Wee Do Da Studying For Da Bible eXAM

Me make funny words

The biblical story is whose story?

God’s story (and his peopo)

Who or what was the crowning glory of God’s creation?

Hoomanity

What are the three consequences of the fall?

1) Loss of our vision of God, 2) Distortion/blur of God’s divine image in us, 3) Loss of divine presence (relationship)

With whom did God make a covenant and promise that through him the nations would be blessed?

Abraham

What is the Septuagint?

2nd Century BC Greek translation of OT

What are the three parts of the Hebrew Bible?

1) Law (Torah), 2) Prophets (Nevi’im), 3) Writings (Ketuvim)

What is the essential literary character of the whole Bible?

Narrative

What are some of the threads that hold the OT narrative together?

God’s: covenant, faithfulness, choice of lesser/unfavored ones, redeeming, dwelling with us, Law, sacrificial system, choice of a king from Judah

Pay attention to the “Orienting Data” for each section.

Okie

What is “bereshith”?

“In [the] beginning” (Also the Hebrew name of the book of Genesis)

What are the two basic parts of Genesis?

Prehistory (1-11) and focusing on Abraham & Family (12-50)

What phrase occurs 10 times in Genesis and around which the stories are structured?

Toledoth (“These are the generations/family history/accout of…”)

What important roles do Noah and Joseph play in Genesis?

Preserving human life (through flood and famine)

What does the major plot of Genesis deal with?

God intervening in hooman history and fallenness by choosing a man and his family

Who is the ultimate protagonist (main character)?

GOD!!!!!

Pay attention to the 6 subplots in Genesis

1) First two covenants

2) Holy war

3) God’s choice of the younger

4) Judah leads among his bros

5) Slavery in Egypt

6) Details of Israel’s near neighbors who are “thorns in the side”

In Exodus, what are the three defining moments in Israel’s history? Which one of these is specified as “the crucial” defining moment and is referred to over and over again throughout the Bible?

1) God’s miraculous deliverance

2) Return of God’s presence to his people

3) Gift of the law to establish the covenant

Crucial) The Exodus itself

What is a theophany?

Visible/tangible/audible manifestation of a deity to a hooman

After what ancient documents are the laws of Exodus patterned?

Ancient suzerainty treaties

What does “Leviticus” mean?

“Pertaining to the Levites”

What are the first 16 chapters of Leviticus known as and what do they deal with?

“Levitical Code” - Mostly regulations for people and priests

What are chapters 17-25 known as and what do they deal with?

“Holiness Code” - Relationships between a people and God/people and others (“Be holy as I am holy”)

In reading Leviticus, what 2 things do you need to remind yourself of?

1) Laws are a part of God’s covenant with Israel (more than just religious rites)

2) Leviticus is a part of the larger Pentateuch narrative and must be understood in context of what comes before and after

What is the most important feature of the various laws of Leviticus?

Covenantal aspect of the various laws

What is Israel’s role as a “kingdom”?

To serve as God’s priests for the world and bear his likeness

In what 3 ways does the covenantal nature of the sacrifices appear?

1) Gift from the worshippers

2) Some of the sacrifices imply fellowship between worshippers and God

3) Healing a break in the relationship (a form of atonement)

In addition to being concerned with “relationship with God,” with what else is the Holiness Code

especially concerned?

How hoomans treat one another!!!

What two specific concerns of the Pentateuch are in special focus in Numbers?

1) PRESENCE of God with His people

2) Proper WORSHIP of God once they’re in the land

What is at the central core of the structure of Deuteronomy?

The Stipulations of the Covenant

What two directions does the book of Deuteronomy look?

Backward (1-3) and forward (31-34)

In what style does Deuteronomy present the restatement of God’s covenant?

Ancient suzerainty treaty/covenant (again)

How much influence has the book of Deuteronomy had on the rest of the biblical story?

Muy mucho (probably more than any other book in the Bible)

What is the Deuteronomic History?

Continuation of Israel’s history (Joshua through Kings, minus Ruth)

What became the distinguishing mark of Judaism, identified by Jesus as the “first commandment”?

The Shema (Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all of your…)

What are three particularly distinctive features of Deuteronomy?

1) Constant reminder of Israel to possess the land

2) Relentless demand to completely destroy the inhabitants

3) Requirement to regularly worship at one sanctuary

What is the issue that makes these features important?

Syncretism (religion mixing)

What groups of people is God particularly concerned about?

The alien, the fatherless, and the widow