Salvation History Timeline Vocabulary

Master Thesis and Thematic Framework

• The central thesis of the entire scriptural narrative is that the God who creates is also the God who saves and restores.

• God's original intent was for humanity to dwell with Him in covenant communion.

• Although sin fractured this communion, God continues to act through specific instruments: covenants, sacrifice, priesthood, kingship, prophecy, temple worship, and the Incarnation of Christ.

• Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate fulfillment of every Old Testament covenant and symbol. He is identified as:

  • The New Adam.

  • The True Priest.

  • The True Prophet.

  • The True King.

  • The True Temple.

  • The True Passover Lamb.

  • The True Bread from Heaven.

  • The Son of David.

  • The Son of Abraham.

  • The One who restores Eden.

• The Book of Revelation concludes the story by depicting God dwelling with humanity eternally in the New Jerusalem.

Essential Academic Terminology (Teacher Buzzwords)

• Covenant

• Restoration

• Divine Sonship

• Sabbath Rest

• Priest/Prophet/King

• Temple

• Sacrifice

• Obedience

• Passover

• Exodus

• New Adam

• Son of David

• New Covenant

• Eucharist

• Church

• New Jerusalem

• Tree of Life

• Communion with God

Genesis 1: Creation and the Purpose of Scripture

• Bible Tab Location: Genesis 1; Genesis 2.

• Thematic Core: Creation is intended for communion with God.

• Theological Principles:

  • Scripture establishes from the outset that the Creator and the Redeemer are the same Being.

  • Saint Athanasius Argument: The self-same Word through whom all things were initially created is the one who ultimately redeems them.

  • Creation is presented not primarily as a scientific lesson, but as a revelation of the mind and purpose of the Creator.

• Symbolism of the Number Seven:

  • In Hebrew, the word for "seven" is intrinsically connected to the word for "oath" and "covenant."

  • The number-value of $7$ points toward covenant union.

  • The progression from the sixth day to the seventh day signifies the movement into Sabbath rest.

  • "Rest" in this context is defined as union with the Good, rather than mere cessation of activity.

• Humanity's Purpose:

  • Adam and Eve are brought together on the seventh day to serve as a sign of the intended union between God and humanity.

• Essay Application: Establish that creation was ordered toward covenant communion. The narrative of the Bible is the story of God restoring this original plan after it was disrupted.

Genesis 2: Eden as Temple and the Vocation of Adam

• Bible Tab Location: Genesis 2.

• Thematic Core: Eden as a cosmic temple; Adam as priest, prophet, and king.

• Eden Characteristics:

  • Described as a cosmic temple or the House of God.

  • Located on the Mountain of God with the waters of life flowing outward and imagery of a jeweled ground.

  • The Tree of Life represents the means of communion with the Divine.

  • The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil functions like a protective hedge around the inner sanctuary (the Holy of Holies).

• Adam’s Threefold Office:

  • Priest: Adam is given the task to "till and keep," terms which together signify priestly activity and temple service.

  • King: He is granted dominion and the responsibility to govern creation.

  • Prophet: His prophetic role is demonstrated by his authority to name the animals.

• The Nature of Sacrifice:

  • The sacrifice God desires is an obedient heart that receives the Father's love and responds with love. Adam's intended sacrifice was obedience.

• Image of God: Adam is made in the image of God; the notes specify that the definitive Image of God is the Son.

• Essay Application: Adam's vocation provides the blueprint for Christ’s mission. Jesus succeeds where Adam failed in priesthood, prophecy, kingship, worship, and obedience.

Genesis 3: The Fall and the Protoevangelium

• Bible Tab Location: Genesis 3.

• Thematic Core: The Fall, exile, and the first Gospel (Protoevangelium).

• The Mechanics of the Fall:

  • Eve converses with the serpent, a situation facilitated by Adam's neglect.

  • Eating from the Tree of Knowledge introduces death.

