List of Torah readings in Protestant worship

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The list of Torah readings in Protestant worship includes texts from the Five Books of Moses , which are proposed as sermon text (rows I to VI) according to the EKD's 2018 revised Pericope Ordinance . Other texts , in particular the readings of the Easter Vigil , were not recorded . The reading year column indicates in which of the six years the relevant text is intended for the sermon.

Traditional selection criteria for Old Testament texts

A main motive of the revision was to take into account "the insight into the fundamental importance of the Old Testament for the Christian faith, which has grown especially in the Christian-Jewish dialogue " through a significant increase in the Old Testament sermon texts. Until now, the Old Testament reading was usually chosen with a view to the gospel of Sunday, be it as a contrast or as background information. The selection often followed the scheme of promise (Old Testament) - fulfillment (New Testament). Texts that could not be assigned to the New Testament in this way did not appear in the Old Testament as a sermon text, regardless of their importance.

This handling of the Old Testament also determines the choice of texts for the Catholic reading order ( Ordo Lectionis Missae ) - with the additional restriction that the Old Testament reading is often left out, not to mention the sermon on this text - and led to the development of additional Old Testament reading series in Revised Common Lectionary.

Suggestions for a greater presence of the Torah in Christian worship

There are various drafts of how the special meaning of the Torah in Judaism can also be matched in Christian worship. In the Netherlands, for example, the ecumenical project of a three-year Torah reading cycle was developed, and in 1995 the Catholic Old Testament scholar Georg Braulik proposed a three-year Torah orbit reading ("Vienna Pericope Order"). Braulik was referring to early Christian traditions that have survived among the East Syrian Christians:

  1. Tor reading;
  2. rest of the Old Testament as a comment on this;
  3. Gospel reading;
  4. rest of the New Testament as a comment.

According to Norbert Lohfink , there was a regular reading of the Torah in the old church, which can be seen in the Apostolic Constitutions and which is still preserved in the area of ​​the Ambrosian liturgy (Milan) during Lent.

In connection with the EKD's pericope revision , the Conference of Regional Church Working Groups Christians and Jews (KLAK) presented a model in 2009 that provides for three series of Old Testament readings (Torah, prophecy , scriptures ) and two New Testament series ( epistle , gospel). However, this was not realized with the new pericope order of 2018.

Texts of the Torah in the pericope order of 2018

First Book of Moses (Genesis)

