ATSS: Sigve Tonstad, “The Sabbath as a Divine Commitment”
16 August 2023 |
My title is not a misspelling or manufactured.
The Sabbath among Adventists has primarily been seen as a divine commandment. What if this is a sin of omission, or at least a misperception? What will we say if, after putting the seventh day in our denominational name, it should turn out that we have left out the primary meaning of the Sabbath? How embarrassing! What if the primary meaning of the Sabbath is divine commitment and not divine commandment?
Here is one more question: What, in your view, are the most important Sabbath texts in the Bible? I will not be sorry if someone looks for the answer in my book The Lost Meaning of the Seventh Day. When we meet on Sabbath, we will look for the answer in the Bible.
In this presentation, I will focus on the connection between the Sabbath text in Genesis and the Sabbath healing in chapter 5 in the Gospel of John—that is, from the creation to the incarnation.
Teacher:
Sigve K. Tonstad is Research Professor of Biblical Interpretation and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Loma Linda University. He has worked as a physician and pastor and since 2007 as a faculty member at the School of Religion at Loma Linda University. His books in English are The Scandals of the Bible (Autumn House, 2000), Saving God’s Reputation: The Theological Function of Pistis Iesou in the Cosmic Narratives of Revelation (T. & T. Clark, 2006), The Lost Meaning of the Seventh Day (Andrews University Press, 2009), God of Sense and Traditions of Non-Sense (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2016), Letter to the Romans: Paul among the Ecologists (Earth Bible Series; Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix, 2017), and The Paideia Commentary on Revelation (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019).
Moderator:
How to join:
One-click link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81038618041
Passcode: EXODUS20
ATSS starting time depends on where you are. If you’re on the west coast of the United States, it’ll be 10:30 AM. On the east coast, 1:30 PM. Please double-check the correct time where you live.
The class is intended to last about 2 hours, though the conversation often continues to 4 PM (Eastern time).
About our class:
- The AT Sabbath Seminar is intended to be a courteous forum. We discuss and ask questions politely. We don’t accuse, get angry, put people down, or judge the state of their salvation.
- Stick to the topic in both comments and chat discussion.
- Make your comments and questions short—don’t dominate.
- Keep your microphones muted unless you are called upon to make your comment or ask your question.
- Indicate your interest in speaking by raising your electronic hand—under the “reactions” button.
- Please use your name when you sign in! Not your phone number, not your initials. This will help us differentiate you from unwelcome guests who want to disrupt us. You can set your name after signing on by clicking on the 3 dots next to your picture, which drops down a menu.
We look forward to getting acquainted with you!
YouTube channel:
You can see all of our previous ATSS recordings here.
Coming up:
- David Neff (Retired editor, Christianity Today)
- Pilira Zapita (Newbold)
- Kärt Lazic (Newbold)