The Didache Bible with Commentaries Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Chur: Ignatius Edition

FOREWORD

Pope Paul VI considered the documents of the Second Vatican Council to be the great catechism of our time. The Catholic Church was therefore greatly blessed when Pope blessed John Paul II, on the twentieth anniversary of the close of the council, convened the Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of bishops, which decided to publish a new Catechism of the Catholic Church. This Catechism, which would be approved by John Paul II and published in 1992, incorporated the rich teachings of the Second Vatican Council into the Church's traditional magisterial teachings. Its thorough and systematic explanation of the Faith presents extensive references to Sacred Scripture, which, contemplated in the light of Sacred Tradition, is the source of Catholic teaching, the written witness to God's self-revelation.

Underlining the importance of the Catechism, Pope blessed John Paul II, in his Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum, stated, "The Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . is a statement of the Church's faith and of Catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church's Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith" (no. 3).

The importance of the Catechism as a means to study and deepen one's understanding of the Faith was also emphasized by Pope Benedict XVI, who, in opening theYear of Faith, declared, "In order to arrive at a systematic knowledge of the content of the faith, all can find in the Catechism of the Catholic Church a precious and indispensable tool. It is one of the most important fruits of the Second Vatican Council" (Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei, 11).

Since the Catechism's publication, the Church has been continually blessed by the richness of its teachings, and it has become the preeminent source for Catholics to learn the truths of the Catholic faith.

The Second Vatican Council, in the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum, affirmed the importance of Sacred Scripture in the life of faith. It strongly encouraged the faithful to study and to contemplate the Word of God so as to enter into the life of Christ and to better understand His message. At the same time, Dei Verbum reminds us that the task of authentically interpreting Scripture has been entrusted by Christ to His Church.

It is clear, therefore, that Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture and the teaching authority of the Church, in accord with God's most wise design, are so linked and joined together that one cannot stand without the others, and that all together and each in its own way under the action of the one Holy Spirit contribute effectively to the salvation of souls. (Dei Verbum, 10)

With this in mind, Midwest Theological Forum has published the Didache Bible, using the updated Catholic edition of the Revised Standard Version. The Didache Bible includes extensive commentaries of Sacred Scripture based on the Magisterial teaching as presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The commentaries also contain numerous references indicating where various parts of Sacred Scripture are explained more fully in the Catechism. Additionally, the Didache Bible includes numerous apologetical explanations, based on the Catechism, which are intended to help the reader better understand the teaching of the Church on current issues.

I highly recommend the Didache Bible as a means for Catholics to better understand the Word of God in Sacred Scripture. Its commentaries are accessible both in their level of scriptural scholarship and in their explanations of the faith. It is ideal for students and those participating in Scripture studies as well as those who seek to contemplate the Word of God in prayer. It is my hope that the Didache Bible will be a valuable resource for many Catholics seeking a deeper understanding of Sacred Scripture as a text written by people of faith for people of faith.

+ Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I.

Archbishop of Chicago

January 6, 2014

PREFACE

The Didache Series of religious education textbooks has been published by Midwest Theological Forum (MTF) since 2002; its purpose is to convey the fullness of the Catholic Faith to Catholic high school students in an age-appropriate manner using proven pedagogical methods. These textbooks present the doctrinal, scriptural, moral, and sacramental teachings and practices of the Catholic Church in a comprehensive, accessible way. They are based on authoritative sources that include Sacred Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the lives of the saints, the Fathers of the Church, the General Directory for Catechesis, and the teachings of Vatican II as witnessed by the pontificates of Popes B1. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.

At present MTF has published the Didache Complete Course Series (four textbooks), the Didache Semester Series (eleven textbooks), and the Didache Parish Series (eight textbooks). MTF has also published religious education textbooks for campus ministry, college courses, seminaries, and adult education.

While publishing the Didache Series textbooks, it was brought to my attention that there was a great need for a Catholic edition of Sacred Scripture with catechetical and apologetical commentaries based on these same principles. Such an edition of the Bible could be an effective companion to the textbooks, showing how the teachings of the Catholic Church as presented in the Catechism are based on and consonant with Sacred Scripture, showing how Scripture and Tradition are the twin founts of revealed truth in the Deposit of Faith.

Another inspiration for the publication of a Catholic edition of Sacred Scripture with commentaries based on the Catechism was a 2002 address of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, "Current Doctrinal Relevance of the Catechism of the Catholic Church," which contains some of his reflections ten years after the publication of the Catechism. He wrote:

Drawing from Sacred Scripture and the complex richness of tradition in its many forms and inspired by the Second Vatican Council, [the Catechism] offers an organic vision of the entirety of the Catholic faith, which is beautiful in its entirety—with a beauty in which the splendor of the truth shines forth.

With the goal of preparing biblical commentaries representing this organic vision of the entirety of the Catholic faith, MTF worked with several professors of Sacred Scripture in various Catholic seminaries to assist in the preparation of the commentaries. The resulting Didache Bible presents commentaries on every book of the Bible that are based primarily on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. These commentaries also reference where various parts of Sacred Scripture are explained more fully in the Catechism. Additionally, the Didache Bible includes apologetical explanations, which expound on the teachings of the Church on current issues; twenty-seven full-color maps; a comprehensive glossary; a topical index; and other resources.

While designed primarily for students, it is my opinion that the Didache Bible will prove useful to every Catholic who seeks a deeper understanding of our one Faith, especially of the scriptural basis of the teachings of the Church. I recommend this warmly to those participating in parish Scripture studies and RCIA, priests, deacons, and seminarians.

Rev. James Socias

January 1, 2014

INTRODUCTION

"Sacred Scripture is the word of God inasmuch as it is consigned to writing under the inspiration of the divine Spirit" (DV 9).

St. Paul wrote to his disciple St. Timothy, All scripture is inspired by God . . . that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Tm 3:16-17) and St. Peter explained to the first Christians that no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Pt 1:21). That is why the Church teaches that "in composing the sacred books, God chose men and while employed by Him (cf. Pius XII, Encyclical Divino Afflante Spiritu, September 30, 1943: Aas 35 [1943] p. 314; Enchiridion Bible, 556) they made use of their powers and abilities, so that with Him acting in them and through them (In and for man: cf. Heb 1; 4:7; [in]: 2 Sm 23:2; Mt 1:22 and various places; [for]: Vatican Council I, Schema on Catholic Doctrine, note 9: Coll. Lac. VII, 522), they, as true authors, consigned to writing everything and only those things which He wanted" (Leo XIII, Encyclical Providentissimus Deus, November 18, 1893: Denzinger 1952 [3293]; Enchiridion Bible, 125; DV 11).

