Conversational Theology

It’s always a bad sign when I’m writing a paper and not blogging about it.  Probably that means I haven’t had any thoughts worth sharing.  Hmm.

So, what I’m trying to do is outline a possible metaphorical approach to OT theology.  I took the course on OT theology hoping that by the end of the semester I might know what OT theology actually is.  Well, we’ve one lecture left and it’s not looking hopeful.  Prescriptive or descriptive?  Synchronic or diachronic?  Thematic or narrative?  OT or Hebrew Bible?

Anyway, one of the difficulties in OT theology is finding a suitable organising principle that encompasses the breadth and diversity of the material.  Typically, the wisdom literature (and always, the Song of Songs) is ignored or given very short shrift in OT theologies.  I think that consideration of the metaphorical theology of the OT might provide one way of overcoming this.

I also think that the metaphors are the heart of the theology proper of the OT.  How does the OT describe God?  In metaphors.  He is our rock, our fortress, our redeemer, our shepherd, our husband, our father…   The history of Israel itself is a metaphorical vehicle: when the history is structured according to the metaphor of covenant, or marriage, or shepherding sheep or whatever, then it becomes history that teaches us who God is.

Something like that.  It needs to be done this weekend and it’s not looking very profound so far.

Oh and the raven?

Because there is a b in both.