In your view, what was/is the core theme of the Old Testament?

In your view, what was/is the core theme of the Old Testament?

Definition of Theme
Theme is defined as a main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work, which may be stated directly or indirectly.

Definition of Theme
In contemporary literary studies, a theme is a central topic a text treats.[1] Themes can be divided into two categories: a work's thematic concept is what readers "think the work is about" and its thematic statement being "what the work says about the subject".[2] Themes are often distinguished from premises.

Definition of theme
1a: a subject or topic of discourse or of artistic representation
guilt and punishment is the theme of the story
b: a specific and distinctive quality, characteristic, or concern
the campaign has lacked a theme

In reading the Old Testament, what do you believe the core theme was and for what purpose was it written-?

Had a philosophy class in college titled "Wisdom Of The Old Testament". It was taught by a very wise Rabbi that explained to the class that the recurrent theme of the OT was that no matter what, God gave the Hebrews a second chance. This was evident by the story in the book of Hosea.

james dixon said:

In your view, what was/is the core theme of the Old Testament?

Definition of Theme
Theme is defined as a main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work, which may be stated directly or indirectly.

Definition of Theme
In contemporary literary studies, a theme is a central topic a text treats.[1] Themes can be divided into two categories: a work's thematic concept is what readers "think the work is about" and its thematic statement being "what the work says about the subject".[2] Themes are often distinguished from premises.

Definition of theme
1a: a subject or topic of discourse or of artistic representation
guilt and punishment is the theme of the story
b: a specific and distinctive quality, characteristic, or concern
the campaign has lacked a theme

In reading the Old Testament, what do you believe the core theme was and for what purpose was it written-?

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change of consciousness.

I think the overall theme is that we humans must trust in the inexplicable (God).

james dixon said:

In reading the Old Testament, what do you believe the core theme was and for what purpose was it written-?

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I think it were to creating "Hope/ Salvation", "Guidance / Rules" and "Unity" for the Jewish people through their commitment to God, as a way to strengthen their culture. Which they did by sharing stories of how the Jews were the chosen people.

"Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one" שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָֽד׃

BSM1 said:

This was evident by the story in the book of Hosea.

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I haven’t read those verses. Please, in your own words with a few verses to support them, tell me what was said.

Thanks in advance
wait, I looked it up---

Hosea is a prophet whom God uses to portray a message of repentance to God's people. Through Hosea's marriage to Gomer, God, also known as Yahweh, shows his great love for his people, comparing himself to a husband whose wife has committed adultery.

The Book of Hosea (Hebrew: ספר הושע‎ Sefer Hōšēaʿ) is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. According to the traditional order of most Hebrew Bibles, it is the first of the twelve Minor Prophets.

Set around the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the Book of Hosea denounces the worship of gods other than Yahweh, metaphorically comparing Israel's abandonment of Yahweh to a woman being unfaithful to her husband. According to the book's narrative, the relationship between Hosea and his unfaithful wife Gomer is comparable to the relationship between Yahweh and his unfaithful people Israel. The eventual reconciliation of Hosea and Gomer is treated as a hopeful metaphor for the eventual reconciliation between Yahweh and Israel.

Dated to c. 760–720 BCE, it is one of the oldest books of the Hebrew Bible, predating most of the Torah
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Is that all there is to the Old Testament, in your view?
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james dixon said:

According to the book's narrative, the relationship between Hosea and his unfaithful wife Gomer is comparable to the relationship between Yahweh and his unfaithful people Israel.

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What were they unfaithful about-?
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james dixon said:

In your view, what was/is the core theme of the Old Testament?

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Genesis 3:15....addressed to the serpent....
"And I shall place hatred between you and between the woman, and between your seed and between her seed. He will crush your head, and you will bite his heel." (Tanach)

This first Bible prophesy sets the theme of the whole Bible. Who are the players?.....and how do the heel wound and the head wound get delivered and with what results? It was a mystery until Christ came.

Its basically how paradise was lost and how God gets it back for us through his Messiah.....whilst keeping the gift of free will intact. It is God's power over the devil's defection, and all who joined him......as well as justice served to the enemies of God's people.

Core theme of the Old Testament:

- That God must be feared, loved and obeyed all at the same time.

Pretty much the basis of the worst kinds of abusive relationships.

james dixon said:

In your view, what was/is the core theme of the Old Testament?

Definition of Theme
Theme is defined as a main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work, which may be stated directly or indirectly.

Definition of Theme
In contemporary literary studies, a theme is a central topic a text treats.[1] Themes can be divided into two categories: a work's thematic concept is what readers "think the work is about" and its thematic statement being "what the work says about the subject".[2] Themes are often distinguished from premises.

Definition of theme
1a: a subject or topic of discourse or of artistic representation
guilt and punishment is the theme of the story
b: a specific and distinctive quality, characteristic, or concern
the campaign has lacked a theme

In reading the Old Testament, what do you believe the core theme was and for what purpose was it written-?

