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Genesis
15:1-18
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of The Text This Week
 | Reading the Text:
 |
NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
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The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc. |
| The Blue
Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance,
commentaries. |
| The World
Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons. |
| Bereshit
15: Massoretic, Hebrew, Aramaic, JPS. |
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| Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
|
Navigating the Bible: Text/Rabbinic commentary
and Divrei Torah. |
| "Faith,"
Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit. |
| Chapter X of The
First Epistle to the Corinthians, Clement of Rome (ca.
96). |
| Chapter XIII
of the Epistle of Barnabas.
(ca. 130) |
| III.IX.1, IV.VII.2, V.XXXII.2, Adversus
Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons.
(c. 180) |
| Chapter II, Adversus
Judaeos, Tertullian
(c. 198) |
| V.1, Stromata,
Clement of Alexandria (c 200) |
| Chapter VI,
On Patience, Tertullian (c.
202) |
| V.X, Against
Celsus, Origen.
(c.246) |
| XI.17, Commentary
on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247) |
| I.4, Ecclesiastical
History, Eusebius of Caesarea, (c. 320). |
| From Calvin's
Commentary on Genesis. |
| From the Geneva Notes.
 | "This was the old custom in
making covenants, Jer 39:18, to which God added these conditions,
that Abram's posterity would be as torn in pieces, but after they
would be rejoined: also that it would be assaulted, but yet
delivered." |
|
| From
Matthew Henry's
Commentary.
| "The smoking furnace and the
burning lamp, probably represented the Israelites' severe trials and
joyful deliverance, with their gracious supports in the mean
time." |
|
| From Wesley's Notes.
| "I am thy shield - Or,
emphatically, I am a shield to thee, present with thee, actually
defending thee. The consideration of this, that God himself is, a
shield to his people, to secure them from all destructive evils, a
shield ready to them, and a shield round about them, should silence
all perplexing fears." |
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| "Justification
by Faith Illustrated by Abram's Righteousness: Genesis 15:6," Charles H.
Spurgeon, 1868.
| "Why did Abram fear? Partly because of the reaction which is always caused
by excitement when it is over. He had fought boldly and conquered gloriously, and now he
fears. Cowards tremble before the fight, and brave men after the
victory." |
|
| From the Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
| "When the excitement of the
enterprise was over, he had become a prey to despondency and terror
at the probable revenge that might be meditated against him. To
dispel his fear, he was favored with this gracious announcement.
Having such a promise, how well did it become him (and all God's
people who have the same promise) to dismiss fears, and cast all
burdens on the Lord." |
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| Contemporary References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
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Children of Abraham, excellent links and interviews (including an
interview with Bruce Feiler, Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three
Faiths) at American Public Media's Speaking of Faith.
| "We explore the story of Abraham in several
traditions and why he might be important for people in our time. The
hour also includes readings from the Bible and the Qur'an as well as
music from the likes of Bob Dylan and Benjamin Britten on the figure of
Abraham." |
|
|
"Trial and Reward: Perashat Lekh Lekha," Mark H. Kirschbaum, M.D.,
Tikkun.
| "The ability to "be" someone flows directly from the
transcending of baser desires and yearnings; one must loose one's moorings
first in order to perceive reality in a new and progressive manner.
History, from Avraham on, has shown that becoming great requires first the
differentiation into an individual." |
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|
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, Faith in the Old Testament: Pentateuch and
Prophets for Pentecost,
Mark Hillmer, Word & World Texts in Context, 1998.
| "When God demurs and denies our
prayers, it is only and always because he has something much better in
mind." |
|
|
"Abram's Faith," Expository Essay,
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Dr. William R. Long.
