Comments on: Time to Study the Old Testament…Again – Part 4 – How to Study the Old Testament http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/31/time-to-study-the-old-testament-again-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-how-to-study-the-old-testament/ A weekly podcast exploring Mormon culture and current events. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jeff Spector http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/31/time-to-study-the-old-testament-again-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-how-to-study-the-old-testament/#comment-125720 Jeff Spector Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:56:55 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8848#comment-125720 Don, As a Jewish convert, I have more trouble with how folks view the Jews of the New Testament rather than the Old. Don, As a Jewish convert, I have more trouble with how folks view the Jews of the New Testament rather than the Old.

]]> By: Jeff Spector http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/31/time-to-study-the-old-testament-again-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-how-to-study-the-old-testament/#comment-125719 Jeff Spector Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:55:34 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8848#comment-125719 Thanks for all who commented on the post. I am in agreement with the idea that we do not study the Old Testament as a book of scripture by itself. But, guess what neither do most Jews. And certainly most Christians as well. Most Jews who study scriptures do so in much the same way as we do. They use their study to reinforce the teachings of the Sages and Rabbis as written in the Talmud and other books on the Law. Christians read the Old Testament, "in light of the New Testament." Pretty much the same as the LDS Church. However, there is a benefit to doing that, to reinforce Gospel principles. After all, if we believe that the Old Testament is a written record of the attempt by Heavenly Father to bring His covenant people to Christ (or the Messiah), that that is very natural to study it in that light. I am also interested in studying it to see how certain things turned out the way they did. Why the Jews took the paths they did, why Heavenly Father (or Jehovah) asked some terrible things of them? Why they could never seem to stay on track? Learning Hebrew is not that hard. 26 letters and 7 vowels, pretty straight forward. There are about 3400 words in the Hebrew Bible to learn. anyway, I thought I pretty much covered both the church study and personal study in the post. Thanks for all who commented on the post. I am in agreement with the idea that we do not study the Old Testament as a book of scripture by itself. But, guess what neither do most Jews. And certainly most Christians as well.

Most Jews who study scriptures do so in much the same way as we do. They use their study to reinforce the teachings of the Sages and Rabbis as written in the Talmud and other books on the Law.

Christians read the Old Testament, “in light of the New Testament.” Pretty much the same as the LDS Church. However, there is a benefit to doing that, to reinforce Gospel principles. After all, if we believe that the Old Testament is a written record of the attempt by Heavenly Father to bring His covenant people to Christ (or the Messiah), that that is very natural to study it in that light.

I am also interested in studying it to see how certain things turned out the way they did. Why the Jews took the paths they did, why Heavenly Father (or Jehovah) asked some terrible things of them? Why they could never seem to stay on track?

Learning Hebrew is not that hard. 26 letters and 7 vowels, pretty straight forward. There are about 3400 words in the Hebrew Bible to learn.

anyway, I thought I pretty much covered both the church study and personal study in the post.

]]> By: don http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/31/time-to-study-the-old-testament-again-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-how-to-study-the-old-testament/#comment-125692 don Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:58:28 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8848#comment-125692 I know a couple of Jewish converts who have great difficulty with the LDS propensity to remove the Jewishness of the OT and use it strictly as a stepping stone to Mormonism, which I suppose is the same problem cited by MH above. I know a couple of Jewish converts who have great difficulty with the LDS propensity to remove the Jewishness of the OT and use it strictly as a stepping stone to Mormonism, which I suppose is the same problem cited by MH above.

]]> By: Rico http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/31/time-to-study-the-old-testament-again-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-how-to-study-the-old-testament/#comment-125596 Rico Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:02:38 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8848#comment-125596 To take on the point from MH. The correlation committee could use some lessons to 'truly' study the OT. I even think this would be keeping with the purpose. In my experience, the reinforcing principles works for some people and therefore should not be cut out, but I am also inspired and taught when I do those things you mention above, jeff. It would be nice if some of the materials reinforced this idea. To add another one, learn hebrew. It is not a small thing, but I genuinely feel that this is one important way into the text. To take on the point from MH. The correlation committee could use some lessons to ‘truly’ study the OT. I even think this would be keeping with the purpose. In my experience, the reinforcing principles works for some people and therefore should not be cut out, but I am also inspired and taught when I do those things you mention above, jeff. It would be nice if some of the materials reinforced this idea.

To add another one, learn hebrew.

It is not a small thing, but I genuinely feel that this is one important way into the text.

]]> By: MH http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/31/time-to-study-the-old-testament-again-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-how-to-study-the-old-testament/#comment-125593 MH Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:35:25 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8848#comment-125593 Jeff, your first 3 parts seemed to really put an emphasis in "studying" the Old Testament. I have often become frustrated with Sunday School, because we don't truly study the Old Testament, we "reinforce LDS Gospel Principles ...[using]... the Old Testament". I guess that's why I prefer my own personal study to Sunday School. I am free to actually study the Old Testament rather than reinforcing gospel principles, which gets a bit old. (I've been reinforcing these principles for decades.) Perhaps the Title of this post could be what the church really does in Sunday School: "reinforce LDS Gospel Principles ...[using]... the Old Testament." I don't think we come close to actually studying the Old Testament, and that is the source of my disappointment in Sunday School. Jeff, your first 3 parts seemed to really put an emphasis in “studying” the Old Testament. I have often become frustrated with Sunday School, because we don’t truly study the Old Testament, we “reinforce LDS Gospel Principles …[using]… the Old Testament”. I guess that’s why I prefer my own personal study to Sunday School. I am free to actually study the Old Testament rather than reinforcing gospel principles, which gets a bit old. (I’ve been reinforcing these principles for decades.)

