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CHAPTER 4 THE Pentatuech WORD OF GOD o Revelation o Inspiration o Word of God in the words of men PENTATEUCH o Means 5 books in Greek o Torah in Hebrew: means teaching or instruction (Law not as accurate) o Originally called the Book of Moses o Moses is central figure, but NOT author 4 SOURCES of the Pentateuch o J, E, D, P o These 4 authors collected the stories of the Israelites and wrote them down Stories from oral tradition Over many centuries In many literary forms (genres)

-J: THE YAHWIST c. 950 BC o Refers To God as Yahweh (Jahweh in German) o Earthy style o Anthropomorphic view of God: God walks in the garden looking for Adam E: THE ELOHIST c. 850 BC o Uses Elohim for God D: THE DEUTERONOMIST c.650 BC o Second Law o Emphasizes morality and the law P: PRIESTLY c. 550 BC o Census lists, genealogies, numbers, dates o Proper ways to worship (priests concerns) o Last to be writtenduring/after Exile o Put Pentateuch together in final form LITERARY GENRE o Many kinds or forms of writing o Important to know to interpret correctly o Different purpose, different type of truth o Bible reveals religious truth o Examples of literary forms: Laws, speeches, myth, poetry, genealogies, stories, liturgical celebrations, etc. CREATION STORIES o What literary genre?

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MYTH What type of truth? RELIGIOUS TRUTH

MYTH o Definition: a story, using symbolism, to teach a religious truth o Symbol: object used to represent something unseen (affect emotions) o Creation myths provide a world view o Primeval history (prehistory)= before recorded history (Genesis 1-11) ST 1 CREATION STORY o Gn 1:1-2:4a o Creation of the world in 6 days o Written by P o Four religious truths: Creation by Godonly one God Gods plan, orderly, good Human beings are good, in Gods image (both male and female); given stewardship of creation Sabbaththe 7th day is holy 2nd CREATION STORY o Gn 2:4b-25 o Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden o Written by J o Religious truths: Care and involvement of God (adama=dust-creature) Humans are given free will Equality of male and female Holiness of marriage; naked & unashamed THE FALL o Gn 3written by J o Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (symbol of free will/human limits) o Tempted by the serpent o Sin (eating)=Disobedience to spiritual order created by God o Sin enters the world: original sin concupiscence is result (inclination to sin), alienation, expulsion from Eden o Leather garmentsGods care o Salvation is promised: the protoevangelium (the first gospelthe promise of the messiah) Gn 3:15 THE FALL CONTINUED o Gn 4-11: the effects of sin multiply: Cain & Abel Noah and the Flood

The Tower of Babel End of Primeval History ABRAHAM: Genesis 12 o Call of Abraham=beginning of history(1850BC) o Our father in faith (Jews, Christians, Muslims) o Covenant (sacred promise, agreement) o Promises of God to Abraham: Gn 12:1-3;7 Great nation Land Blessings Covenant and Sacrifice o Covenantssealed with blood/animal sacrifice o Represents death of old identity and taking on new identity o Sign of covenant: circumcision (Gn 17) TESTING OF ABRAHAM o Sarah gave birth to Isaac o Sacrifice of Isaac (Gn 22) Trust in God Obedience to God Isaac as prefigure of Jesus Condemnation of child sacrifice FAMILY TREE o Abraham + Sarah Isaac + Hagar Ishmael o Isaac + Rebekah Esau & Jacob o Jacob (Israel) + Leah + Rachel (+2 maids) 12 Sons=Twelve Tribes of Israel Eldest son of Rachel: Joseph (sold into slavery in Egypt by his jealous brothers; later saves them all from famine) ISRAEL=JACOB o Jacobs new name (Gn 32:23-32) o Israel=contends (wrestles) with God END OF GENESIS o Joseph is made governor of Egypt to deal with the famine o Joseph forgives his brothers o Family migrates to Egypt and settles there for 400 years, prospering

