Comments on: New Testament Gospel Doctrine Lesson #5

By: New Iconoclast

New Iconoclast — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 17:27:16 +0000

Unfortunately, none of this actually came up in Sunday School, and not wishing to derail a well-prepared instructor, I let it be. But it was an awesome FHE for my adult and nearly-adult children! Thanks.

FHE is so much more fun now than it was when they were small. :)

By: Julie M. Smith

Julie M. Smith — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 12:22:10 +0000

Cameron N., I don’t say a whole lot more than I do here . . . just so, so many topics to cover!

By: Cameron N.

Cameron N. — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 05:15:06 +0000

This is cool. I’d love to have more background on this social more–is that in your book that I already want to buy? =)

By: Walker F

Walker F — Sun, 01 Feb 2015 06:23:02 +0000

These NT gospel lessons are stellar! Truly insightful stuff here. Thanks as always, Julie.. and keep them coming please. I usually am unable to attend Gospel Doctrine these days, but your posts are great fodder for discussion at home as we read through the gospels as a family.

By: Ben S

Ben S — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 16:46:56 +0000

Robert Alter spends a chapter on type-scenes and wells in his Art of Biblical Narrative. Google doesn’t have a copy, or I'd link to that chapter.

By: jader3rd

jader3rd — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 06:02:21 +0000

While I realize that some hookups went on around the watering well sometimes, there’s no way it was ever equated to a singles bar. It’s more like a gas station.
Still it is interesting to take all ‘well’ scenes in the Bible and compare and contrast them.
Thanks for the post.

By: Regina Winewater

Regina Winewater — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 02:21:19 +0000

I have always loved the way that this woman wasn’t afraid to present herself honestly, yet with genuine humility. There is something rather touching in the way that Jesus relates to her, as well, like he can’t bring himself to be overly stern with her, though some aspects of her life obviously are in need of correction.

By: Mary Ann

Mary Ann — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 03:49:13 +0000

Terry, yes, the Assyrians imported other groups to the northern region when they conquered it in 722 BC. There was almost 200 years of intermingling between those imported groups with the remnant left behind from the Northern Kingdom before the conflict started between the Samaritans and the Jews. Members of the House of Israel living in what remained of the Northern kingdom are mentioned several times in the Bible during the century leading up to the Babylonian captivity. As Walter said above, it wasn’t until after the captivity that the returning Jews declared the northern inhabitants unfit to be considered members of the House of Israel. The feud that resulted from that decision was intense and led to the conditions in the New Testament.

By: Petra

Petra — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 15:30:54 +0000

Julie, you are brilliant and these posts are gems. I just bought your book and can’t wait to read it. Thank you!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 10:25:58 +0000

I love the image of the singles bar/dance. That had never occured to me before!

By: Terry H

Terry H — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 06:59:50 +0000

BTW Interview with Julie on Thursday Jan 29 at 9:00 Mountain Time. Its a call-in, so feel free if I don’t hog up the time. 888-454-5398. Also you can follow on line at http://www.newstalk890.com.

By: Terry H

Terry H — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 06:54:20 +0000

Mary Ann and Walter. I don’t think Jesus completely dealt with Gentiles the way he did simply because of a “variation” of Judaism. His mission was specifically to the House of Israel and I’d always heard that at least some of the Samaritans were imported from other areas by the conquerors. I have Gary N. Knoppers’ Samaritans & Jews from 2013 but haven’t had a chance to read it yet.

By: Walter van Beek

Walter van Beek — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 20:42:53 +0000

Indeed, Mary Ann. the Samaritans ARE of the House of Israël, and the division between Jews and Samaritans is the sorry result of the fundamentalism of Ezra and his inheritors. His breaking up of all those marriages in the Book of Ezra and Nehemia, is one of the shocking events in the Old Testament. I can interpret it as a religious strategy but never acknowledge it as inspiration. I salute Ezra as one who compiled and edited the scriptures, but never this marital fundamentalism of his.

By: Mary Ann

Mary Ann — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 17:56:18 +0000

Terry, Samaritans considered themselves members of the House of Israel through Ephraim, Manasseh, or Levi. It was Jews who claimed otherwise. The Samaritan religion was basically a variation of Judaism, so Christ wouldn’t have needed to speak with her the same way he spoke to gentiles. That’s why Julie mentions the view of two warring factions from the same family being brought back together.

By: Terry H

Terry H — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 14:24:04 +0000

In addition to the silence about the temple at Gerizim, there is utter silence about the temple in Egypt at this time. C.T.R. Hayward talks about both of these temples in his “The Jewish Temple: A Non-Biblical Sourcebook”.

Another thing that struck me was that even though this woman is a Samaritan, she must have been of the house of Israel, (one of those who got left at the Exile). I assume this because Jesus engages her without the clarifications of his other dealings with non-Jewish believers.