Dr. Risetto - Midterm Study Guide

What does the word "bible" mean?

books

What are synonyms for the word "testament?"

covenant

Why are there more books in Catholic OT than in a Protestant OT?

the 7 greek books

What is the Septuagint?

Hebrew Version of the Old Testament

What is the purpose of the OT? (PE)

To tell the story of the ancient Israelites, or Hebrew people leading to the coming of Christ.

What are the two pillars of the Christian faith?

scripture and tradition

What are the three options for biblical authorship, and which is endorsed by the Church?

Divine Dictation, Enlightened Human, and Catholic Approach. Catholic Approach is endorsed.

What is the Magisterium?

teaching authority of church

What are the senses and languages of scripture? (PE)

Literal and Spiritual Allegorial, Anagorical, and Tropological, written in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic.

What is significant about the Holy Land's OT geography?

It was between Babylon and Egypt

How would Jesus have used the OT? (PE)

Jesus would have used the OT to tell stories and narratives about the events in the OT

What are the types of criticisms in the Historical Critical Method?

Textual, Redaction, Literary, Form, and Source.

Can you ID the different styles in Form Criticism?

Names, Places, People, Artifacts.

What is Biblical Archaeology, and why are the Dead Sea Scrolls an important example of that discipline?

the archaeology of biblical lands that informs our understanding of the bible. The DSS is a good example because they were discovered in a desolate place.

What happened in these BC dates: 1850, 1600, 1250, 1030, 930, 722, 640, 587, 537, 333, 167, 64, 4-6?

Abraham 1850, Hyksos 1600, Exodus 1250, Age of Kings 1030, Divided Israel 930, Assyria and North kingdom 722, King Josiah 640, Babylonian Exile 587, Cyrus of Persia 537, Alexander the Great 333, Hasmonean Kings 167, Rome Arrives 64, Jesus Birth 6-4

What are the key lessons drawn from the two Genesis creation stories, and how would you illustrate them by using Genesis 1:1-2:25? (PE)

We were all created in God's image, we are all sinners, and to trust and obey God, there's only one God

What is the six-day pattern in Genesis?

1,4 2,5 3,6

Why is the first creation story considered "theocentric" while the second is considered "anthropocentric?"

The First Creation story is theocentric because it is more central to God. The Second Creation story is anthropocentric because it is more central to mankind.

What ancient activity conferred power on someone/something?

naming

What are the etiologies found in the story of the Fall of Man?

Free Will and Original Sin

Was the Noah story an original one in the ancient world?

Yes, it certainly originated in the landscape of ancient Mesopotamia

What were the terms of the covenant between God and Noah? (PE)

God made a covenant with Noah and promised never again to destroy all the Earth's creatures with a flood

What etiologies are present within the Babel story?

The diversity of languages, God intervention.

Where was he born? Where did he grow up? Where did he settle?Abraham

He was born in Ur of the Chaldeans. He grew up in Haran. He settled in Canaan.

When did God call him? What did God ask him to do? What was Abraham's response? (PE)

When Abraham was 75 years old. God told him to go forth from his land to a land that God will show him. Abraham did as God said.

What happened when Abraham traveled to Egypt? How was Abraham involved in the Sodom/Gomorrah story?

When Abraham traveled to Egypt there was a famine. Abraham is involved because when he was traveling he came across this place, and also he tried to intervene and help Sodom.

What were the details of the covenant God established with Abraham? (PE)

God would offer protection and land to Abraham and his descendants, but they must follow the path of God. God then commanded Abraham and his future generations to perform the ritual of circumcision.

Who was Hagar? Who was Ishmael? What was Sarah's original condition?

Hagar was the maidservant to Abraham. Ishmael is the son of Hagar and Abraham. Sarah could not have children.

Who did Abraham meet in Gerar?

Abilemech

What was Abraham told to do with Isaac in Genesis 22? What did its elements symbolically represent? What was the event supposed to teach the reader? (PE)

Abraham was told to take Isaac to Moriah, to sacrifice him. It represented Abraham's commitment to God. Additionally, Isaac represents Christ. This teaches the reader about God and creating a commitment with God.

Why did Abraham buy the Machpelah cave?

A burial place for him and his wife

What is a patriarch?

A man who is a father or a founder of a group or movement.

How did Isaac come to meet his wife Rebekah? .

Abraham's senior servant retrieved Rebekah from the land of his relatives

Who was Rebekah's brother? Where did he appear again in Genesis?

Laban appears in Genesis 31 when he tries to accuse Jacob of fleeing from his land.

Who were Isaac's sons? Why was there tension between them?

Jacob and Esau. The tension between them was caused by Jacob stealing the blessing from Esau.

Whose help did Jacob receive when he deceived Isaac?

