Salvation History Practice Flashcards

Master Thesis for Salvation History

• The overarching narrative of the Holy Scriptures is that the God who creates is the same God who saves and restores.

• Humanity was originally designed by God to dwell with Him in a state of "covenant communion."

• While sin creates a rupture in this communion, God remains active throughout history through various mediators and structures, including:

  • Covenants

  • Sacrifice

  • Priesthood

  • Kingship

  • Prophecy

  • Temple worship

  • The Incarnation of Jesus Christ.

• Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate fulfillment of every covenantal symbol: He is 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, and the restoration of Eden itself.

• The book of Revelation concludes the narrative by depicting God dwelling with humanity for eternity in the New Jerusalem.

Essential Academic Terminology and Buzzwords

• Covenant: A sacred oath or bond establishing family-like union.

• Restoration: The return to the original state of communion.

• Divine Sonship: The reality of being children of God through the Son.

• Sabbath Rest: Union with the good; the ultimate goal of creation.

• Priest/Prophet/King: The tripartite vocation offered to Adam and fulfilled by Christ.

• Temple: The dwelling place of God’s presence.

• Sacrifice: An act of obedience specifically from the heart.

• Passover/Exodus: The paradigm of liberation from slavery into worship.

• New Adam: Christ as the successful head of humanity.

• Son of David: The heir to the eternal throne.

• Eucharist/Church/New Jerusalem: The ecclesial and eschatological fulfillment of communion.

• Tree of Life: The means of eternal communion with God.

Genesis 1: Creation and the Purpose of Scripture

• Principle of Creation: Scripture starts with the premise that the Creator is necessarily the Savior and Restorer.

• Saint Athanasius: The notes cite his teaching that the self-same Word through whom all things were created is the one who redeems them.

• The Objective of Creation: Creation is not primarily a scientific lesson; it serves to reveal the mind and purpose of the Creator. God’s primary purpose in creating the universe and humanity is so that human beings may dwell with Him.

• The Symbolism of Numbers:

  • The number $7$ is of central importance because in Hebrew, the word is linguistically linked to "oath" or "covenant."

  • The number $7$ points directly toward covenant union.

• The Sabbath Rest:

  • The sequence of the $6^{\text{th}}$ day leads into the $7^{\text{th}}$ day, or the Sabbath.

  • "Rest" in this context does not refer to a cessation of activity but to union with the Good.

• Human Union: Adam and Eve are brought together on the $7^{\text{th}}$ day as a sign of the intended union between the Divine and the human.

Genesis 2: Eden as Temple and Adam’s Vocation

• The Cosmic Temple: Eden is described as a cosmic temple or the House of God.

  • It is situated on the Mountain of God.

  • It features "waters of life" flowing out and "jeweled ground" imagery.

  • The Temple structure consists of an outer realm (the garden) and an inner sanctuary (the Holy of Holies).

• The Sacramental Trees:

  • The Tree of Life is the primary means of communion with God.

  • The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil acts as a protective hedge around the inner sanctuary where God dwells.

• Adam’s Vocation as Priest, Prophet, and King:

  • Priest: Adam is given the tasks to "till and keep," terms that together signify priestly activity in the sanctuary. His intended sacrifice is obedience—a heart that receives the Father’s love and responds in love.

  • King: Adam holds dominion over creation and is called to govern it.

  • Prophet: Adam exercises prophetic authority by naming the animals.

  • The Image of God: Adam is created in the image of God, and the notes explicitly state that the "Image of God" is the Son (Christ).

• The Christological Connection: Adam’s vocation establishes the categories—priesthood, prophecy, kingship, and obedience—that Christ must restore. Jesus succeeds in these roles where Adam failed.

Genesis 3: The Fall and the Protoevangelium

• The Fall: Eve is tempted by the serpent through the neglect of Adam. Eating from the Tree of Knowledge brings immediate spiritual death.

• The Condition of Sin: Adam hides in the garden. Patristic commentary compares his state to being "encased in a tomb"—alive in body but dead in soul.

• Merciful Expulsion: Adam and Eve are expelled from Paradise as an act of mercy, not cruelty. If they were to eat from the Tree of Life while in a state of sin, they would perpetuate sin in their flesh forever.

• The Protoevangelium (Genesis $3:15$): This is the "first Gospel." God promises a Redeemer whose offspring will crush the serpent and undo the curse of death and suffering. The rest of the Bible is the record of God fulfilling this specific promise.

Genesis 4–5: Cain, Seth, and Enoch

• Spread of Sin: After Eden, humanity declines into violence (Cain murdering Abel).

• Continuity of the Line: God preserves a covenant line through Seth.

