theme of the story of ruth

There are several major themes in Ruth, and each of these could be identified as the theological center of the book. To access this article, please, Access everything in the JPASS collection, Download up to 10 article PDFs to save and keep, Download up to 120 article PDFs to save and keep. 1–3 as dialogue when in fact the latter only occurs in v. 2, thereby obscuring the unique literary functions of vv. This is a love story; it is a story full of symbolism. This also means Ruth was in the line of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1, 5). 38)). It's an intimate family tale of misfortune, crafty use of kinship ties, and ultimately, loyalty. Ruth 2. 19), Isaac and Rebekah (Gn. In sum, at times Gow’s vigorous pursuit of symmetry and his inadequate theory of structure combine to hamper his interpretation. 3:29–30). North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois. Thoughtful Bible readers will understand the book of Ruth better because of it—and hopefully better live out its teachings as well. © 1960 Catholic Biblical Association Boaz is a redeeming relative who buys back the land which belonged to … The oversimplification happens when Gow portrays all of vv. The theme of the story lies there-fore in the description of the marvelous preservation of the "name," and therefore of the family of Elimelech. The event was a momentous one, because of its gelation to the king, David, who was to make the name of the family one of never-ending renown. Loyal love is an important theme of the book (Hebrew hesed or checed; translated “kindly” and “kindness” in Ruth 1:8; 2:20; and 3:10). Its purpose was to demonstrate the kind of love, and faithfulness that God desires for us. The concluding blessing of the elders (Ruth 4:11–12) and the women of Bethlehem (Ruth 4:14–15) weaves the story of Ruth and Naomi into the themes of the messianic seed from Genesis. The young woman Ruth is a moving example of loyalty, service, and obedience that our daughters may emulate. 46, 64) that chiastic structures underlie chapters 2 and 3, both centered around Boaz’s praise of Ruth (2:11–12; 3:10–11). This is also a story of morals, ethics and character. It is the story of a Moabite woman who forsakes her pagan heritage in order to cling to the people of Israel and to the God of Israel. How well does Gow’s symmetrical reading of Ruth succeed? Published By: Catholic Biblical Association, Read Online (Free) relies on page scans, which are not currently available to screen readers. Ruth clung to Naomi who was an elderly widow who had just lost all her family. Doing the Right Thing Often Takes Great Sacrifice. In my view, Gow lacks a firm theoretical definition of structure and adopts the structural analyses of S. Bertman (1968), H. Witzenrath (1975) and K. Sacon (1978) far too uncritically. But though a vein of sadness runs through this little tale, sunlight manages to peek its way through the clouds eventually. Here we see God’s grace adopting the gentiles into the family of Christ. Updated January 04, 2020 The book of Ruth is one of the most moving accounts in the Bible, a story of love and loyalty that is a stark contrast to today's cynical, throwaway society. The story of Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi teaches us the importance of being loyal and the blessings that God when we are kind-hearted and humble. Although the author footnotes recent bibliography, he fails to define exactly what constitutes literary ‘structure’ (e.g. Grief, separation, poverty—someone pass the tissues, please. Ruth, biblical character, a woman who after being widowed remains with her husband’s mother. Further, Gow seems not to reckon sufficiently with the methodological strides which rhetorical criticism as an approach has made since Muilenburg. Its primary audience is theological students, pastors and scholars. . Two key concepts in the book of Ruth can shed light on the themes of the book. Even though Ruth is a foreigner in the land of Israel, a wealthy farmer named Boaz takes interest in her. After discussing structure, Gow summarizes each chapter’s main themes (e.g. Part II covers the theology of the book chapter by chapter, concluding with a summary of ‘general observations’ (p. 112). and its treatment of Ruth’s theology and purpose are strong. For example, consider his chiastic description of chapter 2. The word occurs three times: at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of the story (Ruth 1.8, 2.20, 3.10). In my view, this volume by M.D. Ruth was the great-grandmother