Rebekah

Where (and to whom) did Jacob flee when he angered Esau?

He fled to Laban in Haran.

List the mothers of Jacob's children. Which of these women did Jacob love most?

Leah, Zilpah, Rachel, and Bilhah. He loved Rachel the most.

Which of his children did Jacob love the most?

Joseph

What was the result of Jacob's struggle with the angel?

Jacob dislocates his hip.

Where did Jacob die? What were his instructions to his family upon his death? He dies in the land of Egypt, he instructs his family to bury him in the Machpelah cave.

What did Joseph dream about as a young boy? In whose house did Joseph prosper in Egypt?

Joseph's dream was of his brother's sheaves bowing down in a circle to Joseph's sheave.

Who did Joseph encounter in jail? How did he get out?

Joseph encountered a cupbearer and a baker. He got out because of his talent of interpreting dreams

How did Joseph help the Pharaoh? Why would the Pharaoh give Joseph so much power? (PE)

Joseph was able to advise the Pharaoh on how to prepare for the famine. Pharaoh gave him so much power because he trusted Joseph because of his talent and intelligence.

How did Joseph help his family? What were Joseph's instructions upon his death?

He helped his family by letting them stay in Egypt, where there are mass amounts of food. Joseph told his brothers to take his bones up from this place. He was embalmed and laid to rest in a coffin in Egypt.

- How is Moses' story linked to the story of Sargon II?

They both were put in a basket and flowed down a river

- What was the pattern of the "prophetic call?"

Appear, explain, commission, objects, reassures, confirms

- Why are the 10-plagues seen as a "battle between 2-gods?"

God was battling pharaoh who was seen as a god

- What is the meaning of "Yahweh?"

"I am who am"

- What are the significant symbols within the Passover Meal?

Lamb, Lamb's blood, unleavened bread.

- What is theophany? How does God guide the Israelites through the desert?

a manifestation or appearance of God or a god to a person. A pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

- How were the 10-commandments arranged as a framework for the relationship between God and the nation of Israel?

by setting basic principles that govern the Israelites' lives.

- Who is installed as high priest, what is Yom Kippur, and what is the role of the scapegoat?

Aaron was the high priest, and Yom Kippur was the day of atonement, the role of scapegoat was to take away the sins of all of the people, to be eaten by a demon.

- Why are the Jubilee Year and the Sabbatical Year so important?

The Sabbatical Year is every 7 years and you cannot plant any plants, and the Jubilee year is every 50 years and all debts and property was given back to the original owner.

- What was the group within the nation of Israel specifically consecrated to the Lord?

The Nazarites

- Who were the two scouts that delivered a positive message to the nation of Israel?

Joshua and Caleb

- What was the result of Israel's unwillingness to enter the Promised Land when they first arrived?

God has the people wander around and think for 40 years instead of going into Israel.

- Who was designated to succeed Moses?

Joshua

- Which two tribes of Israel desired to stay on the Eastern side of the Jordan River? Reuben and Gad

What is the Shema? The greatest commandment "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

- How did Joshua's encounter with the angelic host & crossing of the Jordan parallel the story of Moses?

They both parted bodies of water and walked across

- How did God help the Israelites in their bid to take over the city of Jericho?

The walls of Jericho fall and the Israelites wander in.

- Why were the Israelites defeated at Ai? What is a city of refuge?

Achan breaks the ban of not stealing treasure. Ai has God on their side and they slaughter the Israelites. The city of refuge is if you had killed someone accidentally, you can seek refuge in these cities to avoid the avenger of death.

- Which group fooled the Israelites into making a treaty and how did they do it?

The Gibeonites fooled the Israelites. The Gibeonites told the Israelites that they were from far away lands with dirty clothes, and stale bread.

- What is the cycle of Apostasy?

Israel's Sin, Overrun by Enemy forces, Israel's Repentance, God's Forgiveness, Appointment of the Judge, Israel's Victory/Death of Judge.

- What were the responsibilities of a Judge in ancient Israel?

Defend Israel, Settle Disputes, and call Israel back to God

- Who were four of the major Judges? Othniel, Deborah, Gideon, and Sampson

- What types of chaos did Israel experience at the end of Judges?

Religious and Social Chaos.

- How might Ruth have been meant as social commentary?

It may be seen as commentary because the sole purpose of Ruth is to inform people about loyalty and devotion to God and to family

- What is the important lesson that is revealed by the story of Ruth?

Responsibility is the important lesson revealed in the story of Ruth.

What was Hannah's condition? How did God respond? What did Hannah do in return?

Hannah was barren and God gave her a son. She promised to make him a Nazarite

Who was Eli?

