A Guide to Reading the Bible #27 – The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah
The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah are the most important literary source for the Restoration period in Jewish history....
12
Aug
For 56 years, Fr Fred Power,S.J. promoted the Canadian Apostleship of Prayer Association and edited its Canadian Messenger magazine for 46 years. He is now Chaplain at the Canadian Jesuits Infirmary at Pickering, Ontario.
66 posts
29
Jul
A Guide to Reading the Bible #25 – The Book of Kings
What are commonly known today as First and Second Kings used to be designated as Third and Fourth Kings in the Bible. The two books of Samuel were the first two Books of Kings. Looking at them as four books about the rise and fall of kingship in Israel helps us to understand that they form a unit....
22
Jul
A Guide to Reading the Bible #24 – The Book of Ruth and The Books of Samuel
In this posting of A Guide to Reading the Bible, we learn the story of Ruth, a Moab woman who became the great-grandmother of Israel's most revered king - David....
15
Jul
A Guide to Reading the Bible #23 – The Book of Judges
In today's guide to the Bible we learn that . . . "There is one unifying theme throughout Judges which is repeated almost to boredom: fidelity to God brings blessing; infidelity means punishment ad misery. We can ask ourselves even today if this lesson can be taught too frequently."...
08
Jul
A Guide to Reading the Bible #22 – The Book of Joshua
The Book of Joshua is centered around the conquest of the Promised land and the partition of the territory between the tribes....
01
Jul
A Guide to Reading the Bible #21 – Deuteronomy
Fred Power, SJ continues his guide to reading the bible with today's entry- Deuteronomy....
24
Jun
A Guide to Reading the Bible #20 – Numbers
The people of Israel are numbered or counted in this book, and the telling of it makes for rather dull reading. Also, the book tells what took place from the time they leave Mount Sinai until they reach the Promised Land of Canaan. But there is much more of profound significance to the book than what is revealed by its two titles....
17
Jun
A Guide to Reading the Bible #19 – Leviticus
Today's look at the Book of Leviticus reveals many interesting points. "For example, we celebrate jubilees of all kinds. In Leviticus 25:8-22, we read about the establishment of the Year of Jubilee. The word jubilee is derived from the Hebrew yobel meaning `ram`s horn` which was used as a trumpet to usher in this special year. During this year, special concessions were made to people in debt and to slaves. The Church has taken over the custom and given it a spiritual significance through the periodical `Holy Year` in which special opportunities are offered to Christians to gain remission of their debt to God."...
10
Jun
A Guide to Reading the Bible #18 – Exodus
The Book of Exodus tells us how this group of slaves was able to do the seemingly impossible in breaking away from a strong and ruthless government and how they survived the first few years on their own under the leadership of Moses. The story is continued through the books of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy which ends with the death of Moses....
03
Jun
A Guide to Reading the Bible #17 – Genesis
The first five books of the Bible, considered as a unit, were called by the Jews the "The Torah," or the Law. Because there were five books, they have been called the "Pentateuch," which is the English equivalent of a Greek and Latin word meaning "the five-volume book." In today's post. Father Fred Power, SJ look at the themes of the first book - Genesis....