Perhaps the Title of this post could be what the church really does in Sunday School: “reinforce LDS Gospel Principles …[using]… the Old Testament.” I don’t think we come close to actually studying the Old Testament, and that is the source of my disappointment in Sunday School.

]]> By: Sharon LDS in Tennessee http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/31/time-to-study-the-old-testament-again-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-how-to-study-the-old-testament/#comment-125588 Sharon LDS in Tennessee Fri, 01 Jan 2010 13:03:36 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8848#comment-125588 Sorry about saying new Testament, mean't OLD. Shows how used to typing the 'new' makes finger do typo!! Happy New Year fellow bloggers. Health, Understanding, Love, Peace as well. Sorry about saying new Testament, mean’t OLD.
Shows how used to typing the ‘new’ makes finger do typo!!
Happy New Year fellow bloggers.
Health, Understanding, Love, Peace as well.

]]> By: Sharon LDS in Tennessee http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/31/time-to-study-the-old-testament-again-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-how-to-study-the-old-testament/#comment-125587 Sharon LDS in Tennessee Fri, 01 Jan 2010 13:01:57 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8848#comment-125587 I would like to see a continued emphasis on more ways to clearly see and understand the role and teachings / prophecy about Jesus Christ in the new Testament. Knowledge, understanding, applications and facts...gained or memorized can only help our lives when we are centered and focused upon the Atonement and our Savior. Since I have been told there is much in the Old Testament buried / eluded to or veiled, I would like to have a whole picture pointed out...and a guide how it all melds together. A way to reinforce it's place as a compound with the other scriptures..for real life as well. Love to All I would like to see a continued emphasis on more ways to clearly see and understand the role and teachings / prophecy about Jesus Christ in the new Testament. Knowledge, understanding, applications and facts…gained or memorized can only help our lives when we are centered and focused upon the Atonement and our Savior. Since I have been told there is much in the Old Testament buried / eluded to or veiled, I would like to have a whole picture pointed out…and a guide how it all melds together. A way to reinforce it’s place as a compound with the other scriptures..for real life as well.
Love to All

]]> By: Gabrielle Valentine http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/31/time-to-study-the-old-testament-again-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-how-to-study-the-old-testament/#comment-125584 Gabrielle Valentine Fri, 01 Jan 2010 08:01:59 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8848#comment-125584 I found your blog when I searched for liberal mormons. I am so frustrated. I have felt so alone in my beliefs. I have a testimony of the gospel being true but so many around me speak so rudely of people who are poor and needy, never bending in their beliefs that we should be kind to those who are poor, etc. I got into some huge battles on my blog and others when I spoke of more welfare programs. Anyway, thanks for this blog. I look forward to reading it and I am glad you, too, question some things that just don't feel right, yet still have a strong testimony of the book of mormon. thank you, Gabrielle Valentine I found your blog when I searched for liberal mormons. I am so frustrated. I have felt so alone in my beliefs. I have a testimony of the gospel being true but so many around me speak so rudely of people who are poor and needy, never bending in their beliefs that we should be kind to those who are poor, etc. I got into some huge battles on my blog and others when I spoke of more welfare programs.
Anyway, thanks for this blog. I look forward to reading it and I am glad you, too, question some things that just don’t feel right, yet still have a strong testimony of the book of mormon.

thank you,
Gabrielle Valentine

]]> By: Todd http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/31/time-to-study-the-old-testament-again-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-how-to-study-the-old-testament/#comment-125568 Todd Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:47:50 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8848#comment-125568 I think your point that the purpose of the class is not to study the Old Testament as a book of scripture unto itself is important. However, I do think that by taking the effort to delve into the text and the symbolism the LDS gospel principles will be reinforced quite naturally. The symbolism and imagery of the Torah, for instance, is particularly vivid. I would say one important way to get more out of reading the Old Testament is to observe the theme of covenants. Over and over, the Lord, is bringing his people into a covenant relationship with him. They are to turn from sin and remain faithful to their God. This has application for the modern church as a covenant people. I think your point that the purpose of the class is not to study the Old Testament as a book of scripture unto itself is important. However, I do think that by taking the effort to delve into the text and the symbolism the LDS gospel principles will be reinforced quite naturally. The symbolism and imagery of the Torah, for instance, is particularly vivid. I would say one important way to get more out of reading the Old Testament is to observe the theme of covenants. Over and over, the Lord, is bringing his people into a covenant relationship with him. They are to turn from sin and remain faithful to their God. This has application for the modern church as a covenant people.

]]> By: Cowboy http://mormonmatters.org/2009/12/31/time-to-study-the-old-testament-again-%e2%80%93-part-4-%e2%80%93-how-to-study-the-old-testament/#comment-125546 Cowboy Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:21:20 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=8848#comment-125546 Though you have mentioned this, I think the best thing to happen first is for a class to come prepared with a basic understanding of what we are about to discuss. That being said, I have rarely seen that work in college or business, so I don't know how it would ever happen in Church, were there is even less (immediate) incentive. I think a second point would be to take to heart just what you mentioned, there are only 40 minutes in the class and way to much to cover to try and do a comprehensive lesson. Teachers should either keep it to a theme, or one or two points at most. Though you have mentioned this, I think the best thing to happen first is for a class to come prepared with a basic understanding of what we are about to discuss. That being said, I have rarely seen that work in college or business, so I don’t know how it would ever happen in Church, were there is even less (immediate) incentive. I think a second point would be to take to heart just what you mentioned, there are only 40 minutes in the class and way to much to cover to try and do a comprehensive lesson. Teachers should either keep it to a theme, or one or two points at most.

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