An interpretive study of the narrative of the Golden Calf (Exodus 32)
The present investigation represents an exhaustive interpretation of the incident of the golden calf as it is related in Exodus 32. The study engages in a survey of hermeneutical paradigms from ancient to modern times to discover the insights of past generations of scholars, to aid in the understanding of the text, to provide a basis of continuity with the Jewish and Christian communities of faith through the centuries, and to determine the relationship between an interpreter and his Sitz im Leben. The history of the passages interpretation extends from the Old Testament scriptures through the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, the Hellenistic-Jewish writers, the Greek and Aramaic versions, the New Testament, the Patristic writers, the Rabbinical schools, mediaeval and post-Reformation eras to the rise and subsequent establishment of critical orthodoxy. The hermeneutical methods employed over this span of time vary greatly and have contributed to mutual suspicion within the theological academies. It is the attempt of the present investigation to clarify the issues confronting the academy and discern the contemporary or applicative significance that Exodus 32 has for the modern Church. Central to this investigation
Meenan, A. J.
Philosophy
An interpretive study of the narrative of the Golden Calf (Exodus 32). The present investigation represents an exhaustive interpretation of the incident of the golden calf as it is related in Exodus 32. The study engages in a survey of hermeneutical paradigms from ancient to modern times to discover the insights of past generations of scholars, to aid in the understanding of the text, to provide a basis of continuity with the Jewish and Christian communities of faith through the centuries, and to determine the relationship between an interpreter and his Sitz im Leben. The history of the passages interpretation extends from the Old Testament scriptures through the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, the Hellenistic-Jewish writers, the Greek and Aramaic versions, the New Testament, the Patristic writers, the Rabbinical schools, mediaeval and post-Reformation eras to the rise and subsequent establishment of critical orthodoxy. The hermeneutical methods employed over this span of time vary greatly and have contributed to mutual suspicion within the theological academies. It is the attempt of the present investigation to clarify the issues confronting the academy and discern the contemporary or applicative significance that Exodus 32 has for the modern Church. Central to this investigation
interpretive study narrative golden calf exodus present_investigation represent exhaustive interpretation incident golden calf relate exodus study_engage survey hermeneutical paradigm ancient_modern time discover insight past generation scholar aid text provide_basis continuity jewish_christian communities faith century determine relationship interpreter sitz leben history passage interpretation extend old_testament scripture hellenistic jewish writer greek aramaic version new_testament patristic writer school mediaeval post_reformation era rise subsequent establishment critical orthodoxy hermeneutical method_employ span_time vary greatly contribute mutual suspicion within theological academy attempt present_investigation clarify issue confront academy discern contemporary significance exodus modern church central investigation