  • Adam hides in the garden; the notes compare his state to being "alive in body but dead in soul," akin to being encased/cooked in a tomb.

• The Merciful Expulsion:

  • God expels Adam and Eve from Paradise not out of cruelty, but as an act of mercy.

  • If they were to eat from the Tree of Life in their sinful state, sin would be perpetuated in their flesh forever.

• The First Promise of Salvation:

  • Genesis $3:15$ contains the Protoevangelium.

  • God promises that the offspring of the woman will undo the curse of death and suffering by defeating the serpent.

• Essay Application: Genesis $3:15$ is the foundation for the rest of history; everything that follows is God keeping this specific promise.

Genesis 4-9: Sin Spread, the Flood, and New Creation

• Bible Tab Location: Genesis 4-5 (Covenant preservation); Genesis 6-9 (The Flood).

• Genealogy and Covenant Preservation:

  • Despite the spread of sin (Cain’s murder of Abel), God preserves a covenant line through Seth.

  • Enoch, the seventh generation from Adam, "walks with God" and represents the covenant generation.

  • Enoch's return toward Paradise before his departure to Hades demonstrates God's persistent faithfulness.

• The Flood Narrative:

  • The "sons of God" entering union with "daughters of men" signifies the people of God falling into pagan worship.

  • God chooses $8$ people to save through the wood of the Ark and the waters.

  • Animal pairings: $7$ pairs of clean animals were taken because Noah would offer sacrifice.

• De-creation and Re-creation:

  • The Flood represents God undoing creation. The drying of the land is a re-creation.

  • Imagery of the dove and raven recalls the separation of light/dark and the Spirit hovering over the waters in Genesis 1.

• Noah as the New Adam:

  • Noah's first act is a "Eucharistic" sacrifice of thanksgiving, which God accepts because Noah's heart is in it.

  • A new covenant is formed; Noah is established as priest, prophet, and king.

• Essay Application: The Flood represents judgment, mercy, and baptismal imagery. The Ark foreshadows the Church and the Cross.

Genesis 11-22: Babel, Abraham, Melchizedek, and Isaac

• Babel and the Call of Abraham (Gen 11-12):

  • Movement to the East symbolizes movement into the realm of sin. Babel represents human pride attempting to reach heaven without God.

  • Abraham is called out of Ur of the Chaldees to the Promised Land.

  • The Promised Land is the site where Noah's ark rested, where Adam dwelt post-Paradise, and where the first dry land emerged.

  • Abraham’s journey to Egypt led him to pick up "Egyptian sin."

  • Circumcision is established as the sign of the covenant.

• Melchizedek (Gen 14):

  • King of Salem and Priest of God Most High.

  • Offers gifts of bread and wine, foreshadowing Christ's priesthood and the Eucharist.

  • His priesthood is mysterious and distinct from/higher than the later Levitical priesthood.

• The Sacrifice of Isaac (Gen 22):

  • Occurs on the mountain connected with covenant sacrifice.

  • Isaac is not a small child but a willing young man/victim who carries the wood for his own sacrifice at his father's command.

  • Abraham believed God could raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews $11$).

  • This results in the fullest covenant promise: all nations will be blessed, descendants will possess enemy gates, and his name will be perpetuated.

• Essay Application: Melchizedek points to Jesus as Priest-King. Isaac points to Jesus as the beloved Son carrying the wood of the Cross.

Genesis 25-50: Jacob, Judah, and Joseph

• The Covenant Line: Jacob receives the blessing over Esau.

• Judah’s Significance:

  • Kingship is promised through the line of Judah; the "scepter will never depart."

  • Judah experiences and shows mercy, specifically in the Tamar narrative where he admits his own fault.

• Joseph’s Foreshadowing:

  • Joseph is rejected by his brothers, suffers in Egypt, rises to power, and saves the nations by providing bread.

  • He tells his brothers: "You wanted this for me as evil, but God willed it for our good."