Therefore, God is the principal author of Sacred Scripture, and the inspired books teach "solidly, faithfully and without error that truth which God wanted put into sacred writings (cf. St. Augustine, Gen. ad Litt., 2, 9, 20: PL 34, 270-271; Epistle 82, 3: PL 33, 277: CSEL 34, 2, p. 354. St. Thomas, On truth, Q. 12, A. 2, Council of Trent, session IV, Scriptural Canons: Denzinger 783 [1501]. Leo XIII, encyclical Providentissimus Deus: Enchiridion Bible, 121, 124, 126-127. Pius XII, encyclical Divino Afflante Spiritu: Enchiridion Bible, 539) for the sake of salvation" (DV 11). The sacred writers are also truly writers who made use of their faculties and abilities, always in harmony with divine inspiration.

The Holy Spirit led the Church to discern what writings were truly inspired by God and, therefore, should be considered as part of Scripture. This set of books forms a sacred deposit, which cannot be changed—the "canon" of Scripture—and includes forty-six books in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New Testament.

The books that make up the Old Testament are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, the two Books of Samuel, the two Books of the Kings, the two Books of the Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, and the two Books of the Maccabees.

The New Testament is formed by the Gospels of St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John; the Acts of the Apostles; the Epistles of St. Paul to the Romans, the First and Second to the Corinthians, to the Galatians, to the Ephesians, to the Philippians, to the Colossians, the First and Second to the Thessalonians, the First and Second to Timothy, to Titus, and to Philemon; the Epistle to the Hebrews; the Epistle of St. James; the First and Second Epistles of St. Peter; the three Epistles of St. John; the Epistle of St. Jude; and Revelation.

The content of Revelation is not limited to the inspired written texts: The divine message has also come to us by means of a Tradition that has been transmitted as if from hand to hand, from the Apostles and the first disciples of Christ, by way of the Church, through the assistance of the Holy Spirit. "This living transmission, accomplished in the Holy Spirit, is called Tradition, since it is distinct from Sacred Scripture, though closely connected to it. Through Tradition, 'the Church, in her doctrine, life and worship, perpetuates and transmits to every generation all that she herself is, all that she believes' (DV 8). 'The sayings of the holy Fathers are a witness to the life-giving presence of this Tradition, showing how its riches are poured out in the practice and life of the Church, in her belief and her prayer'" (DV 8; CCC 78).

By divine disposition, "the task of authentically interpreting the word of God, whether written or handed on (cf. Vatican Council I, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, Chap. 3 On Faith: Denzinger 1792 [3011]), has been entrusted exclusively to the living teaching office of the Church (cf. Pius XII, Encyclical Humani Generis, August 12, 1950: AAS 42 (1950) pp. 568-569: Denzinger 2314 [3886]), whose authority is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ. This teaching office is not above the word of God, but serves it, teaching only what has been handed on, listening to it devoutly, guarding it scrupulously and explaining it faithfully in accord with a divine commission and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it draws from this one deposit of faith everything which it presents for belief as divinely revealed (DV 10).

This means that sacred tradition, Sacred Scripture and the teaching authority of the Church, in accord with God's most wise design, are so linked and joined together that one cannot stand without the others, and that all together and each in its own way under the action of the one Holy Spirit contribute effectively to the salvation of souls (DV 10).

The Churchforcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful . . . to learn 'the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ,' by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. 'Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ' (DV 25; cf. Phil 3:8 and St. Jerome, Commentariorum in Isaiam libri, xviii prol.: PL 24, 17B; CCC 133).

To achieve a fruitful reading of the Bible, it is necessary tocarefully investigate what meaning the sacred writers really intended, and what God wanted to manifest by means of their words (DV 12). To discover this content, it must be borne in mind that the words of Scripture contain two meanings: the literal and the spiritual.

The literal sense isthe meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture and discovered by exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation (CCC 116). The other senses of Scripture are based on this literal sense.

The spiritual meaning is that which is deduced from the realities and events specified in the sacred text. It can be of three types:

   a) Allegorical: Shows how people and events in salvation history can be understood by recognizing their significance in Christ; e.g., the passage of the Red Sea is a sign of Christ's victory over sin and, therefore, of baptism.

   b) Moral: The events narrated teach us to act in a morally just way.

   c) Anagogical: The events have an eternal meaning, whichleadus (Greek: anagoge) to Heaven; e.g., the Church on earth is a sign of the eternal beatitude.

Like any literary text, to understand in depth thesenseof Scripture it is beneficial to know the peculiarities of the literary genres used in its drafting, the historical events that occurred at the time, the personal circumstances of the protagonists, and so on. Above all, however, it is necessary to read the Word of Godin the sacred spirit in which it was written (DV 12). For this it is necessary to pay great attention to the content and unity of Scripture as a whole; to understand it according to the living Tradition of the Church; and to respect elements of the faith (DV 12), that is, the cohesion between all the truths revealed by God.

The commentaries in this Didache Bible are expositions of the Catholic Faith and are thus drawn from the Deposit of Faith, whose twin sources are Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Consulting with experts in Scripture and Catholic doctrine, these concise commentaries show how the teachings of the Faith are both drawn from and consonant with the written, revealed Word of God. The commentaries contain references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which provides further information on the teachings of the Church on particular topics. Thus, this Didache Bible is a fruit of what Pope benedict XVI taught about the relationship between Scripture and the Catechism:

It is important to stress the relationship between sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . : "Sacred Scripture, in fact, as 'the word of God written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit', and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, as a significant contemporary expression of the living Tradition of the Church and a sure norm for teaching the faith, are called, each in its own way and according to its specific authority, to nourish catechesis in the Church today" (cf. Congregation for the Clergy, General Catechetical Directory [August 15, 1997], 128; Enchiridion Vaticanum, 16, no. 936). (Pope Benedict XVI, Verbum Domini, 74)

HOW TO READ THE BIBLE

1. Why we should read the Bible

The Bible is a unique book, unlike any other. Through its pages God "meets his children with great love and speaks with them" (DV 21), and expresses in human language the ultimate truths of his being.

Sacred Scripture teaches us that man was createdin the image of God(Gn 1:27), with the capacity to know and love his Creator, and it offers us the way to achieve happiness on earth and in Heaven.

In Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment and her strength, for she welcomes it not as a human word, 'but as what it really is, the word of God' (1 Thes 2:13; cf. DV 24; CCC 104). The Bible is a priceless treasure in which we always find light and a guide for our earthly pilgrimage.

2. Jesus Christ, center and key to the Bible

Since the beginning of time, God spoke to men with works and words, through the created realities, and through the men chosen to transmit what he wanted to say.

But above all God has revealed himself to us through his Only-begotten Son, the Second Person of the Trinity. Jesus Christ, the Son of God made man, is the last and final Word of the Father, who has transmitted everything that God wanted to communicate to men so that we could have life in him.

