These are the abstracts for my Old Testament, New Testament and Theology essays this semester. For those of the corresponding subjects last semester, see here.
Amos 8:1-8 contains a vision, a denunciation of rich oppressors, and an announcement of imminent judgment. The vision is the fourth out of five that Amos sees, closely resembles the third vision in 7:7-9, and revolves around a wordplay between “fruit” and “end”. Amos proceeds to denounce those who were oppressing the poor in order to make a profit. The LORD swears ironically by Israel's pride (since that can be replied upon never to change) that judgment is certain, and this impending judgment is portrayed in cosmic terms. In all these things, Amos 8:1-8 shows itself to be thoroughly eschatological.
In John 6:41-51, Jesus offends the Jews by saying that he is the Bread of Life, which has come down from heaven, and explaining that people can only come to him if the Father drags them. Since Jesus is the one who has seen the Father, it is necessary to learn of the Father through him, and in order to find life people must feed on him through believing in his words and trusting in his sacrificial death. This passage includes many themes typical to John's gospel, and contains a number of parallels to the Prologue.
Although the inherent diversity within the emerging churches makes it difficult to critique their beliefs and practices, two theological issues can be detected – boundaries regarding who is a Christian, and the question of how a church can be identified. On both these points writers within the emerging church express a fluidity that goes beyond the New Testament's teaching. This arises in part from a confusion between the Church and the Kingdom of God, and a failure to appreciate the nature of a local congregation as being a community of Word and Sacrament.
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