Old Testament - Peterson

Canon

Greek term meaning measuring rod or bar which was adopted by the Church to determine which books were to be included in the bible

Canonization

the process of recognizing a book as divinely inspired requiring its inclusion in the canon of scripture

Cosmology

the term used to describe the study of how the universe is structure

Fertile Crescent

the region of fertile land stretching in an arch from the Persian Gulf up the Euphrates River and back down through Palestine to include the upper Nile River/delta in Egypt

Ancient Near East (ANE)

The term used to identify the region of the world that was the center of the ancient world of Bible times and before. It includes for example, Egypt, Babylon (modern Iraq), Persia (modern Iran), Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Amon and Moab (modern Jordan), and Assyria (modern northeast Syria and northern Iraq).

Dead Sea Scrolls

The body of literature discovered between 1947—1956 in caves along the northwest side of the Dead Sea. Apart from numerous non-canonical scrolls, these texts are the oldest surviving texts of the Old Testament.

Decalogue

the term used to describe the Ten Commandments as found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5

Hermeneutics

The art and science of biblical interpretation which utilizes a defined set of rules (hence a "science') and yet requires a measure of acquired skill and understanding to apply these rules (hence there is an "art" to the process).

Mesopotamia

(Literally "between the rivers") The name given to the region between and around the Euphrates and the Tigris Rivers in ancient Babylon and Assyria stretching from the Persian Gulf to ancient Haran (today on the border of northern Syria and southern Turkey).

monotheism

the belief in one god

theocracy

a country believed to be governed by a god and set of religious rules or laws established by that diety (modern Iran)

Henotheism

the belief in one god without denying the existence of other gods

Palestine

The region between the Jordan River valley and the Mediterranean Sea. The name is derived from the ancient Philistine people.

Postexillic

The time period after the end of the Babylonian exile of 605-538BC and ended with the Roman Period in 63BC.

Qumram

The proposed physical location of the monastic settlement on the northwest shores of the Dead Sea believed to be where a group of Essenes copied and hid the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Septuagint

The Greek Old Testament written in the 3rd century BC which was used by the Greek-speaking communities of the NT Church. Also known as the LXX.

Shephelah

The lowlands consisting of gradual rolling hills located on Judah's western frontier.

Talmud

The body of Jewish literature which consists of the Mishnah (the recorded Jewish oral tradition) and the Gemara (the explanation of the traditions)

Targum

The Aramaic paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures which came into use after the Hebrew language died out.

Theophany

The appearance of God or a heavenly being (such as an angel) to a human.

Maccabees

The heroic Jewish family that dominated the political scene of Israel during the Intertestamental period.

Intertestamental

The term used to designate the period of time between the last prophet Malachi and the birth of Jesus.

Diachronic

The study of how something (e.g., a text or book) developed over time.

Synchronic

The study of something (e.g., a text or book of the Bible) in its final form.

Biblical Theology

The theological study of themes and concepts across the entire text of Scripture with the purpose of developing a consistent line of thinking about a given topic in light of the constituent parts

The King's Highway

The ancient road running along the Transjordan plateau from the Gulf of Aqabah to Damascus.

The International Coastal Highway

(Via Maris—the way of the Sea): The important trade route extending from the north-eastern delta of the Nile all the way to Mesopotamia.

Negeb

The semi-arid region to the south of Judah where Beer-sheba is located.

Arabah

The arid region south of the Dead Sea which ends at the Gulf of Aqabah.

Apocalyptic

(from the Greek meaning to "reveal"): A genre of literature characterised by symbolism and elaborate imagery used by Jewish authors from about the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AD.

T/F the book of genesis can be divided into three main sections (1-11; 12-30; 31-50)

F - two sections (1-11 world history; 12-50 patriarchal history)

T/F archaeologists have found no ANE texts that shed light on the book of Genesis

F

What are the six genres of the book of Genesis?

poetry, genealogies, ancestral epics, dream accounts, mythology, and etiologies

at the end of genesis, where is Jacob's family ?

Egypt

T/F the book of genesis needs to be approached, first and foremost, as a theological text

T

Four patriarchs and wives (in order)

Abraham/Sarah, Isaac/Rebekah, Jacob/Rachel/Leah, Joseph/Asenath

Who was Abrahams nephew who traveled with him from Ur?

Lot

Toledoth formula

these are the generations of...

Who is the key figure from Exodus to Deuteronomy?

moses

Where did Moses spend 40 years before he was sent by God to rescue Israel?

Midian

The book of Exodus starts by focusing on which family tree?

Levi

What is the first great sin that almost caused God to destroy Israel that is recorded in Exodus 32-34?

sin of the golden calf

What does most of the final half of Exodus focus on?

The tabernacle

What region did Abraham move from, originally, to go to Canaan?

