The Bible's teaching on the meaning and purpose of life

What is 'salvation history'?

The story of God's plan to save human beings from sin throughout history.

What does Genesis teach about the purpose of humans?

Humans were created in God's image to rule over and care for creation.

According to Genesis, what position do humans hold in creation?

The pinnacle of God's creation.

What responsibility do humans have over creation?

To be rulers and maintainers of the created order.

Who were the first humans?

Adam and Eve.

What is the Fall?

Adam and Eve's disobedience to God, bringing sin and death into the world.

What is original sin?

The sinful nature passed down to all generations from Adam and Eve.

What did God plan despite human sin?

To save his people.

Who did God make a covenant with?

Abraham.

What promise did God make to Abraham?

That he would have many descendants who would inherit the Promised Land.

Who were the patriarchs?

Abraham's descendants who became the founding fathers of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

What happened to the Israelites in Egypt?

They became slaves.

Who did God call to free the Israelites from Egypt?

Moses.

What is the Exodus?

The Israelites' escape from Egypt and their journey through the wilderness.

How long did the Israelites spend in the wilderness?

Forty years.

What covenant did God make with Moses?

A covenant in which God gave the Law to the Israelites.

How are God's laws to Israel often summarised?

In the Ten Commandments.

Who led the conquest of the Promised Land after Moses died?

Joshua.

What pattern developed during the time of the Judges?

The people were unfaithful, conquered, cried to God, were rescued by judges, then repeated the cycle.

Who was the first king of Israel?

Saul.

Who succeeded Saul as king?

David.

What happened under David and Solomon?

Israel became a powerful empire with Jerusalem as its capital.

What happened after Solomon's death?

The kingdom split into Israel in the north and Judah in the south.

Which prophets called the people back to faithfulness?

Amos, Hosea and Isaiah.

Why did the Assyrians conquer Israel?

Because the people remained disobedient to God.

When did the Assyrians conquer Israel?

722 BCE.

When did the Babylonians conquer Judah?

587 BCE.

What is the Exile?

The period when the people of Judah spent about fifty years in captivity in Babylon.

What happened after the Exile?

The Jews returned to Judah and rebuilt Jerusalem and the Temple.

Where does the Old Testament story end?

With the return from exile and rebuilding of Jerusalem.

What happened during the period covered by the Apocrypha?

Judah was conquered by the Greeks.

Who were the Maccabees?

A group who successfully revolted against Greek rule and restored Jewish independence.

Which Jewish religious groups arose during this period?

The Essenes, Pharisees and Sadducees.

What key belief about life's purpose is shown throughout salvation history?

Humans are created by God, called to obey him, and ultimately saved through his plan.