1. Martin J. Hodson Operations Manager, John Ray Initiative
Theology of the Land
Martin J. Hodson
Operations Manager, John Ray Initiative

2. Outline of talk In the Beginning Terms and Conditions
‘Land’ in Old Testament Ethics
Isaiah and the perception of land and nature
A New Testament theology of the Land?
God, people and the land today.

3. Bereshit bara elohim et hashamiim ve et ha eretz.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.
Every word of scripture has areally deep meaning
Bereshit – saw the universe as eternal, implication that there was a beginning, the book is known not as Genesis but Bereshit. John deliberatelt starts his book in the beginning
Elohim means God, not the same as Yahwe ending im is plural cherabimm and seraphim.
Why use the plural form of elohim,

4. 1. Genesis 1:1 Unpacked
Bereshit
Elohim
Bara
Shamiim
Eretz.

5. 2. Terms and Conditions: Land in Genesis 1-2
Eretz = Land or Earth
1:1 created the Heavens & the Earth (Eretz)
1:10 God called the dry ground ‘land’ (Eretz)
1:11 Let the Land (Eretz) produce vegetation
2:7 God created Man (Adam) out of the dust of the Earth (Adamah)
Conclusion: Eretz means both The Earth and Land, but does not mean soil.

6. Relationship between God, People and The Earth in Genesis 1-2
Teaching on the Earth
Created by God
Seen to be ‘good’
Responsible Dominion
To Cultivate and Keep
Conclusion on relationships
Humans given responsibility for the earth/land
Relational – farming, community.
 1:1 In the beginning (B)God (C)created the heavens and the earth.
1:10God called the dry land earth, and the (R)gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good.
 1:28God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
2:15Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.
(Avodah – till, work, serve, worship (serve God) – Shamah – watch over, protect and save – give life to)

7. Genesis 3: Cosmic impact of the fall
Earth suffered from human sin
The effect of our negative actions towards the Earth (Land/Environment) is a biblical issue.
3:17 Cursed is the ground because of you;       In toil you will eat of it          All the days of your life.     18"Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;          And you will eat the plants of the field;     19By the sweat of your face          You will eat bread,          Till you (U)return to the ground,          Because (V)from it you were taken;          For you are dust,          And to dust you shall return."

8. Conclusion: Ideal relationships
God
Humans
Individuals and communities
Earth
and the rest of Creation

9. 3. Land in Old Testament Ethics
Land and Covenant
People ‘rooted’ in a specific land
Ownership widely distributed
Responsibilities outlined in the Covenant Law.
Specific land – compare with the rootlessness of today and with treating land purely as an economic commodity.
Land as gift
Dependancy – linked to God’s election of Israel (Deut 7:7)
God’s faithfulness to them (Deut 26:5-10)
Proof of the relationship between God and his People (Naboths vineyard – could not sell because belonged to God and held in trust for his descendants)

10. Covenant, People and Land
Example nation
Land as gift
Gifts of harvest
Sabbath and Jubilee.
Specific land – compare with the rootlessness of today and with treating land purely as an economic commodity.
Land as gift
Dependancy – linked to God’s election of Israel (Deut 7:7)
God’s faithfulness to them (Deut 26:5-10)
Proof of the relationship between God and his People (Naboths vineyard – could not sell because belonged to God and held in trust for his descendants)

11. 4. Isaiah and the perception of land, nature and communities
Significant use of natural images in all sections of Isaiah
Images used to develop theological themes
Reveal attitude to material world
Reveal perceived relationship with human communities.

12. Isaiah: use of natural images
Heaven and Earth
Mountains
Deserts
Vineyards
Animals
Plants.

13. Theological themes: First Isaiah
Should be full of Glory but under judgement
Consequences: War, drought, poor crops, briers and thorns
Nature not inherently sinful
Relationship between God, humans and nature abused.

14. Theological themes: Second/Third Isaiah
Images of rejoicing and fruitfulness
Earth/Holy Mountain is dwelling place of God – full of Glory
Results from restored relationship of humans to God
Renewal of Creation
Restoration of human communities in harmony with the Land
A promise of restoration.

15. Farming ethic in Isaiah
Strong management/farming approach to land - interventionist
Implies human role as responsible stewards
Land and nature flourishes when humans fulfil their role and God blesses this harmony.

16. Wilderness in Isaiah The place to meet with God
Not the place to work out our day to day relationship with God
Wilderness is valued in its own right, and animals that live there – intrinsic worth of nature and the Earth.

17. 4. A New Testament theology of the Land?
Gospels in a rural context, rest more urban
Assumed Old Testament approach to Land and Community
Romans 8: Creation groaning waiting for sons of God
Revelation – Redeemed world: God and Humans; Settlement and Nature.
Kingdom transformed to an eschatological framework

18. 5. God, people and the land today
Relationship to the Land
Modern communities – less rooted in Land?
Ownership less widely distributed and often absent owners?
Government and farmers taking stewardship more seriously?
Communities – earthed into their own local environment – whether urban or rural
Rural communities need connection with Land – how to work this out in post farming communities?
Rural UK: land full of briers and thorns? People now dislocated from land? Land in the hands of major companies at a distance. How to restore those relationships realistically.

19. God, people and the land today
Community Relationships
More ‘urban’ and privatised in outlook?
Become place of ‘wilderness’ for urban dwellers (retreat)
Presence of God still visible but less rooted.
Communities – earthed into their own local environment – whether urban or rural
Rural communities need connection with Land – how to work this out in post farming communities?
Rural UK: land full of briers and thorns? People now dislocated from land? Land in the hands of major companies at a distance. How to restore those relationships realistically.

20. Some Resources
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