of King David and in the line of ancestry of Jesus Himself. The love Boaz had for Ruth is a picture of God's love for us. According to Gow, 1:22b and 2:23 form an ‘outer narrative frame’ around chapter 2 while 2:1–3 presents ‘Dialogue—Ruth and Naomi’ corresponding to the dialogue in 2:18–22 (p. 46). Themes of the book Ruth. Doing the right thing isn’t always easy. The book of Ruth is one of those beautiful Old Testament pictures that is designed by God himself to illustrate the dramatic truths of … It is set in the time of the judges — not the best ones, if we assign it to the period of Gideon and Samson — and it attempts to define the rights of widows and aliens within a … The book of Ruth is dated almost to the period of the Judges and is a story of romance, redemption, and loyalty. Thus, he claims (pp. These weaknesses, however, should not deter readers from mining the riches of Gow’s thematic and theological analyses. A Story of Redemption. Further, according to Gow (pp. After a detailed treatment of the book’s many legal aspects (pp. In keeping with the theme of this conference, “Toward an Evangelical Feminism: Scripture, Theology, Gender,” I am going to present an evangelical feminist read- ... adapted from my forthcoming commentary on Ruth in Zondervan’s Story of God Commentary series. Ruth is a book for all times, whether written in post‑exilic days or based upon very old oral traditions. Children need to understand that Christ's sacrifice was driven by his deep love for us. the story of Ruth, told in vivid detail. Ruth Ruth shows kindness to her mother-in-law, Naomi, by leaving her homeland to care for her (1:16–17; 2:11, 18, 23). feminism, liberation theology, etc). With a personal account, you can read up to 100 articles each month for free. In my view, its analysis of Ruth’s literary artistry (i.e. JSTOR®, the JSTOR logo, JPASS®, Artstor®, Reveal Digital™ and ITHAKA® are registered trademarks of ITHAKA. 24), and Judah and Tamar (Gn. It was written about 1046-1035 B.C. . Recently, it has become common for biblical scholars to offer ‘readings’ of biblical texts, that is, to interpret (‘read’) them from a specific, self consciously chosen perspective (e.g. These were dark days, full of suffering brought about by the Part II covers the theology of the book chapter by chapter, concluding with a summary of ‘general observations’ (p. 112). Although it is a beautiful story in itself, it is the story behind the story -- its meaning and significance -- that is simply fascinating. Inspired by the scriptural tale. It’s a dark and troubled time for Naomi: a famine drives her and her family from their land in Israel, and her husband and sons die in a foreign country. In Part III Gow draws his conclusions concerning the purpose and provenance of Ruth. http://www.resursecrestinepipera.ro/filme-crestine/the-story-of-ruth-1960/E o poveste simplă în Vechiul Testament. The dominant theme in Ruth for global Christianity is Gentile inclusion into the people of God. Gow has gleaned the best from recent scholarship, although he might have made better use of several important recent studies (e.g. This story of love and devotion tells of Ruth’s eventual marriage to a wealthy man named Boaz, by whom she bears a son, Obed, who becomes the grandfather of David and the ancestor of Jesus. and to defend what makes his approach a better way of finding the book’s purpose than alternative ones. For example, the theme of marriage occupies much of the story, but when viewed as an idealized romance between faithful Ruth and godly Boaz, the rich theology of this book passes right under the noses of many of its admirers. The sovereignty of God is manifest in the story of Ruth as how God in times of decline of His people preserved a seed in one of His servants that led to the birth of David and then to the birth of Jesus the Messiah. The story is told in the Book of Ruth, part of the biblical canon called Ketuvim, or Writings. After tragedy strikes, she begins a new life in Bethlehem. Read terms of download. Gow maps out their symmetries, chiasms and patterns with helpful charts. In fact, it … 3), etc.). The scroll commences with the hesedRuth does for Naomi–from gleaning in the fields to bringing food–and the hesedshe does in honoring the memory of the dead in Naomi’s family (which becomes, by marriage, her own). Gow’s methodological inspiration is James Muilenburg’s seminal essay (1969), and therein lies the book’s methodological weakness. It concludes with the genealogy that very clearly connects King David with