Bible text content Sunday or bank holiday Reading year Remarks
Heures de Louis de Laval - BNF Lat920 f4v (dieu créateur des poissons et oiseaux) .jpg Gen 1,1–2,4a  LUT (abbreviated) Creation story (priestly scripture) 3rd Sunday after Easter - Jubilate IV The Sunday Jubilate has the theme of the Easter new creation. "The memory of the first creation at the beginning of the world must be just as important as the reference to nature, which is awakening to new life these days," said Karl-Heinrich Bieritz , referring to the second prayer of the day.
Monreale adam eva meeting.jpg Gen 2,4b – 25  LUT (abbreviated) Creation story (Yahwist) 15th Sunday after Trinity II
Rohlfs - Adam and Eve, ca1916.jpeg Gen 3,1–24  LUT (abbreviated) Fall of Man 1st Sunday of Passion Time - Invokavit II Counter-story to the Gospel of Sunday Invokavit: Jesus resists temptation in the desert.
Palma il Giovane - Cain and Abel GG 1576.jpg Gen 4,1-10  LUT Cain's fratricide January 24th - Day of Remembrance for the Victims of National Socialism V New.
Blake-Abel.jpg Gen 4,1-16a  LUT Cain's fratricide 13th Sunday after Trinity III Sunday's theme is the question: “Who is my neighbor?” With the Gospel of the Good Samaritan .
Noemova archa.jpg Gen 8: 1-12  LUT End of the flood 4th Sunday before Passion VI
Joseph Anton Koch 006.jpg Gen 8.18-22  LUT ; Gen 9: 12-17  LUT God's covenant with Noah 20th Sunday after Trinity I.
Brueghel-tower-of-babel.jpg Gen 11: 1-9  LUT Tower of Babel Pentecost Sunday III So far on Whit Monday.
Palais du Tau Statues originales 17062011 08.jpg Gen 12: 1-4a  LUT Abraham's calling 5th Sunday after Trinity IV
LotAndAberham.jpg Gen 13,1-18  LUT (abbreviated) Abraham and Lot separate 21st Sunday after Trinity V New ; this text was not proposed in the KLAK draft. Abraham and Lot solve a land conflict peacefully and as equal partners.
Abraham Lilien.jpg Gen 15: 1-6  LUT God promised Abraham a son 15th Sunday after Trinity V New ; included in the Württemberg reading order (19th Sunday after Trinity). Proposed in the KLAK draft for the Reformation Festival: "Christian identity ultimately goes back to God's covenant with Abraham."
Tissot Hagar and the Angel in the Desert.jpg Gen 16: 1-16  LUT Hagar is saved by an angel 2nd Sunday after Easter - Misericordias Domini VI New ; this text was not proposed in the KLAK draft. Questions of rule and power are thematized in the conflict between Sara and Hagar. God saves Hagar, the slave without rights, and God gives her a name.
Covenant of Abraham.JPG Gen 17,1-27  LUT (abbreviated) God's covenant with Abraham January 1st - Circumcision and naming of Jesus III
Abraham and the Three Angels.jpg Gen 18,1–15  LUT (abbreviated) God with Abraham and Sarah in Mamre 4th Sunday in Advent III New (previously Gen 18: 20–33 on the 23rd Sunday after Trinity; this text is omitted). Proposed in the KLAK draft for Christmas (Christfest II). Because Sara's pregnancy was against all odds.
Jean-François Millet - Agar et Ismaël.jpg Gen 21: 8-21  LUT Ishmael and his mother are expelled September 29th - Archangel Michael and all angels III New ; proposed in the KLAK draft for the Sunday Miserikordias Domini. God asks Abraham to take sides with his wife Sarah: an unusual feature of the biblical narrative.
Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 035.jpg Gen 22,1-19  LUT (abbreviated) The sacrifice of Abraham 5th Sunday of Passion Time - Judica VI
José de Ribera - Jacob's Dream - WGA19383.jpg Gen 28,10-22  LUT (abbreviated) Jacob flees to Haran. Jacob looks at the ladder to heaven 14th Sunday after Trinity I.
Leloir - Jacob Wrestling with the Angel.jpg Gen 32: 23-32  LUT Jacob's fight on the Jabbok 1st Sunday after Easter - Quasimodogeniti V New ; included in the Württemberg reading order (17th Sunday after Trinity).
Salomon de Bray - Joseph Receives His Father and Brothers in Egypt - WGA3146.jpg Gen 50.15-21  LUT Joseph's reconciliation with his brothers 4th Sunday after Trinity III

Second Book of Moses (Exodus)