The Bible contains and gives testimony to the Word of the living God who speaks to us in Christ. Jesus Christ is the key to understanding the nature and the message of the bible. Therefore, the Christian will seek Christ in every page of the sacred books, and especially in the Gospels, which have a special preeminence (DV 18).

It follows that each passage of the bible should be read within the context of all the Scriptures with the realization that the Old Testament prepares the New and the New gives effect to the Old.

3. Recommendations for a greater spiritual benefit

God is the principal Author of the Scriptures. The content of each book of the Old and New Testaments has been inspired by the Holy Spirit so the Sacred Authors wrote everything he wanted and nothing more.

This premise—consciousness of its divine inspiration—is necessary to obtain spiritual benefit from the bible: if we read it in an atmosphere of faith, with reverence and respect, with the intelligence alert, the Word of God provides light and meaning to our lives:All scripture is . . . profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Tm 3:16).

Before starting to read the bible, it is appropriate to ask the Holy Spirit for enlightenment. This prayer can be used: Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.

Then we should approach the sacred text with humility. We can never think that we know the Scriptures adequately or that we have understood them fully: Their message is always new and relevant.

Let us read slowly with attention; avoiding haste and routine: it is not a dead script, but the Word"living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb 4:12).

The Bible belongs to the Church—since it has been entrusted to her—thus we never read Scripture on our own. We read it in the context of the faith of the Church, even if we read privately. We must always look for the sense that the Church gives to the various texts. The introductions and the commentaries accompanying this edition are intended for that purpose, hence, the usefulness of their consultation.

Sacred Scripture has been given to us so we love God and our neighbor more and better: with works, not just with words. Every time we meditate on its pages we should ask ourselves: According to this passage, how can I love God more? How can I love my neighbor more?

4. Reading plan

While we can read the Bible like any other book, it may be more beneficial to spend a short time each day—five or ten minutes—and a longer period at another time of the week—e.g., half an hour on Saturdays or Sundays.

The main purpose is that each person gains a deep knowledge and love of Christ, and through his teachings, of the Father and the Holy Spirit. To achieve this goal, we recommend daily reading of the New Testament—beginning with the Gospels— and to set aside the Old Testament for the weekend. If we consider these times as appointments with God, then we will achieve this purpose easily.

Of course, many other methods can be followed, and it is always possible to read a particular book of the bible or a specific passage when seeking divine guidance for a specific circumstance: What an inexhaustible source of prayer is the book of Psalms! How our admiration grows as we contemplate the works that God performed with the people of Israel on liberating them from Egypt! What great consolation is offered by the book of Job in moments of pain or grief! Each and every one of the books of the bible has an endless wealth and their reading cannot be conditioned by fixed rules.

ABBREVIATIONS USED FOR

THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

THE OLD TESTAMENT

Genesis     Gn

Exodus     Ex

Leviticus     Lv

Numbers     Nm

Deuteronomy     Dt

Joshua     Jos

Judges     Jgs

Ruth     Ru

1 Samuel     1 Sm

2 Samuel     2 Sm

1 Kings     1 Kgs

2 Kings     2 Kgs

1 Chronicles     1 Chr

2 Chronicles     2 Chr

Nehemiah     Neh

Tobit     Tb

Judith     Jdt

Esther     Est

Job     Jb

Psalms     Ps

Proverbs     Prv

Ecclesiastes     Eccl

Song of Solomon     Sg

Wisdom     Wis

Sirach     Sir

Isaiah     Is

Jeremiah     Jer

Lamentations     Lam

Baruch     Bar

Ezekiel     Ez

Daniel     Dn

Hosea     Hos

Joel     Jl

Amos     Am

Obadiah     Ob

Jonah     Jon

Micah     Mi

Nahum     Na

Habakkuk     Hb

Zephaniah     Zep

Haggai     Hg

Zechariah     Zec

Malachi     Mal

1 Maccabees     1 Mc

2 Maccabees     2 Mc

THE NEW TESTAMENT

Matthew     Mt

Mark     Mk

Luke     Lk

John     Jn

Acts of the Apostles     Acts

Romans     Rom

1 Corinthians     1 Cor

2 Corinthians     2 Cor

Galatians     Gal

Ephesians     Eph

Philippians     Phil

Colossians     Col

1 Thessalonians     1 Thes

2 Thessalonians     2 Thes

1 Timothy     1 Tm

2 Timothy     2 Tm

Titus     Ti

Philemon     Phlm

Hebrews     Heb

James     Jas

1 Peter     1 Pt

2 Peter     2 Pt

1 John     1 Jn

2 John     2 Jn

3 John     3 Jn

Jude     Jude

Revelation     Rev

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF

THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

(Books of the New Testament are in italics)

Acts of the Apostles     Acts

Amos     Am

Baruch     Bar

1 Chronicles     1 Chr

2 Chronicles     2 Chr

Colossians     Col

1 Corinthians     1 Cor

2 Corinthians     2 Cor

Daniel     Dn

Deuteronomy     Dt

Ecclesiastes     Eccl

Ephesians     Eph

Esther     Est

Exodus     Ex

Ezekiel     Ez

Ezra     Ezr

Galatians     Gal

Genesis     Gn

Habakkuk     Hb

Haggai     Hg

Hebrews     Heb

Hosea     Hos

Isaiah     Is

James     Jas

Jeremiah     Jer

Job     Jb

Joel     Jl

John     Jn

1 John     1 Jn

2 John     2 Jn

3 John     3 Jn

Jonah     Jon

Joshua     Jos

Jude     Jude

Judges     Jgs

Judith     Jdt

1 Kings     1 Kgs

2 Kings     2 Kgs

Lamentations     Lam

Leviticus     Lv

Luke     Lk

1 Maccabees     1 Mc

2 Maccabees     2 Mc

Malachi     Mal

Mark     Mk

Matthew     Mt

Micah     Mi

Nahum     Na

Nehemiah     Neh

Numbers     Nm

Obadiah     Ob

1 Peter     1 Pt

2 Peter     2 Pt

Philemon     Phlm

Philippians     Phil

Proverbs     Prv

Psalms     Ps

Revelation     Rev

Romans     Rom

Ruth     Ru

1 Samuel     1 Sm

2 Samuel     2 Sm

Sirach     Sir

Song of Solomon     Sg

1 Thessalonians     1 Thes

2 Thessalonians     2 Thes

1 Timothy     1 Tm

2 Timothy     2 Tm

Titus     Ti

Tobit     Tb

Wisdom     Wis

Zechariah     Zec

Zephaniah     Zep

ABBREVIATIONS USED FOR

DOCUMENTS OF THE MAGISTERIUM

AAS     Acta Apostolicæ Sedis.

AG     Vatican Council II, Decree Ad Gentes on the Mission Activity of the Church, December 7, 1965.

CCC     English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America, copyright © 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc., Libreria Editrice Vaticana; English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica, copyright © 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc., Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

CCEO     Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, copyright © 1990, Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

CDF     Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

CIC     New English Translation of the Code of Canon Law, copyright © 1983, Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

CPG     Paul VI, Apostolic Letter Solemni Hac Liturgia (Credo of the People of God), June 30, 1968.

CSDC     Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, copyright © 2004, Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

ComCat     The Companion to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, copyright © 2002, Ignatius Press, San Francisco.

DH     Vatican Council II, Dignitatis Humanæ (Declaration on Religious Freedom), December 7, 1965.

DS     Denzinger-Schonmetzer, Enchiridion Symbolorum, definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum, 1965.

DV     Vatican Council II, Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation), November 18, 1965.

FC     St. John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio (On the Family), November 22, 1981.

GS     Vatican Council II, Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World), December 7, 1965.

LG     Vatican Council II, Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church), November 21, 1964.

MF     Paul VI, Encyclical Mysterium Fidei (The Mystery of Faith), September 3, 1965.

OT     Paul VI, Decree on Priestly Training Optatam Totius, October 28, 1965.

PG     J. P. Migne, Patrologia Græca, 1857—1866.

PL     J. P. Migne, Patrologia Latina, 1844—1855.

PO     Vatican Council II, Presbyterorum Ordinis (Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests), December 7, 1965.

SC     Vatican Council II, Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy), December 4, 1963.

STh     Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica.

UR     Vatican Council II, Unitatis Redintegratio (Decree on Ecumenism), November 21, 1964.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SACRED SCRIPTURE

THE OLD TESTAMENT

Historical Books

Genesis     Creation and origin of mankind (1-11)

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (12-36)

Joseph in Egypt (37-50)

Exodus     Moses and the pharaoh; the Exodus from Egypt (1-18)

The people of Israel in Sinai (19-40)

Leviticus     Rules concerning priests and sacrifices (1-10)

Law of ritual purity (11-16)

Law of holiness (17-27)

Numbers Censuses and rules in Sinai (1-11)

Stages of the people of Israel in the desert: Kadesh and Moab (12-36)

Deuteronomy     Introduction and first discourse of Moses (1-4)

Second and third discourses of Moses (5-30)

Farewell and death of Moses (31-34)

Joshua     Conquering of the Promised Land (1-12)

Distribution of land among the tribes (13-24)

Judges     Settlement of the tribes (1-2)

The judges of Israel (3-16)

Various events (17-21)

Ruth     A non-Israelite becomes part of the people of Israel

1 Samuel     Samuel (1-7)

Samuel and Saul (8-15)

Saul and David (16-21)

2 Samuel     The reign of David

1 Kings     The reign of Solomon (1-11)

The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah until the time of Elijah (12-17)

Kings in the time of Elijah (18—2 Kings 1)

2 Kings     Kings in the time of Elisha (2-13)

Kings of Israel and Judah up to the fall of Samaria (14-17)

The Kings of Judah until the Babylonian Exile (18-25)

1 Chronicles     Genealogical lists from Adam to the establishment of the monarchy (1-9)

The reign of David (10-29)

2 Chronicles     The reign of Solomon (1-9)

The Kings of Judah until the Babylonian Exile (10-36)

Ezra     Rebuilding of the Temple (1-6)

Establishment of the Law (7-10)

Nehemiah     Rebuilding Jerusalem

Tobit     Tobit, a just and pious man, suffers misfortune and incomprehension (1-3)

Tobias's journey accompanied by the Archangel Raphael (4-10)

Return and cure of Tobit (11-14)

Judith     The Israelites harassed by the Assyrians (1-7)

Intervention by Judith (8-16)

Esther     Persecution of the Jews; salvation due to Esther's loyalty to God

1 Maccabees     Hellenization of Jerusalem and the revolt of Mattathias (1-2)

Judas Maccabeus (3-9)

Jonathan and Simon (9-16)

2 Maccabees     Letters to the Jews in Egypt (1-2)

Profanation and cleansing of the Temple (3-10)

Peace and security for the Jews (10-15)

Poetical and Wisdom Books

Job     Prosperity and ruin of Job (1-2)

Dialogues between Job and his friends (3-37)

Speeches of the Lord and of Job (38-41)

God blesses Job again (42)

Psalms     Collection of the 150 psalms

Proverbs     Choice between wisdom and folly (1-9)

Proverbs and sayings (10-31)

Ecclesiastes (or Qoheleth)     All is vanity (1-6)

Wisdom and the fear of God (7-12)

The Song of Solomon     Allegorical poems about love

Wisdom     Wisdom and man's destiny (1-6)

Nature and role of wisdom (6-9)

Wisdom at work in history (10-19)

Sirach     God has the fullness of wisdom (1-16)

God imbues all his works with wisdom (16-23)

Wisdom lies in fulfilling the Commandments (24-32)

Wisdom and the fear of God (32-42)

Lessons of history (42-51)

Prophetical Books

Isaiah     Oracles of condemnation and promises of salvation (1-39)

Consolation and restoration (40-55)

The glory of Jerusalem and salvation for the nations (56-66)

Jeremiah     Oracles concerning Israel and Judah (1-25)

Biographical stories (26-45)

Oracles against the nations and the fall of Jerusalem (46-52)

Lamentations     Five songs of lamentation

Baruch     The exiles in Babylon (1-5)

The letter of Jeremiah (6)

Ezekiel     Judgment and condemnation of Israel (1-24)

Judgment and condemnation of the nations (25-32)

Hope and the restoration of Israel (33-48)

Daniel     Daniel and his companions in Babylon (1-6)

Daniel's dreams and visions (7-12)

Susanna and other stories (13-14)

Hosea     Hosea's marriage (1-3)

Sins of Israel (4-11)

Israel's unfaithfulness (12-14)

Joel     A time of misfortune (1-2)

Outpouring of the Spirit and the day of the Lord (3-4)

Amos     Judgment of the neighboring countries, of Judah, and of Israel (1-2)

Israel warned and threatened (3-6)

Prophetic visions (7-9)

Obadiah     Oracle against Edom, and the day of the Lord

Jonah     God's call and the flight of Jonah (1-2)

Jonah in Nineveh (3-4)

Micah     Divine judgment and punishment (1-3)

Hope and restoration (4-7)

Nahum     The fall and destruction of Nineveh foretold (1-3)

Habakkuk     Dialogue between Habakkuk and God (1)

