Abraham and His Values: Studies in Biblical Theology

Abraham the Hebrew is regarded in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim tradition as the father of believers and the exemplary figure of monotheistic faith. The foundation of this view lies first and foremost in the Bible itself. To understand how he attained this unique status, we will trace his words, actions, and inner world as they unfold mainly in the stories of the Book of Genesis, alongside hints and testimony from other passages in the Bible.

The first question at the heart of the series will be: Why did God choose Abraham specifically to be His messenger in the world and His representative before humanity? Through a close reading of the plain meaning of the biblical texts, we will attempt to answer this question and examine the central value underlying the great call: “Go forth from your land.”

Alongside this, we will address fundamental questions arising from the cycle of Abraham’s stories: What is faith, and is it necessarily opposed to skepticism? What is fear of God, and how does it differ from faith? What values did Abraham fight for, and what motivated his struggles? Does he emerge as a unified and coherent figure, or rather as a complex, multifaceted personality embodying tensions and contradictions?

Through examining the chapters about Abraham, we will also explore their contribution to Jewish thought and biblical theology in general, and consider the major ideas that made him one of the formative figures in the history of religious thought.

Dr. David Cohen-Tzemach is a biblical scholar and lecturer at Kerem Institute (David Yellin College), Jerusalem.