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Adult Forum Fall Series Bible Boot Camp October 6 to December 22 Sundays at 9:00 AM. Reading the Hebrew Bible Prof. Mark K. George 13 October 2013. Plan for today What is “the Bible”? History Central themes and issues Your questions Next week.
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Adult Forum Fall SeriesBible Boot CampOctober 6 to December 22Sundays at 9:00 AM
Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George13 October 2013 Plan for today • What is “the Bible”? • History • Central themes and issues • Your questions • Next week
Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George13 October 2013 What is “the Bible”? • Old Testament or Hebrew Bible? Whose Bible? • Jewish – the Tanakh (aka, the Bible) • Christian – the Old Testament • Scholarly – the Hebrew Bible, the Massoretic Text
Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George13 October 2013 What is “the Bible”? • Old Testament or Hebrew Bible? Whose Bible? • Jewish – the Tanakh (aka, the Bible) • Tanakh: Torah, Nebi’im, Kethuvim • Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) • Nebi’im/Prophets: Former and Latter • Former: Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings • Latter: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the Twelve • Kethubim/Writings: everything else (Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Megillot [Ruth, Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Esther], Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1-2 Chronicles
Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George13 October 2013 What is “the Bible”? • Old Testament or Hebrew Bible? Whose Bible? • Christian – the Old Testament (paired with New Testament) • Pentateuch (Gen, Exod, Lev, Num, Deut) • Historical books (Josh, Judg, Ruth, 1-2 Sam, 1-2 Kgs, 1-2 Chr, Ezra, Neh, Est) • Wisdom (Job, Ps, Prov, Eccl, Songs) • Prophets (Isa, Jer, Lam, Ezek, Dan, the Twelve)
Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George13 October 2013 Old Testament or Hebrew Bible? • Whose Bible? Jewish, Christian, and Scholarly • Scholarly – the Hebrew Bible, the Massoretic Text • Organization follows that of Tanakh • “Ecclectic” text=combination of manuscript evidence • Massoretes – 9th c. CE scribal school • Codex Leningradensis
Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George13 October 2013 History and the OT/HB • Traditional dates of canonization • Pentateuch – 4th c BCE • Prophets – 2nd c BCE • Writings – 90 CE • Dead Sea Scrolls challenge this schema • Traditional understanding of historical periods • 2000 BCE–400 BCE • More likely 950 BCE–160 BCE
Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George13 October 2013 Central themes and issues • Promise to Abram and Sarai (Gen 12:1-3) • Land • Progeny • Blessing to the Nations • The chosen people • Sinaitic Covenant (Mosaic Covenant) • Davidic Covenant
Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George13 October 2013 Central themes and issues • Who is God, how to relate to God, how will God relate to Israel • Explanation of life and the world; a way to make sense of life • Community and the individual
Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George13 October 2013 Your Questions? • From Dennis: • Why should Christians read the OT? • Why is God always so angry at the Jews? • What did it mean to be the chosen people? • How much did the life, culture, and religious practices of Canaan influence Israel? • Others?
Reading the Hebrew BibleProf. Mark K. George13 October 2013 Next Week: An Assignment! • Please read the following: • 1 Kings 22 – Micaiah ben Imlah • Some questions • What happens? • Why does it happen? • What questions does this raise for you?