Curses on oppressors (2)

The psalm of Habakkuk (3)

Zephaniah     Judgment on Judah and on the nations (1-2)

Promise of salvation (3)

Haggai     Rebuilding and glory of the Temple of Jerusalem

Zechariah     Visions and discourses (1-8)

Messianic oracles (9-14)

Malachi     Six disputes on the Law

THE NEW TESTAMENT

Gospels

Matthew     Birth and infancy of Jesus (1-2)

Prelude to public ministry (3)

Jesus' ministry in Galilee: the Sermon on the Mount, miracles, and Parables of the Kingdom (4-16)

On the way to Jerusalem (17-20)

Jesus' ministry in Jerusalem: cleansing of the Temple and controversies (21-25)

Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus (26-28)

Mark     Preparation for public ministry (1)

Parables and miracles in Galilee; Jesus' journey with his Apostles (1-8)

On the way to Jerusalem (8-10)

In Jerusalem: cleansing of the Temple, controversies, and eschatological discourse (11-13)

Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ (14-16)

Luke     Birth and infancy of Jesus (1-2)

Preparation for public ministry (3)

Miracles and preaching of the Lord (4-9)

The way to Jerusalem: various teachings and the parables of God's mercy (9-19)

Cleansing of the Temple, controversies, and eschatological discourse (19-21)

Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus (22-24)

John     Prologue (1)

Jesus, author of salvation (2-4)

Jesus reveals his divinity (5)

Jesus is the Bread of Life (6)

The great messianic revelation: Christ, sent by the Father, the Good Shepherd, Light of the world, equal to the Father (7-11)

Jesus, acclaimed as the messianic King (12)

Last Supper (13-17)

Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus (18-21)

Acts of the Apostles

Acts of the Apostles     The Church in Jerusalem (1-7)

The Church spreads beyond Jerusalem (8-12)

Journeys of Paul (13-20)

Paul in prison (21-28)

Epistles

Romans     Justification by Jesus Christ (1-11)

Living in charity (12-16)

1 Corinthians     Correction of various moral abuses (1-6)

Answers to the questions of the faithful of Corinth (7-16)

2 Corinthians     Paul's defense against his enemies (1-7)

Collection for the faithful of Jerusalem (8-9)

Paul's apologia (10-13)

Galatians     The Gospel preached by Paul (1-4)

Christian freedom and charity (5-6)

Ephesians     Incorporation into Christ and the Church (1-4)

New life in Christ and in the Church (4-6)

Philippians     Having the same sentiments as Christ (1-2)

Christian life (3-4)

Colossians     The preeminence of Christ (1-2)

New life in Christ (3-4)

1 Thessalonians     Evangelization (1-3)

Spiritual progress in the Christian life (4-5)

2 Thessalonians     The judgment of God and the Second Coming of Christ (1-2)

Perseverance in the chosen way (3)

1 Timothy     Sound doctrine (1-2)

Sacred ministers of the Church (3)

Pastoral directives (4-6)

2 Timothy     Preaching the Gospel and defending doctrine (1-3)

Reward for faithfulness (4)

Titus     Titus's mission in Crete (1)

Moral demands of the Faith (2-3)

Philemon     Intercession on behalf of Onesimus

Hebrews     Excellence of the priesthood of Christ (1-10)

Faith and perseverance in faith (11-13)

James     Faith and works (1-2)

Practical applications (3-5)

1 Peter     Holiness in the world (1-2)

Christian attitude to suffering (3-5)

2 Peter     Fidelity to received doctrine (1-2)

Second Coming of the Lord (3)

1 John     Union with God and divine filiation (1-3)

Faith in Jesus Christ and brotherly love (4-5)

2 John     Commandment of love

3 John     The Apostle's joy at the faithfulness of the Christians

Jude     Denunciation of false teachers and exhortation to virtue

Revelation

Revelation     Letters to the seven churches (1-3)

Eschatological visions: sealed scroll, opening of the first six seals, four horsemen, seventh seal, trumpets (4-10)

Christ's victory over the powers of evil; the Church in glory (11-22)

CHRONOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

The Patriarchs

The Book of Genesis

18th-17th Centuries BC     The creation of Adam and Eve

The history of mankind after the Flood

God calls Abram (later Abraham) to go to the land of Canaan

The covenant with Abraham

Isaac, Esau, and Jacob

Jacob and his sons go to Egypt

Joseph dies in Egypt

The Exodus and the Journey to the Promised Land

The Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy

17th-13th Centuries BC     The Hebrews become slaves in Egypt

Moses is born

God appears to Moses

The Exodus

The Law is given to Moses on Mt. Sinai

The Conquest of the promised land and the Time of the Judges

The Books of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth

13th-12th Centuries BC     Israel begins the conquest of Canaan

Joshua dies

The judges of Israel

The story of Ruth

The Kingdom of Israel

The Books of 1 and 2 Samuel, 2 Kings (chapters 1-11), the Song of Solomon, 1 Chronicles, Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes

ca. 1100 BC     The deeds of Samuel

ca. 1050 BC     Saul anointed the first King of Israel

ca. 1010 BC     David becomes the King of Israel

ca. 1000 BC     Jerusalem becomes the capital of Israel

ca. 970 BC     Solomon becomes King of Israel

ca. 930 BC     Solomon dies

The Divided Kingdoms of Judah and Israel

The Books of 1 Kings (chapters 12-24), 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Tobit, Judith, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Jonah

931 BC     The kingdom is divided: Rehoboam becomes king of Judah (931-911); Jeroboam becomes king of Israel (928-907)

870-780 BC     The prophetic ministry of Elijah and Elisha

770-596 BC     Prophets before the deportation: Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, etc.

722 BC     The Assyrians conquer Israel and take ten tribes into captivity

The Babylonian Captivity

The Books of Esther, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel

597-596 BC     The first deportation to Babylon; Ezekiel predicts the destruction of Jerusalem

587-586 BC     The second deportation to Babylon; the destruction of Jerusalem

538 BC     The decree of Cyrus allows the Jews to return to Jerusalem

The Return from Exile

The Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi

536-515 BC     The construction of the second Temple in Jerusalem

The Revolt Under the Maccabees

The Books of Wisdom, Sirach, and 1 and 2 Maccabees

326 BC     Alexander the Great begins his conquests

175 BC     Antiochus Epiphanes becomes king

167 BC     Persecution of the Jews; revolt begins

164 BC     The Temple rededication

134 BC     John Hyrcanus becomes high priest

CHRONOLOGY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

The Birth and Hidden Life of Christ

ca. 6-4 BC     The announcement of the birth of John the Baptist

     The Annunciation to the Virgin Mary of the Birth of Christ

     The Birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem

     The first accounts of the life of Christ: his circumcision, the Presentation in the Temple, the Adoration of the Magi, the Flight to Egypt, the martyrdom of the Holy innocents

