danny

b. Carolyn

c. Kathleen

· You may want to send out your testimonies if you already have them.

2. Review of Q &A
1. Alexa – Deuteronomy (20-30 mins)
2. May Yin – Ruth (20-30 mins)

· I am attaching the Q&A from Alexa. May Yin - we need you to send out yours.

· I have been reminded that all of you are encouraged to look thru the Q&A and develop your questions beforehand. You can post your questions in the blog (or email if you still don’t have access), so that we can consider your questions and allocate the time for discussion accordingly. Please do that before Friday, if possible.

3. Review chapter 4-6 of the Exegesis & Herm book (Please read)

· Since it is a short period from last meeting and we did not get to go thru all the questions in those chapters adequately at the last meeting, let’s review those questions again. But again, we may not discuss all the questions but only those that people have a problem with.

Questions:

Ch 4: The LAWS
1. Distinguish between all the different meanings of 'law' in the Bible.
2. What did you learn that was new to you in ch. 4?
3. What are the differences between Apodictic & Casuistic laws? How does this change the way we interpret some of the OT laws for the contemporary Christian?
4. Why do the OT laws treat women and non-Hebrews so badly?

Ch 5: The Psalms
1. What is the significance of the Psalms as divinely inspired “words about and to God rather than from God.”
2. How do words about God function as God’s Word to us?
3. In your own words, explain the three features of parallelism Old Testament poetry.

Ch 6: Wisdom Literature
1. Define wisdom according tot he Bible.
2. Why did Solomon ask for a wise heart? What would this mean for the Christian leader today?
3. What is the prudential wisdom of Proverbs?
4. What is acrostic ordering in Proverbs and how does it aid memorability?
5. Distinguish between the practical and cynical wisdom of Ecclesiastes.
6. What did I mean by “we mistakenly fall for a love that is less than we had hoped for but more than we bargained for.”?

Meeting on Exodus and Leviticus

Dear Ron, Stephen,

Can we have the material early so we have more time to go through?

Audio files - 27th Oct 07

Dear PT tutors,
Here are the links you can download the audio files for the discussion on 27th Oct 07. Not so clear tho. I think we need to get a better recorder and put it in the center to capture everyone's comment. As usual you guys know who has the loudest voice la....(chief of CBC!)

PT-Asia-Discussion271007-i.wav
PT-Asia-Discussion271007-ii.wav
PT-Asia-Discussion271007-iii.wav

Pictures! To be famous in PT, sit in front.....

Questions for 2nd Session - Chapters 4 -6 ( 27 October 2007)

Questions:

Ch 4: The LAWS
1. Distinguish between all the different meanings of 'law' in the Bible.
2. What did you learn that was new to you in ch. 4?
3. What are the differences between Apodictic & Casuistic laws? How does this change the way we interpret some of the OT laws for the contemporary Christian?
4. Why do the OT laws treat women and non-Hebrews so badly?

Ch 5: The Psalms
1. What is the significance of the Psalms as divinely inspired “words about and to God rather than from God.”
2. How do words about God function as God’s Word to us?
3. In your own words, explain the three features of parallelism Old Testament poetry.

Ch 6: Wisdom Literature
1. Define wisdom according tot he Bible.
2. Why did Solomon ask for a wise heart? What would this mean for the Christian leader today?
3. What is the prudential wisdom of Proverbs?
4. What is acrostic ordering in Proverbs and how does it aid memorability?
5. Distinguish between the practical and cynical wisdom of Ecclesiastes.
6. What did I mean by “we mistakenly fall for a love that is less than we had hoped for but more than we bargained for.”

Questions for Introduction & Ch 1-3

Intro:

1. What is a genre and why is it important to establish it when reading any passage of the Bible? What are examples of genres in everyday reading?
2. Why does “Each genre requires us to ask different questions.”?
   

Ch1:

1. What does it mean that the Bible is “the Word of God given through human words in history”?
2. Explain both the differences between exegesis and hermeneutics. How does modern science help us note the difference?
   

Ch2:

1. What are the texts of the LXX, the MT and the DSS?
2. Explain the difference between internal and external evidence in textual criticism?
3. In your own words, explain to a lay person the advantages and disadvantages of Formal equivalence and Functional equivalence in translations?
   

Ch3:

1. Explain the differences between the 3 forms of narratives in the Old Testament.
2. What does it mean that the Hebrew narrator is ‘omniscient’?