Study Notes on Canonical Differences in Judeo-Christian Scriptures

Introduction

  • Sensitive Topic: Discussion on what to call the first part of the Christian Bible.

    • Respect for Jewish terminology vs. traditional Christian terms.

  • Terms in Question:

    • "Hebrew Bible" vs. "Old Testament".

    • Jewish friends find "Old Testament" pejorative; Need for sensitivity.

  • Aim: To explore nuances of both sides and the implications of naming.

Comparing the Canons

  • Study Chart: A chart compares the Hebrew Bible, Catholic Old Testament, and Protestant Old Testament.

    • Questions to Consider:

    1. Similarities/Differences among Canons

    2. Historical development from Hebrew Bible to Catholic Old Testament

    3. Key distinctions among the three canons

    4. Arguments concerning the term "Hebrew Bible" for the contents of the second and third columns.

Canon Structures

Hebrew Canon (Tanakh)

  • Categories:

    • Torah (Teaching):

    • 1. Genesis

    • 2. Exodus

    • 3. Leviticus

    • 4. Numbers

    • 5. Deuteronomy

    • Nevi'im (Prophets):

    • 6. Joshua

    • 7. Judges

    • 8. I & II Samuel

    • 9. I & II Kings

    1. Isaiah

    1. Jeremiah

    1. Ezekiel

    1. The Twelve Prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)

    • Ketuvim (Writings).

Alexandrian (Catholic) Canon

  • Categories:

    • Pentateuch:

    • Same as above.

    • Historical Books:

    • 6. Joshua

    • 7. Judges

    • 8. Ruth

    • 9. I & II Samuel

    1. I & II Kings

    1. I & II Chronicles

    1. Ezra

    1. Nehemiah

    1. Additional books like Tobit, Judith, Esther, and Maccabees.

    • Wisdom:

    1. Job

    1. Psalms

    1. Proverbs

    1. Ecclesiastes/ Qoheleth

    1. Song of Songs

    1. Wisdom

    1. Ecclesiasticus/Sirach.

    • Prophets:

    • Same prophets as in the Hebrew Bible but structured differently.

Protestant Canon

  • Similar Categories:

    • Identical Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, Prophets as in Catholic Canon but excludes deuterocanonical/additional books.

Observations on the Canon Structure

  • First Column: Canon for Jews; not referred to as "Old Testament".

    • Definition: For Jews, this is simply "The Bible" or "Tanakh".

    • Structure: Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim stand alone from New Testament.

  • Tanakh as Acronym: Stands for Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim.

  • Jewish vs. Christian Interpretations:

    • Jewish texts viewed as standalone without the New Testament context.

    • In contrast, Christian texts continually refer to Christian framework and narrative.

Challenges with Definitions

Titles—"Old Testament" vs. "Hebrew Bible"

  • Old Testament:

    • Suggests temporal passage, implying it is outdated or superseded.

    • Interpretation shows it could imply a less significant role in Christian faith as revealed in New Testament teachings.

  • Arguments for "Hebrew Bible":

    • Avoids potential negative implications of "Old".

    • Recognition of Jewish texts without Christian lenses promotes greater sensitivity.

Hermeneutical Transformation

  • Link Between Testaments: How do the two testaments affect the reading of each other?

    • The melding of texts transforms traditional interpretations.

    • Hays’ concept of “hermeneutical transformation” highlighted a major intersection of meanings.

Marcion's Influence on Terminology

  • Marcionism: Rejection of Old Testament as redundant or obsolete and highlights the perceived contrasting gods of the Old and New Testaments.

  • Critique of Christian Scriptures: Today seen as peeling off parts rather than addressing them in continuity.

Conclusion and Reflection

  • Implicit Considerations: Christian community must reflect on the implications of using either term.

  • Final Thoughts: The discussion on titles leads us to deeper theological engagements and dialogues about respect, integrity, and awareness in the interfaith context.

Sample Questions for Further Discussion

  1. Should the first part be called the "Hebrew Bible" or "Old Testament"?

  2. Define “Tanakh” and explore its acronym significance.

  3. Compare organization of Tanakh to Catholic/Protestant canon.

  4. Discuss how hermeneutical transformation affects understanding.

  5. Reasons that a Catholic might hesitate to adopt the title "Hebrew Bible".

  6. Why should the New Testament not be labeled as "Christian Scriptures" alone?

  7. Explore origins of the term "Old Testament" in Hebrew context.

  8. Discuss historical canon formation and its relevance.

  9. Examine NRSV's references to various Jewish writings.

  10. Investigate the implications of supersessionism in interfaith dialogue.