Biblical Texts Research Articles

Unveiling Solomon's Temple: Exploring Its Multifaceted Role in Israelite Religious Activities, History, and Identity

This paper explores Solomon's Temple's multifaceted role in Israelite religious activities, emphasizing its significance in history, religious practices, and the formation of Jewish identity. By integrating various sources, including biblical texts, archaeological findings, and historical records, this study investigates the consistency between the biblical descriptions and archaeological evidence of Solomon's Temple. The research highlights the Temple's central position in Jewish religious history and its symbolic representation of the covenant between the Jewish people and God, offering profound insights into its religious, historical, and cultural significance.

Absent Animals: The Anthropocentric Focus of the Book of Ruth

Abstract The book of Ruth is the only text of the Hebrew Bible which lacks a single mention of a nonhuman animal. As such, it has not been studied by scholars with an interest in animals within biblical texts. This article critically addresses this omission of nonhuman animals from Ruth by locating this neglect within the context of other troubling ideological binaries (such as gender, sexuality, ethnicity, class) which are operative in the narrative. Through an attentiveness to the lack of animals during the famine, harvest, and threshing of the grain in the book, this article suggests that the narrative obscures the crucial contribution of nonhuman animals to society as well as the care they deserve. This therefore indicates how the book of Ruth operates with an anthropocentric human/animal hierarchy whereby nonhumans can be disposed of to advance the interests of humans.

“They Put Themselves in Danger, Girls Like That”: Ezekiel 16 and Promising Young Woman

This article pairs the worst of the biblical marriage metaphor texts, Ezekiel 16, with a feminist film about sexual violence, Promising Young Woman (2020). Strikingly, the God of Ezekiel 16 acts in ways that closely resemble the would-be rapists and “good guys” of Promising Young Woman. Furthermore, the portraits of female revenge in Promising Young Woman and Ana Lily Amirpour's A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) suggest new ways of reading the seemingly monolithic gender violence of text.

Mental disorders and violence

In this article, we aim to identify and show the roots and tragic consequences of violence, along with individual’s hidden pathological particularities. Upon mere observation, violence represents the brutal destruction of the normality of human existence, regardless of the linguistic connotation society had assigned to it at a certain time: war, holocaust, ethnic cleansing, terrorism, special military operation, murder, rape, beating, lapidation and flagellation (elsewhere), conflict, harassment, intimidation. Nevertheless, we must acknowledge that this form of extreme human manifestation embounds within the ontic vital force, present since the emergence of life and which, in order to preserve itself, tends to destroy life. Etymologically, the linguistic root of the term designating this form of extreme human manifestation is derived, like that of the ontic vital force, from an Indo-European root that designates life: bios-biázomai, vio-vis. Unquestionably, the text of the Bible describes, the state of extreme violence that reigns on earth; however, we will discover in the biblical text that, through Jesus Christ, one may attain the reality of the eschatological ideal, of a time when life will unfold in the absence of violence (cf Is. 11:6-9; Ap. 21:4). This new, religious perspective of a spiritual plane of the perfection of creation, forcibly introduced in the immanence of creation, and which we identify as utopian, entitles us to include the perspective of religious confessional propaganda violence into our analysis along the hidden pathological manifestations of violence. In this paper we shall focus on the following points: understanding the term violence in biblical, social and religious context; religious confessional propaganda violence; life dynamics and violence in society; the medical perspective.

Sustainability Hermeneutics: The New Task of African Biblical Studies

As a new and emerging approach to biblical interpretation, Sustainability Hermeneutics (SH) combines aspects of the environment, economy, and society in its interpretation of biblical texts. Such an approach to biblical interpretation shows the interaction of the environment, economy and society in biblical texts in line with the understanding of sustainability. It is therefore integrative and holistic. This article argued that such an approach holds so much promise for African Biblical Studies (ABS) at a time when the African continent is faced with myriads of developmental issues. While Sustainability Hermeneutics ingrains biblical texts into an integrative African worldview, the article also argued that the urgency of the use of Sustainability Hermeneutics in African Biblical Studies lies in the fact that the Bible and its messages still make sense to many African Christians. So, Sustainability Hermeneutics, if well utilised in African Biblical Studies, will motivate many African Christians to take actions that will lead to sustainable African societies.