Bible text content Sunday or bank holiday Reading year Remarks
Barcelona Haggadah 30v.jpg Ex 1,8-20  LUT Israel's oppression in Egypt 23rd Sunday after Trinity IV New.
Ex 1.15-22  LUT The midwives Shifra and Pua November 9th - Day of Remembrance of the November Pogroms VI New : " Witness to the practice of non-violent resistance by women."
Tissot Pharaoh's Daughter Has Moses Brought to Her.jpg Ex 2.1-10  LUT Moses birth and marvelous salvation Christmas I VI New ; Also proposed in the KLAK draft for Christmas (Christfest I). The birth story of Moses shows parallels to the birth story of Jesus: child murder, flight to Egypt.
Gebhard Fugel Moses in front of the burning bush c1920.jpg Ex 3,1–15  LUT (abbreviated) Moses calling Last Sunday after Epiphany I.
Illustration-haggadah-exodus.jpg Ex 12,1-14  LUT (abbreviated) Establishment of the Passover Maundy Thursday II
Pidyon HaBen P6020102.JPG Ex 13,1–16  LUT (abbreviated) Sanctification of the firstborn February 2nd - Presentation of Jesus in the temple VI New ; this text was not proposed in the KLAK draft.
Ex 13.20-22  LUT The pillar of clouds and fire Old year evening III
Feuerbach Mirjam 2.jpg Ex 14,8-30a  LUT (abbreviated); Ex 15.20-21  LUT Israel's passage through the Red Sea. Miriam's song Easter Sunday III New ; in the KLAK draft Ex 14.1–14 is proposed for Easter Sunday.
1292-3-mozes-manna.jpg Ex 16.2-18  LUT Quail and manna feeding 7th Sunday after Trinity VI
Moses Receives the Law (detail) .jpg Ex 19.1-6  LUT Arrival at Sinai - preparation for the national union 10th Sunday after Trinity - Church and Israel III New ; included in the Württemberg reading order (Ex 19.3–6: "Israel - God's property", Sunday Exaudi). Proposed in the KLAK draft for Pentecost Sunday.
Decalogue parchment by Jekuthiel Sofer 1768.jpg Ex 20.1-17  LUT The Ten Commandments 18th Sunday after Trinity V
Ignatius Taschner-Heine-Goldenes Kalb.jpg Ex 32.1-g  LUT ; Ex 32.15-20  LUT The golden calf Ash Wednesday IV New , according to the KLAK design.
Ex 32,7-14  LUT Moses intercession 5th Sunday after Easter - Rogate VI
Ex 33 : 18-23  LUT Moses wishes to see God's glory 2nd Sunday after Epiphany V
Moisés con las tablas de la ley, de José Camarón y Meliá (Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando) .jpg Ex 34.4-10  LUT New billboards and federal government 19th Sunday after Trinity VI
Моисей (Денисов) .jpg Ex 34,29-35  LUT The shine on Moses' face Last Sunday after Epiphany IV New ; included in the Württemberg reading order ("Moses Antlitz - Glanz Gottes", Last Sunday after Epiphany).

Third Book of Moses (Leviticus)

Bible text content Sunday or bank holiday Reading year Remarks
Human Rights stamp of Israel.jpg Lev 19,1-34  LUT (abbreviated) From the sanctification of life: social laws from the holiness law. To love the stranger 13th Sunday after Trinity VI New ; the KLAK draft proposed the social laws as the sermon text for Septuagesimä and the commandment to love the stranger as the sermon text for the 17th Sunday after Trinity. The Württemberg reading order provided Lev 19 in excerpts (“Saints God and neighbor”) as the text for the 21st Sunday after Trinity.

Fourth book of moses (numbers)

Bible text content Sunday or bank holiday Reading year Remarks
Birkat Kohanim Close Up.jpg Num 6.22-27  LUT The priestly blessing Trinity II
Num 11,11–30  LUT (abbreviated) The elders of Israel receive God's Spirit Whit Monday IV So far on Pentecost Sunday.
Lilien Ephraim Moses, 1923, Miedziany wąż.jpg Num 21,4-9  LUT Moses sets up the brazen serpent on 2nd Sunday of Passion Time - Reminiscences VI
Balaam and his she-ass.jpg Num 22,31-35  LUT Balaam is saved by his donkey September 29th - the day of the Archangel Michael and all angels VI New ; this text was not proposed in the KLAK draft.

Fifth Book of Moses (Deuteronomy)

Bible text content Sunday or bank holiday Reading year Remarks
BibleSPaoloFol050vFrontDeut.jpg Dtn 4,5-20  LUT Exhortation to obey God's direction 10th Sunday after Trinity - Church and Israel V New , according to the KLAK design.
A women praying.jpg Dtn 6.4-9  LUT Hear Israel ( Shema ) October 31 - Remembrance Day of the Reformation I. So far on Trinity.
Dtn 7,6-12  LUT God's love for Israel 6th Sunday after Trinity II
שבעת המינים. Jpg Dtn 8,7-18  LUT The fruits of the promised land Thanksgiving IV New ; the KLAK draft provided for the text section Dt 8.1–10 (17–20), “Review of the benefits in the time of the desert migration” as the sermon text for the Sunday Latars.
Dtn 30: 1-6  LUT Promise of blessing 10th Sunday after Trinity - Destruction of Jerusalem VI New ; this text was not proposed in the KLAK draft.
Deut. 30: 11-14  LUT The closeness of the word of God 18th Sunday after Trinity II So far a sermon text for confirmation; the KLAK draft suggested this text for the celebration of Christmas Eve .
Deut. 30: 11-14  LUT The closeness of the word of God November 30th - St. Andrew's Day II / IV
Dtn 32 : 1-4  LUT The Song of Moses October 28 - Day of the Apostles Simon and Jude III / VI New ; this text was not proposed in the KLAK draft.
Tissot Moses Sees the Promised Land from Afar.jpg Dtn 34: 1-8  LUT Moses sees the promised land and dies Last Sunday of the church year - Sunday of the Dead III New ; in the KLAK draft sermon text on the old year evening. On the other hand, this draft provided for the story of Aaron's death (Num. 20: 20-29) for the feast day of those who fell asleep: “Human hope also extends beyond our own reality. In the face of death, questions always remain unanswered: Aaron will not come to the promised land. "

