JESUS CHRIST: GOD’S REVELATION TO THE WORLD

CHAPTER 3 SURVEYING THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

Best Seller

The Bible was first printed in 1454 The Bible is always at the top of any best-seller’s list

Familiar Sayings from the Bible “A HOUSE DIVIDED” “APPLE OF HIS EYE” “CAN A LEOPARD CHANGE HIS SPOTS” “OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES” “HANDWRITING ON THE WALL” “LABOR OF LOVE” “BY THE SKIN OF MY TEETH” “EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY”

Formation of the Old Testament

Before the actual writing took place, there was a period of oral traditions that came from the experiences the people had with God and with each other.

Many historians believe the Chosen People began to preserve their stories during the reign of King Solomon (950 BC).

Many editors were involved, resulting in many OT books being compilations.

The Old Testament Canon

The Septuagint (a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) was common during Jesus’ day.

Jewish scholars omitted the seven books written in Greek from the Septuagint.

The Council of Trent accepted all the books in the Septuagint as part of the Old Testament canon.

Protestant Reformers accepted the official list of Hebrew Scriptures accepted by rabbis in AD 90.

Survey of the Old Testament Books

Pentateuch

Most scholars believe that four different oral traditions went into writing the foundational Pentateuch.

  Genesis   Exodus Leviticus  Numbers Deuteronomy

The Historical Books

How God remained faithful to the covenant; how the Israelites struggled to live by its terms     Joshua Judges  Ruth 1 and 2 Samuel   Ezra and Nehemiah Tobit, Judith, and Esther   1 and 2 Kings 1 and 2 Chronicles 1 and 2 Maccabees

Survey of the Old Testament Books

The Wisdom Books

How God works in our everyday lives

Prophetic Books

The biblical prophets were a messengers from God.

 Job   Psalms Proverbs   Ecclesiastes Song of Songs   Wisdom Sirach   Worship the one, true God Accept God’s love and mercy   Be just, especially to the poor Know that God will ultimately triumph

Classifying the Prophets MAJOR PROPHETS: Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel MINOR PROPHETS: Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

The Writing of the New Testament

Stage 1: 6 BC—AD 30/33 Stage 3: AD 50—c. 120 Stage 2: AD 30—50

Stage 1: The Historical Jesus

Jesus lived a typical life of a Jewish boy Began his public ministry c. 28 AD Taught, healed, and proclaimed the coming of the Kingdom of God Crucified by Pontius Pilate c. 30 AD Rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion

Stage 2: Oral Tradition

“Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation”

KERYGMA—preaching to unbelievers DIDACHE—teaching, further catechesis LITURGY—worship of the Christians

Why Commit the Oral Tradition to writing?

 The end of the world was not coming as quickly as the early Christians at first thought it would  Distortions to the Gospel were occurring  More instruction was needed

Stage 3: The New Testament Writings

First written books of the New Testament were the letters of St. Paul The four Gospels, Acts, Catholic Epistles, and Revelation were probably written in the latter half of the 1 st century

Survey of the New Testament The Sacred Tradition of the Church, administered by the Apostles and their successors, determined which books were to be included in the canon and which were not under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Types of Writing in the New Testament

Gospels Acts of the Apostles

The heart of the Scriptures!

 Mark (~60—75)  Matthew (~80—90)  Luke (~85)  John (~80—110) Second part of the Gospel of Luke Acts tells the early history of the Church

Types of Writing in the New Testament

Pauline Letters

Circulated in his name; either written by Paul himself or a disciple of Paul

The Letter to the Hebrews

Emphasizes Christ’s superiority over all creation   1 and 2 Thessalonians  Galatians  Philippians 1 and 2 Corinthians      Romans Philemon Colossians Ephesians  Titus 1 and 2 Timothy Perfect sacrifice of Death on the cross took away sin, fulfilling the promises of the Old Testament

Types of Writing in the New Testament

Catholic Epistles Revelation

Letters intended “for all” (Catholic means “universal)  James  1 and 2 Peter  Jude  1, 2 and 3 John This highly symbolic work’s purpose was to encourage Christians who were undergoing persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ.