Andrew dearman considers the prophetic figures historical roots in the covenant traditions of ancient israel, includes his own translation of the biblical text, and masterfully unpacks hoseas poetic, metaphorical message of betrayal, judgment, and reconciliation. Also the student will be required to submit an essay at the end of the course. Hoseas theology gods people are plagued by god amnesia. While other historical and cultural factors certainly add color to our reading of hosea, these two simply cannot be ignored if we are to grasp the essence of the books message. This paper explores the theology of the book of hosea.
The study of the book of hosea is timely for the people of god in the last half of the twentieth century. This prophetic book sobers us and fills us with renewed hope. In this solid theological commentary on the book of hosea, j. The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the book of hosea its message and meaning.
Book of hosea, the first of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, considered as one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. Hosea with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. In addition, by the time hosea completed his book, the kingdom of israel had fallen under gods severe judgment, and judgment threatened judah as well. Chapter 11 is a beautiful expression of old testament theology, gods undying love for. It is the fourth book in this series i have read, and all have been excellent. The book of hosea written hundreds of years before daniel and is addressed to the northern kingdom of israel. Theology of work what does the bible say about faith and. Go and marry a promiscuous wife and have children of promiscuity, for the land is. Like the book of amos, the book of hosea is addressed to the people of the northern kingdom israel.
Israel has committed spiritual adultery with her husband, yahweh, by abandoning covenant with him and by entering into idolatrous. The book primarily denounces israel for apostasy against god and warns of a coming judgment, but it also contains promises of restora. Historical context, details the milieu when the book of hosea and the events therein. Wayne grudem, research professor of theology and biblical studies at phoenix seminary. Chronologically, the next writing prophet after amos and jonah is hosea, the first of the twelve minor prophets in our bibles. A look at the theology of hosea should aid in this endeavorfor there we find a god whose relationship with israel is one of husband and lover who remains faithful in spite of his partners adultery. To explain that the turmoil of the northern kingdom was gods just judgment leading to exile and to assure gods people that a great restoration would take place after the exile. Wyrtzen, pastor, midlothian bible church, midlothian, texas. The book of hosea is pound for pound as difficult a prophetic book as one can find in the bible, so we appreciate the work of j.
The theology of hosea is summarized under the following three headings. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Pdf a theology of the book of hosea tyler patty academia. On the bright side, if you get these two down a little bit, hosea is going to make enough sense to you for you to absorb some of its raw and powerful poetic punch. These 12 books are called minor prophets not because their message is less important but because they are so much shorter than the previous five books. Used by workplace christians, pastors and scholars. Two major divisions in the book are recognized by nearly all expositors chs. In gods unfaithful wife, ray ortlund, jr traces the common theme of spiritual adultery through the bible.
Culture, a term used to describe the values, beliefs, norms, and customs shared by a group of people, set the foundation in the book of hosea. If this video has blessed or helped you please help us get. Hosea, theology of bakers evangelical dictionary of. The book of hosea was likely written between 755 and 725 b. Throughout the book, the prophet speaks to the people of israel about the critical situation that developed during the.
The great consummation will be celebrated at the marriage feast of the lamb, in fulfillment of all the prophets, not least hosea. This paper seeks to explore the theology of the book of hosea, reflecting on some of the most moving language concerning god and his relationship to his. Intro to hosea biblica the international bible society. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus.
Hosea, theology of bakers evangelical dictionary of biblical. When this is true it all too easily leads to compromise, selfish ambition, and lack of integrity in ones personal activities and dealings. By hoseas time the sense of crisis amos identified as below the surface had become apparent to everyone see ii kings 14. Hosea, theology of foundational to hoseas message and teaching about god are his marriage to gomer and her departure after the birth of three children. This lecture took place in 2010 at the arizona biltmore. At the same time he shows the future ways of god with his people. The second part of the book contains longish lamentations of hosea.