Eli was the high priest, with evil sons, who guides Samuel in his early years

What did the "Journey of the Ark" reveal about God?

The Journey of the Ark revealed that God could handle himself.

How was Samuel a prophet, priest, and judge?

Samuel was the last judge of Israel and the first of the prophets after Moses, and he succeeded Eli as the high priest and judge of Israel.

What was Samuel's warning to Israel about desiring a king?

Samuel warns his people that if they desire a king they will inevitably have conscription, requisitioning of their property, and taxation

Who was Israel's first king, and how did he perform in that role?

Saul was the first king and he performed okay. He performed well at times and not so well at times.

How did David emerge in the narrative, and what was his relationship like with King Saul?

David was Saul's armor- bearer and he emerged by defeating Goliath, and became leader of the military.

How did David unify the nation of Israel?

He conquered Jerusalem and made it the capital, and he defeated the Philistines.

Where/how did David create a capital city for Israel?

He conquered Jerusalem to make it the capital.

What was David's sin, how did Nathan respond, and how did the story play out?

David commits adultery with Bathsheba, leading him to kill Uriah, her husband. Nathan responds by killing the baby that is going to be born.

Who were Amnon and Absalom, and why were they significant?

Amnon was David's First born son, and Absalom was the third son of King David. Amnon Rapes Tamar, who is David's son and Absalom's sister.

What historical events were included in I & II Kings?

The split of Northern and Southern Kingdom, destruction of Northern Kingdom by Assyria and Babylonian Captivity, and it starts at death of David and ends at death of Solomon

How did Solomon come into power, and what does he do with his kingship?

Bathsheba and Nathan convince David to appoint Solomon King.

What was Solomon's greatest accomplishment? What was his greatest failure?

He is the first king to build a temple in Jerusalem, but Solomon broke the covenant with God by worshipping false Gods

Who were Jeroboam, Omri, Ahab, and Jezebel?

Jeroboam led a revolt against Rehoboam and split the kingdom into two: Israel (Northern Kingdom), and Judah (Southern kingdom). Jeroboam then started to worship false gods by making two golden calves one for North and one for South. Omri seized the Northern throne and moved the capital to Samaria. He has his son Ahab marry the Phonecian princess Jezebel. When Omri dies Ahab's wife Jezebel erects altars to Baal and the prophets were sent to call the people back to the Lord.

What is the distinction between a major vs. minor prophet, a writing vs. speaking prophet?

A writing prophet is a prophet that has a book in the bible. A speaking prophet is one who doesn't.

What were three significant events during the life of Elijah?

God sends a drought over Israel to show their infidelity. Elijah raises the widow's son from the dead. Defeats prophets of Baal and heavy rain comes back over Israel.

In what ways were Elisha and Elijah similar? How were they different?

After Elijah died, Elisha performed miracles very similar to the ones Elijah did. Elisha worked in a group, but Elijah worked alone

What were three significant events in the life of Elisha?

Elisha parts the Jordan by using Elijah's mantle. Elisha cures Naaman and because Gehazi has greed about this he is given Naaman's leprosy. Elisha multiplies loaves of bread to show the fakeness of the god of Baal

What was Amos' background, and why was his message so important for Israel?

Amos stressed the absolute sovereignty of God over man, and predicted the destruction of Israel.

How did the symbolism of marriage come into play in Hosea's story?

Hosea marries a prostitute and no matter what Gomer's sins are he is always willing to forgive. This resembles how God forgives Israel when they sin.

Where is humor found in Jonah?

Jonah rejects God's call to go to Nineveh, and then trying to escape on a boat. Additionally, God destroys his boat with wind, and he is eaten by a fish.

What were two important lessons from the book of Jonah?

Do not stray away from the Lord, and Always keep and have faith in the Lord

How was Jonah linked to Jesus?

Jesus makes a reference to Jonah when he is asked for a sign by some of the scribes and the Pharisees.

How many Isaiah's were there?

Three Isaiah's

How did the different Isaiah's preach important messages to the people of Israel?

The First Isaiah teaches life before now. The second Isaiah teaches about life right now, and the third Isaiah teaches about life after now.

Who was the Suffering Servant and why is that figure significant?

It is four poems, Jews view servants as Israel or a prophet. Christians view servant to be Jesus whose suffering healed the sins of humanity.

What were Jeremiah's "living prophecies," and why were they important?

The Ox yoke shows the burden of Israel. The Shattered pot represents Babylon smashing Israel. Unmarried- Doesn't give women because Israel is about to be smashed. Purchase a field

How was Jeremiah's humanity illustrated in scripture?

He shows anger, persecution, and imploration, which shows the difficulty of following God's word.

What was Ezekiel's vision?

He saw Jerusalem and its temple restored to its glorified self in a dream