Sunday School History book

How was the OT formed?

gradually and written on tablets/scrolls

What language was the OT written in and compiled by who?

in Hebrew and compiled by Jewish priest/scribes

Septuagint

Greek translation of OT - also means “70”

Targum

Aramaic translation of OT

Torah or Law

1st 5 books by Moses in early 1400 BC

How were the Scriptural texts arranged by?

Law (Torah), Prophets (Nebiim), Writings (Ketubim)

In the New Testament, Christ uses what to explain his ministry?

OT

NT records was when..

the Gospels came about when Christs death was nearing

Two of the Gospels were by who and the other two were by who?

Apostles (Mathew and John) and 2 by friends (Mark, Luke)

Where was NT first penned and when?

Greek and around 40-90 AD

Because visiting all the churches weren’t practical, what was written and sent out?

Epistles (letters)

Apocryphal books were written between…

400 BC - time of Christ

Apocrypha means?

hidden

Who was against including Apocryphal books in scripture?

St. Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria

Who did include Apocryphal books in their scripture?

Father Jerome included them into his Latin Translation called the Vulgate but he was not a huge supporter

What council declared Apocryphal books as part of scripture?

Council of Trent AD 1545

What was the Syrian Orthodox accepted version of Bible?

Peshita (has 11 Apocryphal books)

What were the 11 Apocryphal books in the Peshita Bible?

Tobit, Judith, Rest of Esther, Wisdom of Solomon, Wisdom of Sirach, Letter of Jeremiah, Baruch 1, Baruch 2, Rest of Daniel, Maccabees 1, Maccabees 2

Peshita means and who was it named by?

common or simple version of Bible; Bishop Moses Bar Kepha in 9th century

Syriac is derived from what language?

Aramaic (Christ’s language)

Syriac OT translated from..

Hebrew > Syriac

Syriac NT translated from..

Greek > Syriac

Some dispute on Syriac NT say that….

it was Aramaic > Syriac; Aramaic words are evident in all Bible versions

Diatessaron

“harmony of four”; combined 4 Gospels written by Tatian

Canon

“measuring rod”, rules/standards that determine which books can be accepted by the church

Canon by Marcion of Sinope

rejected the OT and any relation of Christ to the OT, rejected the Gospels except St. Luke (took out everything about Christ and OT though)

What did Marcion of Sinope believe?

Believes that OT God is jealous/ full of hatred and Jesus is Supreme God who loves/ has compassion; denies Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection; he was later excommunicated

Muratorian Fragment AD 170

oldest known list of NT books, has/doesn’t have books in the present Bible

Who was the author and who discovered the Muratorian Fragment?

author unknown and called fragment cause beginning is missing, discovered by Fr. Ludovico Antonio Muratori

Who finalizes Canonization due to considerable disagreement?

Holy Synod

In what Synod did they find the standards the 27 books of the NT would be based on?

Synod of Carthage 397 AD

What were the standards the 27 books of the NT would be based on?

Apostolic, Dogmas, Christocentric, Inspirational, Witness of Holy Spirit, Early Acceptance

Apostolic

must be written by a Apostle or their companion

Dogmas

must agree with accepted ideas of the church

Christocentric

centered on Christ

Inspirational

have high moral and values

Witness of Holy Spirit

presence of Holy Spirit in the books

Early Acceptance

must be accepted by majority churches

What protestants opposed Apocrypha in the Bible?

Martin Luther and John Calvin

What teachings were protestants against?

regarding the intercession of saints and life after death

What church accepted Apocryphal books and what church refuted these books?

Roman Catholic; Anglican Church

What did the influence of the Roman and Anglican church create?

The influence resulted in the King James version of the Bible.

Translation of Gospels from Syriac to Malayalam was by?

Kaymkulam Philipose Ramban > “Ramban Bible”

____ continued the translation but then was instructed by _____ to corrupt the translation

Benjamin Bailey; Colonel Monroe; (was later published this way in 1829 (NT) and 1841 (OT))

Who translated the NT in 1936?

Konattu Very Rev. Kurain Arch Corepiscopos

Who translated the whole Peshita in 1994 and what was it known as?

Very Rev. Kurain Arch Corepiscopos; Vishudha Grandham = official Bible of the Church

What were the 4 sections the Septuagint were divided into?

Book of Law, Israel’s History, Wisdom, and Prophecy

Book of the Law- Genesis

“beginning”, God’s creation, fall of man, Noah, Abraham and descendants

Book of the Law- Exodus

“departure”, Israelites journey out of slavery from Egypt, Moses, 10 commandments

Book of the Law- Leviticus

worship of ordained priests

Book of the Law- Numbers

census of people in Israel’s tribes, Israelite life in wilderness

Book of the Law- Deuteronomy

“Second law” because Moses was going to die so he repeated many of God’s laws

Book of Israel’s History - Joshua

“salvation”; Canaan, tribes receive land

Book of Israel’s History - Judges

God send judges to keep the Israelites faithful

Book of Israel’s History - Ruth

Ruth’s story, great grandmother of David/ foremother of Jesus

Book of Israel’s History - 1 and 2 Kingdom

Prophet Samuel, King Saul and King David

Book of Israel’s History - 3 and 4 Kingdom

King Solomon son of King David

Book of Israel’s History - 1 and 2 Chronicles

King David and King Solomon’s task to rebuild temple

Book of Israel’s History - 1 and 2 Ezra

“book of theology”; Gaining strength through faith in God/blessing of God when his commandments are followed

