We are happy to announce a six-week class based on The Bible With and Without Jesus: How Jews and Christians Read the Same Stories Differently, by Amy-Jill Levin and Mark Zvi Brettler. This class will be taught by FVPC member Paul Vlajcic and begins today. We will meet in the Conference Room at 9:00 am.
Paul will lead us on a guided tour of the most popular Hebrew Bible passages quoted in the New Testament to show what the texts meant in their original contexts. He will then show how Jews and Christians, over time, understood those same texts. Passages include the creation of the world, the role of Adam and Eve, the suffering servant of Isaiah, the book of Jonah, and Psalm 22, which contains the words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me,” Jesus quoted as he died on the cross.
Comparing various interpretations – historical, literary, and theological - of each ancient text, the class will offer deeper understanding of the original narratives and their many after lives. It will show how the text speaks to different generations under changed circumstances, and so illuminate the Bible’s ongoing significance. By understanding the depth and variety by which these passages have been and can be understood, we will further see the Bible as a source of inspiration for all to read.
Come and join us even if you haven’t read the book - we will also be watching videos and, as usual, engaging in lively discussion. You may order a copy of the book by emailing Susan Strasser by August 15. The cost per book is $18.00. If you prefer to obtain your own copy, the book is available through Amazon or other online book retailers.
