Alter: Introduction to the Old Testament
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Contents
p.11.1
Alter wrestles with a name for the Old Testament. Jesus and the New Testament authors simply call it 'scripture' [1]. The reason that it's use is not popular is that it causes confusion with the desire to call the New Testament 'scripture'. This is purely an invented problem.
The Old Testament is scripture, and the New Testament is a 'peshar' [2] or interpretation of scripture in light of the mystery hidden from the beginning being revealed in Christ and the cross. All New Testament teaching has a source in the Old [3]. This does not denigrate the New Testament in any way, but elevates it at as the proper (Christian) [4] interpretation of 'scripture' by those who would know: Jesus and his disciples. It is a shame that some scholars would dare to hint that Jesus and the apostles 'misappropriated' scripture since they violate Greek rules of interpretation imposed hundreds of years later.
Did the Old Testament authors know they were writing a literal record with a mystery hidden inside? They only had hints of the riddles, not the solutions. the Hebrew word for skins 'owr' עור sounds like the word for light 'owr' אור. Did Adam understand that light represented the Holiness of God, and that his garments were 'something like' God's holiness? Probably not, but he could marvel at the pun, without having a hint that Christ's holiness would cover him.
Scholars have used the term 'sensus plenior' to describe the phenomenon that the original authors did not know what they were writing in the mystery. But the term as used by them is limited to a few dozen scriptures which are not easy to wrest into a literal-historical interpretation. The mystery is the warp and woof of scripture.
p.11.2
The names suggested by Alter do not fit the needs of describing the mystery, though are probably fine for describing the literal books.
The Bible is divided into seven large parts.
- The Table of contents
- The Book of the Father - part 1
- The Book of the Father - part 2
- The Book of the Son - part 1
- The Book of the Son - part 2
- The Book of the Holy Spirit - part 1
- the Book of the Holy Spirit - part 2
This outline does much to smooth out the observed heterogeneity.
The Table of Contents
The the first large pericope includes the first seven days, ending with Ge 2:5 not Ge 2:4 as is popularly believed. [5] Each day points to a large portion of scripture, outlining the rest of the Bible.
The Book of the Father - Part 1
The three fathers in this book represent three aspects of one 'father' and includes records pointed to by the first two days of creation. Seth restores worship of God, as does Noah in a very different way. They hint at the voice of the son as the priest.
- Day 1 - The light: Adam and Seth.
- Day 2 - The waters: Noah
The Book of the Father - Part 2
These three fathers also represent one 'father'. The records of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are associated with the land, by way of the promise and hint at man's rule over the land (representing the flesh) as kings. The heart of the Father is revealed as he speaks of his son. Though there is trouble in the land, the son has it covered. He declares, "See my son!" as he brags on Joseph who is the son made King of Kings. This record finishes Genesis.
The Book of the Son - Part 1
The son obtains his bride 'from light' (from his holiness) indicated by Day 4 where 'lights' מארת is interprets by notarikon as 'from מ light אר finished by life from revelation ת'. His new people are described as 'dust' (without the water/word), sand by the sea (washed by the water/word), and lights in the firmament (the church in Christ). His work establishes his bride in the wilderness... a place to meet God.
The Book of the Son - Part 2
He obtains his bride from water (the word) as indicated by Day 5, as they cross the sea. He laments that his father has given him a bride who is a prostitute. But he loves and works for her, wooing her to his side. This book carries through the end of the Old Testament.
The Book of the Holy Spirit - Part 1
In the Gospels the Holy Spirit, as a best man, proclaims "Here comes the bridegroom!", as a reflection of Day 6. He obtains his bride from the ground (representing the flesh). He is coming to obtain his bride. There is much wooing, but the marriage is not consummated until the cross, where the church is a 'virgin birth' by the Spirit, in a 'likeness' of her husband.
The Book of the Holy Spirit - Part 2
The letters tell of the seventh day, where the man and his bride have entered into rest, and are fruitful and multiplying, by the fruit of the Spirit, and teaching. With the Kingdom of heaven being 'teaching', there is a banquet feast (eating is a metaphor for learning) of doctrine, at the Wedding of the Lamb, as the mystery, which has been hidden from the beginning, is made known.
References
- ↑ Mr 12:10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
- ↑ Peshar has a bad connotation in Christian circles because the rabbis use so much unverifiable invention and free-for-all allegory. But Jesus and the apostles did it in a verifiable and reproducible manner giving it an authority in truth not offered by other methods, and it is from them that we get our cues.
- ↑ This is important. The New Testament is not 'magic' new doctrine, but the fulfillment of the mystery
- ↑ This commentary does not address concerns of Jews nor Muslims
- ↑ This eliminates the source of an unfortunate 'alleged contradiction'. More on this in the chapter on Genesis