     The Holy Family returns to Nazareth

Ad 6-8     The Finding of Christ in the Temple

The Public Ministry of Christ

In Judea, near Jerusalem     The preaching of John the Baptist

     The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan

     The Temptation of Christ in the desert

     The first disciples: John, Andrew, Peter, James, Philip, and Nathaniel

In Galilee     Christ preaches in the synagogues of Galilee; Christ heals the sick and casts out demons

     The Sermon on the Mount; Christ teaches using parables

The Public Ministry of Christ until the Third Passover

In Jerusalem     The second Passover; the healing of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda; Christ debates with the Pharisees

In Galilee     Christ chooses the Twelve Apostles; Christ works numerous miracles; the multiplication of the loaves and fishes

Travels outside of Galilee     The woman at the well; the second multiplication of loaves; the confession of Simon, whose name is changed to Peter; Christ announces his Death and Resurrection

In Galilee and Jerusalem     The Transfiguration; Christ visits Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles

In Judea     The woman caught in adultery; the curing of the blind man at the pool of Siloam; the Parable of the Good Shepherd

In Galilee     Christ teaching the disciples about his ministry, the life of the Church, humility, prayer, and the forgiveness of sins

Journey to Jerusalem     Christ is rejected by the Samaritans; the mission of the seventy-two disciples

     The Greatest Commandment; the Lord's Prayer

     Christ teaches with parables: the Parables of the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, the Unjust Steward, the Rich Man and Lazarus, and the Pharisee and the Publican

     Christ works miracles: the resurrection of Lazarus, the ten lepers, and Bartholomew

     Other teachings of Christ: the indissolubility of marriage and following Christ

The Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ

In Jerusalem     Sunday: The Entrance into Jerusalem

     Monday: Christ Curses the barren fig tree

     Tuesday: Christ debates the Pharisees; the widow's mite; the Parables of the Two Sons, the Wicked Husbandmen, the Wise and Foolish Virgins, and the Talents

     Wednesday: The Sanhedrin conspires against Christ; the anointing in Bethany; the betrayal by Judas

     Thursday: The Last Supper; the institution of the Eucharist; the New Commandment; the Agony in the Garden; the arrest of Christ

     Friday: The Passion, Death, and entombment in the sepulcher

     Sunday: The Resurrection

In Galilee and Jerusalem     Christ's appearance to the women and the Apostles

In Jerusalem     Christ's Ascension into Heaven forty days after his Resurrection

The Church in the First Century

AD 30     The election of Matthias; Pentecost; the preaching of Peter

33-34     The imprisonment of Peter and John; numerous miracles and conversions in Jerusalem

36     The martyrdom of Stephen; persecution of the Church; Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch

36-37     The conversion of Saul (Paul) on the road to Damascus

37     The death of Caesar Tiberius; Caligula becomes emperor

39     Paul visits Jerusalem; miracles of Peter; the conversion of Cornelius

41     Claudius becomes emperor

42-43     The martyrdom of James the Greater

43     The term Christian is used for the first time in Antioch

44     The death of Herod Agrippa I; Peter is arrested again

45-49     The first missionary journey of Paul with Barnabas

47-49     Famine throughout the empire; Paul and Barnabas take up a collection for the Christians in Jerusalem

49-50     The Council of Jerusalem

50-69     The Epistle of Jude

50-53     Paul's second missionary journey

50-51     Paul preaches in Athens; the First and Second Epistles of Paul to the Thessalonians

52-62     The Epistles of Paul to the Galatians, the Philippians, and Philemon

54     Nero becomes emperor

56-57     The First and Second Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians

57-58     The Epistle of Paul to the Romans

58     Paul returns to Jerusalem, where he is imprisoned

60-66     The First and Second Epistles of Paul to Timothy; the Epistle of Paul to Titus

60-63     The martyrdom of James, Bishop of Jerusalem; the Epistles of Paul to the Colossians and the Ephesians

60-61     The journey of Paul to Rome

64-66     The First and Second Epistles of Peter; the Epistle to the Hebrews

67     The martyrdom of Peter and Paul in Rome

69     Vespasian becomes emperor

70     Jerusalem is destroyed by the Roman army led by Titus

79     Titus becomes emperor

50-70     The Gospel of Matthew (Greek); the Gospel of Luke; the Acts of the Apostles

81     Domitian becomes emperor

90-100     The Gospel of John; the Epistles of John

95-96     The Book of Revelation; Nerva becomes emperor

98     Trajan becomes emperor

SCRIPTURE PASSAGES FOR

PERSONAL MEDITATION

The Birth and Hidden Life of Christ

The announcement of the birth of John the Baptist     Lk 1:5-25

The Annunciation to the Virgin Mary of the Birth of Christ     Lk 1:26-38

The Visitation of the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth     Lk 1:29-56

The birth of John the Baptist     Lk 1:57-80

The annunciation to Joseph     Mt 1:18-25

The Birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem     Lk 2:1-7

The adoration by the shepherds     Lk 2:1-12

The circumcision of Christ and his Presentation in the Temple     Lk 2:21-38

The Adoration> by the Magi     Mt 2:1-12

The Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt     Mt 2:13-15

The martyrdom of the Holy innocents     Mt 2:16-18

The return of the Holy Family to Nazareth     Mt 2:19-23

The Finding of Christ in the Temple     Lk 2:41-50

The obedience of Christ to his parents     Lk 2:51-52

The Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ

Christ foretells his Passion     Mt 26:1-5; Mk 14:1-2

The anointing in Bethany and the betrayal by Judas Iscariot     Mt 26:6-16; Mk 14:3-11; Lk 22:1-6; Jn 12:1-11

The triumphal entrance into Jerusalem     Jn 12:12-19

Preparation for the Last Supper     Mt 26:17-25; Mk 14:12-21; Lk 22:7-13

Christ washes the feet of his disciples     Jn 13:1-20

Christ announces the betrayal of Judas     Jn 13:21-32

The institution of the Sacrament of the Eucharist     Mt 26:26-29; Mk 14:22-25; Lk 22:14-20

The New Commandment     Jn 13:33-35

Christ foretells that he would be abandoned by his disciples     Mt 26:30-35; Mk 14:25-31; Lk 22:31-34