CHAPTER 4Part 2 BOOK OF EXODUS o Literary form: epiclong narrative of hero

BOOK OF EXODUS o Exodus=means going out (like exit) o Ex 1 begins with a new Pharaoh who does not like the foreigners in his land o Enslaves the Israelites o Orders death of male infants BOOK OF EXODUS o Birth of Moses o Story of mother placing him in basket in river, Pharaohs daughter takes him out and raises him o Adult: Moses kills an Egyptian who is beating an Israelite slave o Moses has to leave Egypt BOOK OF EXODUS o Moses settles in Midian o Ex 3: call of God in burning bush o God of compassion o Gods name revealed as YHWH o Sends Moses to bring the Israelites out of slavery: the Exodus o Foundation of Jewish religion BOOK OF EXODUS o Pharaoh refuses Moses o Rameses II, c. 1250 BC (probably earlier) o God sends 10 plagues o Last plague: death of firstborn o Israelites protected by blood of the lamb on the doorposts o Celebration of Passover: the angel of death passed over the houses of the Israelites INTO THE DESERT o Crossing of the Reed Sea o Moses receives the Law (The 10 Commandments and many other laws) on Mt. Sinai: the Sinai Covenant THE DESERT o Ark of the Covenant constructed to house the 10 Commandments (stone tablets) o Tent of Meetingtabernacleto house the Ark and where Moses would meet with God o Complaints! The Golden Calfidolatry THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: 1-3 OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD o I, the LORD (YHWH), am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. You shall not have other gods besides me. o You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. o Remember to keep holy the sabbath day. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: 4-10 OUR RELATIONSHIP TO OTHERS o Honor your father and mother. o You shall not kill. o You shall not commit adultery.

o You shall not steal. o You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. o You shall not covet your neighbors house. o You shall not covet your neighbors wife. REST OF PENTATEUCH o LEVITICUS: ritual laws (P) o NUMBERS: complaining, wandering and counting (P) o DEUTERONOMY: re-telling of the Law NAMES FOR GOD o EL/ELOHIM-Common Semitic name for the deity o God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob o YHWH=IAM=I am present with you o The Lord (Adonai) substituted out of respect THE CHOSEN PEOPLE: 3 NAMES o ISRAELITES: from the patriarch Israel (Jacob=father of the Twelve Tribes) o HEBREWS: from the patriarch Eber; or from one who crossed over (nomads) o JEWS: from the patriarch Judah (one of the twelve sons/tribes)

CHAPTER 5: The Promised Land HISTORICAL SECTION OF OLD TESTAMENT o JOSHUA o JUDGES o 1 AND 2 SAMUEL o 1 AND 2 KINGS All written by Deuteronomic school (D) JOSHUA o Name means savior o Joshua led the Israelites out of the desert and into the Promised Land (Canaan) o Conquest o Taking of Jericho: God is fighting for them o Theme: if you keep Gods law, you will prosper; if you do not, you will suffer JOSHUA o 12 Tribes divide the land o Covenant is renewed o Joshua dies110 years old JUDGES o 12 Tribal leaders ruled: Judges o Settlement of the land gradually (200 years): more accurate description o Much of land was unoccupied

o When occupied, intermarried o But many battles over idolatry CYCLE OF APOSTASY o Apostasy: denial of God o Cycle: Israelites worshipped idols of Canaanites God sent enemies to defeat them Israelites cried out to God God took pitychose judges to fight enemies Judge died; Israel sinned again FAMOUS JUDGES o Deborah o Samson o Samuel: last and most important Judge Mother: Hannah was barren Also priest and prophet Ruled over many tribes at once TRIBES WANT A KING o WHY? General lawlessness Vulnerable to attack without strong leader MONARCHY o Samuel warned the people against monarchy: YHWH alone is King Army Taxes Slavery MONARCHY o Samuel anointed first King of Israel: Saul Not a good king o Samuel anointed second King of Israel: David Ark brought to Jerusalem: 2 Sm 6 Gods promises to David: 2 Sm 7 Davids Sin: 2 Sm 11-12 DAVID o Ruled for 40 years (c. 1000 BC) o United all the tribes in single nation o Made Jerusalem capital o Brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem o Loved Yahweh o Yahweh promised: Royal dynasty=future Messiah will be descendant of David SOLOMON: 3rd King of Israel

