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Biblical stories help us to imagine the relationship of God with human beings. They give us words to describe our own relationship with God. The Bible contains a rich variety of women’s stories and their stories are food for our imaginations. We meet mothers and queens, prophets and warriors, powerful women and victims. Their stories can give us courage and insight.
This short course tells the stories of only some of these women in the Old Testament. It is hoped that the introduction to their stories will encourage participants to search for more biblical women and also to find the story of faith reflected in the stories of their own lives.
Introductory Reading
Genesis chapters 12; 15-17;18:1-15; 21-23.
Brian Purfield, Tools for Reading OT Stories, Notes for Private Use, London Jesuit Centre, April 2024.
For those who wish to read further
Nancy Klancher, The Biblical Mothers Deliver. The Chosen, The Saved & the Disavowed, Cascade Books, Eugene Oregon 2022, pp.10-17.
Joseph Blenkinsopp, “Hagar and Ishmael” in Abraham. The Story of a Life. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Cambridge UK 2015, pp.78-95.
Rebekah: Genesis 24; 25:19-34;26:6-11; 27:1-46.
Leah & Rachel: Genesis29:1-35; 30:1-43; 31:14-35; 35:16-20.
Brian Purfield, Rebekah, Leah& Rachel, Notes for Private Use, London Jesuit Centre, April 2024.
You may also wish to look at the story of Dinah (Gen 34:1-7, 24-31) & Tamar (Gen 38:6-30)
Questions for Reflection
1. Why did you choose to sign up for this course on Women in the Old Testament?
2. What do you hope to gain from your study of and reflection on the stories of Women in the Old Testament?
3. What do we learn from these women? What do we learn about the kind of people that God works through? What do we learn about the way that God works?
4. In response to God’s promise, Abram & Sarai left Haran & set out on their life journey. In what way is every Christian’s life a response to a promise from God? The letter to the Hebrews develops this theme; see 10:35-36; 11:8-16. How does your life bear the character of a trusting response to God’s promises? How should it?
5. Did you find anything unexpected, surprising or disturbing in this session? If so, explain what it was and why you found it that way.
Week 1
Brian is a tutor in the theology stream. Originally from Birmingham, Brian studied philosophy and theology at the Gregorian University, Rome and later gained a Masters Degree in Franciscan Studies from St. Bonaventure’s University, New York. He has given retreats and courses throughout the UK and Ireland, North America, the Far East and Australia. He taught at the International Franciscan Study, Canterbury and at Campion House, Osterley before joining the Mount Street Jesuit Team when it began in 2004. Brian also taught at Heythrop College on the Foundation Degree in Pastoral Ministry. His particular interest is in opening up the Scriptures to people, young and old, at a level that they can understand and seek to apply to their daily lives. Brian is married to Deborah who works for CAFOD. They live in Buckinghamshire.
