The Catholic Bible

The Catholic Bible

Origin of the Bible

The word "Bible" comes from the Greek word βίβλος (biblos) which originally meant Egyptian papyrus. The Egyptian writing material was exported from the Phoenician port called "Byblos". The term comes from the Greek τὰ βιβλία (ta biblia), meaning "the books."

The Bible as the Word of God

• The Bible is considered the Word of God in several forms:

  • The Incarnate Word of God in the person of Jesus.

  • The written Word in the form of Sacred Scripture.

  • The word of God that comes to us through Sacred Tradition and the Church Teachings.

• The Bible is:

  • The Word of God.

  • A collection of writings by the people of God.

  • The Word of God in human words.

The Word of God in Human Words

• Serves to inform.

• Serves to express.

• Serves to call us to a response.

• God reveals to humanity:

  • His existence.

  • His plan.

  • His intimate life.

  • His love for humanity.

• God's Word lets humanity know:

  • The history of humanity.

  • The meaning of it.

  • Direction for it.

• God reveals Himself in love to invite humanity to respond in love.

The Bible Beyond Words

• God speaks not just through words but also through actions.

• The Hebrew word "DABAR" emphasizes this.

• The Bible shows God's presence in the story.

• Content Breakdown:

  • 57% of the Bible is about laws, discourse, or poetry.

  • 43% is about stories.

The Importance of Deeds and Context

• Actions alone are ambiguous and open to many interpretations.

• An action has to be in a series to have meaning.

  • The series of saving events in the Bible point to God’s salvific plan for humanity.

• Present events shed light on past actions.

  • Example: Understanding a breakup after finding out about the girlfriend with your best friend.

  • After the Resurrection, most of Jesus’ actions became clearer to the Apostles.

• Words are sometimes needed to clarify the meaning of actions.

  • Examples:

    • “Hey, great job you did today!”

    • “I am sorry, I heard you got fired today.”

    • “I like you. If you want to keep your job, have lunch with me.”

  • John 13:12-15: Jesus washing the feet of the disciples as a model to follow.

Revelation

• Revelation is the interpretation of the words and actions of God in the history of salvation.

• Forms of Revelation:

  • Words.

  • Dreams.

  • Visions.

  • Directly in the mind of the hearer.

  • Deeds.

    • God enters the human story.

    • He Himself takes part of the story.

• What is Revealed:

  • God.

  • His love.

  • His plan to save us.

Biblical Revelation

• How is it being revealed?

  • Words.

  • Deeds.

  • Creation and created things.

  • Intervention in lives of Israel.

  • Of Moses.

  • Of the Prophets.

  • Of Jesus.

• What is being revealed?

  • God.

  • His love.

  • His plan to save us.

Sources of Revelation

• There are 2 sources of Revelation

  • Sacred Scripture

  • Sacred Tradition

Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition

• In a meeting of the World Council of Churches “The Faith and Order Conference” at Montreal in 1963, the following were affirmed:

  1. Scripture is part of the tradition-making process.

  2. Scripture is interpreted in light of Sacred Tradition.

  3. Scripture is the guardian of tradition and also its supreme expression.

Sacred Tradition

• 2 Thess 2:15: “Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.”

• People do not only RECEIVE revelation, they also TRANSMIT it, or hand it down - TRADITION

• Tradition is used to conserve the original experience of the Sacred which could be:

  • The theophany or revelation that the founders experienced – in this case the APOSTLES

  • Which when continuously relived becomes the basis and example of other forthcoming experiences

What Tradition Is

• Tradition is NOT any set of customs or mythical practices.

• TRADITION is the FAITH AS LIVED…

  • In morality

  • In liturgy

• … and PROCLAIMED ORALLY…

  • In kerygma

  • In catechesis

  • In apologetics and polemics

• … by the CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

• Tradition is the assurance of the presence of Christ in the faith of the Church, manifesting itself anew for each generation… as TAUGHT BY the APOSTLES and their successors… ENTRUSTED to them by the LORD and the HOLY SPIRIT

Forms of Transmitting Religious Tradition

• Religious TRADITION is passed on in two ways:

  • Written Form

    • Transmitted in a fixed way, through writings

    • Needed for orthodoxy

    • Employed as a reference point for handing down the tradition

  • Oral Form

    • Transmitted in a living way through songs, ritual actions, moral teachings, stories