o Son of David and Bathsheba o God granted him wisdom o Built the Temple o But too many wives (700+300) o Idolatry o Corruption, luxury o Forced labor, high taxes o Rebellion of the people PROPHETS o nabi=mouthpiece o Spokespersons for God o Thus says the Lord o Message: repent and be saved (keep the covenant) 3 THEMES o There is only one GodYHWHwho loves us. Worship only YHWH. o God is holy and God demands that we renounce sin. Keep the covenant. Do justice: take care of the poor and vulnerable. o The MessiahGod would save a remnant of the Chosen People. The Messiah, the anointed one, a descendant of King David would be a future savior, giving his life. DIVIDED KINGDOM o Death of Solomon o 922 BC Division o North: Kingdom of Israel10 Tribes o South: Kingdom of Judah2 Tribes DESTRUCTION AND EXILE o NORTH: 10 Lost Tribes of Israel o Conquered by the Assyrians 721 BC o Some left behind: Samaritans o SOUTH: Kingdom of Judah taken captive to Babylon 587 BC. Temple destroyed. o THE EXILE: 50 years o Becoming a people once again: the JEWS EXILE (Babylonian Captivity) o Synagogues: houses of prayer and study of the Law o Led by rabbis (teachers) o Kept the Sabbath o Oral tradition collected and written down by scribes: Scriptures o Continued circumcision RESTORATION o Cyrus the Persian conquers Babylon o Allows the Jews to return to Jerusalem (537 BC) o Many Jews stay o Many return: Jews rebuild the Temple and Jerusalem

o Much smaller scale o Important role of priests SECOND ISAIAH o Comforted the exiles o Prophesied future salvation through the Suffering Servant o Jesus Christ, the Messiah

CHAPTER 5 Post-Exilic Judaism ( Further Reading 119-122 ) POST-EXILIC JUDAISM o 334 BC Greek rule Alexander the Great conquers area Hellenism: Greek culture/language o 164 BC Jewish rule (Hasmonean Dynasty) Maccabees overthrow Greeks Hanukkah 63 BC Roman rule o Jewish puppet king: Herod the Great 37-4 BC

CHAPTER 6: Gospels (131-133) GOSPELS o synoptic=seen together o MT, MK, LK o Mark written first o Matthew placed first in NT Church leaders thought Mt was earliest Mt makes a good transition from OT GOSPELS o Jesus spoke Aramaic (also Greek, Hebrew) o Original gospels written in Greek GOSPELS o Literary form: gospel o good news o Faith summaries of the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ o Three stages: Events of Jesus life Preaching=Oral Tradition (40 years) Gospels GOSPELS o Evangelist=gospel writer

o Not eyewitnesses or apostles o Written later from eyewitness testimony GOSPELS o Why 4? o Composed by different authors o For specific reasons o For specific communities o At different times SYNOPTIC RELATIONSHIPS o Quelle=source (sayings of Jesus) MESSIAH o Hebrew word: Anointed One o Greek word: Christ o Why was Jesus reluctant to be called the Messiah? o They expected the messiah to be a king like David Chapter 7 Teaching Geography (161-162) NT GEOGRAPHY o The Holy Landalso called Palestine o THREE REGIONS: o Galilee (in the North) Towns of Nazareth, Sepphoris Rural Jesus did most of his preaching here o Samaria (in the middle) Samaritans: people left of Northern Kingdom, intermarried o Judea (in the South) Towns of Bethlehem, Bethany, Jericho City of JerusalemTemple Desert

