Who is Alejandro F. Botta?

Alejandro F. Botta is the guest speaker for Episode 3 of the Covenant Bible Study on the story of the Exodus.  He has his PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is currently a Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Languages at Boston University. 

From his faculty page at Boston University:

He recently published The Aramaic and Egyptian Legal Traditions at Elephantine: An Egyptological Approach (T&T Clark, 2009); co-edited “The Bible and the Hermeneutics of Liberation,” Semeia Studies 59 (Society of Biblical Literature, 2009); and is presently working on an Aramaic Namebook from Ancient Egypt (with Bezalel Porten) and on a commentary on the Book of Chronicles.

Thoughts on the Flood Story

The Covenant Bible study starts off right away with some challenging thoughts on the book of Genesis. I think it's important to note that we don't and won't all agree with every part of the Covenant Study, just as we haven't agreed with every idea put forth by speakers in the Animate studies or by Beth Moore in her studies. These studies are an opportunity for us to wrestle with the various interpretations of scripture and the respected theologians of our current times. This wrestling with the issues deepens our faith and makes us stronger. We develop a broader view of who God is and our place in the Covenant community. 

In the spirit of that thought, I spent some time looking through various interpretations of familiar Genesis stories. The Genesis creation account has, of course, given many Christian readers pause over the years, especially as scientific theories about the origins of the world have advanced. On the heels of the creation account is the story of Noah and the Flood, and I found some very interesting sources handling the Flood story in light of science. One of my favorites is from BioLogos:

"It was common practice in the ancient world to use an event (or memory of an event) and retell it in a figurative way to communicate a message to the hearers. There is good scriptural and historical evidence that the Flood story is an interpretation of an actual historical event retold in the rhetoric and theology of ancient Israel. ...the purpose of the biblical story is not to give a list of facts about that flood, but to communicate a message about God and humanity to the original hearers (and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to all God’s people throughout history)."

And the writers at BioLogos go on to affirm the basic tenents of the Christian faith, despite a non-literal interpretation of the early Genesis story:

"The story of Noah, the Ark, and Flood speaks an inspired and powerful message about judgment and grace, that has instructed God’s people throughout the ages about God’s hatred of sin and his love for his creation. Most importantly, we see God’s promise never to destroy the Earth again fully realized in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, where God takes the judgment for sin upon himself rather than humanity. Thus, through the lens of Christ, the biblical Flood story proclaims the marvelous news of God’s grace and love for his people."

 I also very much appreciate this perspective from Jewish Rabbi, Norman Solomon:

"Does that mean that the story of Noah’s Ark is a fantasy? Not at all. The truth behind the words is more wonderful than the plain meaning, and reaches far back in time."

...

"Some sources – there are traces of at least two, differing in animal count and divine names – were crystallized into the beautiful narrative of Genesis, fitted to the new revelation of the One God, just and merciful, who saved Noah whom he had found worthy, and made the ‘rainbow covenant’ with all humanity and with nature (9:11), guaranteeing that ‘While earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will not cease’ (8:22)."

Solomon goes on to describe the flood story as one of our dependence on God, and God's compassion for those who trust God.

Have you heard any other interpretations of the flood story? Feel free to post thoughts and links in the comments!

Who is Theodore Hiebert?

Theodore Hiebert is the guest speaker in Episode 2 of the Covenant Bible study on the book of Genesis. I have gathered together 5 Fast Facts to give a little introduction of who he is to our group. For his full bio, you can go to: McCormick Theological Seminary.

1) Hiebert received his MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary and his Ph.D in Classical Hebrew and Hebrew Scriptures from Harvard University. He is currently a professor at McCormick Theological Seminary.

2) Hiebert's primary interest and field of research is the Pentateuch and the Prophets.

3) He is a member of the Mennonite Church and was previously a pastor of Boston Mennonite Congregation.

4) He was director of the Chicago Theological Initiative in Eco-Justice Ministry.

5) He lives in Homewood, Illinois with is wife, Paula Sharpe Hiebert, who is also a college professor in Biblical studies (at Loyola). They have two children.