VERONIQUE NOVOTNY
STAFF EDITOR
Students flocked to the “Genesis to Jesus” Bible study, written by Scott Hahn and moderated by an expert from the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 5 at the Pugliese Auditorium.
Hahn, who holds a doctorate in biblical theology, wrote the Bible study “Genesis to Jesus” to fill a need for Bible study grounded in Catholic teaching. Raquel Lopez, who received her master’s degree in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and now works with the Saint Paul Center, personally led the Bible study, which focused on the history of salvation and the creation of the family of God by covenant.
As Christians reading the scriptures, “we stand in the stream of salvation history,” Lopez said.
Lopez explained that the people and events of the Old Testament correspond to the Redeemer and the salvation won in the Gospels. She encouraged her audience to “pay attention to the readings even during daily Mass (and) you will notice many parallels” between the Old and New Testaments, which she called “typologies.” One such typology she noted was when Moses led the Israelites into the Promised Land, which was both a historical event and a foreshadowing of Christ’s crucifixion and the redemption of the entire world.
“Genesis to Jesus” is a seven-week course designed to teach biblical history from God’s perspective, beginning with the kinship covenants he created with patriarchs like Adam and Moses and continuing into the new covenant established in the person of Jesus Christ.
Wednesday’s opening night covered the importance of scripture study and the basics of Bible history, but it’s not too late to join in. The Bible study will continue for the next six Wednesdays, ending on October 17. If a student attends at least four study nights, St. Paul Center will award that student a certificate of completion. Several professors offer additional credits to students who complete the program.
Alex Landrigan, a Franciscan junior, said she originally came for the extra credit, “but now that I’m here, I’m pretty excited for the rest.”
Lauren Donnelly, a junior transfer student, agreed with Landrigan and said, “I’ve never had a Bible study before, (so) it’s a new experience,” adding that she’s grateful to have such enriching extracurricular activities offered on campus.
