Transcript Monday

The Influence of Old and New
Testament Thought on the
Development of Western Civilization
The Influence of Old and New
Testament Thought on the
Development of Western Civilization
• Monday: God and Government
The Influence of Old and New
Testament Thought on the
Development of Western Civilization
• Monday: God and Government
• Tuesday: Covenant and Constitution
The Influence of Old and New
Testament Thought on the
Development of Western Civilization
• Monday: God and Government
• Tuesday: Covenant and Constitution
• Thursday: Formation and Family
The Influence of Old and New
Testament Thought on the
Development of Western Civilization
• Monday: God and Government
• Tuesday: Covenant and Constitution
• Thursday: Formation and Family
• Friday:
Word and Wisdom
The Influence of Old and New
Testament Thought on the
Development of Western Civilization
• Monday: God and Government
• Tuesday: Covenant and Constitution
• Thursday: Formation and Family
• Friday:
Word and Wisdom
humanity
The Influence of Old and New
Testament Thought on the
Development of Western Civilization
• Monday: God and Government
• Tuesday: Covenant and Constitution
• Thursday: Formation and Family
• Friday:
Word and Wisdom
humanity
society
The Influence of Old and New
Testament Thought on the
Development of Western Civilization
• Monday: God and Government
humanity
• Tuesday: Covenant and Constitution
society
• Thursday: Formation and Family
family
• Friday:
Word and Wisdom
The Influence of Old and New
Testament Thought on the
Development of Western Civilization
• Monday: God and Government
humanity
• Tuesday: Covenant and Constitution
society
• Thursday: Formation and Family
family
• Friday:
Word and Wisdom
individual
The Influence of Old and New
Testament Thought on the
Development of Western Civilization
• Monday: God and Government
Divine Designs
for the
Human Race
Divine Designs in …
• Mesopotamia
• Greece & Anatolia
• Judaism & Christianity
Divine Designs in …
• Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
(“The land between the rivers”)
“… between the rivers”
The Euphrates
Ancient Mesopotamia
Babylon
Ancient Mesopotamia:
Babylon
Ancient Mesopotamia:
Babylon’s “Ishtar Gate”
Ancient Mesopotamia:
Babylon’s “Ishtar Gate”
Ancient Mesopotamia:
Assyrian Soldier
Ancient Mesopotamia:
Sargon’s Conquests
Ancient Mesopotamia:
Hammurabi’s Laws
Hammurabi and Shamash
Hammurabi’s Law
Hammurabi and Abraham
Harran
The Gods of Ancient Mesopotamia
Marduk and his Ziggurat
“E Temen An Ki”
In Marduk’s world…
Why do we
humans
exist?
Mesopotamia: The Enuma Elish
• “They declared [Kingu] guilty, they bound
and held him down in front of Ea, they cut
his arteries and from his body they created
man; and Ea imposed his servitude.”
Mesopotamia: The Enuma Elish
• “They declared [Kingu] guilty, they bound
and held him down in front of Ea, they cut
his arteries and from his body they created
man; and Ea imposed his servitude.”
Mesopotamia: The Enuma Elish
• “[Marduk] told Ea the deep thought in his heart.
‘Blood to blood / I join, / blood to bone / I form /
an original thing / its name is Man / aboriginal
man / is mine in making.
All his occupations / are faithful service, /
the gods that fell / have rest,
I will subtly alter / their operations , / divided
companies / equally blest.’”
Mesopotamia: The Enuma Elish
• “[Marduk] told Ea the deep thought in his heart.
‘Blood to blood / I join, / blood to bone / I form /
an original thing / its name is Man / aboriginal
man / is mine in making.
All his occupations / are faithful service, /
the gods that fell / have rest,
I will subtly alter / their operations , / divided
companies / equally blest.’”
Mesopotamia: The Enuma Elish
“Anshar praised [Marduk] ...
Let offerings of food not fail
for god and goddess, at his command,
Let them serve the gods, at his command,
work their lands, build their houses
Let black-headed men serve the gods on earth
without remission.”
Mesopotamia: The Enuma Elish
“Anshar praised [Marduk] ...
Let offerings of food not fail
for god and goddess, at his command,
Let them serve the gods, at his command,
work their lands, build their houses
Let black-headed men serve the gods on earth
without remission.”
Mesopotamia: The Enuma Elish
The Hymn of the Fifty Names of Marduk
... He created man
a living thing
a labor for ever, and gods go free,
to make, to break,
to love and to save,
to Marduk all power and praise!
Mesopotamia: The Enuma Elish
The Hymn of the Fifty Names of Marduk
... He created man
a living thing
a labor for ever, and gods go free,
to make, to break,
to love and to save,
to Marduk all power and praise!
Mesopotamia:
When Anu Had Created the Heavens
Anu created the god Kusiga, the high priest
of the great gods, for the performance of
rites and ceremonies;
He created the king, as the maintainer of
[the temples];
[He create]d mankind for the doi[ng of the
service of the gods] ...
Mesopotamia:
When Anu Had Created the Heavens
Anu created the god Kusiga, the high priest
of the great gods, for the performance of
rites and ceremonies;
He created the king, as the maintainer of
[the temples];
[He create]d mankind for the doi[ng of the
service of the gods] ...
