The Story-Line of Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect LESSON 1: PROPHETIC BEGINNINGS IN ABRAHAM The story-line of Christian prophetic rhetorolect begins with Abraham, who is at first called “Abram.” No New Testament writing ever refers to Abraham as a prophet, but he functions for Christian prophetic rhetorolect as a prophet for a number of reasons.  Click to read reasons why the story of Abraham is a beginning for the Christian prophetic story-line.

Why does the Christian prophetic story-line begin with Abram/Abraham? (1) Abram is “called” by God to be a person who fulfills a sequence of tasks in the context of promises by God about blessings and curses. (2) God’s call to Abram concerns a specific area of land, where people live as “God’s people,” “God’s nation,” or “God’s kingdom.”  Click for further explanation of why the Abraham story is a beginning for the Christian prophetic story-line.

Why the Christian prophetic story-line begins with Abram/Abraham cont. (3) God speaks to Abram a number of times, either directly or through a messenger/angel, to give him specific directions and promises. (4) Abram’s acceptance of God’s tasks creates a covenant in which God changes his name to “Abraham” in the context of special promises. (5) Abraham struggles obediently and faithfully in the context of God’s covenant with him.  What is the nature of God’s initial call to Abram? Click to find out.

Hebrew Bible Resource: GOD’S INITIAL CALL TO ABRAM First, God chooses Abram, and “calls” him by telling him to “Go.” Second, God sends Abram to a particular “land.” Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”  Click for continuation of God’s initial call to Abram.

Hebrew Bible Resource: GOD’S INITIAL CALL TO ABRAM cont. Third, God will fulfill a promise focused on “a great nation,” which later will be called God’s special “kingdom.” Genesis 12:2: I will make of you a great nation.  Click for continuation of God’s initial call to Abram.

Hebrew Bible Resource: GOD’S INITIAL CALL TO ABRAM cont. Fourth, the promise contains blessings and curses. Genesis 12:2 and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (read Genesis 12) Genesis 12Genesis 12  Click for Christian prophetic rhetorolect about Abraham.

CHRISTIAN PROPHETIC RHETOROLECT PRESENTS GOD’S CALL AND PROMISE TO ABRAHAM IN ACTS AND HEBREWS  Click for next slide.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect: GOD’S CALL AND PROMISE TO ABRAHAM in Acts and Hebrews Acts 3:12 Peter … addressed the people, 3:25 “You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘In your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed.’”(read Acts 3) 3:25 “You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘In your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed.’” (read Acts 3)Acts 3Acts 3 Acts 7:2 He said, “Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 7:3 and said to him, ‘Get out of your land, and from your relatives, and come into a land which I will show you.’” (read Acts 7) Acts 7Acts 7  Click for continuation of the call and promise.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect: GOD’S CALL AND PROMISE TO ABRAHAM in Acts and Hebrews cont. (1) Hebrews 6:13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he swore by himself, 6:14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 6:15 Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.  Click for continuation of the call and promise.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect: GOD’S CALL AND PROMISE TO ABRAHAM in Acts and Hebrews cont. (2) Hebrews 11:8 By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. 11:9 By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. (read Hebrews 11) Hebrews 11Hebrews 11  Click for God’s promise to Abraham of many descendants.

Hebrew Bible Resource In the Hebrew Bible, God promises many descendants to Abraham.  Click to read about God’s promise to Abraham of many descendants.

Hebrew Bible Resource: GOD’S PROMISE TO ABRAHAM OF MANY DESCENDANTS Genesis 15:4 But the word of the LORD came to him … 15:5 Adonai brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So shall your seed be.” (read Genesis 15) Genesis 15Genesis 15 17:3 Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying, 17:4 “As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations. 17:5 Neither will your name any more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.”  Click to continue God’s promise to Abraham.

Hebrew Bible Resource: GOD’S PROMISE TO ABRAHAM OF MANY DESCENDANTS cont. Genesis 17:6 “I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you. 17:7 I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your seed after you.” (read Genesis 17) Genesis 17Genesis 17 22:16 “By myself I have sworn,” says the LORD 22:17 “…that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your seed greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your seed will possess the gate of his enemies.” (read Genesis 22) Genesis 22Genesis 22  Click to continue God’s promise to Abraham.

CHRISTIAN PROPHETIC RHETOROLECT USES THE TERM “FAITH” TO REFER TO ABRAHAM’S “HOPE AGAINST HOPE” TO BECOME “FATHER OF MANY NATIONS”  Click for next slide.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect in Romans 4 and Hebrews: ABRAHAM’S “HOPING AGAINST HOPE” Romans 4:18 Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your seed be.” 4:19 Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.  Click to read about Abraham’s belief as “faith.”

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect in Romans 4 and Hebrews: ABRAHAM’S “HOPING AGAINST HOPE” cont. (1) Romans 4:20 Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, 4:21 and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform. (read Romans 4) Romans 4Romans 4  Click to read about Abraham’s belief as “faith.”

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect in Romans 4 and Hebrews: ABRAHAM’S “HOPING AGAINST HOPE” cont. (2) Hebrews 6:13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he swore by himself, 6:14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 6:15 Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. (read Hebrews 6) Hebrews 6Hebrews 6  Click to read about Abraham’s belief as “faith.”

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect in Romans 4 and Hebrews: ABRAHAM’S “HOPING AGAINST HOPE” cont. (3) Hebrews 11:11 By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised. 11:12 Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead (read Hebrews 11) 11:12 Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead. (read Hebrews 11) Hebrews 11 Hebrews 11  Click to read about Abraham’s belief as “faith.”

Hebrew Bible Resource In the Hebrew Bible, Abraham believed God, and God accepted his belief as righteousness.  Click to read about God’s acceptance of Abraham’s belief.

