Category: Musings

Musings on Scholarship

Badgerholt inkpotYHWH @Élöhîm did not call me as a mainstream scholar but rather as a non-mainstream scholar. I doubt anything I write will be published in a peer-reviewed journal because I did not go through the prescribed track to obtain the credentials of a doctorate or master’s degree in any specialty field.

My Master’s is in Library Science, which honed my research and organizational skills but did not include a concentration on any given academic subject. My primary interests have always been history and drama, but that includes the history of just about anything and the drama of storytelling in any format. I am more of a generalist than a specialist, more of a researcher than a professor.

Rûãch @Élöhîm did not lead me to mainstream scholarship (outside of the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia Judaica, and translation materials) until a couple of years ago. Before that, He led me to non-mainstream scholars and other researchers not even claiming to be scholars, such as Dr. E.L. Martin, Dr. A.C. Custance, and—dare I say it?—Ron Wyatt.  The one mainstream scholar Rûãch @Élöhîm led me to was Dr. David R. Rohl, but I do not get the impression that mainstream Egyptologists accept much of his work.

Rûãch @Élöhîm did lead me to the Second Temple Period writers and writings, such as Josephus, Eusebius, Maccabees, The Book of Jubilees, etc. However, after reading The Book of Jasher (the one floating around on the Internet), I concluded it was NOT The Book of Jasher cited in Scripture. I think it is a work of historical fiction written no earlier than the Renaissance and probably later; it did not show up until the 1600s. The Book of Enoch did not have much bearing on my particular studies.

open BibleBut mostly Rûãch @Élöhîm had me study the details of the Biblical text in depth to see what was there, regardless of the traditions, records, and doctrines of men. Now, 20 plus years into it, He’s leading me to see what the cultural context was of His written Word and more of what mainstream scholarship has to say. It’s all very interesting.

May the grace and peace of the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Dori

Side Trips

Badgerholt inkpotI ran into a lot of interesting information and questions in doing research for the Internal Chronology of the Bible, as well as in just plain Bible study.  Sometimes I would read something or hear a podcast, and, in thinking about it, come to my own conclusions. This led to what I call ‘Side Trips.’

This link Side Trips will take you to the menu page for these additional essays on questions and information that I found interesting.

To God be the glory for the intricacy of His Story and His marvellous methods for bringing about His purpose.

Grace and peace to you,

Dori

 

Premise and Perspective

The premise and perspective underlying my thinking and writing

Badgerholt inkpotI think it’s important to state the premise underlying all my writings and the perspective I take in thinking about things and analyzing them.  Readers may not agree with either the premise or the perspective, but at least you will know where I’m coming from and where my reasoning starts.  Or, more accurately, where Rûãch @Élöhîm (Spirit of God) has shown me that my reasoning must start, especially as I’m depending on Him to guide my thoughts into the truth.

The reverential fear of YHWH is the beginning of wisdom ~  
    And knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  #  Proverbs 9.10

Premise

My initial premise – the premise underlying all my writings:

    YHWH @Élöhîm (LORD ,
     the @Élöhîm of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
               is Who He says He is, and
         has done what He says He has done
                   through Yeshûãø HamMashîãch (Jesus Christ)
      as recorded in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures.

That’s it.  That’s the premise from which I start looking at what is, how it came to be, where it’s been, and where it’s going.  Another way to describe it is the premise is the universal that explains all the particulars, the holy grail of philosophy and science.

The Hebrew and Christian Scriptures (the Bible) are where YHWH @Élöhîm clearly states His claims about who He is and what He has done, is doing, and will do.  I believe Rûách @Élöhîm inspired men to write the Scriptures as infallible in the original writings, including editing prior to the closing of the canon.  I acknowledge that down through the millennia, copyist errors have crept in, in spite of the care taken in copying the Scriptures by both Jews and Christians.  However, I believe any copyist errors are minor and do not affect YHWH @Élöhîm’s claims in any way.  His written word remains authoritative and definitive for those who believe Him.

And, while I think some translations do a better job than others of translating the Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic into English (my native language and the only one I am qualified to comment on), I do not believe Rûách @Élöhîm designated any particular translation as the only one His believers should use, especially given that a certain amount of interpretation is inherent in the action of translating.  In fact,  and especially when doing a Bible study delving into the layers of the Word, I think it’s best to look at several translations plus the original languages in order to hear the what the Spirit is saying in the depths of His written word of truth.

Ultimately, the question is whether or not one believes YHWH @Élöhîm.  I believe Him.  I believe that He is who He says He is and that He has done what He says He’s done through His Word Incarnate, Yeshûãø hamMashîãch (Jesus Christ).

Who is YHWH @Élöhîm?

YHWH @Élöhîm is the Most High God, the Creator of heaven and earth.  He is the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, the only omnipotent, omniscient, and omni-present God who exists, the @Élöhîm of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Perspective

The perspective Rûách @Élöhîm directed me to take is that of the Storyteller. I look at history as an interactive, dramatic production playing out on the stage of the earth in the theatre of the universe, written, produced, and directed by YHWH @Élöhîm with input by the characters.

I view the flow of events as YHWH @Élöhîm telling His Story in order to accomplish His purpose. I look for the through line, themes, plot devices, plot structure, motifs, patterns, chief characters, foreshadowing, scene divisions, etc., used in telling stories. I find that history makes more sense when viewed from this perspective.

As part of this assignment, YHWH @Élöhîm gave me a great love of story and puzzle-solving as well as a delight in discovering how an author crafted his/her story in the telling of it.

So, there you are – my premise and my perspective.  I believe YHWH @ÉlöhÎm is who He says He is and that ‘history’ is ‘His Story.’  (And yes, I believe the pun is deliberate on YHWH’s part.  I’ve noticed that He’s fond of word plays.)

May the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be will you all.

Dori