Web links

  • Vote of the EKD Study Center for Gender Issues in Church and Theology on the "Draft to test the reorganization of readings and sermon texts" (on behalf of EKD, UEK and VELKD), accessed on December 5, 2018 ( PDF ).

literature

  • VELKD, UEK (ed.): Lectionary. According to the order of worship texts and songs. Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, Leipzig 2018. ISBN 978-3-374-05587-6 . Pp. 801-803.
  • Dörte Maria Packeiser et al .: Song meets text. A working aid for the organization of church services with the Evangelical hymn book. Gesangbuchverlag Stuttgart, Stuttgart 2000. ISBN 3-931895-12-2 . Pp. 302–303 (list of pericope texts according to the biblical order)
  • Let the whole Bible speak. A new pericope model, developed on behalf of the Conference of Regional Church Working Groups Christians and Jews (KLAK), by: Timotheus Arndt, Alexander Deeg, Udo Halama, Katja Kriener, Wolfgang Raupach-Rudnick, Ulrich Schwemer, Gabriele Zander and Hans-Jürgen Müller. In: Encounters. Journal for Church and Judaism, special issue December 2009. ( PDF )

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Lectionary . S. XVIII .
  2. ↑ Alexander Deeg: Christian Sermon of the Old Testament. In: WiBiLex. August 2017, pp. 19-20 , accessed December 5, 2018 .
  3. ↑ a b Norbert Lohfink: On the pericope order for Sundays in the annual cycle. In: Philosophical-Theological University of Sankt Georgen. Retrieved December 5, 2018 (Published in: Heiliger Dienst 55 (2001) 37-57).
  4. ↑ a b c d e The church years 2018/2019 (i.e., from 1st Advent 2018) and 2024/2025 count as year I, the church years 2019/2020 and 2025/26 as year II, the church years 2020/2021 and 2026 / 27 as year III, the church years 2021/2022 and 2027/28 as year IV, the church years 2022/2023 and 2028/29 as year V, the church years 2023/2024 and 2029/2030 as year VI, etc.
  5. ^ Karl-Heinrich Bieritz: The church service in the church year. Introduction to the Proprium de tempore . In: Evangelisches Gottesdienstbuch . 3. Edition. Berlin 2003, p. 702 .
  6. ↑ Vote of the EKD Study Center for Gender Issues in Church and Theology on the “Draft to try out the reorganization of readings and sermon texts for religious services”. P. 11 , accessed December 5, 2018 .
  7. ↑ Song meets text . S. 252 .
  8. ↑ Let the entire Bible have its say . S. 80 .
  9. ↑ a b c Vote of the EKD Study Center for Gender Issues in Church and Theology on the “Draft to try out the reorganization of readings and sermon texts for religious services”. P. 9 , accessed December 5, 2018 .
  10. ↑ Let the entire Bible have its say . S. 13 .
  11. ↑ Let the entire Bible have its say . S. 41 .
  12. ↑ Song meets text . S. 238 .
  13. ↑ Let the entire Bible have its say . S. 12 .
  14. ↑ Song meets text . S. 160 .
  15. ↑ Song meets text . S. 77 .
  16. ↑ Song meets text . S. 258 .
  17. ↑ Let the entire Bible have its say . S. 77 .