Examining corruption in biblical texts through deontological and virtue ethical codes

Examining corruption in biblical texts through deontological and virtue ethical codes

Modern forms of a prophecy: From written word to audiovisual Internet product

Prophecies contain a unique cultural and linguistic code, which plays an essential role in organizing the linguistic worldview and shapes national consciousness. The article aims to specify the linguistic features of prophecies and identify their modern forms. To achieve this goal, biblical texts were compared with modern prophecies within and outside religion. Due to the phenomenon's complexity, the material selection criteria were flexible. The Canonic Bible was the initial source of the material (4 books of Major Prophets and 12 books of Minor Prophets). The modern prophecies were obtained from 2 collections of written prophecies (157 texts) as well as 10 audio recordings of prophetic sessions (4 hours) and 40 videos (10 hours). We explored prophetic texts and changes in their forms using semiotic modeling. The interdisciplinary nature of the research necessitated the use of the descriptive method, as well as methods of contextual, interpretative, and content analysis to identify the meaning of the linguistic units by highlighting mechanisms of the construction of meaning. The chosen methods helped to identify the meanings of linguistic units, highlighting the mechanisms of constructing meaning, as well as the ethnocultural language code of prophecies. The method of interpretative analysis made it possible to determine the patterns of expression of meaning associated with the system of ideal images and the rules for their transformation into meanings. The results of the study demonstrated a clear simplification of the initial characteristics during the transition of biblical prophecies from written form to an audiovisual Internet product. In addition, the results revealed an obvious displacement of the vector of decoding and interpretation of ethnoculturally-conditioned components. Further research will allow us to build a linguosemiotic model of prophetic discourse to trace ethnocultural and linguistic changes in the form, content, and entire genre of prophecy, which will open up new prospects for the study and interpretation of the phenomenon itself.

Bento Teixeira, the Inquisition and Prosopopeia

The Portuguese Inquisition in sixteenth-century Brazil and the identity of Bento Teixeira, a New Christian poet. The Latin teacher who was familiar with Greco-Latin classics and biblical texts. The inquisitorial process of Bento Teixeira. Duarte Coelho and the founding of the captaincy of Pernambuco. Jorge de Albuquerque Coelho, hero of Prosopopeia, a Renaissance epic poem. The presence of Jewish values in Prosopopeia, the first published Brazilian poem. Imitatio according to Quintilian and classical epics. The annotated editions of Prosopopeia.

An Evaluation of the Socio-Economic Implications of the Parable of the Unfaithful Servant in Luke 16:1-12

The parable of the unfaithful servant in Luke 16:1-12 has been a subject of scholarly debate. There is no consensus among scholars regarding its meaning and socio-economic context. Some scholars argue that the parable reflects a critique of the wealthy exploiting the poor, while others see it as teaching shrewdness in financial matters. This paper examined the socio-economic implications of the parable so as to establish its economic and social realities. It analysed the parable's historical, social, and economic background. Data was collected from existing literature on the parable and related topics. Content analysis was used to identify key themes and patterns in the data. The study found that the parable reflects the economic realities of the first-century Greco-Roman world, where the wealthy landowners exploited their tenants and servants. The parable criticises this system and emphasises the importance of wise financial management. The findings also indicated that the Parable remains relevant today because it challenges individuals and institutions to act in ways that promote the common good and contribute to sustainable development due to its call for justice and equity and the importance of debt forgiveness, responsible stewardship, ethical decision-making, accountability, and a shift in values towards relationships and justice. The study has contributed to knowledge by shedding light on the historical and social contexts of the parable and provides a nuanced understanding of its message. It recommends that scholars of Christian ethics should pay closer attention to the socio-economic context of biblical texts to better understand their message.