    • Needed for orthopraxy

    • Employed as a reference point so that tradition can become actual and pertinent to each new situation

Relationship Between Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT) Traditions

• Things Common to Both OT AND NT

  • Both are living traditions – that is, both came from the life of the community of faith and now exert influence over it

  • Both are passed on in two forms – oral and written

  • Both have therefore, the characteristics of stability and growth

Differences Between OT and NT Sacred Tradition

1. The OT tradition is based on the PROMISED Divine intervention, and is waiting for the culmination of God’s people at the coming of the Messiah. The NT tradition believes this CULMINATION has come in Jesus the Messiah. What it awaits is the final manifestation of the glory it presently enjoys.

2. Since the OT tradition is still waiting the culmination, it is provisional in character. The NT tradition has a definitive character; it is the irrevocable and definitive revelation from God. OT contains the promises; NT reveals the fulfillment.

3. In the Judaic tradition, prophecy has ceased, and prophets have been replaced by experts of the Law. The rabbis (present-day experts) guide the people in interpretation of the Law. In the NT, even after the death of the Apostles, the influence of the Risen Christ and the Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church. Primacy is given to the Spirit, rather than to the experts.

Aberrations in the Use of Sacred Scripture

1. Bibliolatry

   • Is the worship of the Bible or any other text from it.

   • Those who believe in Biblical inerrancy may be considered such.

2. Bibliomancy

   • Use of the books in divination – using the bible as magical medicine, for removing negative energies, etc.

Christ as the Fullness of Revelation

• CHRIST IS THE FULNESS OF REVELATION

Inspiration

• “Sacred Scripture is the Word of God in as much as it is consigned in writing under the inspiration of the Divine Spirit” Dei Verbum no. 9

• Latin root of inspiration: Inspirare in + spirare “breathed into”

• In the OT, the title “Spirit of God” expressed the power of God in action

• It was not yet seen as a Divine Person but only as a special attribute of God

The Spirit of God in the Old Testament

• The Spirit of God was found in creation (Gen 1:2)

• It gave strength to Samson (Judges 13:25)

• It infused life into dry bones (Ezek 37:9)

• It is a soft gentle breeze (1 Kings 19:12)

• At the same time a strong wind (Acts 2)

• It is presented as the giver of charisms (1 Cor 12:4-11)

Inspiration in a Wider Sense

• Persons were inspired to lead God’s people and to act on their behalf

  1. PASTORAL INSPIRATION

     • Num 11:25 The LORD then came down in the cloud and spoke to him. Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses, he bestowed it on the seventy elders; and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied, but did not continue.

     • 1 Sam 16:13 Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David. Then Samuel set out for Ramah.

  2. PROPHETICAL INSPIRATION

     • Moved by the Spirit of God, certain men spoke God’s work to the people

     • Mic 3:7-8 Then shall the seers be put to shame, and the diviners confounded; They shall cover their lips, because there is no answer from God. But as for me, I am filled with power, with the spirit of the LORD, with justice and with might; To declare to Jacob his crimes and to Israel his sins.

     • Ezek 11:5 Then the spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he told me to say: Thus says the LORD: This is how you talk, house of Israel, I know the things that come into your mind!

  3. SCRIPTURAL INSPIRATION

     • The inspiration to write the Sacred Text

     • Is a logical sequence stemming from the first 2

     • Is meant to preserve the revelation imparted through pastoral and prophetical inspiration.

Three Types of Inspiration

• Inspiration in a limited sense gives focus to this last one

  • SCRIPTURAL (Written)

  • PROPHETICAL (Spoken)

  • PASTORAL (Lived)

Divine Condescension

• Divine Condescension (idea of St John Chrysostom) So God adapted his language of the Scriptures to the weak human language, just as Divine Word adapted Himself to the humble human situation in the Incarnation

What Inspiration Is Not

1. Not a verbal or mechanical dictation, where the author has become a “zombie” whose normal functions have been taken over

2. Not subsequent approbation – man acting all on his own, and then God directly or through the Church giving man’s efforts a “stamp of approval” insofar as it being free from religious error

3. Not negative assistance – where the only role of the Holy Spirit is to prevent error in man’s writings

Inspiration: Divine and Human Authors

• “Sacred Scripture is the Word of God in as much as it is consigned in writing under the inspiration of the Divine Spirit” DV no. 9

  • Divine Author?

