NIV – Bible
analyze two biblical figures from our readings and compare some of their significant character traits. This, ideally, will lead to new thoughts and discoveries about the figures, their role in their respective works, and the connections and variations within the whole of the biblical canon. analyze two biblical figures from our readings and compare some of their significant character traits. This, ideally, will lead to new thoughts and discoveries about the figures, their role in their respective works, and the connections and variations within the whole of the biblical canon.
Task
Choose two figures from two different biblical books we’ve read so far in the course. Think carefully about how these two figures are alike and what the important differences between them might be. You will then write a paper describing these similarities and differences, analyzing them carefully and choosing specific points to investigate and discuss. You will want to choose figures that have some similarities to make the comparison worthwhile, as well as differences that will lead to insightful comparisons. You might consider their purposes in their respective works, their personalities, language style, cultural background, or the similarity of their circumstances.
Remember that your essay is supposed to serve a purpose so that the analysis has some objective. Imagine you are a teacher, showing your readers some points that they might not have considered in their own reading and which will reveal new meaning if they returned to the passages again. Both a very brief overview of the subjects (and the scripture in which they appear) and a comparison of specific points is required. Your essay must be more than just a list of each individual’s features—you need to explain and explore those features and discuss how they are important. Considering how different themes play out in the passages in which they appear may help give you focus for the points you choose. Make sure to use specific passages from the texts to support your claims.
You may choose any two figures (in any combination) to compare from the scripture we have read to
this point in the semester; you are free to work with any figures as long as you have some purpose in doing so. Taking on a challenging or unusual comparison may earn you a better grade than choosing a more simple pairing. These may be characters from the early narrative (such as Eve or Moses), figures from passages of chronicled history (such as Samuel or King Saul), prophets, figures in poetry or wisdom literature (such as the personified Wisdom of Proverbs or the Shulamite of the Song of Solomon), or speakers (such as the author of Proverbs [traditionally mostly King David] or John the disciple).