• Essay Application: Judah prepares for David and Christ the King. Joseph foreshadows Jesus as the bread-giver who forgives those who betrayed Him.

Exodus 1-17: Pharaoh, Passover, and the Wilderness

• Slavery and Moses: Pharaoh represents bondage and the "serpent on his brow."

• The Passover Lamb (Exodus 12):

  • Slaughtering the lamb was a capital offense in Egypt (since the lamb was worshipped there); it was a renunciation of Egypt and an act of trust in God.

  • The lamb is slain and eaten; its blood saves Israel from death.

  • God furnishes Israel with gold, gems, and precious threads upon their exit.

• Red Sea Crossing (Exodus 14):

  • God parts the sea via His breath/Spirit. Israel passes from slavery to freedom, echoing de-creation and re-creation.

  • Pharaoh is crushed, prefiguring the defeat of the ancient serpent.

• Wilderness Provision:

  • Manna: Bread from heaven.

  • Water from the Rock: Spiritual water that follows them through the wilderness.

• Essay Application: Red Sea = Baptism; Manna = Eucharist; Water from the Rock = Christ the source of living water.

Exodus 19-40: Sinai, the Law, and the Tabernacle

• The Sinai Covenant: Israel enters covenant and receives the Law. They accept it, but quickly worship the golden calf.

• The Problem of the Heart: Though physically out of Egypt, Egypt was not yet rooted out of their hearts. They remained in spiritual bondage.

• The Tabernacle:

  • A cosmic tent meeting furnished like a golden garden (Eden imagery).

  • The Holy of Holies is separated by a curtain.

  • God dwells on the Mercy Seat of the Ark in His shadowy presence.

• Essay Application: Sinai reveals that external law is insufficient; Israel needs interior conversion and the law written on the heart (the New Covenant).

Joshua, Judges, and the Rise of the Monarchy

• The Promised Land: Joshua leads Israel through the Jordan (baptismal imagery).

• Failure of the Conquest: Israel is tasked with driving out evil (what Adam failed to do) but fails and falls into idolatry.

• The Cycle of Judges: Sin, oppression, rescue, and relapse.

• The Request for a King: Israel asks for a king to be "like the nations," essentially rejecting God's unique kingship.

• Saul vs. David:

  • Saul is externalized worldly kingship; he lacks obedience and a heart after God.

  • David is the righteous king from the tribe of Judah with a heart after God's own heart.

2 Samuel 5-7: The Davidic Covenant

• Marriage Language: Covenant with David uses marriage language; David is the bridegroom of the people.

• Priesthood of David: David is not a Levite, yet he offers sacrifice in 2 Samuel $6$. He belongs to the older covenant line: Judah → Jacob → Isaac → Abraham → Shem → Noah → Enoch → Seth → Adam → God.

• Line of Melchizedek: David is a priest-king in the order of Melchizedek.

• The Eternal Promise (2 Samuel 7):

  • God promises David's son will be God’s Son.

  • The throne and kingdom will last forever.

• Essay Application: Jesus fulfills this as the Son of David and the Divine Son who takes the throne at the right hand of the Father.

1 Kings - 2 Chronicles: Solomon and the Temple

• Solomon’s Failure: He plays the harlot with pagan idols and allows demonic sacrifice.

• The Temple Foundation: Built on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. This rock is connected to:

  • The first dry land at creation.

  • The place God placed Adam.

  • The place the Ark rested after the flood.

  • The place Abraham offered Isaac.

• Temple Imagery: A golden garden where God dwells with man.

• Exile: Solomon’s failings lead to the Great Schism (loss of $10$ tribes) and eventually the Babylonian exile.

• Spirit of the Exile: Presence of God leaves the Temple before its destruction. Even after returning after $70$ years, Israel remains enslaved to foreign powers for roughly $500$ years.

The Prophets and the Preparation for Christ

• Prophetic Promises:

  • Jeremiah: New Covenant written on the heart.