  • Human Author?

Models of Inspiration: Scholasticism

• St Thomas Aquinas: “The principal author of the Sacred Scripture is the Holy Spirit, the human person instead is its instrumental author.”

• Principal Cause: The Bible is still predicated to God as Principal Author – it is truly the Word of God

• Instrumental Cause: The human author is no inanimate instrument but rather cooperated with God in his full capacity as a human being

• God worked through individual writers who belonged to faith communities, to bring to us His Word in written form.

  $GOD → HUMAN AUTHOR → FAITH COMMUNITY$

Canonicity of the Old Testament and New Testament

• Canon: Greek word κανών originally referred to a reed used for measuring. Then its meaning developed to the measurement, the norm, the rule.

• In the first 3 centuries of Christianity, the term kanon designated the rule of tradition or the rule of faith according to which the Christians must live

• By the 4th century on, it acquired the meaning of the list of Divinely inspired books that contained the normative faith of the people

• Council of Laodicea (AD 360): “In the assembly, private psalms or non-canonical books should not be read, but only the canonical books of the New Testament and the Old Testament”

Canonicity and the Role of the Church

• Written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the inspired books came to be known as the canonical books because:

  • They are recognized as such by the Church

  • And are proposed to the faithful as the source of norms of faith and Christian life

• The Church now relies on the Canon but the creation of the Canon was dependent upon the judgment of the Church

  $FAITH COMMUNITY discerned inspired books → CANON Norm for further development and expression$

• The Scriptures now serve to judge the community since they embody her earliest and best perception of her own essence

The Basis of Canonicity: Apostolic Tradition

• The basis was the faith they received from the teachings coming from the Apostles known as the Apostolic Tradition

  • Apostles

  • Their companions

  • Their successors

• They were already practicing the faith and celebrating it in their regular assemblies

• When the Christian communities received a book supposed to express their faith, they would judge it according to the faith they were living and celebrating

• IF the book were truly reflective of their received faith, they would continually use it in their assemblies.

Comparison with Jewish Canon

• TaNaK Hebrew Bible

  • Torah: the Law

  • Nevi’im: the Prophets

  • Ketuvim: the Writings

Catholic Scriptures (OT)

• Pentateuch

• Historical Books

• Prophetical Books

• Wisdom Books

Catholic Bible vs. Hebrew Bible

• CATHOLIC BIBLE (based on Alexandrian canon of LXX; with seven Deuterocanonical books)

  • Pentateuch (Law)

    1. Genesis

    2. Exodus

    3. Leviticus

    4. Numbers

    5. Deuteronomy

  • Historical Books

    6. Joshua

    7. Judges

    8. Ruth

    9. 1 Samuel

    10. 2 Samuel

    11. 1 Kings

    12. 2 Kings

    13. 1 Chronicles

    14. 2 Chronicles

    15. Ezra

    16. Nehemiah

    17. TOBIT

    18. JUDITH

    19. Esther (longer version)

    20. 1 MACCABEES

    21. 2 MACCABEES

  • Wisdom Books

    22. Job

    23. Psalms (150)

    24. Proverbs

    25. Ecclesiastes

    26. Song of Solomon

    27. WISDOM of Solomon

    28. SIRACH, a.k.a. Ecclesiasticus

  • Prophets

    29. Isaiah

    30. Jeremiah

    31. Lamentations

    32. BARUCH (incl. LETTER of JER.)

    33. Ezekiel

    34. Daniel (14 chapters)

    35. Hosea

    36. Joel

    37. Amos

    38. Obadiah

    39. Jonah

    40. Micah

    41. Nahum

    42. Habakkuk

    43. Zephaniah

    44. Haggai

    45. Zechariah

    46. Malachi

• HEBREW BIBLE (a.k.a. Mikra or TaNaK/Tanakh)