«Возродившийся в наши дни современник Моисея»: Оскар Гольдберг и каббалистическая метафизика

The biography and views of Oscar Goldberg (1885–1952), a Jewish-German philosopher, psychologist and religious thinker, have in recent years attracted increasing attention from specialists in the history of philosophy, religious and cultural studies. The interpre­tation of metaphysical problems, the nature of myth and ritual, and the concepts of the sa­cred and profane that he proposed had a significant influence on a number of thinkers and writers of the first half of the twentieth century. The article discusses one of the most important sources of Goldberg’s views – the Jewish esoteric tradition (Kabbalah), with which he had a difficult relationship, while simultaneously criticizing its concepts and adapting some of them for his own system. It was in dialogue with the ideas of Kabbalah that Goldberg developed an original approach to the interpretation of the biblical text – the idea of the existence of a universal pre-biological force that manifests itself in both world and human history.

Religious Motifs in Soviet Prose by M. Sholokhov (Story “Family Man”)

A new interpretation of Mikhail Sholokhov’s story “Family Man” from the collection of stories “Lazorevaya Step” (“Don Stories”) is proposed. Traditionally, the image of the central character — the Cossack ferryman Mikishara — has been interpreted as a portrayal of a sinful hero, a criminal, a patricide. However, the author of the article considers the leading character’s image in light of biblical motifs and parallels. It is demonstrated that the old ferryman’s night confession is permeated with allusions to sacred biblical texts, specifically to the image of God the Father who sent his own Son to death. The image of the Cossack father is constructed by the writer in projection to the sacred image of the Father-Spirit, and in this comparison, new semantic markers of the character’s nature are explicitly revealed. The temporal constant of the confessional narrative — Easter — is supplemented by Sholokhov with motifs such as dove, soul, willow, river, fish, and others. Thus, an unexplored layer of meaning in the work emerges in which new components of the motif system begin to appear: not sin and guilt, but misfortune and sacrificialness, torment and suffering that the Cossack-father faced in the conditions of a terrible fratricidal civil war. The analysis demonstrates how the poethological components of the story (title, change of title, composition “story within a story”, plot dynamics and narrative pauses, symbolized landscape, portraiture techniques, etc.) are oriented by the writer towards authorial evaluative meanings.

Interpretative Analysis of the Translation of Matthew 6:12 in the Farefare Bible

The study sought to analyze the translation of the Greek word “ἄφες” (forgive) as “patience” in the Farefare language of the Upper East Region of the Republic of Ghana. Using the views of respondents in the field study conducted as well the mother-tongue biblical hermeneutics methodology by Kuwornu-Adjaottor, the findings of the study maintained that the Farefare term suguru which is often used to translate “ἄφες,” is inappropriate because suguru is a noun, while “ἄφες” is a verb. The study also established that the word bahɛ in Farefare means “forgive,” and frequently accompanies the noun be’em (sin/wrongdoing). The cultural understanding of the Farefare is that patience is necessary before granting forgiveness. As a result, this research recommends that the Farefare translation incorporates both “patience” and “forgive” in the appropriate order (that is patience first and then forgive) to reflect the intended meaning of the text and the indigenous cultural understanding. This work contributes to interpreting Biblical texts in the field of theology. Keywords: Sin, Forgiveness, Lord’s Prayer, Matthew, Luke, Farefare Translation, Patience, Suguru, ἄφες

Redemption of Sins in Christianity: Analysis of the Holy Bible Texts

Sin has been a frequently discussed topic in the context of Christianity. The concept of inherited sin is viewed as a barrier between humans and God. Christians believe in the redemption of this sin through the sacred blood of Jesus Christ. This concept was prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament. This research focuses on the fundamental question regarding the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus, which, over time, evolved from the practice of redemption through priests to the inclusion of indulgences. The objective of this study is to examine and comprehend the sacredness of Jesus Christ's blood, which is the centerpiece of Christian belief, where His blood is seen as the means of sin redemption. A critical descriptive analysis method is employed to explore these the means of sin redemption. A critical descriptive analysis method is employed to explore these viewpoints, revealing various dilemmas arising from Paul's interpretation of this concept. The research findings indicate that the concept of sin in Christianity is a core element of Christian faith, wherein inherited sin can only be absolved through the sacrificial blood of Jesus. However, contemporary Christian teachings have undergone transformations that alter original aspects of the doctrine, where Paul's interpretations, seen as introductions to Christian teachings, influence the original meanings and give rise to the practice of indulgences, which have become part of the evolving Christian doctrine.

