General

Abstract

General Thomas Hieke, Christopher T. Begg, and Fred W. Guyette 1. [Erich Zenger; Luke 24:21; Ps 73:23-24] Paul Deselaers, "In den Bruchstellen—das neue Leben," Mit Gott ums Leben kämpfen, 545-47 [see #798]. This is the written form of the sermon D. gave at the funeral of Erich Zenger in 2010. D. interprets the Emmaus pericope (Luke 24:21 in particular) and Ps 73:23-24: "Yet I am always with you; you take hold of my right hand. With your counsel you guide me, and at the end receive me with honor" (NABRE). It was Z. himself who chose Psalm 73 for his funeral. D. also quotes a typical saying by Zenger which he repeatedly uttered after delivering his lectures: "I have said many words, and yet I have always tried to make one thing clear to you: HE, the living one, is the true God."—T.H. 2. [Hermeneutic of the Wūrttemberg Pastoralkolleg] Ernst Michael Dörrfuẞ, "Wende sie hin und wende sie her, den alles ist darin enthalten' (Pirqe Abot 5,25). Zur Hermeneutik des Alten Testaments am Beispiel der Psalmenlektūre im Pastoralkolleg der Evangelischen Landeskirche in Wūrttemberg," Eigensinn und Entstehung, 555-69 [see #789]. D.'s essay provides a report of a post-World War II initiative of the Evangelische Landeskirche in Württemberg, i.e. the "pastoral college" (Pastoralkolleg), in which pastors of the church are offered the opportunity to come together for a 12-day period devoted to prayer, communal Scripture study and sharing personal and pastoral experiences. After remarks on the history of above initiative and the influence of D. Bonhoeffer and G. Merz on its conceptualization and practices, D. focuses on the group work with selected psalms that is a constant feature of the gatherings in which a given psalm is recited aloud in Hebrew, text-critical questions are considered, and translational options explored—all with the intention of expanding the participants' awareness of the psalm's multiple potential meanings. The essay concludes with D.'s observations concerning the "ecclesial-theological exegesis of Scripture" as practiced in the Pastoralkolleg's sessions and that approach's dialectical relationship to academic Bible study and its focus on historical-critical issues.—C.T.B. 3. [Bible in Catholic Liturgy] Ingrid Fischer, "Welche Bibel horen wir im Gottesdienst?" BK 75 (2020) 80-86. F. reflects on the use of "the Bible" in liturgy. After a brief sketch of church history, F. focuses on the new version of the "Einheitsübersetzung" (2016) and its utilization in liturgical books, especially lectionaries. She problematizes the decision that due to "pastoral reasons" certain psalms and other passages will stay banned from liturgical use. According to F., this is a wrong decision and a matter of pastoral paternalism. The liturgical intertextuality needs competent attention by readers and hearers if they are to be open to God's living word.—T.H. 4. [Biblical Ritual] Ottmar Fuchs, "Rituale in der Bibel," BK 75 (2020) 99-105. F. elaborates the "pastoral-liturgical" function of biblical poems. He terms the song of Moses and Miriam in Exodus 15 a "lighthouse" that sheds a certain light on the surrounding [End Page 1] narrative. Psalm 137, on the other hand, seems to be the counterpart to the Exodus hymn and a paradox: the doxology states that no doxology can be sung when one is far from Jerusalem. F. adds some observations also on Psalms 135 and 136. He concludes with remarks about the relationship between remembrance and ritual in biblical texts as a model for the relationship between the Bible and liturgy.—T.H. 5. [Solomon in 20th–21st Century Literature] Susanne Gillmayr-Bucher, "Solomon's Wise Words in Twentieth- and Twenty-first-Century Literature," Essays in Honor of Choon Leong Seow, 189-98 [see #787]. The story of Solomon and his wisdom has inspired many creative writers. Austrian writer Inge Merkel's novel, Sie kam zu König Salomo, retells the story of the Queen of Sheba and her visit to Jerusalem. Each chapter unfolds as a discourse between Solomon and the Queen. In these dialogues...