  • Torah / Books of Moses

    1. Bereshit / Genesis

    2. Shemot / Exodus

    3. VaYikra / Leviticus

    4. BaMidbar / Numbers

    5. Devarim / Deuteronomy

  • Nevi'im / Former Prophets

    6. Joshua

    7. Judges

    8. Samuel (1&2)

    9. Kings (1&2)

  • Nevi'im / Latter Prophets

    10. Isaiah

    11. Jeremiah

    12. Ezekiel

    13. The Book of the Twelve: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

  • Khetuvim / Writings

    14. Psalms (150)

    15. Proverbs

    16. Job

    17. Song of Solomon

    18. Ruth

    19. Lamentations

    20. Ecclesiastes

    21. Esther (shorter version)

    22. Daniel (12 chapters)

    23. Ezra-Nehemiah

    24. Chronicles (1&2)

Protestant Canon vs Catholic Canon

• Catholic OT (46 books) includes:

  • Tobit

  • Judith

  • 1 Maccabees

  • 2 Maccabees

  • Baruch

  • Sirach

  • Wisdom

  • Plus Parts of Daniel & Esther

• Protestant OT (39 books)

• Both canons include the New Testament (27 books).

Process of Canonization: Old Testament

• Not all that was passed down was included in the list of Sacred Writings

• Role of the prophetic tradition:

  • The prophets were seen to be the agents of divine revelation par excellence. Hence, books that have originated before prophecies ceased were considered uniquely inspired.

• A common understanding about what constitutes a sacred book guided the community to recognize the sacredness of a book:

  • Liturgical use: The books that were prominently used in worship and cult were almost always given canonical status.

Historical Context During Jesus' Time

• During the time of Jesus, the canon of the Hebrew Scriptures was not yet determined

• The Jews of the Diaspora accepted the more expanded list which included works originally written in Greek like Sirach and Wisdom

• Even Jesus and his disciples appeared to have used the Septuagint canon as attested to by the following derivations:

  • Rom 1:19-21 For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them. Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse; for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened.

  • From Wis 13:1-9

Criteria for Canonization (Jewish Leaders)

• Aware of the threat of the Christians who believed in Jesus who followed the Septuagint Canon, the Jewish leaders differentiated by limiting their list using the following criteria:

  1. Books should have been written in the Hebrew language

  2. Books should have been composed in the territory of Israel

  3. Books should be in theological conformity with the Torah

  4. Books should have been written before Ezra

• They revoked their approval of the Deuterocanonicals and parts of other books. Their list was the final Palestinian Canon

Christian Old Testament Canonization

• In the Christian tradition, the LXX Canon was eventually accepted since this was what reflected apostolic tradition

• But initially even the Fathers of the Church were divided between the Palestinian and Alexandrian Canons

Process of Canonization cont.

• The 4th-century councils of Hippo (AD 393) and Carthage (AD 397) showed the Western Church had accepted the Alexandrian Canon

• From the 7th century onward, the controversy over the OT Canon died as the Vulgate was universally accepted and used (this followed the LXX)

• The Council of Trent (AD 1545-1563) released the complete list of both OT and NT books that belonged to the Catholic Church’s Canon of Scriptures – it included all the books found in the Vulgate

Perennial Validity of the OT

1. The OT prepares for the coming of Christ

2. The OT affirmed the futility of man to save himself

3. The OT fostered hope for a Saviour – sustained throughout the history of the Jews

4. The OT is the necessary background to the NT – it is the first and indisputable commentary on the NT

   • Lk 24:27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.

   • Rom 16:25-26 Now to him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith.

5. Although incomplete and temporary, the have beautiful and solid divine teachings on:

   • The sense of God

   • The idea of covenant

   • Human wisdom

   • The ways and contents of prayer

   • The social dimensions of salvation

   • The historical dimensions of salvation

   • Various ways of responding (and not responding) to God

The Gospels as Part of the OT Canon

• The examples above show that the Gospels were already considered at par with the books of the OT Canon at this early stage

New Testament Canonization

• Initially, various local churches had incomplete collections of the NT writings

• The 4 Gospels acquired singular importance, though written for 4 different communities because they came from the Apostles or persons associated with the Apostles

  • St Justin (ca. AD 150): in his “Apologies” said that in the Eucharist, the Gospels were read after the Prophets (Apol 1:67)

  • Clement (ca. AD 150): in his “Second Letter to the Corinthians” quoted Mt 9:13 after quoting Is 54:1 (2 Clem 2:4)

Challenges and Resolutions

• The period between AD 180-380 was marked by doubt and controversy:

  • There was increased activity in writing

  • Some books were used by heretics

• The Church Fathers of the 2nd and 3rd century did not arrive at a common NT Canon

• Under the leadership of St. Augustine of Hippo both the Councils of Hippo (AD 393) and Carthage (AD 397) accepted the entire list of 27 NT books as we have them today.