Posttraumatic Growth and Deuteronomistic Redaction of Jer 31,31-34

ABSTRACT According to David Carr’s study, the Jewish and Christian scriptures arose from the positive psychological reaction to catastrophic human trauma, namely posttraumatic growth (PTG). Despite this insight, biblical scholars have hardly focused on reading biblical texts and the theology behind them through the lens of PTG. This article applies PTG to a specific passage in the Hebrew Bible, proposing a new solution to the controversial issue regarding the Deuteronomistic redaction of Jer 31,31-34. It argues two main points. First, a theology that emphasizes Spiritual Change but ignores New Possibilities differs from one that emphasizes New Possibilities because New Possibilities and Spiritual Change are two different factors of PTG. Second, Jer 31,31-34 is not a Deuteronomistic redaction because it indicates the domain of New Possibilities, which does not belong to Deuteronomistic theology; by contrast, Jer 23,5-6 and Jer 33,14-16 could be Deuteronomistic because they indicate Spiritual Change, which fits Deuteronomistic theology.

Interpreting paired phenomena in the Hebrew Psalter and in African indigenous sacred texts

The Hebrew Psalter is a repertoire of paired phenomena. From parallelisms to twin Psalms, biblical scholars have paid attention to these structural and poetical features as keys to unlocking and interpreting the meaning and theology of these psalms. Unfortunately, the otherwise admirable results of these exegetical works remain abstract and largely removed from the interests of the African reader. An alternative way of engaging these texts is to realise that paired phenomena are not exclusive to the Hebrew Psalter. African indigenous sacred texts such as the Adinkra of the Akan people equally contain similar phenomena though relatively little attention has been paid to them. This article, using a dialogical approach of African Biblical Hermeneutics, studies the twin Psalms 111 and 112 as an example of a paired phenomenon in the Psalter. It brings this text into dialogue with the Adinkra denkyemfunefu to illustrate how focussing on similar structural phenomena in either text uncovers the same theme of the common good in either text and facilitates the reception of the biblical discourse in contemporary African contexts.Contribution: It is argued that common literary features in biblical and African indigenous sacred texts could be harnessed as vehicles for facilitating the reception of biblical discourse in contemporary Africa.

References to Scripture in the Old Polish History of the Three Kings. Quotations, Allusions, Echoes

The article analyzes the references to Scripture in Historyja trzech kroli (History of the Three Kings), an Old Polish apocryphal work preserved in a copy from 1544. The references to the Bible are divided into quotations, allusions and echoes. Quotations were introduced either by reference to a particular location or author of the biblical text, or to an unspecified “prophet” or “evangelist.” Sometimes they were not signaled in any way. Then the quotation could only be identified by recognizing the passage to which it refers. Allusions to the Old and New Testaments mostly consisted of references to characters, places, and events, without quoting the text of Scripture itself. The featured echoes most often consisted of narrative parallelisms between the story of the Wise Men from the East and the first Church. References to Scripture in the apocryphal work served to emphasize typology and create parallelisms between biblical history and the story of the three kings. The text emphasizes the role of the Gentiles in salvation history while belittling the role of Israelites.

The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9–13: Reconstructing based on Byzantine text

