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Alden Thompson

Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Walla Walla University

Alden Thompson is currently professor of Biblical Studies at Walla Walla University. He has been a faculty member at WWC since 1970. From 1972 to 1974, he was on college-sponsored doctoral study leave at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. In 1980-81 he was an exchange teacher at Marienhöhe Seminary in Darmstadt, Germany. After serving as WWC academic vice president for four years (1986-90), he returned to full-time teaching in the School of Theology. He retired in 2009, but continued to teach part time until he fully retired on June 30, 2020.

Vision Five-No Escape

  • Lesson 12 for the week of December 16 to December 23
Background and Literary Considerations Having come now to the last of the five vision reports, we need to ask how they connect with each other and the impact of the whole collection. What is the...

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Alden Thompson

Vision Four-Summer Fruit

  • Lesson 11 for the week of December 9 to December 16
Background and Literary Considerations The fourth vision report in Amos brings us to another literary feature of the prophet’s preaching: puns. While we miss most of these in English translations, the Bible is replete with...

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Alden Thompson

Vision Three-The Plumb Line

  • Lesson 10 for the week of December 2 to December 9
Background and Literary Considerations Again, we come in this lesson to a “vision report,” the third in a series of five. Given Amos’ penchant for surprising us with reversals of expectations, how should we prepare...

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Alden Thompson

Vision Two-Judgement by Fire

  • Lesson 9 for the week of November 25 to December 2
Background and Literary Considerations Review the comments in the previous lesson about “vision reports.” What was the main purpose of these in general and how specifically does Amos use them–individually and the five of them...

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Alden Thompson

Vision One-Locusts and Prayer

  • Lesson 8 for the week of November 18 to November 25
Background and Literary Considerations We are introduced in this lesson to “vision reports,” another in the vast repertoire of Amos’ speech forms. These appear throughout the Bible and are typically introduced in the Old Testament...

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Alden Thompson

At Ease in Zion

  • Lesson 7 for the week of November 11 to November 18
Background and Literary Considerations The nature of “Woe!” oracles is to startle and call for change. Of the three such speeches in Amos, two appear in chapter 6 and form the basis of our lesson...

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Alden Thompson

Pass Over or Pass Through?

  • Lesson 6 for the week of November 4 to November 11
Background and Literary Considerations Whereas Judgment Speeches are typically announcements of doom, almost as if there is no turning back, no chance for reversing the inevitable slide toward punishment, “Woe!” speeches or oracles are set...

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Alden Thompson

Seek the Lord

  • Lesson 5 for the week of October 28 to November 4
Background and Literary Considerations Amos provides us with a fascinating blend of guidelines regarding worship and those having to do with social justice, the latter predominating by far. Chapter 5 is no exception. It speaks...

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Alden Thompson

Prepare to Meet Your God

  • Lesson 4 for the week of October 21 to October 28
Background and Literary Considerations We have already in Amos encountered seriously judgmental speeches from the prophet. This week’s passage is no exception – at least Amos is consistent! As part of the second “Judgment Speech”...

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Alden Thompson

Hear This Word!

  • Lesson 3 for the week of October 14 to October 21
Background and Literary Considerations We are now introduced to “Judgment Speeches,” of which there are three major ones in the book of Amos. They all three begin with: “Hear this word ….” As used among...

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Alden Thompson

Sins of the Neighbors

  • Lesson 2 for the week of October 7 to October 14
Background and Literary Considerations Amos 1:2-2:16 introduce us to three major speech forms in Amos: a sermon, speeches or oracles against foreign nations (OAN) and the “numerical” proverb. Delivered evidently at the sanctuary at Bethel,...

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Alden Thompson

The Non-prophet Prophet

  • Lesson 1 for the week of September 30 to October 7
Background and Literary Considerations Amos, the person – What can we know from the book itself and from the world of the eighth century B.C. which might help us understand this person better? With the...

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Alden Thompson
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Elijah’s and Elisha’s Mantle

April 30, 2011

The Last Five Kings of Judah

October 10, 2015

Jesus Mingled with People

July 30, 2016

In the Shadow of His Wings

May 7, 2011

The Priority of the Promise

July 29, 2017

The Character of Job

December 17, 2016

Major Themes in 1 and 2 Peter

June 17, 2017

The Curse Causeless

October 29, 2016

Jesus in the Writings of Peter

May 13, 2017

Grieving and Resisting the Spirit

March 11, 2017

Symbolic Acts

October 31, 2015

The Church Militant

March 12, 2016

Josiah’s Reforms

November 14, 2015

Dealing With Debt

January 28, 2023

Offerings for Jesus

January 21, 2023

The Tithing Contract

January 14, 2023

God’s Covenants With Us

January 7, 2023

Part of God’s Family

December 31, 2022

Introduction

December 31, 2022

All Things New

December 24, 2022

The Judging Process

December 17, 2022

The Biblical World View

December 10, 2022

End-time Deceptions

December 3, 2022

The Fires of Hell

November 26, 2022

Contrary Passages

November 19, 2022

The New Testament Hope

November 12, 2022

Good Thinking

January 29, 2011

Worship in the Book of Revelation

September 17, 2011

Sequential Evangelism and Witnessing

April 28, 2012

The Christian Life

December 7, 2012

The Heartbeat of Revival

July 6, 2013

With the Rich and Famous

February 15, 2014

James, the Lord’s Brother

September 27, 2014

Christ as the Lord of the Sabbath

April 25, 2015

The Covenant

December 5, 2015

Justice & Mercy in the Old Testament: Part 1

July 9, 2016

Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit

February 18, 2017

The Gospel and the Church

September 16, 2017

Jesus and the book of Revelation

April 14, 2018

For more information about GOOD WORD contact the School of Theology at Walla Walla University by phone (509-527-2194), email (email us) or regular mail (Walla Walla University, 204 S. College Ave., College Place WA 99324).
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