• But the official declaration of the Church Magisterium was only given at the 19th Ecumenical Council, that of Trent

Criteria for Canonization

1. Apostolic origin – origin of writings from the apostles or someone closely associated with them

2. Ecclesiastical acceptance – the early Christian communities exercised their discretion to revere and preserve a Christian writing as sacred. These were passed on to other communities that also revered them as sacred

3. Antiquity – the more ancient the text, the more likely it would enter the canon

4. Conformity with the rule of faith – i.e. the teachings and practices of the founding apostles

5. Use in Christian Liturgy – the writings were read during the sacred liturgy by the early Church communities

Primacy of the Gospels

• The four Gospels were accepted easily because their presumed writers Matthew and John were believed to be the Apostles themselves, while Mark and Luke, were close associates of Paul

• Apart from this, the Gospels were widely used by the prominent churches: Mark by Rome, Luke by Antioch and Rome, Matthew by Caeserea and Antioch, and John by Ephesus.

Narrative Pattern Shared by the Four Canonical Gospels

1. John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus;

2. the calling of the disciples;

3. Jesus’ healing and teaching, and the growing opposition to him;

4. his final days of ministry in Jerusalem;

5. the passion narratives;

6. the empty tomb, and

7. stories of the appearances of the Risen Lord

Canonical vs. Apocryphal Gospels

• Apocryphal Gospels:

  • develop only specific elements of the canonical gospel tradition

  • sensational style

  • errant doctrine

• Infancy gospels: Protoevangelium of James, Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew

• Sayings gospel: Gospel of Thomas

• Passion gospels: Gospel of Peter, Gospel of Bartholomew, Gospel of Nicodemus [=Acts of Pilate]

• Dialogues with Christ: Apocryphon of James, Gospel of Judas, Gospel of Mary Jewish-Christian gospels: Gospel of the Hebrews, Gospel of the Ebionites, Gospel of the Nazarenes

Examples of Errant Doctrine - Gospel of Thomas

• GOSPEL OF THOMAS 114 Simon Peter said to them, "Make Mary leave us, for females don't deserve life. “

• Jesus said, "Look, I will guide her to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every female who makes herself male will enter the domain of Heaven."

Value of Apocryphal Gospels

• Some have nourished the faithful for centuries such as the Didache and the Shepherd of Hermas

• In some apocryphal books, there are details which the Church as used such as the Protoevangelium of James which mentions the parents of Mary and her presentation in the temple

• Many of the Church Fathers and early Christian writers held some of these books in esteem – for example the Prayer of Manasses and 3 Esdras

• Caution must be exercised though as some of these were written by heretics and as such, contain erroneous doctrine

Helpfulness of the Apocryphal Books

• The OT apocryphal books shed light on:

  • The messianic hopes

  • The religious and moral opinions of the Jews living at the time of the composition of the books

• The NT apocryphal books shed light on:

  • The doctrines existing among the faithful

  • The heretics in the first centuries of Christianity

Inspired vs. Canonical

• From 1 Cor 5:9, it is clear that there was a previous letter from Paul to the Corinthians

• In Col 4:16, there is mention made of a letter of Paul to the Laodiceans

  • 1 Cor 5:9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people…

  • Col 4:16 And when this letter is read before you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and you yourselves read the one from Laodicea.

• When a writing comes from the apostles and expresses their charism and ministry, it is INSPIRED

• BUT if found, it had never been in use by the ancient churches, and thus cannot be included in the Canon

• All canonical books are inspired, but in theory, it is possible that not all inspired books are canonical

Formation of the Old Testament and New Testament Books

• ORIGIN OF THE BOOKS

  • ORAL CULTURE

    • People told stories and the listeners remembered

    • Each tribe would have its own perspective about their history

    • Different traditions developed over time

    • And then in turn passed them on to the next generation

Brief History of Covenant: Old Testament

• ABRAHAM (1800 BC)

  • God chooses a clan

  • Received Divine promises

• MOSES (1250 BC)

  • God forms a nation

  • Received the Covenant & the Law

• DAVID (1000 BC)

  • God builds a kingdom

  • Received the Messianic Promise

Brief History of Covenant: New Testament

• JESUS (AD 6)

  • Jesus institutes His Church

  • Won salvation to the whole world

Divisions of the Bible

• OLD TESTAMENT

  • Pentateuch

  • Historical Books

  • Wisdom Books

  • Prophetical Books

• NEW TESTAMENT

  • Gospels

  • History

  • Pauline Letters

  • General Letters

  • Revelation
    INFO

"Bible" comes from the Greek BiBiia ("The books"). The Catholic Bible contains 73 books: 46 from the Old Testament and 27 from the New Testament.

