Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Remember, remember the 31st of October

Jim West reminds us today that 'it was the 31st of October, 1971 that Gerhard von Rad died'.
In memory of this great scholar, my quote of the day comes from volume 1 of
his Old Testament Theology:

'When [God's] saving acts had happened to her, Israel did not keep silent: not only did she repeatedly take up her pen to recall these acts of Jahweh to her mind in historical documents, but she also addressed Jahweh in a wholly personal way. She offered praise to him, and asked him questions, and complained to him about all her sufferings, for Jahweh has not chosen his people as a mere dumb object of his will in history, but for converse with him' (355).

Sean Winter reminds us that 'four hundred and ninety years ago, Martin Luther, so Melanchthon later claimed, nailed his '95 Theses on the Power of Indulgences' to the door of the Wittenburg [sic – he means Wittenberg] Church, and so struck the spark that lit the fire of the Reformation'. In memory, I insensitively point people to my New International 95 theses Version.

3 comments:

Jim said...

How can we trust someone who can't spell Wittenberg properly?

Sean Winter said...

Pedants, both of you. But thanks Chris, correction made.

Chris Tilling said...

I feel so proud of myself when I can write a [sic] somewhere. Of coudrse [sic!] is best of all.