The Envelope and the Halo: Reading Susanna Allegorically

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 408-417
Author(s):  
Jennie Grillo

The tale of Susanna in the Greek versions of the book of Daniel has its roots in allegorical readings of Hebrew Scripture, and the church has read the story of Susanna both as an allegory of the church and of Christ. The allegorical treatment of Susanna as the church is the most acceptable to modern criticism, since it preserves the narrative coherence of the book; but the more fragmentary, piecemeal allegory of Susanna as Christ was compelling in antiquity, especially in visual interpretations. This essay explores how allegorical readings of Susanna as a Christ figure capture an essential part of the reader’s visual, non-sequential experience of the text and provides a satisfying and meaningful image for Christians.

Author(s):  
Nefry Christoffel Benyamin

This writing tries to interprete one of the chapters in the Book of Daniel, especially Daniel 9:1-17 by using post-colonial perspective. The perspective invites the readers to realize that they inherited the values from the colonialization time and therefore they need to re-think critically the interpretation of biblical texts which are fulfilled by the values of colonialism. Daniel 9:1-27 talks about God’s hope that makes His people to experience God’s freedom. Based on the texts above, the writer makes reflections about its meaning and tries to apply it in the context of the Church in the present situation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-119
Author(s):  
Elisua Hulu

The people of God of the Old Testament and the people of God in the New Testament were linked during what is called the intertestamental age. This period is referred to as a state of vacuum which is marked by the absence of a demonstrative role of the prophet. The 400 year period of development, destruction, success and decline of the ruling nations was prophesied by God. The Old Testament Book of Daniel shows clearly that world history is proceeding according to God's sovereignty. Mission is God's work. The important thing from God’s mission is talking about God as a sender, where He is the source, initiator, dynamist, implementer and fulfiller of His mission. The method of study related to God's mission in the Interstestamental era is the method of studying literature, which describes it descriptively. The intertestamental period is the time when other nations know the God of Israel through their existence among them. This is a different way from what happened in the days of Solomon's kingdom where there was a temple in Jerusalem which became an attraction for Gentiles. The political, social, and economic situation in intertestamental times was a preparation for the mission of the church in New Testament times.Umat Allah Perjanjian Lama dan Umat Allah Perjanjian Baru dihubungkan dalam masa suatu yang sebut masa intertestamental. Masa ini disebut sebagai keadaan adanya kevakuman yang ditandai oleh tidak nampaknya peranan nabi secara demonstratif. Masa waktu 400 tahun mengalami perkembangan, kehancuran, kesuksesan dan kemerosotan negara-negara yang menguasai sudah dinubuatkan oleh Tuhan. Kitab Daniel dalam Perjanjian Lama memperlihatkan dengan jelas bahwa sejarah dunia berjalan sesuai dengan kedaulatan Allah. Misi adalah karya Allah. Hal penting dari misi atau pengutusan Allah berbicara tentang Allah sebagai pengutus, dimana Ia adalah sumber, inisiator, dinamisator, pelaksana dan penggenap misi-Nya. Metode pengkajian terkait misi Allah pada masa Interstestamental adalah dengan metode kajian pustaka, yang menguraikan secara deskriptif. Masa intertestamental adalah masa di mana bangsa-bangsa lain mengenal Allah Israel melalui keberadaan mereka di tengah bangsa-bangsa lain. Ini adalah cara yang berbeda dari yang terjadi pada masa kerajaan Salomo di mana ada bait suci di Yerusalem yang menjadi daya tarik bagi bangsa-bangsa lain. Situasi politik, sosial, dan ekonomi pada masa intertestamental merupakan persiapan bagi misi gereja pada masa Perjanjian Baru.


Author(s):  
José Adriano Filho

Os profetas do Antigo Testamento tinham grande significado para João Calvino. Há, tanto em suas prédicas quanto preleções, um projeto de interpretação dos profetas. As preleções sobre os profetas (1555-1564) tinham como principal público “os estudantes”, “os ministros” e “outros ouvintes”, grupos que estavam associados aos esforços empreendidos na difusão da fé reformada na França. É provável que os estudantes fossem os ouvintes primários das preleções, especialmente no período posterior à inauguração da Academia de Genebra (1559), a qual pretendia “preparar jovens para o ministério e para o governo civil”, especialmente os futuros líderes da Igreja na França. Entre esses comentários e preleções, destaca-se o comentário ao livro de Daniel, no qual Calvino estabelece uma relação entre a situação de sofrimento vivida pelo povo de Deus na época de Daniel com a situação das igrejas na França, no momento em que a Reforma lançava ali suas raízes e nos primeiros anos do seu desenvolvimento.The books of the prophets were highly estimated by John Calvin, and both his sermons and lectures present a project of interpretation of the prophets. The Lectures on the prophets (1555-1564) were attended by “students”, “ministers” and “other listeners”, groups that were associated with the efforts in spreading the Reformed faith in France. Probably, the students were the primary audience of the Lectures, especially in the beginnings of the Geneva Academy (1559), which intended to “prepare young people for the ministry and the civil government”, especially the future leaders of the Church in France. Among these Commentaries and Lectures, the commentary to the book of Daniel Calvin establishes a link between the situation of suffering experienced by the people of God in Daniel's time with the situation of the churches in the beginning of Reformation in France and in the early years of its development.


2003 ◽  
Vol 29 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 269-299
Author(s):  
Janna C. Merrick

Main Street in Sarasota, Florida. A high-tech medical arts building rises from the east end, the county's historic three-story courthouse is two blocks to the west and sandwiched in between is the First Church of Christ, Scientist. A verse inscribed on the wall behind the pulpit of the church reads: “Divine Love Always Has Met and Always Will Meet Every Human Need.” This is the church where William and Christine Hermanson worshipped. It is just a few steps away from the courthouse where they were convicted of child abuse and third-degree murder for failing to provide conventional medical care for their seven-year-old daughter.This Article is about the intersection of “divine love” and “the best interests of the child.” It is about a pluralistic society where the dominant culture reveres medical science, but where a religious minority shuns and perhaps fears that same medical science. It is also about the struggle among different religious interests to define the legal rights of the citizenry.


2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (01) ◽  
pp. 76-101
Author(s):  
PETER M. SANCHEZ

AbstractThis paper examines the actions of one Salvadorean priest – Padre David Rodríguez – in one parish – Tecoluca – to underscore the importance of religious leadership in the rise of El Salvador's contentious political movement that began in the early 1970s, when the guerrilla organisations were only just beginning to develop. Catholic leaders became engaged in promoting contentious politics, however, only after the Church had experienced an ideological conversion, commonly referred to as liberation theology. A focus on one priest, in one parish, allows for generalisation, since scores of priests, nuns and lay workers in El Salvador followed the same injustice frame and tactics that generated extensive political mobilisation throughout the country. While structural conditions, collective action and resource mobilisation are undoubtedly necessary, the case of religious leaders in El Salvador suggests that ideas and leadership are of vital importance for the rise of contentious politics at a particular historical moment.


1913 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 350-356
Author(s):  
F. M. Crouch
Keyword(s):  

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