What Is Sunday Night School of Theology?
Simply put, Sunday Night School of Theology is a training time designed to build theological and biblical understanding. It is open to anyone who wants to grow in their understanding of historic Christian theology.
Last year, we focused on systematic theology. This fall, we want to help you make sense of the Bible. The problem with the Bible - and especially the Old Testament - is that you can read it for a long time and still not "get" it. The text is laced with geographical, historical, and cultural references that had deep meaning and resonance for the original readers, but are completely lost on us.
Here's just one example, from the OT book of Micah:
10Tell it not in Gath,
Weep not at all.
At Beth-le-aphrah roll yourself in the dust.
11Go on your way, inhabitant of Shaphir, in shameful nakedness
The inhabitant of Zaanan does not escape.
The lamentation of Beth-ezel: "He will take from you its support."
12For the inhabitant of Maroth
Becomes weak waiting for good,
Because a calamity has come down from the LORD
To the gate of Jerusalem. (Micah 1:10-12)
Okay, yeah, cool passage, whatever. My eyes glaze over as I read it. I'm sure it's inspired by God and all, but it just doesn't resonate with me. Until I realize this:
Historically, this is a prophetic description of the route taken by Sennacherib's army as it marched toward Jerusalem. Specific towns and cities are mentioned and Micah utilizes interesting wordplays to narrate what will happen. The wordplays relate the cities' names to their fate:
Tell it not in Tellington!
Wail not in Wailing!
Dust Manor will eat dirt,
Dressy Town flee naked.
Safefold will not save,
Wallchester's walls are down,
A bitter dose drinks Bitterton.
Towards Jerusalem, City of Peace, the Lord sends war.
(Dillard and Longman, An Introduction to the Old Testament, p. 400-401).
Oh, now the text makes a little more sense! I see some things that I missed before. The prophet Micah moves from obscure prophetic weirdo to deft literary genius in my estimation. Suddenly the Old Testament is not quite so distant anymore.
The goal of this fall's Sunday Night School of Theology is to unpack dozens of literary cues like this that will help the OT come alive. Even the New Testament will make more sense as you begin to understand the contours of the biblical narrative.
SNST will meet every Sunday night from 6:30-8 PM. See below for a fuller outline of topics and themes and for registration info.
Last year, we focused on systematic theology. This fall, we want to help you make sense of the Bible. The problem with the Bible - and especially the Old Testament - is that you can read it for a long time and still not "get" it. The text is laced with geographical, historical, and cultural references that had deep meaning and resonance for the original readers, but are completely lost on us.
Here's just one example, from the OT book of Micah:
10Tell it not in Gath,
Weep not at all.
At Beth-le-aphrah roll yourself in the dust.
11Go on your way, inhabitant of Shaphir, in shameful nakedness
The inhabitant of Zaanan does not escape.
The lamentation of Beth-ezel: "He will take from you its support."
12For the inhabitant of Maroth
Becomes weak waiting for good,
Because a calamity has come down from the LORD
To the gate of Jerusalem. (Micah 1:10-12)
Okay, yeah, cool passage, whatever. My eyes glaze over as I read it. I'm sure it's inspired by God and all, but it just doesn't resonate with me. Until I realize this:
Historically, this is a prophetic description of the route taken by Sennacherib's army as it marched toward Jerusalem. Specific towns and cities are mentioned and Micah utilizes interesting wordplays to narrate what will happen. The wordplays relate the cities' names to their fate:
Tell it not in Tellington!
Wail not in Wailing!
Dust Manor will eat dirt,
Dressy Town flee naked.
Safefold will not save,
Wallchester's walls are down,
A bitter dose drinks Bitterton.
Towards Jerusalem, City of Peace, the Lord sends war.
(Dillard and Longman, An Introduction to the Old Testament, p. 400-401).
Oh, now the text makes a little more sense! I see some things that I missed before. The prophet Micah moves from obscure prophetic weirdo to deft literary genius in my estimation. Suddenly the Old Testament is not quite so distant anymore.
The goal of this fall's Sunday Night School of Theology is to unpack dozens of literary cues like this that will help the OT come alive. Even the New Testament will make more sense as you begin to understand the contours of the biblical narrative.
SNST will meet every Sunday night from 6:30-8 PM. See below for a fuller outline of topics and themes and for registration info.