Mesopotamia:
The Creation of Man
Let us slay the Lamga gods.
With their blood let us create mankind;
The service of the gods be their portion,
For all times
To establish the boundary ditch,
To place the spade and the basket
Into their hands
For the dwelling of the great gods,
Which is fit to be an exalted sanctuary
Mesopotamia:
The Creation of Man
Let us slay the Lamga gods.
With their blood let us create mankind;
The service of the gods be their portion,
For all times
To establish the boundary ditch,
To place the spade and the basket
Into their hands
For the dwelling of the great gods,
Which is fit to be an exalted sanctuary
Mesopotamia:
The Eridu Story of Creation
Marduk constructed a reed frame on the
face of the waters;
He created dirt and poured (it) out by the
reed frame.
In order to settle the gods in the dwelling of
(their heart's delight),
he created mankind.
Mesopotamia:
The Eridu Story of Creation
Marduk constructed a reed frame on the
face of the waters;
He created dirt and poured (it) out by the
reed frame.
In order to settle the gods in the dwelling of
(their heart's delight),
he created mankind.
Divine Designs in …
• Mesopotamia
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Offer gods food
Work gods’ lands
Build gods’ houses
Have spade and basket put in their hands
Rites, ceremonies, and services of the gods
Labor forever so the gods go free
Faithful service so the gods have rest
Divine Designs in …
• Mesopotamia
• Greece & Anatolia
Greece and Anatolia
The Gods of Ancient Greece
The Gods of Ancient Greece
Zeus (compare: Deus)
Zeus / Deus / Deu-Pater (Jupiter)
Artemis of the Ephesians
• Goddess of fertility
• “whom all Asia and
the world worship”
(Acts 19:27)
• A form of the Asian
mother-goddess
(Cybele)
Artemis of the Ephesians
Artemis of the Modern Ephesians
• Meat spit found in a
restaurant near
Kusadasi (modern port
of old Ephesus)
Kybele: Mother-Goddess of Anatolia
Kybele: Mother-Goddess of Anatolia
Kybele: Mother-Goddess of Anatolia
Goddess of fertility (depicted giving birth)
Cures and sends diseases
Gives oracles
Protects her people in war
Kybele: Mother-Goddess of Anatolia
Kybele: Mother-Goddess of Anatolia
In Zeus’s (and Kybele’s)
world…
Why do we
humans
exist?
Hesiod: Works and Days
And again far-seeing Zeus made yet another
generation, the fifth, of men who are upon
the bounteous earth. ... For now truly is a
race of iron, and men never rest from labour
and sorrow by day and from perishing by
night; and the gods shall lay sore trouble
upon them.
Hesiod: Works and Days
And again far-seeing Zeus made yet another
generation, the fifth, of men who are upon
the bounteous earth. ... For now truly is a
race of iron, and men never rest from labour
and sorrow by day and from perishing by
night; and the gods shall lay sore trouble
upon them.
Tyche:
Goddess
of Fate
& Fortune
Tyche: Goddess of Fate & Fortune
Mount Nemrut
Mount Nemrut
Mount Nemrut
Hercules, Tyche, Zeus, Antiochus, Apollo
Hercules, Tyche, Zeus, Antiochus, Apollo
Antiochus and Apollo
Divine Designs in …
• Mesopotamia
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Offer gods food
Work gods’ lands
Build gods’ houses
Have spade and basket put in their hands
Rites, ceremonies, and services of the gods
Labor forever so the gods go free
Faithful service so the gods have rest
• Greece & Anatolia
– Labor, sorrow, and sore trouble
Divine Designs in …
• Mesopotamia
• Greece & Anatolia
• Judaism & Christianity
The God of Judaism & Christianity
The Biblical Genealogy of God
• “In the beginning, God…” (Gen 1:1)
• “Hear, O Israel, the LORD your God is
one” (Deut 6:4, The “Shema”)
• “In the beginning was the Word (Logos),
and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God.” (John 1:1)
The Days of Genesis 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
The Days of Genesis 1
1
Let there be:
2
Let there be:
3
Let there be:
4
Let there be:
5
Let:
6
Let:
Let us make …
The Days of Genesis 1
1
Let there be:
Light / Darkness
Day / Night
2
Let there be:
Expanse above
Expanse below
3
Let there be:
Dry land / sea
Vegetation
4
Let there be:
5
Let:
6
Let:
Let us make …
The Days of Genesis 1
1
Let there be:
Light / Darkness
Day / Night
2
Let there be:
Expanse above
Expanse below
3
Let there be:
Dry land / sea
Vegetation
4
Let there be:
Lights / seasons
Sun / Moon
5
Let:
6
Let:
Let us make …
The Days of Genesis 1
1
Let there be:
Light / Darkness
Day / Night
2
Let there be:
Expanse above
Expanse below
3
Let there be:
Dry land / sea
Vegetation
4
Let there be:
Lights / seasons
Sun / Moon
5
6
Let:
Let:
Waters fill: fish
Heavens fill: birds Let us make …
The Days of Genesis 1
1
Let there be:
Light / Darkness
Day / Night
2
Let there be:
Expanse above
Expanse below
3
Let there be:
Dry land / sea
Vegetation
4
Let there be:
Lights / seasons
Sun / Moon
5
Let:
Waters fill: fish
Heavens fill: birds
6
Let:
Land fill: animals
Let us make
‘adam’
The Days of Genesis 1
1
Let there be:
Light / Darkness
Day / Night
2
Let there be:
Expanse above
Expanse below
3
Let there be:
Dry land / sea
Vegetation
4
Let there be:
Lights / seasons