• Enoch: Enoch is the $7^{\text{th}}$ generation from Adam. He is described as "walking with God" and represents the covenant generation. The notes mention a tradition where Adam, before his departure to Hades, sees Enoch allowed back toward Paradise, showing God's fidelity even after the Fall.

Genesis 6–9: Noah and the New Creation

• Corruption of the Line: The "sons of God" (covenant people) enter into false union with the "daughters of men" (pagan worship), leading to increased wickedness.

• The Ark and the Flood:

  • God saves $8$ people through the "waters and the wood of the ark."

  • Noah takes $7$ pairs of clean animals and $2$ pairs of unclean animals so that sacrifices can be offered.

• De-creation and Re-creation: The Flood is a reversal of creation (de-creation) followed by a restoration (re-creation). This is signaled by:

  • The separation of waters and dry land appearing again.

  • The imagery of the Raven and the Spirit (represented by the dove) over the waters.

• Noah’s Sacrifice: His first act after the flood is a sacrificial act of thanksgiving (Eucharistic). God accepts it because Noah’s heart is in it.

• Renewal of Order: Noah is restored to the roles of priest, prophet, and king. The covenant line is passed to the son Shem.

Genesis 11–12: Babel and the Call of Abraham

• Babel and Movement East: Humanity moves "farther east," which symbolizes moving into the realm of sin. Babel represents the pride of reaching heaven without God.

• The Location of the Promise: Abraham is called out of Ur of the Chaldees to the Promised Land. This land is significant because it is connected to:

  • Where the first dry land emerged at creation.

  • Where Adam dwelt after the expulsion.

  • Where Noah’s ark rested.

• The Purpose of Abraham: God creates a chosen family to reverse the dispersion of Babel and bless all nations. Abraham picking up "Egyptian sin" necessitates the sign of circumcision for the covenant.

Genesis 14 and 22: Melchizedek and Isaac as Types of Christ

• Melchizedek: He is the King of Salem and a priest of God Most High who offers bread and wine. This is a mysterious, "higher" priesthood that foreshadows Christ and the Eucharist.

• The Sacrifice of Isaac:

  • Abraham is asked to sacrifice his son on the mountain associated with covenant sacrifice.

  • Isaac is characterized as a "willing young man/victim" who carries the wood up the mountain at his father's command.

  • Hebrews $11$ notes that Abraham believed God could raise Isaac from the dead.

• Covenant Fulfillment: After Abraham’s total obedience, God grants the fullest promises:

  • All nations will be blessed through his descendants.

  • Descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.

  • His name will be perpetuated throughout the earth.

Genesis 25–50: Jacob, Judah, and Joseph

• Line of Blessing: Jacob receives the blessing over Esau.

• Judah’s Importance: Judah is the ancestor of kings. Despite his sins (e.g., the Tamar story), he receives mercy and shows mercy, prefiguring the merciful kingship of Christ.

• Joseph in Egypt: His betrayal by his brothers, suffering, rise to power, and use of "bread" to save the nations foreshadows Christ. Joseph emphasizes that what others intended for evil, God used for good.

Exodus: From Slavery to the Presence of God

• The Bondage: Israel is enslaved in Egypt under Pharaoh, who represents the "ancient serpent."

• The Passover Lamb: The sacrifice is a renunciation of Egyptian worship. The lamb is slain, its blood is placed on doorposts to save from death, and it is eaten as a ritual meal. This is the primary foreshadowing of the Cross.

• Divine Generosity: God furnishes Israel with gold, gems, and precious threads as they depart.

• The Red Sea: God parts the sea via His breath/Spirit. This passage from slavery to freedom is an archetypal sign of Baptism.

• Wilderness Provisions:

  • Manna: Bread from heaven sustained them (Eucharistic type).

  • The Rock: 1 Corinthians $10$ is cited to explain the spiritual water from the rock that followed them.

• Sinai and the Golden Calf: Israel receives the Law at Sinai but quickly falls to idolatry. The notes emphasize that while Israel physically left Egypt, "Egypt has not yet been rooted out of their hearts."

• The Tabernacle: God provides a structure to dwell with His people again. It is furnished like a "golden garden" (remiscent of Eden) with a mercy seat and a curtain separating the Holy of Holies.

Historical Cycles: Joshua through Saul

• Joshua and Judges: Joshua leads Israel across the Jordan (water-crossing imagery). Israel is tasked with driving evil out of the land, as Adam was to drive the serpent out of Eden. They fail, leading to a cycle of sin and oppression.

• Desire for a King: Israel requests a king to "be like the nations" rather than embracing God’s distinct kingship.

• Saul’s Failure: Saul lacks heart-level obedience and a