Book of Israel’s History - Nehemiah

shows how a common man faithful to God can do wonders

Book of Israel’s History - Tobit

iconic book of salvation

Book of Israel’s History - Judith

Judith’s story; unfailing trust in God

Book of Israel’s History - Esther

saves her Jewish people from the evil plans of Haman

Book of Israel’s History - 1 and 2 and 3 Maccabees

God’s deliverance of Israel and God’s rewards to those who are faithful

Book of Wisdom - Psalms

many used in our Liturgy; prophecies of the Messiah, foretells coming events, personal lamentations, what must be done to obey him

Book of Wisdom - Job

unshakeable faith despite tragedy/suffering of Job; Job can be equated with Christ who suffers injustly

Book of Wisdom - Proverbs

moral/religious instruction

Book of Wisdom - Ecclesiastes

finding satisfaction in the simple things of life

Book of Wisdom - Song of Songs

lyrical poems of human love

Book of Wisdom - Wisdom of Solomon

encourage Jews to be faithful to the covenant of God

Book of Wisdom - Wisdom of Sirach

ethical/religious topics, wisdom comes from God, translated by the grandson of the author Jesus ben Sirach, another name is “Ecclesiastes” and is written similar to Proverbs

Book of Prophecy- Hosea

“salvation” or “deliverance”; prophet of love; redeeming and steadfast love of God

Book of Prophecy- Amos

“burden bearer”; told Israel of God’s wrath for their immorality

Book of Prophecy- Micah

“who is like the Lord”; peace, love, kindness, walk humbly with God; prophesized Christ’s incarnation, birth and suffering

Book of Prophecy- Joel

“prophet of Pentecost” and “Yahweh is God”; prophecy of outpouring of the spirit fulfilled on Pentecost

Book of Prophecy- Obadiah

“servant of the Lord”; destruction of Edom also is the shortest book

Book of Prophecy- Jonah

“dove”; God’s love and mercy, Nineveh Lent of repentance

Book of Prophecy- Nahum

“‘consolation”; comfort the oppressed people of Judah

Book of Prophecy- Habakkuk

oppressions faced by people in Judah, said to have visited Daniel in the lion’s den; prophesizes the coming of Christ and salvation through Him

Book of Prophecy- Zephaniah

“God has hidden”; comfort and peace to those who wait patiently for the Lord and serve Him

Book of Prophecy- Haggai

“festal”; urges Israel to rebuild the temple, obedience

Book of Prophecy- Malachi

“angel” or “messenger”; prophesized birth of John the Baptist

Book of Prophecy- Isaiah

“salvation of God”; coming of the Messiah; virgin birth; Christ’s resurrection and second coming; sometimes even known as the 5th Gospel

Book of Prophecy- Jeremiah

“the one whom God appoints or exalts”; destruction of the temple in Jerusalem

Book of Prophecy- Baruch

repentance of a Jewish community

Book of Prophecy- Lamentations of Jeremiah

“weeping prophet” because expresses grief at the stubbornness of people

Book of Prophecy- Epistle of Jeremiah

warning to Jewish community of idol worship

Book of Prophecy- Ezekiel

“God strengthens” prophesizes God’s direction of events to take place on heaven and earth

Book of Prophecy- Daniel

“God is my Judge”; blessings of God to those who stay away from idol worship

Who is a prefigure of Christ?

Moses

Examples of how Moses and Christ are similar?

As Israelites rejected Moses, Jews rejected Christ

As Moses lifted bronze serpent so that Israelites can look at it and be healed, so did Christ lift himself up so people can be healed.

As Moses escaped Pharaoh’s killing of Hebrew infants, so did Christ escape from slaughter by King Herod

As Moses fasted 40 days prior to journeying with Israelites, so did Christ in the wilderness before his public ministry

What happened at Mount Tabor?

Moses and Elijah meet Christ at Transfiguration

During the journey of Moses and the Israelites to the land of Canaan, Moses faced a lot of struggles like?

During the 40 years in the wilderness, Moses had to ensure they had food and water when they complained of having neither

What did God provide and what did Moses throw so that the water was fit to drink?

Manna; a piece of wood

What else did Moses have to do?

set rules, provide safety, and most importantly maintain faith. He interceded for the Israelites when God planned to destroy them.

How long did Moses live for?

120 years

What happened in the three forty years?

1st 40 years = Egypt

2nd 40 years = Land of Midian

3rd 40 years = Led Israelites through wilderness

What factors helped Moses overcome his challenges?

Faith in God, Patience/Persistence, and Obedience

Faith in God

Everything Moses did was with faith, which strengthened him to persevere and pursue

Patience/Persistence

He continuously sought Pharaoh to release the Israelites; He trust God and his promise; Israelites in the wilderness complained constantly yet Moses was so patient