The ideology of religious studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The ideology of religious studies - Essay Example A look into this concept of ‘servant’ reveals in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament that the servant was called the Servant of the Lord or the Servant of Yahweh. The issues addressed in this book relate directly to the Servant and the person was willing to serve the Lord. The interpretations by early Christian’s is below. Isaiah 42:1-4 talks of the Servant as the chosen often endowed with Yahweh spirit to bring forth judgment to the nations. The Servant will work quietly and unobtrusively until justice is accomplished without failure or discouragement. In Isaiah 49:1-6, the Servant talks about having been prepared by God and ready for the mission to the distant people. The Servant is recognized as Israel in whom God will be glorified. The duty of the Servant, in this case, is to restore Israel and be a light to the surrounding nations. Isaiah 50: 4-9 though does not mention the word ‘servant’ but, implies the state of servanthood. Yahweh w akens him every morning to hear from Him. Isaiah 52:-53:12 implies the suffering servant who is disfigured and despised, and stricken by God. The servant is laid in a felon’s grave. 2. This book of Jonah talks about Jonah’s reaction to the prophetic call. Early Christians took this book as a personal writing by Jonah himself. They consider the book a Midrash and not a historical narrative. They interpreted it this way because Jonah seems to be talking the events as they occur and not something historical. The book is quite unique among the prophetic books as it is not a collection of oracles at all. To early Christians, this book aided them in spreading the essence of true miracles as performed by God. 3. In Genesis 22, Abraham is seen binding his son Isaac for sacrifice. Though the Angel of God prevents him to, his faith in God is surely affirmed. To early Christians, this was a clear indication pointing towards the sacrificial body of Jesus Christ who was to be naile d to the cross for the redemption of man. Of particular interest is the use of the lamb in place of Isaac which is taken as Jesus Christ in place of us. Further, they interpret that the faith Abraham had in God was definitely able to raise Isaac from the dead had he sacrificed him. Consequently, Abraham’s willingness to give out his only son is an indication of the sacrifice God made through His Son Jesus Christ who died to save us. The Early Christians also believed that Abraham went to Mt. Moriah where he bound Isaac and this same Mount is where Jesus Christ was bound and crucified i.e. at Calvary. 4. First, the beginnings are distinctive. The gospels of Mathew and Luke begin their accounts with the story of Jesus’ birth while Mark begins the story of Jesus with the ministry of John the Baptist. The Gospel of John is the most unique as it talks of the Trinity presence at the beginning of creation with everything having been created through the word which is Jesus Chr ist. Secondly, in the Gospels by Mathew, Mark, and Luke, the teachings of Jesus are highlighted through the preaching of the Kingdom of God while in the Gospel of John, the message is mainly presented in terms of eternal life and resurrection. Thirdly, the Gospel of John presents the teaching of Jesus in long conversations while in the other ones the teachings are usually found in parable forms.