CHAPTER 7 Teaching o KINGDOM OF GOD o Not a place o Active presence of Gods love and justice in the world o Reign of God o Jesus initiated the Kingdom: at hand Taught in parables PARABLE

Word means, to throw beside 3 Elements: Comparison of something familiar (seeds, wheat, yeast, sheep, nets) with something unfamiliar: the Kingdom of God Surprising images or endings Challenging the known assumptions of his hearers MEANINGS o Share your wealthLazarus and the Rich Man o Have faith; Kingdom will growMustard Seed o Open your heart to God (nurture the soil of your heart)Sower o Repent (turn back to God)Lost Son o God never stops looking for us (sinners)Lost Sheep/Coin/Son o Love everyone (everyone is our neighbor)Good Samaritan o Do not judgeGood Samaritan o Be readyTen Virgins o Gods justice is not our justice (mercy)Workers in the Vineyard o We will be judged on our compassion for the outcastsJudgment of the Nations (Sheep and Goats) TEACHING o FROM Q: SAYINGS SOURCE o IN MT AND LK o SERMON ON THE MOUNT (PLAIN=LK) Mt: Jesus is the New Moses SERMON ON THE MOUNT MT 5-7 o BEATITUDES: Blessed are Means happiness Roadmap to happiness o SAYINGS: teachings of Jesus Pray in secret, love your enemies, etc. SAYINGS o Christians are salt and light Transform the world o New, higher standard of Law Must be observed in ones heart o Right attitude Do everything for God o Golden rule Do unto others o Do not judge others Look to a persons actions; you will be judged as you judge o Love and forgiveness Put into action; you will be forgiven as you forgive

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CHAPTER 8 Miracles and Death/Resurrection MIRACLE o An event not explainable by the laws of nature (must be from a supernatural power) o An interpretation of a seemingly natural event but we thank God for it 4 KINDS OF MIRACLES in NT o Physical healings o Nature miracles o Exorcisms o Raising people from the dead MIRACLES IN NEW TESTAMENT o dynamis acts of power (synoptics) Jesus miracles reveal Gods power o semeion signs (John) Jesus miracles are signs of the Kingdom o Require faith MIRACLES o Not unique to Jesus o Reluctant miracle worker o Faith before the cure o Post-resurrection accounts o Real question is not what really happened, but who is Jesus for you? DEATH OF JESUS: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND o Opposition of some Jewish leaders to Jesus acts and teaching: Exorcisms Forgiveness of sinsaccused of blasphemy Breaking Jewish Law Authority to interpret the Law Association with sinners and tax collectors Teaching Gods mercy to all Cleansing of the Temple DEATH OF JESUS: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND o Only the Romans could execute someone o Some Jewish leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy o Handed Jesus over to Pontius Pilate for execution o Pilates accusation: claiming to be King o INRI placed on the cross The Jews are not to blame o Only some Jewish leaders opposed Jesus o Jesus was a Jew o All his disciples were Jews

o Many prominent leaders respected Jesus RESURRECTION WHAT IT IS NOT: o Reanimated corpseJesus would have to die again o Metaphorway of saying that Jesus soul is immortal o PsychologicalJesus cause would live on RESURRECTION WHAT HAPPENED? o Requires faith o Something happened o Unexpected o Empty tomb o Appearances RESURRECTION MEANING: o God vindicated Jesus o Jesus is now with God o Jesus overcame sin and death o Restored our broken relationship with God o We, too, can now hope for resurrection THEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATIONS o Ransom: Jesus sacrifice was a ransom that defeated the powers of evil o New Adam: Jesus obedience to God repaired the damage done by original sin o Lamb of God: Jesus substituted himself for the Passover lambGods own Son, once and for all, conquered sin and death PASCHAL MYSTERY o Passion, death and resurrection