Pentateuch

• traditionally attributed to Moses

• called the Book of the Law

• stories of humanity’s origins, the patriarchs of Israel, Israel’s escape from slavery and their journey towards the promised land

Historical Books

• stories of Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land, their growth as a nation, their exile in a foreign land, and their return from exile to a land occupied by a foreign government

• Contains three categories of history:

  • Deuteronomic History

  • Chronicler’s History

  • Latter History

Wisdom Books

• contain ancient hymns of personal struggles and national pride as well as lessons about suffering, finding meaning in everyday life, and love

• called the books of Writings, or the books of Poetry, or the Sapiential books

Prophetical Books

• Divided into major and minor prophets

  • refer to the length of the respective compositions

• These books teach us how to remain faithful to God and how to treat one another

• Prophets reveal God’s message calling us back to hope, forgiveness and justice

Gospels

• The gospels have a special preeminence in the Sacred Text for they are the principal witness to the Life and Teaching of the Incarnate Word, Jesus (DV 18)

• The Church holds that the four gospels are of apostolic origin - from the apostles themselves and other apostolic men, who wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (DV 18)

History

• There is just one book here – the Acts of the Apostles

• Contains stories of the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, the coming of the Holy Spirit to the church at Pentecost, the martyrdom of St. Stephen, the conversion of St. Paul, etc.

• Written by Luke as a sequel to his gospel account, describing the faith, growth and way of life of early Christianity

Pauline Letters

• Were written by St. Paul or one of his disciples; not long after the death and resurrection of Jesus

• They indicate early developments of Christian theology and practice

Catholic Epistles

• Some of these letters are thought to be addressed, not so much to a particular community or individual, but to a more universal audience

• Were written by various authors

Revelation

• Last book of the Bible – this book is best understood by looking back at the Old Testament, and seeing how Jesus does indeed fulfill the promises and prophesies therein

• This is usually the most misinterpreted book of the Sacred Text, as it is rich with symbolisms – numbers, colors, animals, visions, cosmic images

Sacred Scripture Overview

• OLD TESTAMENT

• NEW TESTAMENT

• TESTAMENT / COVENANT

  • Proof of Fact

  • Last Will

Tracing the Threads of Covenant

• With all creation through Adam

• With Noah and all living beings

• With Abraham and his descendants

  • ONE FAMILY

  • ONE HOUSEHOLD

  • ONE CLAN

Tracing the Threads of Covenant cont.

• With Moses and the nation of Israel

• With David and his Kingdom

  • ONE NATION

  • ONE KINGDOM

• A New Covenant

God's Story - Our Story

• Old Testament

  • Pentateuch

  • Historical Books

  • Prophetical Books

  • Wisdom Books

• New Testament

  • Gospels

  • Historical Book

  • Letters

  • Apocalypse

Genesis

• God’s Covenant with Creation through 1 family

• Breaking the Covenant

• God’s Promise

• God’s Covenant through 1 household

• God’s Forming a People

• God’s Covenant with 1 nation - Israel

• God’s Promises and Covenant for 1 clan

Joshua & Samuel

• JOSHUA God’s Covenant Promise Fulfilled Israel enters the Promised Land

• JUDGES God’s Faithfulness to Israel and Israel’s repeated Covenant breaking

• 1 & 2 SAMUEL Kings to lead Israel to follow the Covenant

• 1 & 2 SAMUEL A Kingly Messiah is Prophesied – God Covenants Himself to 1 Kingdom

Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, & Ezekiel

• AMOS & HOSEA Prophets warn to obey Covenant – right worship & social justice

• ISAIAH Prophecy of the Suffering Servant of God

• JEREMIAH Prophecy of a New Covenant