Part 2.
| "God's word to Abram is both backward and
forward-looking, just the kind of word that he (and we) need in life." |
|
|
"The
Vision of Abraham," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com:
A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. |
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"Between the Fires," Rabbi Arthur Waskow, The Shalom Center. |
|
Parshah Lech-Lecha, text, commentary & articles from Chassidic
Masters, sermons, etc from Chabad Lubavitch. |
|
Parshas
Lech Lecha, Divrei Torah from The Project Genesis Torah Study. Index to
numerous Orthodox articles and studies on Genesis 12:1 - 17:27. |
| Parshat Lech
Lecha, articles and commentary by the Jewish Community of Atlanta, at The Torah From Dixie. |
| "The Focal
Point of Abram's Faith," from the Biblical
Studies Foundation.
| "Why would Abram possibly be
afraid? He had just won a great victory over Chedorlaomer and the
three other eastern kings (Genesis 14:14-15). Because of this, he
had, no doubt, received considerable recognition, even from the
pagan king of Sodom (14:17, 21-24). What fear could haunt Abram’s
faith at such a time of victory?" |
|
|
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, The Old Testament Readings: Weekly Comments on the
Revised Common Lectionary, Howard Wallace Audrey Schindler, Morag Logan,
Paul Tonson, Lorraine Parkinson, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church,
Melbourne, Australia.
| "We see in Abraham one who lives in
the tension between trust and anxiety. Faith, which is reckoned to be
righteousness, is precisely that." |
|
|
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 (Lent 2),
Genesis 15:1-6, Studies on Old Testament texts from Series C,
Ralph W. Klein, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. |
|
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18,
Commentary, Background, Insights from Literary Structure, Theological
Message, Ways to Present the Text. Anna Grant-Henderson, Uniting Church in
Australia. |
|
Comments
(commentary) and
Clippings
(technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican
Diocese of Montreal. |
|
Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion,
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Wesley White. "A place of
conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
| "Trust is more basic than belief, faith, or
righteousness." |
|
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| Articles & Background:
| Goats
from Jewish Heritage On Line Magazine features articles, commentary, illustrations, etc. |
|
The
Humiliation of the Word, Jacques Ellul.
Full text at Religion Online.
| "How do we know God is really present?" |
|
|
"Abraham
and the Righteousness of God," Lloyd Gaston, at the Jewish-Christian
Relations site.
| "What Abraham
"merited" for later generations is pure grace, as in the
Rabbinic concept of the merits of the fathers. We know that Paul
shared the concept of the merit of the fathers where Israel was
concerned ("as regards election they are beloved for the sake
of their forefathers" Rom 11:28); why should he not use this
same concept also as a basis for speaking of God's gracious action
toward the Gentiles?" |
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Aging
Well: Theological Reflections on Call and Retirement, Jack L.
Stotts. Full text online at Religion Online. |
|
"Covenant and Creation," Wesley Granberg-Michaelson. Chapter 2 in
Liberating Life: Contemporary Approaches in Ecological Theology, 1990.
| "The Abrahamic covenant (described in
Genesis 15 and 17), for example, involves the land, given as God’s gift to
his descendants. Indeed, in the later giving of the law, the Sabbatical
and Jubilee laws rest on the proper treatment of the land, to allow the
just sharing of its fruits." |
|
|
| Articles in
ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are
subscribed and logged in to
ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
|
"Abraham," issue focus of Interpretation 42.4, 1988. |
| Akinade, Akintunde E.,
"On Sacred Trust: Covenant from an African Perspective," The Living
Pulpit, 2005.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Anbar, Moshe,
"Genesis 15: A Conflation of Two Deuteronomic Narratives," Journal of
Biblical Literature, 1982.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Azriel, Yakov,
"Belief," poetry in Cross Currents, 2004.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Barrick, William D., "The Integration
of Theology with Bible Translation," Master's Seminary Journal,
2001.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Begg, Christopher T.,
"Rereadings of the 'Animal Rite' of Genesis 15 in Early Jewish Narratives,"
The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1988.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Buttrick, David G.,
"Expository Article: Genesis 15:1-18," Interpretation, 1988.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Essex, Keith H., "The Abrahamic Covenant,"
Master's Seminary Journal, 1999.