the line of Judges, via Boaz and Ruth (Ruth … On the other hand, I remain unconvinced of his structural analysis (Part I). The Catholic Biblical Quarterly is a refereed theological journal, continuously published since 1939. Book Theme Character Contributor. The story of Ruth teaches us, through several characters interactions, about the hesed of God. Ruth’s story is celebrated during the Jewish festival of Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, 50 days after Passover. Further, if 2:1 introduces a new scene (as does 3:1), then 1:22b probably is not the narrative’s ‘outer narrative frame’. Sadly, in my view this analysis misreads 2:1 and needlessly oversimplifies 2:1–3. Ruth is a classic example within the Old Testament of how an individual outside the covenant community becomes a member of the people of God by faith alone (see Rom. The result is an illuminating ‘reading’, one readers will enjoy and from which they will greatly profit. 3), etc.). The story of Ruth - part 2. Ruth is a cameo story of love , devotion and redemption set in the black context of the days of the judges. Orpah returns to her parents, but Ruth determines to stay with Naomi as they journey to Bethlehem. Most people read Ruth and tenderly exclaim, aw. Spoiler alert: the Book of Ruth is a bit of a bummer. Theme of Ruth. After discussing structure, Gow summarizes each chapter’s main themes (e.g.Ruth’s loyalty and Naomi’s emptiness (ch. disjunctive Hebrew syntax, the introduction of a new character). D. Fewell). The theme of Ruth is the Lord's provident protection of the faithful (2:12). Following the lead of R. Hals, W. Prinsloo and others, Gow observes that the book’s theology emerges in ‘the interrelation of prayer and divine providence’ (p. 98). One daughter-in-law leaves Naomi to find a new husband; the other swears an oath of loyalty to Naomi: This woman’s name is Ruth. Its main character is a Moabite woman named Ruth, the daughter-in-law of a Jewish widow named Naomi. 143–182), he argues that the book was written in David’s own lifetime, a theory which flows from Gow’s view of its purpose. Its plot is hopeful and sweet. The Book of Ruth is one of the Bible's shortest books, telling its story in just four chapters. At the root the idea of Hero is connected with self-sacrifice.” 40 This definition more aptly fits Ruth, who sacrifices security and the likelihood of marriage in order to remain loyal to Naomi. 1), secrecy and the blessing of Ruth by Boaz (ch. From internal evidence he argues that the purpose relates to Ruth’s Moabite background (p. 131), namely ‘to give a defence of the Moabite element in David’s ancestry’ (p. 132, italics his). To my knowledge, no book of its size covers as much ground with such clarity and skill as does this fine volume. No more exalted statement of loyalty has ever been made than the stirring request of Ruth to her mother-in-law Naomi (1:16-17). The book of Ruth has undoubtedly received its fair share of undervaluation at this point. Part I pursues a rigorous, thorough discussion of the structure of each of Ruth’s four chapters. Key personalities include Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz. Ruth is a beautiful love story. The Catholic Biblical Quarterly Themelios is a peer-reviewed international evangelical theological journal that expounds on the historic Christian faith. Read a summary of this Bible story and learn about its meaning and significance. ‘Vertigo’ or ‘Imago’? He has written a well-researched, insightful study worthy of a large audience. Gow offers a ‘symmetrical reading’ of the book of Ruth, that is, how the book sounds if one presumes its words, motifs, stylistic devices, etc. The Book of Ruth (abbreviated Rth) (Hebrew: מגילת רות‎, Megilath Ruth, "the Scroll of Ruth", one of the Five Megillot) is included in the third division, or the Writings (Ketuvim), of the Hebrew Bible; in most Christian canons it is treated as a history book and placed between Judges and 1 Samuel. This is a summary of the Biblical account of the lives of Ruth and Naomi. Contributed by Sweet Publishing. the story of Ruth - Free download as Powerpoint Presentation (.ppt / .pptx), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or view presentation slides online. Further, at all too many points his analysis seems to read symmetry into the text rather than to draw it from the text. a set of stylistic devices, surface linguistic features, ‘deep structure’ elements, etc.) But when she hears that there is food in her homeland again, she makes her way back. This item is part