Sun / Moon
5
Let:
Waters fill: fish
Heavens fill: birds
6
Let:
Land fill: animals
Let us make
‘adam’
The Days of Genesis 1
1
Let there be:
Light / Darkness
Day / Night
“good”
2
Let there be:
Expanse above
Expanse below
3
Let there be:
Dry land / sea
Vegetation
“good”
4
Let there be:
Lights / seasons
Sun / Moon
“good”
5
Let:
Waters fill: fish
Heavens fill: birds
“good”
6
Let:
Land fill: animals
Let us make
‘adam’
The Days of Genesis 1
1
Let there be:
Light / Darkness
Day / Night
“good”
2
Let there be:
Expanse above
Expanse below
“ so ”
3
Let there be:
Dry land / sea
Vegetation
“good”
4
Let there be:
Lights / seasons
Sun / Moon
“good”
5
Let:
Waters fill: fish
Heavens fill: birds
“good”
6
Let:
Land fill: animals
Let us make
‘adam’
“very good”
Day 7 -- Genesis 2:1-3
1: Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and
all the host of them.
2: And on the seventh day God finished his work
which he had done, and he rested on the seventh
day from all his work which he had done.
3: So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it,
because on it God rested from all his work which
he had done in creation.
The Fonz
Divine Designs in …
• Mesopotamia
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Offer gods food
Work gods’ lands
Build gods’ houses
Have spade and basket put in their hands
Rites, ceremonies, and services of the gods
Labor forever so the gods go free
Faithful service so the gods have rest
• Greece & Anatolia
– Labor, sorrow, and sore trouble
• Judaism & Christianity
– “Eye hath not seen nor ear heard of a God like you
who works for those who wait for him” (Isaiah 64:4)
Divine Designs in …
• Mesopotamia
and
• Greece & Anatolia
– Humanity is the worker / employee
– God is the employer / writes the paycheck
• Judaism & Christianity
– God is the worker / employee (patron)
– Humanity is the employer (client) / owes the glory
– “God is not served by human hands as though he
needed anything” (Acts 17:25)
Divine Designs in …
• Judaism & Christianity
– Creation is good for humanity as the beneficiary of God’s work
But…
– “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor
and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed
and were created.” (Rev 4:11)
– “Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the
earth, every one who is called by my name, whom I created for my
glory, whom I formed and made.” (Isaiah 43:6-7)
– “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To
him be glory for ever.” (Rom 11:36)
Day 0 -- Gen 1:1
• “In the beginning, God… ”
•
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and
the ending, says the Lord, who is, and who
was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
(Rev 1:8)
Day 0
What was God doing before he created
the heavens and the earth?
Day 0
What was God doing before he created
the heavens and the earth?
St. Augustine’s answer:
God was creating Hell for people who
ask questions like that!
Day 0
Day 0
Consider two neighbors…
Divine Designs in …
• Mesopotamia
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Offer gods food
Work gods’ lands
Build gods’ houses
Have spade and basket put in their hands
Rites, ceremonies, and services of the gods
Labor forever so the gods go free
Faithful service so the gods have rest
• Greece & Anatolia
– Labor, sorrow, and sore trouble
• God is characterized by need
Divine Designs in …
• Judaism & Christianity
– God is characterized by surplus and overflow
– The mercy of God is good for humanity (adam)
– “Come everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and
he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come buy
wine and milk without money and without price.”
(Isaiah55:1)
– …and good for God
– “I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant
them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and
all my soul” (Jeremiah 32:41)
Some Applications
A God who is characterized by surplus rather than deficit
establishes a different purpose for human existence.
In turn, the human created in the imago of this Dei lives in
different relation with his fellow creatures.
• Life comes to be driven by responsibilities
rather than rights.
Some Applications
A God who is characterized by surplus rather than deficit
establishes a different purpose for human existence.
In turn, the human created in the imago of this Dei lives in
different relation with his fellow creatures.
• Life comes to be driven by responsibilities
rather than rights.
• Human society comes to be organized by
self-government rather than statism.
Some Applications
A God who is characterized by surplus rather than deficit
establishes a different purpose for human existence.
In turn, the human created in the imago of this Dei lives in
different relation with his fellow creatures.
• Life comes to be driven by responsibilities
rather than rights.
• Human society comes to be organized by
self-government rather than statism.
• Human worship comes to be characterized
by enjoyment rather than by duty.
Tomorrow:
• Covenant and Constitution
(Moses and the Hittites
deep in the roots of America)