Prayer holds a profound significance in a believer’s life, with Lord Jesus teaching specific teachings to his disciples on the subject. It serves as a communication tool bridging the connection between God and humanity, constituting a dialogue rather than solely a platform for pleas or requests. This research delved into the specific text of prayer, focusing on Matthew 6:9–13, commonly known as ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. While many Christians interpret it as a ‘prayer of supplication’, the study questioned whether it truly falls into that category and explored potential contradictions.Utilising a qualitative approach with a pure exegesis study, the author employed hermeneutics based on John D. Grassmick’s steps of exegesis analysis. The examination was centred on the Byzantine Greek Bible text in the Gospel of Matthew 6:14–15. The aim was to grasp the essence of the message within the studied texts, emphasising Lord Jesus’ teachings. Results highlighted the significance of understanding the Lord’s Prayer as taught by Jesus in Matthew 6:9–13. The author emphasised the importance for Christians in Indonesia to comprehend the meaning of this prayer.Contribution: This reconstruction of Matthew’s understanding of the Lord’s Prayer using the Byzantine text anticipated contributions to HTS Theological Studies. The Our Father’s Prayer, a blessing to churches and Christians for over 2000 years, was explored for its proper grammatical translation and the profound contents taught by Jesus. This study aimed to assist Christians in understanding and applying the prayer in their lives, aligning with the true faith and fostering spiritual growth as intended by Lord Jesus.

Exploring the Complexity of the Book of Daniel: A Multifaceted Analysis

This research delves into the intricate layers of the Book of Daniel, seeking to unravel its complexities through a comprehensive examination. Emphasizing the historical and literary significance of the text, the study explores the multifaceted nature of the Book of Daniel, which has intrigued scholars for centuries. The primary objective is to illuminate various dimensions of complexity, including symbolic language, prophetic elements, and historical context. Employing a methodological approach that integrates literary analysis, historical investigation, and theological perspectives, the study aims to provide a holistic understanding of the Book of Daniel's intricacies. Positioned within ongoing scholarly discussions on biblical interpretation and prophecy, the research reveals that the Book of Daniel invites diverse approaches, incorporating historical, wisdom, prophetic, and apocalyptic perspectives. Comprehending the Book of Daniel's complexity contributes to bridging the gap between historical, literary, and theological viewpoints, thereby enriching our grasp of biblical texts and fostering scholarly discourse in this field.

Membidik Pertautan Teologis antara Tubuh dan Ibadah Menurut Roma 12:1

The orientation of the body to worship God through worship is an important principle in Christianity because it is for this purpose that humans were created by God. However, the problem that is immediately faced is the emergence of various discourses about the body which tend not to open up space for connectivity between the body and worship as a meaningful relationship for human existence as religious beings. The problem is that the body is often seen as a material object that is mortal and does not contain any special qualities in the practice of worship. Even if the body is useful, it is only a means that is limited in time and space. The aim of this research is to question this perspective based on the text Romans 12:1 and target the theological connection between the body and worship in their respective specialties. This research uses a library research method by investigating through literature selected according to the objectives of this research and supported by hermeneutics as a method of interpreting biblical texts. The results of this research show that the theological link between the body and worship is visible through the destination of the body and the continuity of worship which is eternal or eternal. This is what allows the offering of the body to become a manifestation of true worship to God.

La simbolica dello straniero nel Salterio

Who is a foreigner in the Hebrew Psalter? The article answers this question in two sections. First, seven terms referring to “foreigner” are examined to determine their individual characteristicsin the Psalms and their correspondence to biblical texts outside the Psalter. Second, other literary motifs are analyzed in a cursory reading of Psalms 105, 106 and 137. The Psalter outlines a partial picture of the foreigner, which is subordinated to theological and symbolic issues. The Psalms primarily recall the adventures of Israel, which had to frequently change its place of residence for various reasons. As a foreigner, deprived of land and permanent residence, he experienced the ups and downs of migrant life and ultimately strove to integrate into a new socio-cultural environment. Defending one’s identity and maintaining national and religious integrity is portrayed as a difficult process, at risk. Another type of foreigner in the Psalms is the non-Jew, individually or communally, who enjoys the social and legal protection to which the poor are entitled. Either he is a well-integrated member of society, or he remains unassimilated. In the latter case, his false words, harmful actions and physical hostility toward Israel come to the fore. Finally, in the Book of Psalms, terms associated with “foreigner” are part of figurative language. The vocabulary sometimes either evokes non-literal associations with foreign countries, nations and foreign gods, or denotes an emotional state of suffering and isolation. Moreover, key lexemes symbolize the transitory human condition, emphasizing the marginalization and even segregation of the petitioner from the household.