  • Ezekiel: Cleansing, new heart/spirit, and the resurrection of dry bones.

  • Isaiah: Emmanuel (God with us) and the Suffering Servant.

  • Daniel: Eternal kingdom and the Son of Man.

• The Fullness of Time (Galatians 4:4):

  • Preparation of the pagan world through Greek philosophy and Roman infrastructure (roads).

  • Israel recognized its need and God's absence.

• Three Things Missing at Christ's Birth:

  1. No king on David's throne.

  2. Israelites are slaves rather than children.

  3. The Divine Presence is absent from the Temple.

The Gospels: Jesus the Restoration

• Ministry: Jesus proclaims the Kingdom and obedience from the heart. He expands the Law to its original intent: love for God and neighbor.

• Triumphal Entry: Enters from the east (like God’s presence returning). Rides a mule like Solomon.

• Miracles of New Creation:

  • Heals the blind man with dust (re-creating humanity like in Genesis).

  • Raises Lazarus after $4$ days (power over corruption).

• The True Passover:

  • The Last Supper bread and wine become His Body and Blood (New Covenant).

  • Fulfils Melchizedek, manna, and Passover.

• The Passion:

  • Expelled from the city just as Adam was expelled from the garden.

  • Offered perfect obedience on the wood of the Cross in a garden.

  • Where Adam’s disobedience brought death, Christ’s obedience brings life.

• Resurrection:

  • Rises on the third day; appears for $40$ days.

  • Mary Magdalene mistakes Him for the gardener; He is the "True Gardener" who sowed us in nature and harvests us into grace.

Revelation: Paradise Restored

• The Vision of John: A New Jerusalem descends like a bride.

• Final Restoration:

  • The Tree of Life returns.

  • God dwells with humanity forever.

  • Saint Gregory Nazianzen quote: "You banished us from Paradise and then you recalled us… Yet all is turned to joy to us who are heirs of sin. Paradise, yes, heaven itself can be entered by man."

Essay Roadmap Summary

• Introduction: God's purpose for communion; the break caused by sin; the promise of a Redeemer.

• Body 1 (Creation to Patriarchs): Eden’s purpose, Adam’s failure, Noah’s re-creation, Abraham’s family, Melchizedek/Isaac/Judah/Joseph foreshadowing Christ.

• Body 2 (Exodus to Kingdom): Passover/Red Sea symbolism, Sinai and the need for internal conversion, Davidic covenant and the failure of earthly kings leading to exile.

• Body 3 (Prophets to Christ): Prophetic hope, Jesus fulfilling the roles of New Adam, Son of David, True Temple, and Passover Lamb through His life, death, and resurrection.

• Conclusion: The Church carrying the mission, and Revelation showing the final return to eternal communion in the New Jerusalem.

Detailed Packet Supplement Notes

• Page 1 Specifics: Saint Athanasius states the same Word that creates is the one that redeems. Creation reveals the mind of the Creator. The significance of seven as a covenantal oath. Sabbath is union with the good.

• Page 2 Specifics: Eden as a mountain temple with jeweled ground and waters of life. Adam hides in a "tomb." Adam’s three offices: Priest (till/keep), King (dominion), Prophet (naming beasts). The true sacrifice is internal heart obedience.

• Page 15 Specifics: Abraham is called back to his "true home" (the land of Adam and Noah). Abraham Detour: He picks up "Egyptian sin." Sarah’s importance: the child must be through marriage because marriage is the sign of God and His people.

• Page 16 Specifics: The Tabernacle is a "Golden Garden." The Presence of God was "shadowy" over the Mercy Seat. Israel chose to be slaves rather than children at Moab.

• Page 17 Specifics: David’s son will be God’s son. Jesus comes from the east in triumph to reverse the departure of God’s presence during the exile.

• Page 18 Specifics: Jesus harrows Hell as a Liberator, not a sufferer. He "trampled down death by death."