Hebrew Bible Resource: ABRAHAM’S BELIEF AS “RIGHTEOUSNESS” Genesis 15:6: He believed in Adonai; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness. Genesis 17:9 God said to Abraham, “As for you, you will keep my covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations.”  Click for continuation of Abraham’s belief as righteousness.

Hebrew Bible Resource: ABRAHAM’S BELIEF AS “RIGHTEOUSNESS” cont. (1) Genesis 18:17 The LORD said, “… 18:19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Adonai, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Adonai may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him.” (read Genesis 18) Genesis 18Genesis 18  Click for Abraham’s “faith” in Christian prophetic rhetorolect.

CHRISTIAN PROPHETIC RHETOROLECT IN PAUL’S LETTERS INTERPRETS ABRAHAM’S BELIEF AS “FAITH” WHEREBY GOD “RECKONS AS RIGHTEOUS” EVEN “GENTILES” (NATIONS)  Click for next slide.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect in Romans 4: ABRAHAM’S BELIEF IS “FAITH” THROUGH WHICH GOD “RECKONED TO HIM” RIGHTEOUSNESS “FOR GENTILES” Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4:9Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 4:9 Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 4:11 He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them. (read Romans 4) Romans 4Romans 4  Click to read about God’s “justifying the Gentiles by faith” in Galatians 3.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect in Galatians 3: ABRAHAM’S BELIEF IS “FAITH” THROUGH WHICH GOD “RECKONED TO HIM” RIGHTEOUSNESS “FOR GENTILES” cont. Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” 3:7 Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham. 3:8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.” 3:9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. (read Galatians 3) Galatians 3Galatians 3  Click for Abraham’s belief “before he was circumcised.”

CHRISTIAN PROPHETIC RHETOROLECT IN PAUL’S LETTER TO ROMANS EMPHASIZES THAT GOD “RECKONED” ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUS “BEFORE” HE WAS CIRCUMCISED  Click for next slide.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect in Romans 4: GOD “RECKONED” ABRAHAM AS “RIGHTEOUS” BEFORE HE WAS CIRCUMCISED Romans 4:9 Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 4:10 How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. (First, read Genesis 15:5-6) Genesis 15:5-6Genesis 15:5-6 (Second, read Genesis 17:10, 23-27) Genesis 17: Genesis 17:  Click for circumcision as a sign and seal of righteousness by faith.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect in Galatians 3: CIRCUMCISION AS A “SIGN” AND “SEAL” OF “RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH” Romans 4:11 He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them. 4:12 He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.  Click for God’s promise to Abraham.

Hebrew Bible Resource: ABRAHAM AND PROMISE OF LAND In Genesis, God promised “the land” to Abraham's offspring.  Click to read about God’s promise of land to Abraham and his offspring.

Hebrew Bible Resource: ABRAHAM AND PROMISE OF LAND Genesis 13:14 The LORD said to Abram, “ … 13:15 for all the land which you see, I will give to you, and to your offspring forever. ” (read Genesis 13) Genesis 13Genesis 13 Genesis 17:3 Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, “… 17:8 I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God.” (read Genesis 17) Genesis 17Genesis 17  Click for continuation of God’s promise of land to Abraham and his offspring.

Hebrew Bible Resource: ABRAHAM AND PROMISE OF LAND cont. Genesis 22:16 By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: “… 22:18 In your seed will all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” (read Genesis 22) Genesis 22Genesis 22 Genesis 24:6 Abraham said, “… 24:7 Adonai, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, ‘I will give this land to your seed.’ He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.” (read Genesis 24) Genesis 24Genesis 24  Click for Christian prophetic rhetorolect about God’s promise to Abraham and his offspring.

CHRISTIAN PROPHETIC RHETOROLECT IN PAUL’S LETTER TO GALATIANS INTERPRETS ABRAHAM’S OFFSPRING AS CHRIST  Click for next slide.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect in Galatians 3: ABRAHAM’S “OFFSPRING” AS CHRIST Galatians 3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He doesn’t say, “To seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “To your seed,” which is Christ. 3:18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise. (read Galatians 3) Galatians 3Galatians 3  Click to read about God’s “justifying the Gentiles by faith” in Galatians 3.

CHRISTIAN PROPHETIC RHETOROLECT IN PAUL’S LETTER TO ROMANS INTERPRETS ABRAHAM’S “BEING RECKONED AS RIGHTEOUS” FOR GENTILES WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST   Click for next slide.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect in Romans 4: GOD’S “RECKONING OF ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUS” FOR GENTILES WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST Romans 4:22 Therefore it also was “reckoned to him for righteousness.” 4:23 Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone, 4:24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead, 4:25 who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification. (read Romans 4) Romans 4Romans 4  Click to read a summary.

Good Work! In this lesson you have learned that: The story of Abram is a beginning for the Christian prophetic story-line because Abram was “called” by God to fulfill a sequence of tasks in the context of promises by God about blessings and curses. Abram’s name was changed to Abraham by God when God made him the ancestor of many nations and formed the covenant. Click to continue the summary. Click to continue the summary.

Excellent! The New Testament reconfigures Abraham’s hope as an enduring faith in God. Due to this enduring faith, Abraham and Sarah “received power of procreation.” (Hebrews 11:11-12) Hebrews 11:11-12Hebrews 11:11-12 God promises Abraham both descendents and land. Abraham’s belief in the power of God is “faith” through which God “reckoned to him” righteousness “for gentiles.” Click to continue the summary.

Congratulations!!!! THIS WAS THE FIRST LESSON on the Christian Prophetic Story-Line. May the promises of good things to people inspire you to continue with Lesson 2 on Moses.