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PDF |
| Fidler, Ruth, "Genesis 15: Sequence and Unity,"
Vetus Testamentum, 2007.
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PDF |
| Hasel, Gerhard F.,
"The Meaning of the Animal Rite in Genesis 15," Journal for the Study
of the Old Testament, 1981.
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PDF
| Wenham, G.J.,
"The Symbolism of the Animal Rite in Genesis: A Response to G.F. Hasel,"
Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 1982.
Image Browse -
PDF |
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| Hillmer, Mark,
"Faith in the Old Testament: Pentateuch and Prophets for Pentecost,"
Word & World, 1998.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Hunter, Alastair G.,
"Father Abraham: A Structural and Theological Study of the Yahwist's
Presentation of the Abraham Material," Journal for the Study of the
Old Testament, 1986.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Kessler, Martin,
"The 'Shield' of Abraham?" Vetus Testamentum, 1964.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Klein, Ralph W.,
"Call, Covenant, and Community: The Story of Abraham and Sarah,"
Currents in Theology and Mission, 1988.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Muilenburg, James,
"Abraham and the Nations: Blessing and World History," Interpretation,
1965.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Rogers, Cleon L., Jr.,
"The Covenant with Abraham and Its Historical Setting," Bibliotheca
Sacra, 1970.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Townsend, Jeffrey L.,
"Fulfillment of the Land Promise in the Old Testament," Bibliotheca
Sacra, 1985.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Wiseman, Donald J.,
"Abraham in History and Tradition," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1977.
Image Browse -
PDF |
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| Reviews:
|
Review: "The Story of Abraham's Three Families: Author Takes a Vivid Look at
Patriarch's Legacy," Dianne Bergant, National Catholic Reporter,
2002. Review of Bruce Feiler William Morrow, Abraham: A Journey to the
Heart of Three Faiths. |
|
Review: R. Christopher Heard, Dynamics of Diselection: Ambiguity in
Genesis 12 - 36 and Ethnic Boundaries in Post-Exilic Judah. Society
of Biblical Literature, 2001. Reviewed by E.T. Mullen and Phillip Sherman (2
reviews) in SBL's Review of
Biblical Literature. |
|
Review: Lothar Ruppert, Genesis, ein kritischer und theologischer
Kommentar: 11,27 - 25, 18. Echter Verlag, 2002. Reviewed by David L.
Petersen in SBL's Review of Biblical Literature. (Review is in
English.) |
|
Reviews:
Shaul Bar, A Letter That Has Not Been Read: Dreams in the Hebrew Bible.
Hebrew Union College Press, 2001. Reviews by Robert Gnuse and Frances
Flanner-Dailey in SBL's Review of
Biblical Literature. |
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| Sermons:
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| With Children:
|
"Abraham -
Father of Many Nations," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons),
coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts. |
|
"God's
Promise to Abram," The Children's Chapel. |
|
The Story of
Abraham and Sarah, activities & crafts for
children, DLTK's Printable Crafts for Kids. |
|
"God Makes a
Covenant with Abraham," Sunday School
Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc. |
|
"God Makes a
Promise to Abram," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc.
Higher Praise Christian Center. |
|
"Journey to
Faith," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com. |
|
"Word Search on Genesis 15,"
Don Crownover's
Bible Puzzles. |
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| Drama:
|
"We Are on Our Way," A Children's Drama Based on the Abraham Story, by
Helen Walter, Reformed Worship. |
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"Lot"
monologue, Ross Olson. |
|
Mustard Seeds,
"Risking Everything / God's Wings," Lent 2C, 2007. A lectionary-based ideas resource for leaders of
contemporary worship, Ann Scull, Gippsland, Australia. |
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| Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
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| Hymns and Music:
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| Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's
Art Index:
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| Movies scenes with the following themes,
listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
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| Study links and resources for the Book of Genesis |
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