Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Friday, November 15, 2013

Ruth: Desultory Notes


Ruth
Authorship. This is an anonymous short story named after the primary character, Ruth.  Rabbinic tradition ascribes Judges, Samuel and Ruth to Samuel.  (Some, of course, as usual, as needed, as driven, postulate an exilic period. )
Date/occasion.  Under the traditional view of Samuel’s authorship, it then falls between his time (1050 B.C.) and the Davidic monarchy (1040-1010 B.C.).  The Davidic genealogy is found at Ruth 4.17-22.
Various themes are noted:
1.      Proselytes, like this Moabitic woman, Ruth can gain covenant membership.

2.      This covenant loyalty serves as a model for entry to the covenant community.

3.      Divine providence

4.      On our view, without denying the first three elements, this is a ratification and affirmation of the Davidic and Messianic covenant integral to the gracious covenant with Adam, Abraham and Moses.
Characteristics/theme.
1.      Dramatic

2.      Moves quickly

3.      Covenant faithfulness

4.      Divine providence

5.      Joining the Israelite community from outside

6.      Covenant of grace (again)

No comments: