Transcript Slide 1

How Did We Get the Bible?
How We Got the Bible
Lesson One:
Divine Inspiration & the
Formation of the
Old Testament
The Inspiration
of Scripture
Bible Claims of Inspiration
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness, that the man of God
may be complete, thoroughly equipped
for every good work.”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Bible Claims of Inspiration
“...No Prophecy of Scripture is of
any private interpretation, for
prophecy never came by the will of
man, but holy men of God spoke as
they were moved by the Holy
Spirit.”
(2 Peter 1:20-21)
Bible Claims of Inspiration
“For this reason we also thank God
without ceasing, because when you
received the word of God which you
heard from us, you welcomed it not as
the word of men, but as it is in truth,
the word of God, which also effectively
works in you who believe.”
(1 Thessalonians 2:13)
The Nature of Inspiration
René Pache, The Inspiration and
Authority of Scripture: found
phrases like...
“Thus says the Lord”
“The word of the Lord came to”
3808 Times
(Chicago: Moody Press, 1969, pp. 65, 81)
The Nature of Inspiration
• Plenary “Full” Inspiration. Lat.
plenus “full.” All of Scripture is
inspired.
• Verbal Inspiration. Every word of
Scripture is inspired.
• Dynamic Inspiration. Although the
the personality and environment of the
writer was allowed to show through the Holy Spirit held absolute control
of the outcome.
The Nature of Inspiration
• Plenary “Full” Inspiration. Lat.
plenus “full.” All of Scripture is
inspired.
• Verbal Inspiration. Every word of
Scripture is inspired.
• Dynamic Inspiration. Although the
the personality and environment of the
writer was allowed to show through the Holy Spirit held absolute control
of the outcome.
The Nature of Inspiration
• Plenary “Full” Inspiration. Lat.
plenus “full.” All of Scripture is
inspired.
• Verbal Inspiration. Every word of
Scripture is inspired.
• Dynamic Inspiration. Although the
the personality and environment of the
writer was allowed to show through the Holy Spirit held absolute control
of the outcome.
Written
Language
The Language of the Bible
• Hebrew
- Most of the Old Testament.
• Aramaic
- A few passages of the Old Testament.
• Koine “Common” Greek
- The New Testament.
The Language of the Bible
• Hebrew
- Most of the Old Testament.
• Aramaic
- A few passages of the Old Testament.
• Koine “Common” Greek
- The New Testament.
The Language of the Bible
• Hebrew
- Most of the Old Testament.
• Aramaic
- A few passages of the Old Testament.
• Koine “Common” Greek
- The New Testament.
Tablets
Writing Material in Scripture
TABLETS
“The sin of Judah is written with a
pen of iron; with the point of a
diamond it is engraved on the tablet
of their heart, and on the horns of
your altars,”
(Jeremiah 17:1)
Writing Material in Scripture
TABLETS
“And when He had made an end of
speaking with him on Mount Sinai,
He gave Moses two tablets of the
Testimony, tablets of stone, written
with the finger of God.”
(Exodus 31:18).
Scrolls
Papyrus
Parchment
Writing Material in Scripture
SCROLLS
“Take a scroll of a book and write on
it all the words that I have spoken to
you against Israel, against Judah,
and against all the nations, from the
day I spoke to you, from the days of
Josiah even to this day.”
(Jeremiah 36:2)
Writing Material in Scripture
SCROLLS
“Now when I looked, there was a hand
stretched out to me; and behold, a
scroll of a book was in it. Then He
spread it before me; and there was
writing on the inside and on the
outside, and written on it were
lamentations and mourning and woe.”
(Ezekiel 2:9)
Early Writing Systems
Ideographic (Ideas conveyed in
pictographic symbols).
•Hieroglyphic (Egypt).
•Cuneiform (Mesopotamia,
Persia, the Levant).
Alphabetic (Graphic symbols that
represent sounds).
Early Writing Systems
Ideographic (Ideas conveyed in
pictographic symbols).
•Hieroglyphic (Egypt).
•Cuneiform (Mesopotamia,
Persia, the Levant).
Alphabetic (Graphic symbols that
represent sounds).
Hieroglyphics
Early Writing Systems
Ideographic (Ideas conveyed in
pictographic symbols).
•Hieroglyphic (Egypt).
•Cuneiform (Mesopotamia,
Persia, the Levant).
Alphabetic (Graphic symbols that
represent sounds).
Cuneiform
Early Writing Systems
Ideographic (Ideas conveyed in
pictographic symbols).
•Hieroglyphic (Egypt).
•Cuneiform (Mesopotamia,
Persia, the Levant).
Alphabetic (Graphic symbols that
represent sounds).
Proto-Sinaitic ca. 1500 BC
Alphabetic
Development
Alphabet
Ideographs
Allowed writing to be
more accessible
The First
Commandment:
“You shall
have no other
Gods before
me”
Alphabetic
Development
Proto-Sinaitic
Alphabet
Alphabetic
Development
The First
Commandment:
1500 BC
800 AD
“You shall
have no other
Gods before
me”
Ten Commandments
In Paleo-Hebrew
Modern Printed Hebrew Bible
Major Events for
the Hebrew Text
Major Events for the Hebrew Text
• The Giving of the Law of
Moses (ca. 1400 BC).
• The Recovery of the Book of
Moses in the Reign of Josiah
(ca. 621 BC).
• The Restoration of the Jews
to Palestine and the Reforms
of Ezra (ca. 400 BC).
Major Events for the Hebrew Text
• The Giving of the Law of
Moses (ca. 1400 BC).
• The Recovery of the Book of
Moses in the Reign of Josiah
(ca. 621 BC).
• The Restoration of the Jews
to Palestine and the Reforms
of Ezra (ca. 400 BC).
Major Events for the Hebrew Text
• The Giving of the Law of
Moses (ca. 1400 BC).
• The Recovery of the Book of
Moses in the Reign of Josiah
(ca. 621 BC).
• The Restoration of the Jews
to Palestine and the Reforms
of Ezra (ca. 400 BC).
The Giving of the
Law to Moses
The Giving of
the Law of Moses
“These are the
commandments which
the LORD commanded
Moses for the children
of Israel on Mount
Sinai”
(Leviticus 27:34)
The Giving of
the Law of Moses
“These are the words of
the covenant which the
LORD commanded Moses
to make with the children
of Israel in the land of
Moab, besides the
covenant which He made
with them in Horeb.”
(Deuteronomy 29:1).
The Giving of
the Law of Moses
“Remember the Law of
Moses, My servant,
Which I commanded
him in Horeb for all
Israel, with the statutes
and judgments.”
(Malachi 4:4).
The Giving of
the Law of Moses
“Now all the people
gathered together as one
man in the open square
that was in front of the
Water Gate…”
The Giving of
the Law of Moses
“…and they told Ezra
the scribe to bring the
Book of the Law of
Moses, which the LORD
had commanded Israel.”
(Nehemiah 8:1)
Man Says This Isn’t True!
Julius Wellhausen’s
Documentary Hypothesis
The Penteteuch was not given by God, or
written by Moses, but was formed by man
from different sources:
Source J • Source E • Source D • Source P
Jehovah • Elohim • Deuteronomist • Priestly
Then compiled together from 900-400 BC.
What Is The Truth?
 The
Bible says it was given by God
and written by Moses.
What Does The Bible Say?
In the Penteteuch we find the phrases...
“The LORD spoke to Moses”
104 Times
“The LORD said to Moses”
56 Times
“The LORD commanded Moses”
28 Times
The Bible Says the
Law of Moses...
 Was written by Moses
“...have you not read in the book of Moses...”
(Mark 12:26).
“Did not Moses give you the law...”
(John 7:19).

Yet, it was given by God
“The law was through Moses”
(John 1:17).
What Is The Truth?
 The
Bible says it was written by
Moses and given by God.
 Ancient writers believed it
was written by Moses.
Manetho – Egyptian Historian
ca. 240 BC
Speaking of Moses, says he was -
“… The man who gave them their
constitution and laws”
--Quoted by Josephus
(Against Apion, Book One 26.4).
Josephus – Jewish Historian
(Against Apion) ca. 80-90 AD
Speaking of Jewish Scriptures, says
they are - “… justly believed to be
Divine, and of them five belong
to Moses, which contain his laws,
and the traditions of the origins of
mankind till his death”
-- Book One 8.1
What Is The Truth?
 The
Bible says it was written by
Moses and given by God.
 Ancient writers believed it
was written by Moses.
 References to Elohim &
Jehovah are found together.
The Penteteuch Uses Elohim
& Jehovah Together
“LORD (Jehovah) God (Elohim)”
is found 47 times
(Genesis - 26; Exodus - 13; Deuteronomy - 8)
“LORD (Jehovah)” and “God (Elohim)”
in the same verse are found 413 times
(Genesis - 37; Exodus - 50; Leviticus - 38; Numbers - 11;
Deuteronomy - 277)
What Is The Truth?
 The
Bible says it was written by
Moses and given by God.
 Ancient writers believed it
was written by Moses.
 References to Elohim &
Jehovah are found together.
 There is no evidence for
this false theory!
Recovery of the
“Book of the Law”
Recovery of
“The Book of the Law”
“Then Hilkiah the high priest
said to Shaphan the scribe, “I
have found the Book of the
Law in the house of the LORD.”
And Hilkiah gave the book to
Shaphan, and he read it.”
(2 Kings 22:8)
“Book of the Law”
* 19 Times in the Old
Testament
(Deut. 28:61; 29:21; 30:10; 31:26;
Joshua 1:8; 8:31; 34; 23:6; 24:26;
2 Kings 14:6; 22:8; 22:11; 2 Chron.
17:9; 34:14; Nehemiah 8:1; 8:3;
8:18; 9:3).
* 1 Time in the New
Testament
(Galatians 3:10)
“Book of the Law”
Never “Books”
of the Law
“Book of the Law”
* Hebrew Books usually
were not named.
* The names Genesis,
Exodus, etc. came from the
Greek translation.
* Scrolls were usually
written with four lines
between different books.
(Babylonian Talmud, Baba
Batra 13b).
* The “Book of the Law” was
one scroll (or group of
scrolls) of all five books.
Opening Section of Isaiah from
1QIsaa “The Isaiah Scroll”
ca. 100 BC
No Title
Modern Printed Hebrew Bible
“Book of the Law”
* Hebrew Books usually
were not named.
* The names Genesis,
Exodus, etc. came from the
Greek translation.
* Scrolls were usually
written with four lines
between different books.
(Babylonian Talmud, Baba
Batra 13b).
* The “Book of the Law” was
one scroll (or group of
scrolls) of all five books.
“Book of the Law”
* Hebrew Books usually
were not named.
* The names Genesis,
Exodus, etc. came from the
Greek translation.
* Scrolls were usually
written with four lines
between different books.
(Babylonian Talmud, Baba
Batra 13b).
* The “Book of the Law” was
one scroll (or group of
scrolls) of all five books.
“Book of the Law”
* Hebrew Books usually
were not named.
* The names Genesis,
Exodus, etc. came from the
Greek translation.
* Scrolls were usually
written with four lines
between different books.
(Babylonian Talmud, Baba
Batra 13b).
* The “Book of the Law” was
one scroll (or group of
scrolls) of all five books.
Recovery of
“The Book of the Law”
“Now it happened, when the
king heard the words of the
Book of the Law, that he tore
his clothes.”
(2 Kings 22:11)
The Preservation of God’s
Word
“For assuredly, I say to you, till
heaven and earth pass away, one
jot or one tittle will by no means
pass from the law till all is
fulfilled.”
(Matthew 5:18)
The Preservation of God’s
Word
“Heaven and earth will pass
away, but My words will by no
means pass away.”
(Matthew 24:35)
The Preservation of God’s
Word
“...All flesh is as grass, And all the
glory of man as the flower of the
grass. The grass withers, And its
flower falls away, But the word of
the LORD endures forever...”
(1 Peter 1:24-25)
The Preservation of God’s
Word
“The grass withers, the
flower fades, But the
word of our God stands
forever.”
(Isaiah 40:8)
The Preservation of God’s
Word
“... Forever, O LORD, Your
word is settled in
heaven.”
(Psalm 119:89)
Recovery of
“The Book of the Law”
Teaching &
Restoration of the Law
(2 Kings 23:1-3)
The Restoration
of Ezra
Restoration of Ezra
“...Ezra came up from Babylon;
and he was a skilled scribe in
the Law of Moses, which the
LORD God of Israel had given.
The king granted him all his
request, according to the hand
of the LORD his God
upon Him”
(Ezra 7:6)
Restoration of Ezra
“...For Ezra had prepared his
heart to seek the Law of the
LORD, and to do it, and to
teach statutes and ordinances
in Israel.”
(Ezra 7:10)
Restoration of Ezra
Teaching &
Restoration of the Law
(Nehemiah 8:1-8)
“The Great Assembly”
(or “Great Synagogue”)
Term used by the Jews for the group
who restored the Law with Ezra.
“Moses received the Torah on Sinai, and handed
it down to Joshua; Joshua to the elders; the elders
to the prophets; and the prophets handed it down
to the Men of the Great Assembly”
(Jewish Mishnah, Perke Aboth, 1)
“The Great Assembly”
(or “Great Synagogue”)
• This period brings to an end Divine
Inspiration of Scriptures in Old
Testament times.
• The Old Testament Canon is closed.
• All other religious writing is viewed
as being uninspired and of lesser
value.
The Old
Testament Canon
Books of the Old Testament
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Books of the Old Testament
39 Books
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Books of the Old Testament
39 Books
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Books of Law
Books of the Old Testament
39 Books
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Books of History
Books of the Old Testament
39 Books
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Books of Poetry
Books of the Old Testament
39 Books
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Books of Prophecy
Books of the Old Testament
Divisions of the Hebrew Bible
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Torah - hr¸WT
Books of the Old Testament
Divisions of the Hebrew Bible
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Nevim - .ya3yb3n%
Books of the Old Testament
Divisions of the Hebrew Bible
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Ketubim - .yb3OtK5
Books of the Old Testament
39 Books (Ancient Jews – 22 or 24)
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Books of the Old Testament
38 Books (Ancient Jews – 22 or 24)
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Books of the Old Testament
37 Books (Ancient Jews – 22 or 24)
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Books of the Old Testament
36 Books (Ancient Jews – 22 or 24)
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Books of the Old Testament
35 Books (Ancient Jews – 22 or 24)
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Books of the Old Testament
34 Books (Ancient Jews – 22 or 24)
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Books of the Old Testament
33 Books (Ancient Jews – 22 or 24)
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Books of the Old Testament
22 Books (Ancient Jews – 22 or 24)
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Books of the Old Testament
24 Books (Ancient Jews – 22 or 24)
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Books of the Old Testament
Divisions of the Hebrew Bible
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Torah - hr¸WT
Books of the Old Testament
Divisions of the Hebrew Bible
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Nevim - .ya3yb3n%
Books of the Old Testament
Divisions of the Hebrew Bible
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Ketubim - .yb3OtK5
Luke 24:44
“…These are the words which
I spoke to you while I was
still with you, that all things
must be fulfilled which were
written in the Law, the
Prophets and the Psalms
concerning Me.”
