Wednesday
Oct232024
Theological Term of the Week: Farewell Discourse
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 3:30AM 
farewell discourse
A address given by a leader to their followers close to the time of their death.
- From Jesus’s farewell discourse found in John 14-17:1
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also (John 14:1–3 ESV).
- From Moses’s farewell discourse, found in the whole book of Deuteronomy:
See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. [6] Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ [7] For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? [8] And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today? (Deuteronomy 4:5-8 ESV).
- From Joshua’s farewell discourse found in Joshua 23:1-24:28:
“And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. [15] But just as all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the LORD will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the LORD your God has given you, [16] if you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you” (Joshua 23:14–16 ESV).
- From Paul’s farewell discourse found in Acts 20:17-37:
And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, [23] except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. [24] But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. [25] And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. [26] Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, [27] for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. [28] Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. [29] I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; [30] and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. [31] Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. [32] And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. [33] I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel (Acts 20:22-33 ESV).
- From The Literary Study Bible, page 1889 :
The aim of the [farewell] discourse is to prepare followers for the loss of their leader. Customary motifs include the following: the leader’s summoning of followers; announcement of impending death; review of the leader’s past relations with his or her followers; exhortations to remain faithful to the leader’s teachings; revelations about the future, including difficulties that the followers will face in the absence of their leader; warnings; predictions of woes and controversies; words of comfort and promise; prayers and blessings pronounced on the followers; appointment of a successor.
Related terms:
1Some include John 13:31-38 in Jesus’s Farewell Discourse.
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