An Analysis of the Identity of Ruth in the Bible_英语论文

摘要

圣经中记载了以色列民族人们的历史生活、神学思考等。在每一篇章中，我们能够看到以色列文化和人类文明的发展。本篇论文以圣经旧约中的《路得记》为研究对象，通过文本分析，来理解经文中文学技巧的使用以及历史情境对这本书的影响，从而帮助我们树立圣经阅读新态度。这篇论文的重点是分析女主人公路得的多重身份，从一个生活贫穷的寡妇、到和婆婆相处的很好的儿媳、再到成为另外一个男人的妻子、最后成为这个家族很重要的一位母亲，来理解当时师士秉政时期的历史文化和成为路得的祝福的那种好的品质。那些好的品质在今天依然值得我们学习。

这篇论文会使用到两种方法。第一是注重文本的描述分析，基于历史场景和文本要解决的历史问题。第二是通过文本反映的各种特征，探寻产生此状况的社会、政治、经济以及历史原因。从外部分析开始，重建当时的社会历史处境。

除此之外，与圣经的主流不同，圣经旧约通常记录一些领袖们的历史事件，例如摩西带领以色列民出埃及，大卫、所罗门和其他先知们的丰功伟绩等，而《路得记》以温柔善良的女性路得作为主人公。以女性为主角的故事内容也为圣经的阅读提供了更多的空间。女性主义也在现代思潮的推动下发展起来。

关键词：圣经 路得记 路得 身份

Abstract

The Holy Bible is filled with the historical life of the Israelites and the thoughts of theology and so on. We can see the development of Israelite culture and human civilization in every chapter. This thesis takes an object based on the Book of Ruth from the Old Testament to research, through comparison between the lines in Scripture, and have a detailed understanding of the usage of literary techniques in the passage and the influence of historical situation to this book which can help us have a new attitude of reading Bible. The focus of this thesis is to analyze the multiple identities of the hostess – Ruth, from a poor living widow, to a daughter-in-law trying to get along with her mother-in-law, to becoming another man’s wife, and finally to be a mother who is a very important mother in this family, we also try to understand the historical culture of that certain time when judges ruled and the good qualities of Ruth that became a blessing to her. These good qualities are still important for us to learn today.

I will use these two ways in my thesis. One is to pay attention to the description of the contents of the book itself. The text analysis based on historical context and the historical issues which will be solved in the text. The other one is through the various features reflected in the text, this thesis will seek the situation of that society, politics economy and history. Starting from the analysis of external reasons, that certain time of the social and historical situation can be reconstructed in this thesis.

The Bible usually records the historic movement about some leaders such as Moses who lead his people out of Egypt and the tremendous achievements of David, Solomon and other Prophets. While the Book of Ruth takes a gentle and kind woman Ruth as the protagonist, which is different from the mainstream of the Bible. The content of women's stories also provides more room for Bible reading. Feminism developed gradually under the impetus of modern thought. 

Key words: Bible; Book of Ruth; Ruth; identity

Contents

1. Introduction 1

1.1 The Introduction of the Bible 1

1.2 The Introduction of the Book of Ruth 2

1.3 The Introduction of the Author of the Book of Ruth 3

1.4 The Introduction of Meaning of This Thesis 3

2. Life Experience of Ruth 5

2.1 The Background of Book of Ruth 5

2.2 The Life Experience of Ruth 5

3. Four Different Kinds of Identities of Ruth 7

3.1 Ruth as a Widow 7

3.1.1 The Introduction of the Term of “Widow” 7

3.1.2 Ruth’s Identity of Widow 8

3.1.3 One Related Example of Widow in the Old Testament 9

3.2 Ruth as a Daughter-in-law 10

3.3 Ruth as a Wife 12

3.4 Ruth as a Mother 14

4. Conclusion 15

Bibliography 15

Acknowledgments 16