Babylonia

study map

Why is the Old Testament important?

completes picture of salvation history, tells of the history and social setting of the Israelites, Jesus, and the NT world (resurrection, passover, Pentecost), Holy Spirit is introduced, helps understand the relationship between Israel and the church; shows the progression of salvation history, source of our christian doctrine (sin and salvation), needed for our spiritual growth

Why is the OT unique in light of other ANE documents?

monotheistic, inspired, loving God, endured, positive towards women

What is the value of the Old Testament to other western cultures?

modern laws, worship, Middle East and ANE cultures, Jewish identity, ties in three world religions

5 steps of divine revelation

1. Revelation of truth to author, 2. Holy Spirit's Inspiration of the author to write, 3. Transmission of the text in written form, 4. Translations into modern languages, 5. Illumination of the Holy Spirit for preaching/teaching

languages of the OT

Hebrew and Aramaic

When were the Dead Sea scrolls discovered?

1947-1956

When do the Dead Sea Scrolls date?

between 3rd cen BC to 1st cen AD

When was LXX/Septuagint (Hebrew scriptures translated into Greek) written?

285 BC

what are the materials that the Bible was originally written on?

papyrus, parchment, metal

What is the oldest discovered portion of the OT?

Amulet scrolls; portions of Num 6; 7-6th century BC

What determined canon? When was it closed?

authorship, tradition, language, age, closed in 135 AD

What are the three divisions of the Hebrew Canon?

Torah, Writings, Prophets

Hebrew Torah

Greek Pentateuch; Pentatuech= "five scrolls"; Torah is the most important part of the Hebrew Bible for Jews; it was authoritative from its inception

Why are women vital?

vital for the fulfilling of the "Promise" to Abraham

Literary Methods definitions for source, redaction, canonical criticism

source - study of the sources (19th century)

redaction - how they were brought together and how they have changed over time (1950)

Mosaic authorship

given until the mid 19th century

Documentary Hypothesis

The theory that the Torah came to exist through the combination of several originally separate "documents." The most common "documents" are labeled: J(jaweh), E(Elohim), D(Deuteronomy) and P(priestly). Wellhausen

Purpose of Primeval History

Gen 1-11, context for the patriarchs, includes all humanity in God's plan

Genesis 1

serves as an introduction to the pentateuch

Cosmology

structure and function of the universe

cosmogony

a theory of the origin of the universe

ANE cosmological diagram

Protoevangelium

"first gospel"

Why are there two falls in Gen 3 and 4?

sin is systemic, "male" and "female" falls

4 consequences of the fall

1. Restricted access to God

2. Pain in childbearing/conception

3. Toil for food

4. Death

4 parts to Abrahams calls in Gen 12:1-3

land, offspring, blessing to him, blessing to others

Abrahams covenant

unilateral

Abraham's sons

Isaac, his sons were Jacob and esau, Joseph was the son of Jacob

Where does Gen end?

with the family of jacob in Egypt

Characteristics of Moses

a Levite, a fugitive, a murderer, adopted son of pharaoh; law giver, miracle worker, intercessor, protected by God

Plagues

Yahweh's attack on the God's of Egypt

Exodus

central event to the history of Israel and Red Sea crossing is the central miracle

Decalogue

ten words, Ten Commandments

golden calf incident

ex 32-34

leviticus

deals with the laws for sacrifice; purity laws (sexuality); consecration of the priests

order of sacrifices

1. Whole burnt offering, 2. peace and thanksgiving offerings, 3. Guilt or reparation offerings, 4. Day of atonement

Sins not covered by sacrifices

Premeditated sins

numbers

covers roughly 40 years; has 2 censuses, geographical movement - Sinai to Kadesh to Moab

Deuteronomy = the

Hittite suzerain vassal treaty (familiar with parts, preamble, historical prologue)

Deut 6:4-5

The Shema - "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Deuteronomy

"second law" - updated the law for the people living a sedentary life in the land

The 4 ways we see Numbers presenting Order from Chaos

direction; temple, law/covenant, God)

Historical Critical Approach

under de Wette dated Deuteronomy to 621 BC in Josiah's day

Reasons why Christians should study Archaeology

hands on, shows the Bible is true, to be better apologists, understand ancient world, proves the Bible

Tel Dan Stele

(ca. 850 BC) mentions the "house of David"

The Memeptah Stele

(1210 BC) mentions Israel in Canaan

3 cities destroyed by fire in conquest

Jericho, Ai, Hazor

Joshua 24

Records the renewed covenant

Martin Noth

Deuteronomistic History

Jerusalem

the ancient Canaanite city of Jebus

Judges

beginning of the Iron Age 1 (1200-1000 BC)

Why the Judges period failed

1. Covenant violation

2. Canaanization of Israel

3. Yahweh not central

KT Genesis

primeval and patriarchal histories

KT Exodus

Yahweh delivers and the Sinai Covenant

KT Leviticus

How to approach a holy God