The Christian Bible, Part I,

RP 2250The Bible as LiteratureCraig Ho

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The Old Testament

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Why is the Bible studied in the universities? A. Academic reasons:1. The Bible is great and interesting literature in its own right.2. The literature of the West has been and is being influenced by the Bible, both in world-view and language.B. Historical reasons:1. Universities were originated from monasteries () in the Middle-Age. Monks and nuns studied the Bible.2. It is one of the first subjects in the most ancient universities in the western (Christian) world.

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Different canons of the Old Testament (OT)A canon is a standard list of books which are regarded as authoritative.The Hebrew Bible of the Jews.The OT of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches (=texts of the Hebrew Bible + 15 / 18 apocryphal texts.)The OT of the Protestant Churches (=texts of the Hebrew Bible)

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The Hebrew canon The Prophets (4+4)Joshua Judges 1&2 Samuel 1&2 Kings

Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel the twelve ( Hosea, Joel, Amos , Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)

The Writings (11)Psalms Job Proverbs

Ruth Song of Solomon Ecclesiastes Lamentations Esther

Daniel Ezra-Nehemiah , 1&2 Chronicles NB. Ezra and Nehemiah are one book in the Hebrew canon.}Former

Prophets}Latter Prophets}Five scrolls The five scrolls are read at five main Jewish feasts:1. Songs for Passover,2. Ruth for the Feast of Weeks or Harvest,3. Lamentations for the fast in remembrance of the destruction of Jerusalem,4. Ecclesiastes for Booths5. Esther for Purim

The Law (5)Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy

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The Christian OT CanonsThe Historical Books (12)JoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEasther

The Prophets (5+12)IsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachi

39 Canonical books common to all Christian Churches (Note 1)15 Apocryphal books common to Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches1 Esdras2 EsdrasTobitJudithAdditions to EstherWisdom of SolomonEcclesiastcus, or the Wisdom of Jesus the Son of SirahBaruchLetter of JeremiahPrayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young MenSusannaBel and the DragonPrayer of Manasseh1 Maccabees2 Maccabees

3 extra apocryphal books in the OT canon of the Eastern Orthodox Churchers3 Maccabees4 MaccabeesPsalm 151Note 1: Protestant Churches accept only these 39 books as their OT canonThe Law (5)GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyThe Poetic and Wisdom Books (5)JobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of Solomon

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The Divisions of the Three Canons of the Old TestamentJewishThe Law (5)The ProphetsFormer Prophets (4)Latter Prophets (4)The Writings (11)ProtestantPentateuch (5)History Books (12)Poetry and Wisdom Books (5)Prophetic Books (17)Catholic / OrthodoxPentateuchHistory BooksPoetry and Wisdom BooksProphetic BooksApocrypha243939 + 15/18

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What is the Old Testament all about?The Law (5) - consists of the books of- Genesis- Exodus- Leviticus- Numbers- Deuteronomy

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The Historical Books consists ofthe Book of Joshua, (Joshua was Moses' successor) the Book of Judges, (Judges were civil and military leaders)the Book of Ruth, (Ruth was a Moabite widow) 1 and 2 Samuel, (Samuel was the last judge and first prophet)1 and 2 Kings, (Story of the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah)1 and 2 Chronicles, (Story of the kingdom of Judah)the Book of Ezra, (Ezra was an expert of the Law)the Book of Nehemiah, (Nehemiah was a high official at the court of the Persian emperor)

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Major Historical Events:the Exodus, political liberation from Egyptian oppression, about 1290 BCthe beginning of Monarchy, 1050 BCSolomon built the Jerusalem Temple, 966-959 BC the division of the united kingdom, 933 BCthe fall of Israel, the northern kingdom, 721/2 BCSennacherib's siege of Jerusalem, 701 BCJosiah's religious reformation, 621 BCthe fall of Judah, the southern kingdom, 586/7 BCthe exile of people of Judah, 605, 597, 586 BCthe return of the Jewish exile, 538 BCbuilding of the Second Temple, founded 536, 520-515 BC}Assyrian period

}Babylonian period}Persian period}Egyptian period

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The Historical Atlas of the Ancient Near East

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The Prophetic Books consists of Amos (760), Hosea (760-722), Micah (742-687) Isaiah (ch. 1-39) of Jerusalem (740-700) Zephaniah (640 -586), Jeremiah (627-587)

Nahum (612), Habakkauk (605, see Jer. 25.1-11) Ezekiel (597-530) Obadiah (after 586), Lamentation

Haggai (520), Zechariah (520), Malachi (440)

Other prophets: Daniel (story of the Jews in exile) Isaiah of Babylon (message to encourage the Jews exile) Joel (call for repentance) Jonah (call Nineveh to repent)} Assyrian period}Babylonian period} Persian period

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The Poetic and Wisdom Books consists ofJob, (a philosophical and religious dialogue on Gods justice)Psalms, (hymn books for worship in the temple)Proverbs, (wise sayings of the Jewish people)Ecclesiastes, (a wise old man's inquiry into the meaning of life)Song of Solomon, (erotic love poetries)

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The meaning of the Old Testament 1. Salvation History: (i.e. history as understood by Gods people, unified meaning) As a whole it tells the story of Yahwehs dealing with his people Israel: election, blessing (land/nation and people), saving them when they were in trouble (exodus, return to the promised land from exile). 2. National literature (diversified meaning)Its different parts tell us about the Hebrew peoples life experience religion (divine love), human relationship (love poems, love stories), philosophical dialogue (Job), stories of national heroes (Moses, David, Esther etc.)

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The Basic Concerns of the OTThe Torah (Law and early history)Concerned with the SACRED: origin of the world, divine calling of the patriarchs, suffering in Egypt, miraculous delivery from Egypt, receiving of the LawThe Prophets (History and social concern)Concerned with the ETHICAL: history as stories of human failure, criticizing society from an ethical point of viewThe Writings (Miscellaneous)Concerned with the HUMAN: human response to God (Psalms), human love (Ruth, Song), human suffering (Job), meaning of life (Ecclesiastes), human wisdom (Proverbs)

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Overview of todays lectureThe Structures of the Three Canons of the Old TestamentWhat is the Old Testament all about?The Historical BooksMajor Historical EventsThe Prophetic BooksThe Poetic and Wisdom BooksThree basic concerns of the OT

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