Books of the Old Testament
Divisions of the Hebrew Bible
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Ketubim - .yb3OtK5
Apocryphal Book of Ecclesiasticus
(or Sirach) ca. 190 BC
“Many and great things have been given
to us by the LAW and the PROPHETS and
by OTHERS …my grandfather, Joshua,
gave himself to the reading of the LAW
and the PROPHETS and OTHER books of
our fathers…” Discussing translation of
Hebrew, he speaks of “…the LAW itself,
and the PROPHETS and the REST of the
books ”
-- Prologue
Philo of Alexandria (On the
Contemplative Life) ca. 30 AD
Speaks of a Jewish monastic sect
“…studying in that place the
LAWS and the sacred oracles of
God enunciated by the HOLY
PROPHETS and HYMNS and
PSALMS… ”
-- (25)
Josephus – Jewish Historian
(Against Apion) ca. 80-90 AD
“We have…22 books which contain the
records of all the past times; which are
justly believed to be Divine…5 belong to
MOSES…from the death of Moses to the
reign of Artaxerxes…the PROPHETS
wrote down what was done in 13
books…the remaining 4 contain HYMNS
to God and precepts for the conduct of
life”
-- Book One 8.1
The “Council” of Jamnia
• A theoretical “council” of Jews who
some claimed “closed” the Old
Testament Canon around 100 AD, in the
city of Jamnia after the destruction of
Jerusalem.
• There is some evidence that the books of
Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon were
discussed but the canon was closed and
well established long before this.
Did “Councils” Determine
What was in the Bible?
• Councils or declarations of men
do not determine what is Divine,
inspired or authoritative.
• At best, they simply state what is
already understood to be true.
The Old Testament
into Greek
The Old Testament in Greek
• The Conquest of Alexander the Great
brought the Greek language to much
of the Ancient World.
The Old Testament in Greek
• During the reign of Ptolemy II (ca.
285-246 BC.). The Old Testament
began to be translated into Greek.
• The Letter of Aristeas tells of
Ptolemy using 72 Jewish scholars to
carry out this work (Gr. Septuaginta =
70 - LXX - “The Septuagint”).
The Old Testament in Greek
• The Septuagint (LXX) utilized the
Greek custom of naming books. (e.g.
Exodus = Gr. ex “out” - hodos “road,
way”).
The Old Testament in Greek
• Many of the names we use are from
the LXX.
• The arrangement we use of the books
of the Old Testament (i.e. Law, History,
Poetry, Prophecy) was derived from
the LXX.
• The LXX was the Old Testament of
many early Christians.
Extra-Canonical
Books
Extra-Canonical Books
• The word “canon,” meaning “rule, or
measuring line,” refers to the complete
collection of Divinely inspired books.
• After the time of Ezra the canon was
closed.
• Many religious & historical works were
produced during this period. These are
called:
The Apocrypha (ca. 300 BC - 70 AD).
The Pseudepigrapha (ca. 200 BC - 200 AD).
The Apocrypha
(ca. 300 BC - 70 AD).
• 14 Jewish historical & religious texts
(Maccabees, Tobit, Bel & the
Dragon, Sirach, etc.).
• The Jews viewed these as
uninspired supplementary reading
which held no authority.
The Apocrypha
(ca. 300 BC - 70 AD).
Josephus, Against Apion, says of other works
after Ezra that they “hath not been esteemed
of the like authority with the former by our
forefathers because there hath not been an
exact succession of prophets from that time”
(Bk. I, 8.1).
The Babylonian Talmud, says Zechariah and
Malachi came “at the end of the prophets”
(Baba Batra, 14b).
The Apocrypha
(ca. 300 BC - 70 AD).
•While included in many copies of the LXX this was
probably considered supplementary material.
•Jesus and New Testament writers never quote from a
single Apocryphal book (although almost every
canonical book is quoted).
•These books are included in Roman Catholic Bibles
and were in the original 1611 King James Bible.
•They may have historical value but are not inspired!
The Pseudepigrapha
(ca. 200 BC - 200 AD).
• Fanciful texts under the pseudonym of
ancient writers (Life of Adam & Eve; The
Testaments of the12 Patriarchs; Enoch;
Martyrdom & Ascension of Isaiah).
• While known among the Jews, these were
like modern works of religious fiction.
• In addition to Scriptural & secular texts, the
Dead Sea Scroll “library” has a number of
Pseudepigraphic texts.
Old Testament Reliability
* The Old Testament Law, Prophets
and Writings (Genesis - Malachi) were
complete and viewed as the Inspired
word of God well before the First
Century.
* We can be assured that the Old
Testament we read in our English Bible
is the complete, accurate and wholly
inspired word of God.