Psalms, Proverbs/Ecclesiastes/Songs, Job,
Chronicles, Parables of Jesus, Selections from St. John, Corinthians, James
Exegetical Essentials:
Meditate on these parts of GOD’s Sacred Word along with basic Bible language foundations, focusing primarily on key words, and seasoned with some Patristic commentary.
Exegetical Formularies & Applications:
There are many approaches to beginning a reading regimen of Scripture. This course aims to answer why to begin with the Psalms & Proverbs as we enter the Great Gates of the Kingdom as revealed through inspired Holy Writ. The Psalms are the prayerbook of JESUS and thus the Church; they shape our worldview; provide the theological framework for their use in our devotional and worship settings. Their Christological significance is profound, and we will see how Jesus fulfills them and empowers them for our sake.
Further, we will see how the Psalms moved the spirits of such as John Donne and George Herbert—17th Century Anglican poet-priests of inspired skill who have given us beautiful poetry, intense verse that is Psalmic in their own right, covering similar themes as the Love of GOD and Death. Then we will consider two contemporary voices on the Psalms, both responding in there own creative way to the Psalms—Lewis, through (fictional) “letters to Malcolm”, Guite through original poetry verse.
The Psalms & Proverbs also lay the foundations for the central themes, words, and images of the Cosmic Arch-Epic as well as Christian life. We will use these to explore other Wisdom books and key sections in the Bible. In particular, the Parables are essential to understanding the Gospel and its relation to Kingdom-work and the Eternal Kingdom to be consummated on the Day of the LORD. In this course, we will also deepen our understandings of key details in many of the Parables by seeing them through the lens their original Ancient East setting. Their meanings will resonate as they were meant to; thus re-enriched, we will meditate on what is further revealed in the Parables for our salutary edification as “living pillars” in the Temple of GOD.