The book of hosea is the written record of the prophecies that ho sea son of beeri1, gave to the nation of israel in the eighth century b. By them hosea expresses his deep woe over israels condition. Provides an analysis on the historical, literary, theological, and contemporary hermeneutical interplay of ideas in the book of hosea, and focuses. In brief, the traditional definitions of impassibility and immutability simply refuse to be upheld by the book of hosea. If this becomes characteristic of society at large, dishonesty and corruption become endemic. Hosea religious and theological studies loras college library. Before we make specific suggestions for preaching from the book of. Foundational to hoseas message and teaching about god are his marriage to gomer and her departure after the birth of three children.
Jesus is the anglicized greek form of the same name, which means salvation. The book is written to show a loving god whose loyalty to his covenant people is unwavering. Hosea is the first of the 12 minor prophets called minor not because they are of less importance, but because the books are shorter. However, hoseas work also continued long past jeroboams death, as he kept serving through the reign of king hezekiah in judah hos. In ancient hebrew manuscripts the collection of the minor prophets was written on one scroll, called the book of the twelve. Israel had become conformed to her cultural environment and had adulterated yahwism with the cultic practices of the religion of the canaanites, hoping to secure the. It moves from the heights of an intimate knowledge, symbolized by marriage and paternal love, to the. The title is the same in both hebrew and in greek and english translations. Its fourteen chapters contain both a warning concerning future events and an interpretation of these events meanings.
The prophet hosea ministered during one of the most difficult times in israels history. Hoseas book has often been analyzed in a compartmentalized manner, but the language of hosea indicates that the relationship between yhwh and israel is the prophets focus. The book of hosea is a narrative history and prophetic oracle. They are called minor prophets not because their material is less important or insignificant, but because of the size of the book they wrote was shorter in length.
For example, gods exhortation to hosea is rooted in household language. Chapter 14 closes with an appeal to true repentance. The first division centers upon hoseas marriage to. Provides a wonderful discussion on the problems raised by a study of hosea, especially with regard to the books metaphorical language and its theology. The book of hosea is one of the books of the hebrew bible. In an approach not only winding but at times even torturous, hosea captures the attention and imagination of his audience with a myriad of diverse, vivid, and intense imagery unparalleled in any other biblical book of its length and nature. Dearman captures well the metaphorical theology of hosea, and his thoughtful reflection on the text attends to the various issues of every passage in the book. Like amos and jonah, hoseas ministry occurred during the reign of king jeroboam ii in the north.
In hoseas day, both israel and judah faced serious threats from assyria. The book of hosea new international commentary on the old. Hoseas message was primarily for the northern kingdom of israel. The book of hosea is the first of the 12 books of minor prophets. The prophecy of hosea was realized when the northern kingdom was crushed by the assyrians in 722 bc, while the southern kingdom of judah survived. Historical background of hoseaassyria steven hovater. Book of hosea biblical studies oxford bibliographies. As ugly as israels adulterous faithlessness has been, it cannot extinguish gods resilient, redemptive love that defies human calculation or annulment. The book of hosea is a commentary on that relationship. The condition in the churches today is similar to that in israel in the middle of the eighth century b. According to the superscription, hosea began his prophetic activity during the reign of jeroboam ii c. Overview of the book of hosea third millennium ministries. Book of hosea essay example topics and well written. Abstract the book of hosea portrays the dangers of the observance of religious ceremony without genuine devotion and commitment to the lord.
Dearman captures well the metaphorical theology of hosea, and his. Yahweh said to hosea, go, marry a whore, and get children with a whore. God is a jealous husband and his people are his bride. Scholars, pastors, and serious bible students will welcome the.
Hosea marries a prostitute, as the lord said, the people in this land have acted like prostitutes and abandoned the lord. The book may be divided into two parts, the first containing chapters, and symbolically representing the idolatry of israel under imagery borrowed from the matrimonial relation. Explore free resources providing a biblical perspective on faith and work. In the midst of these struggles, god called hosea to speak wisdom to. In this solid midtoupper level commentary on the book of hosea, j. Hosea is the first book in the sections of minor prophets.
Hosea, we must be very clear about the hermeneutical principles involved. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. This book is the second in the series, new studies in biblical theology. The student will be required to read the textbook, hosea, james by luther mays, louisville. The opening surprise of the book is that god initiated hoseas marriage to this harlot 1.
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