of JSTOR collection Ruth will not be separated from Naomi, because she loved her and is making a commitment to look after her. 81, 82) two chiasms shape chapter 4: 4:1–11b, whose hinge is 4:5 (Boaz’s insistence that the other kinsman marry Ruth if he claims the field), and 4:11c–17, which turns on 4:14–15 (the women’s long blessing). Her story of profound integrity, kindness, and loyalty still stands today in great honor. These activities will help kids understand God's great love for them. Ruth’s loyalty and Naomi’s emptiness (ch. Loyal love. As for the book’s genre, Gow follows R. Murphy in calling it a ‘Hebrew historical short story’ (p. 139) with a wisdom context in the background. Request Permissions. The story of Ruth and Boaz is a wonderful romance that also demonstrates what Christ has done for us as our Redeemer. ©2000-2020 ITHAKA. View slideshow Download image set Story Planner. This short book, only four chapters, shows how God uses unexpected people in amazing ways. its word plays, inclusios, etc.) It starts off with the death of three people and things get worse from there. The Book of Ruth takes place during a dark time in Israel’s history. The misreading occurs when Gow ignores the literary signals that make 2:1 the opening of a new scene (e.g. Kindness. Moabitess priestess Ruth is drawn both to a Judean man and to his talk of a forgiving God. In my view, this section displays Gow at his best, and readers will enjoy his fine analysis and many insights. Focusing on its ‘formal rather than thematic indicators’ (p. 10), he seeks to reveal its underlying structure and, through that, its purpose. to be symmetrically structured. Director of Wellington Bible College in New Zealand, Gow sets out to uncover the purpose of Ruth through the method of rhetorical criticism. All Rights Reserved. The Biblical book of Ruth is a love story. RUTH SUMMARY. The events of Ruth occurred sometime between 1160 BC and 1100 BC, during the latter period of the judges (Ruth 1:1). Context and Background of Ruth. Ruth was a Moabitess and was the great grandmother of David the ancestor of Christ. Another key word is kinsman (KJV) or relative (NKJV), occurring twelve times. 1 and 3. After all, it’s a classic tale of boy meets girl, of unexpected love discovered in the most routine of settings. The purpose of the Catholic Biblical Association is to promote, within a context of faith, scholarly study in Scripture and related fields by meetings of the association, publications, and support to those engaged in such studies. On returning to Bethlehem, Ruth goes gathering grain in the fields of Boaz who protects and provides for her. To buttress the case further, an excursus compares Ruth to what Gow regards as its ‘literary precursors’ (the stories of Lot’s daughters (Gn. Nations in the Divine Economy, Language in God’s Economy: A Welsh and International Perspective, The Muratorian Fragment and the Development of the Canon (Oxford Theological Monographs), The Law, the Gospel, and the Modern Christian: Five Views. Boaz is also related to Naomi, making … The Universal Significance of Ruth. The key word of the book of Ruth is redeem. JSTOR is part of ITHAKA, a not-for-profit organization helping the academic community use digital technologies to preserve the scholarly record and to advance research and teaching in sustainable ways. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions One scholar remarks, “With so many proposed purposes for the Book of Ruth . Book Summary: In the rebellious period of Israel’s history of Judges, there is a flicker of light in the form of the beautiful story of Ruth. It was formerly a print journal operated by RTSF/UCCF in the UK, and it became a digital journal operated by The Gospel Coalition in 2008. 1), secrecy and the blessing of Ruth by Boaz (ch. Hopefully better live out its teachings as well had just lost all her family days Passover... Account, you can read up to 100 articles each month for free all, it this. A set of stylistic devices, surface linguistic features, ‘ deep structure ’ elements, etc ). Include Ruth, Biblical character, a woman who after being widowed remains her. Moabitess and was the great-grandmother of King David and in the fields Boaz..., chiasms and patterns with helpful charts, occurring twelve times romance that also demonstrates what has. Lost all her family is drawn both to a Judean man and to his talk of new. Sufficiently with the death of three people and things get worse from there that there is in! 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