Click to expand...

Obedience to God in order to establish a nation and fulfill the promises to Abraham.

Moses must be obeyed all the time. That is the main theme of monotheist religions, whether Zoroaster, Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, Joseph Smith, Bahaullah, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and many more.

The OT is basically about the relationship between the God of Israel and His Chosen People. By extension, the relationship between God and Man more generally.

james dixon said:

In your view, what was/is the core theme of the Old Testament?

Definition of Theme
Theme is defined as a main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work, which may be stated directly or indirectly.

Definition of Theme
In contemporary literary studies, a theme is a central topic a text treats.[1] Themes can be divided into two categories: a work's thematic concept is what readers "think the work is about" and its thematic statement being "what the work says about the subject".[2] Themes are often distinguished from premises.

Definition of theme
1a: a subject or topic of discourse or of artistic representation
guilt and punishment is the theme of the story
b: a specific and distinctive quality, characteristic, or concern
the campaign has lacked a theme

In reading the Old Testament, what do you believe the core theme was and for what purpose was it written-?

Click to expand...

Vindictiveness, jealousy and authoritarian rule. God as a mafia boss.

james dixon said:

...
In reading the Old Testament, what do you believe the core theme was and for what purpose was it written-?

Click to expand...

I think the core theme in both OT and NT is righteousness, truth and love, what it means and how to be righteous.

julianalexander745 said:

Core theme of the Old Testament:

- That God must be feared, loved and obeyed all at the same time.

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You can make people fear you.....you can even force them to obey you....but you cannot make someone love you.
There is something wrong with your definition here.....we have choices about our actions. Like we have road rules that we may wish to break......but if the Law catches up with us, there are penalties. The Law does not expect you to love it or its penalties, but they are in place for our own good and the welfare of others. How sad that we cannot rely on humans to consider others in their choices..... But would life be worth living if we didn't have any? Would you rather be a programmed robot?

Those who don't love God, don't really know him.

Pretty much the basis of the worst kinds of abusive relationships.

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The kind of abuse you speak of is devoid of love.....but just as bad, if not worse, is allowing free will to run amok, to permit those with no self control to do as they please, without regard for anyone else who might be impacted negatively by their behavior.....neither is optimal. I believe that God strikes a nice balance.

Deeje said:

Genesis 3:15....addressed to the serpent....
"And I shall place hatred between you and between the woman, and between your seed and between her seed. He will crush your head, and you will bite his heel." (Tanach)

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In my reading of the Old & New Testaments, I never came across a verse purporting to be God’s words saying the above.

The term “stranger” is used 128 times, and in no case was there animosity or hatred spoken.
In fact; Moses was given the Ten Commandment as a guide for him and his followers to follow.

The God I know would never say the above, to place hatred between people or crush your head. This just isn't the Lords way.
5. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ***, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

Deeje, please think about this, do you really believe the God I know and the God you know would say----
"And I shall place hatred between you and between the woman, and between your seed and between her seed. He will crush your head, and you will bite his heel."

I think not -

james dixon said:

In my reading of the Old & New Testaments, I never came across a verse purporting to be God’s words saying the above.

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Read Genesis 3:15 in the Tanach......that is what I quoted from......I believe that the Jews know how to interpret their own scripture.....don't you?

james dixon said:

Deeje, please think about this, do you really believe the God I know and the God you know would say----
"And I shall place hatred between you and between the woman, and between your seed and between her seed. He will crush your head, and you will bite his heel."

I think not -

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LOL...I don't think God operates according to what we think.

The scriptures disagree with you, and we are seeing this hatred expressed every day on the news......can I ask what planet do you live on if you can't see it?

The God I know allows things as a natural consequence of our own actions.....he does not necessarily cause them. He can see into the future and predict with accuracy what will take place. The first murder was committed in just one generation.....it was pre-meditated and an act of jealousy inspired hatred. It began very early.

james dixon said:

In your view, what was/is the core theme of the Old Testament?

Definition of Theme
Theme is defined as a main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work, which may be stated directly or indirectly.

Definition of Theme
In contemporary literary studies, a theme is a central topic a text treats.[1] Themes can be divided into two categories: a work's thematic concept is what readers "think the work is about" and its thematic statement being "what the work says about the subject".[2] Themes are often distinguished from premises.

Definition of theme
1a: a subject or topic of discourse or of artistic representation
guilt and punishment is the theme of the story
b: a specific and distinctive quality, characteristic, or concern
the campaign has lacked a theme

In reading the Old Testament, what do you believe the core theme was and for what purpose was it written-?

Click to expand...

The Adventures of 12 self-absorbed psychopathic tribes of people.

Deeje said:

LOL...I don't think God operates according to what we think.

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I am not sure what you meant by that but it is me experience that God noes not advocate or experience hate
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