Christ promises to send the Holy Spirit     Jn 14:15-31

The vine and the branches     Jn 15:1-8

The New Law of Love     Jn 15:9-17

Christ foretells that his disciples would be hated by the world     Jn 15:18-27

The work of the Holy Spirit     Jn 16:1-15

The priestly prayer of Christ     Jn 17:1-26

The Agony in the Garden     Mt 26:36-46; Mk 14:32-42; Lk 22:39-46

Christ is arrested     Mt 26:47-56; Mk 14:43-52; Lk 22:47-53; Jn 18:1-12

Christ is questioned by the Sanhedrin     Mt 26:57-68; Mk 14:53-65; Jn 18:13-27

Peter denies Christ     Mt 26:69-75; Mk 14:66-72; Lk 22:54-62

Christ is questioned by Pilate and Herod Mt 27:1-2; Mk 15:1-15; Lk 23:1-5; Lk 23:6-12; Jn 18:28-40

The despair and death of Judas iscariot     Mt 27:3-10

Pilate sentences Christ     Mt 27:11-26; Lk 23:13-25; Jn 19:4-16

The scourging of Christ and crowning with thorns     Mt 27:27-56; Mk 15:16-20; Jn 19:1-3

The Crucifixion and Death of Christ     Mt 27:32-56; Mk 15:21-41; Lk 23:26-49; Jn 19:17-37

Christ is laid in the tomb     Mt 27:57-66; Mk 15:42-47; Lk 23:50-56; Jn 19:38-42

The Resurrection of Christ     Mk 16:1-8; Lk 24:1-12; Jn 20:1-10

Christ appears to Mary Magdalene and to the other women     Mt 28:1-10; Mk 16:9-11; Jn 20:11-18

Christ appears to two disciples on the road to Emmaus     Lk 24:13-35

Christ appears to the Apostles     Lk 24:36-49; Jn 20:19-23

Christ appears to the Apostles a second time     Jn 20:24-31

The Great Commission     Mt 18:16-20; Mk 16:14-18

The miraculous catch of fish     Jn 21:1-14

The primacy of Peter     Jn 21:15-23

The Ascension of Christ     Mk 16:19; Lk 24:50-53

The preaching of the Gospel     Mk 16:20

The Parables of Christ

The Barren Fig Tree     Lk 13:6-9

The Blind Guide     Lk 6:39

The Faithful and Wise Steward     Mt 24:45-51; Lk 12:41-46

The Friend at Midnight     Lk 11:5-8

The Good Samaritan     Lk 10:29-37

The Good Shepherd     Jn 10:1-21

The Hidden Treasure     Mt 13:44

The Lamp     Mk 4:21-23

The Lamp Under a Bushel     Mt 5:15; Mk 8:11-12; Lk 11:33

The Leaven     Mt 13:33; Lk 13:20-21

The Lost Coin     Lk 15:8-10

The Lost Sheep     Mt 18:11-14; Lk 15:1-7

The Measure     Mk 4:24-25

The Mustard Seed     Mt 13:31-32; Mk 4:30-32; Lk 13:18-19

The Narrow Gate     Mt 7:13-23; Lk 13:22-30

The Net     Mt 13:47-50

The Pearl of Great Price     Mt 13:45-46

The Pharisee and the Publican     Lk 18:9-14

The Prodigal Son     Lk 15:11-32

The Rich Fool     Lk 12:13-21

The Rich Man and Lazarus     Lk 16:19-31

The Seed Scattered     Mk 4:26-29

The Sheep and the Goats     Mt 25:31-46

The Sower     Mt 13:3-23; Mk 4:3-9; Lk 8:4-8

The Talents     Mt 25:14-30

The Tares and the Wheat     Mt 13:24-43; Mk 4:13-20; Lk 8:1-15

The Ten Pounds     Lk 19:11-27

The Two Debtors     Lk 7:40-43

The Two Sons     Mt 21:28-32

The Unjust Judge     Lk 18:1-8

The Unmerciful Servant     Mt 18:23-35

The Vine and the Branches     Jn 15:1-11

The Wedding Guests     Mt 22:1-10; Lk 14:7-24

The Wicked Vinedressers     Mt 21:33-46; Mk 12:1-12; Lk 20:9-19

The Wise and Foolish Builders     Mt 7:24-29; Lk 6:47-49

The Wise and Foolish Virgins     Mt 25:1-13

The Workers in the Vineyard     Mt 20:1-6

The Miracles of Christ

The multiplication of the loaves and fishes for five thousand     Mt 14:13-21; Mk 6:31-44; Lk 9:11-17; Jn 6:1-13

The multiplication of the loaves and fishes for four thousand     Mt 15:32-39; Mk 8:1-10

The blind Bartimaeus     Mk 10:46-52; Lk 18:35-43

The blind man of Bethsaida     Mk 8:22-26

The calming of the sea     Mt 8:23-27; Mk 4:35-41; Lk 8:22-25

The coin taken from the fish     Mt 17:24-27

The crippled man at Bethzatha     Jn 5:1-15

The crowd at Galilee     Mt 14:34-36; Mk 6:53-56

The crowd in Galilee     Mt 15:29-31

The crowds in Galilee     Mt 19:1-2

The daughter of Jairus     Mt 9:18-26; Mk 5:22-43; Lk 8:40-56

The daughter of the Canaanite woman     Mt 15:21-28; Mk 7:24-30

The deaf man     Mk 7:31-37

The demoniac     Mt 9:32-34

The demoniac     Mt 12:22-24; Lk 11:14-15

The demoniacs     Mt 8:28-34; Mk 5:1-20; Lk 8:26-39

The ear of Malchus     Lk 22:49-51; Jn 18:10-11

The epileptic boy     Mt 17:14-21; Mk 9:17-29; Lk 9:37-42

The leper     Mt 8:1-4; Mk 1:40-45; Lk 5:12-15

The man blind from birth     Jn 9:1-41

The man possessed by an unclean spirit     Mk 1:23-27; Lk 4:33-37

The man with dropsy     Lk 14:1-6

The man with the withered hand     Mt 12:9-13; Mk 3:1-6; Lk 6:6-11

The many who were possessed by demons     Mt 8:16-17; Mk 1:32-34; Lk 4:40-41

The miraculous catch of fish     Lk 5:1-11

The mother-in-law of Peter     Mt 8:14-15; Mk 1:29-31; Lk 4:38-39

The paralytic     Mt 9:1-8; Mk 2:1-12; Lk 5:18-26

The raising of Lazarus from the dead     Jn 11:1-45

The Resurrection     Mt 28:1-10; Mk 16:1-14; Lk 24:1-50; Jn 20:1-29

The second miraculous catch of fish     Jn 21:1-14

The sick in Nazareth     Mt 9:35

The son of the official in Capernaum     Mt 8:5-13; Lk 7:1-10; Jn 4:46-54

The stooped woman on the Sabbath     Lk 13:10-13

The ten lepers     Lk 17:11-19

The Transfiguration     Mt 17:1-9; Mk 9:2-8; Lk 9:28-36

The two blind men     Mt 9:27-31

The two blind men     Mt 20:29-34

The water into wine at Cana     Jn 2:1-12

The son of the widow of Nain     Lk 7:11-17

The withered fig tree     Mt 21:18-22; Mk 11:13-14; 11:21-24

The woman with a hemorrhage     Mt 9:20-22; Mk 5:25-34; Lk 8:43-48

Walking on water     Mt 14:22-33; Mk 6:45-51; Jn 6:16-21

Passages About the Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Annunciation and the incarnation     Lk 1:26-38; Mt 1:18-25

The Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth and the Magnificat     Lk 1:39-56

The Birth of Christ     Lk 2:1-7

The meditation of Our Lady     Lk 2:19; Lk 2:51

The Purification of Our Lady and the Presentation of Christ in the Temple     Lk 2:22-24

The prophecy of Simeon     Lk 2:25-35

The Finding of Christ in the Temple     Lk 2:41-50

The Wedding at Cana     Jn 2:1-12

The mother and brothers and sisters of Christ     Mt 12:46-47

The universal Motherhood of Our Lady     Jn 19:25-27

Her relationship with the First Christians     Acts 1:14

THE OLD TESTAMENT

THE FIRST BOOK OF MOSES COMMONLY CALLED

GENESIS

AUTHOR AND DATE: The first five books of the Old Testament are collectively known as the Pentateuch; the Books of Moses; or the Torah, or Law, of Moses, and Genesis is the first of these books. The five books of the Pentateuch are an assembly of materials composed over several centuries before finally being compiled, rearranged, and edited into their present form around the sixth century BC. Any written source materials are lost to antiquity, but some modern scholars identify certain strands of tradition they believe arose from particular historical periods. These include the Elohistic tradition, which emphasized religious traditions developed among the ten northern tribes of Samaria (ninth century to eighth century BC); the Deuteronomic tradition, which stressed the details of the Mosaic Law (seventh century BC); the Jahwist, or Yahwist, tradition, which grew out of the Deuteronomic tradition and provided a kind of prologue from the story of creation to the giving of the Law to Moses; and the Priestly tradition, which encouraged ritual purity and laws of worship (sixth century BC). However, debate over the identification of these traditions continues, and some scholars believe that the redactors, or editors, of the Pentateuch contributed much original material as well.

Whatever the case, it is safe to say that Genesis, like the Pentateuch in general, had multiple sources that were edited and rewritten by anonymous sacred writers under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and scholars generally identify elements of the Jahwist, Elohist, and Priestly traditions within Genesis.

AUDIENCE: Genesis and the other books of the Pentateuch were compiled in their present form for the people of Israel after they had returned from the Babylonian Exile in the sixth century BC. They were then under Persian rule, and the proclamation of the Law of Moses represented a means to restore Israel's faith, practice, and worship over and against the culture of paganism.

MAIN THEMES: Genesis can be seen as comprising two main parts. The first (cf. 1:1—11:26) begins with the stories of creation and continues through to the story of the Tower of Babel. The narrative is not scientific or historical but rather a kind of prologue that uses literary images and symbolic language to express fundamental truths about God, the nature of humanity, and sin. Among other things it teaches that God is the eternal Creator of Heaven and earth. Man and woman were created in the image and likeness of God in a state of original holiness and justice and were endowed with free will. Woman was created as equal with and complementary to man. Our first parents were created in a state of marriage, which is a faithful and exclusive union oriented toward the generation and education of children. Adam and Eve misused their free will to choose sin and disobedience and as a consequence lost their original state of holiness and justice. As a result of this Original Sin, they suffered concupiscence, suffering and death, and the transmission of Original Sin to their descendants. God promised to send a redeemer (cf. 3:15), yet people descended deeper into sin and became lost and corrupt.

The second part of Genesis (cf. 11:27—50:26) involves the history of the patriarchs of Israel, beginning with the call of Abraham and continuing to the death of Joseph in Egypt. It is here that the central theme of Genesis emerges: God has made Israel his Chosen People to prepare them for the coming Messiah. In Genesis it is the patriarchs who remain faithful to God and serve as bearers of his covenant. They will prepare the way for the next stage of Revelation, which is detailed in the Book of Exodus: the call of Moses, the liberation from Egypt, and the giving of the Law.

GENESIS

Chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

GENESIS

Six Days of Creation and the Sabbath

1* In the beginning God created a the heavens and the earth. ²The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit b of God was moving over the face of the waters.

³ And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. ⁴And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. ⁵God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

⁶ And God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." ⁷And God made the firmament and separated the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament. And it was so. ⁸And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.

⁹ And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear. And it was so. ¹⁰God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. ¹¹And God said, Let the earth put forth vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, upon the earth. And it was so. ¹²The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ¹³And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.

¹⁴ And God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, ¹⁵and let them be lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth." And it was so. ¹⁶And God made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; he made the stars also. ¹⁷And God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth, ¹⁸to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

²⁰ And God said, Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the firmament of the heavens. ²¹So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ²²And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth. ²³And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

²⁴ And God said, Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds. And it was so. ²⁵And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the cattle according to their kinds, and everything that creeps upon the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

²⁶ Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. ²⁷So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. ²⁸And God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. ²⁹And God said, Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. ³⁰And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food. And it was so. ³¹And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. ²And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. ³So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all his work which he had done in creation.

Another Account of Creation

⁴ These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.

* In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, ⁵when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; ⁶but a mist c went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground—⁷then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. ⁸And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed. ⁹And out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

¹⁰ A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. ¹¹The name of the first is Pi'shon; it is the one which flows around the whole land of Hav'ilah, where there is gold; ¹²and the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. ¹³The name of the second river is Gi'hon; it is the one which flows around the whole land of Cush. ¹⁴And the name of the third river is Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphra'tes.

¹⁵ The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. ¹⁶And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; ¹⁷but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die."

¹⁸ Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." ¹⁹So out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. ²⁰The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him. ²¹So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; ²²and the rib which the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. ²³Then the man said,

"This at last is bone of my bones

and flesh of my flesh;

she shall be called Woman,d

because she was taken out of Man." e

²⁴Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. ²⁵And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.

The Fall of Man

3 Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, Did God say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’? ²And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; ³but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.' ⁴But the serpent said to the woman, You will not die. ⁵For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. ⁶So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate. ⁷Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.

⁸ And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. ⁹But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" ¹⁰And he said, I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. ¹¹He said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat? ¹²The man said, The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate. ¹³Then the LORD God said to the woman, What is this that you have done? The woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I ate. ¹⁴The LORD God said to the serpent,

"Because you have done this,

cursed are you above all cattle,

and above all wild animals;

upon your belly you shall go,

and dust