Introduction to the Old Testament and Genesis

Vocabulary flashcards covering the canonization of scripture, the formation of the Old Testament, Bible facts, and key concepts from the beginning of Genesis.

Greek Kanon

Refers to something unbendable and dependable due to its straightness; it is used to measure distance.

Canon of Scriptures

A collection of writings used as a measuring stick; refers to the Word of God.

Canonicity

The process by which the books of the Bible were gathered and collected; it refers to the church's recognition of Scriptures but does not make a book the Word of God.

Septuagint

The Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.

Pentateuch

The first five books of the Old Testament; 'Penta' means $5$.

Torah

The Hebrew term for 'Law,' which is the first of the three divisions of the Hebrew Bible.

Nabi'im

The Hebrew term for 'Prophets,' the second division of the Hebrew Bible.

Kethuvim

The Hebrew term for 'Writings,' the third division of the Hebrew Bible.

Apocrypha

Meaning 'hidden,' these are $14$ books not part of the Hebrew Bible that are included in the Catholic canon.

Intertestamental Times

The period of $400$ years between the Old Testament (Persians) and New Testament (Romans).

General Revelation

God speaking through the voice of nature or creation; it is limited because it points to God but cannot tell someone how to be saved.

Special Revelation

God speaking through the Bible and the Living Word, Jesus Christ.

Bible Statistics

A collection of $66$ books ($39$ in the Old Testament and $27$ in the New Testament) written by $40$ authors over a period of $1,400$ to $1,600$ years.

Textual Criticism

The careful examination and comparison of manuscripts or copies of the Scriptural texts.

Masoretes

A group of scholars who produced the Masoretic Texts, divided into Eastern (Mesopotamia) and Western (Tiberias) groups.

Documentary Hypothesis

The theory that the Pentateuch was written from different documents rather than solely by Moses, popularized by Julius Wellhausen.

Yahwist source (J)

A source document in the Documentary Hypothesis written c. $950$ BC in the southern Kingdom of Judah.

Elohist source (E)

A source document in the Documentary Hypothesis written c. $850$ BC in the northern Kingdom of Israel.

Deuteronomist (D)

A source document in the Documentary Hypothesis written c. $600$ BC in Jerusalem.

Priestly source (P)

A source document in the Documentary Hypothesis written c. $500$ BC by Kohanim (Jewish priests) in exile in Babylon.

Jabbok River

The location where Jacob and the Angel wrestled.

Three Heavens

The division of heavens into the Atmospheric Heaven, the Galaxy, and the dwelling place of God.

Bereshith

The Hebrew name for the book of Genesis, meaning 'in the beginning.'

Bara

The Hebrew word for 'create,' which means to make something out of nothing.

Elohim

The plural Hebrew word for God used in Genesis $1:1$.

Prote Ebanghelyon

The 'First Gospel' found in Genesis $3:15$, referring to the first promise of redemption.