1. Old Testament Ethics: Principles of Living for the People of God Introduction and Hermeneutics © 2010 David W. Opderbeck Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution / Share-Alike

2. Introductions Getting to Know Each Other Themes and Texts for our Study Digging Deep: Some Additional Resources

3. Some Theological and Methodological Presuppositions The Biblical text is God’s text God speaks incarnationally in the Biblical text in human words, within the context of diverse times, cultures, literary forms, and language The Biblical narrative is particular, purposeful, and progressive The Biblical text narrates, through its plurality of literary forms, the unifying story of God’s redemption mission, which culminates in and through the person of Jesus Christ The Biblical text can only be truly understood and lived out as its meaning is made known to us by the Holy Spirit, drawing us into proper relationship with Christ, the community of the Church, and the world Good readings of the Biblical materials therefore are Trinitarian, theological, narratival and praxiological

4. A Brief General Timeline Creation and Proto-history Flood Judgment and Scattering of Nations Abraham – Joseph – Egyptian Sojourn Moses – Exodus - Wanderin g Conquest – Judges United Kingdom – Saul, David, Solomon Divided Kingdom ExileRestoratio n of Jerusalem Conflict, Revolt, Roman Rule NT Solomon’s Temple Destruction of Temple and Jerusalem Herod’s Temple (“Second Temple”) c. 2200 B.C. c. 1500 B.C. c. 1400 B.C. c. 1000 B.C. c. 900 B.C.c. 600 B.C.c. 500 B.C.c. 400 B.C.A.D. 1

5. The OT Ethical Triangle God The Theological Angle Israel The Social Angle The Land The Economic Angle Source: Christopher J.H. Wright, “Old Testament Ethics for the People of God”

6. The OT Ethical Triangle Source: Christopher J.H. Wright, “Old Testament Ethics for the People of God” God Israel The Land The Church koinonia OT NT Typological Paradigmatic Eschatological Humanity (fallen) Redeemed Humanity The New Creation The Earth (cursed)

7. Applying our Biblical Reading What are the central theological themes of Deuteronomy 4-6 and our other readings for the week? What are the central social themes? What are the central economic themes? What hints do these broad themes give us about God’s purposes for the OT law? What about his purposes for us today?