Introduction

1. Introduction Bible: from Greek “biblia” = books or scrolls - The Holy Bible. Scripture: from Latin “scriptura” = writing - The Holy Scripture. Word: translation of the Greek “logos” - The Word of God ... Christ the Word of God and the Wisdom of God. Written by about 40 people with different culture, education, profession, language, locations, etc. over 1600 years, yet it has a unifying theme: CHRIST. Language: most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew; a few chapters in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek (a few Aramaic words). Characterized by: variety and unity, historical and contemporary, simple and profound, human and divine. Importance: a light to our path (Ps. 119:105), a sweet taste (Ps. 119:103), a weapon in the fight against evil (Eph. 6:17), ... The Inspiration of the Bible 1. God gave and guaranteed all that the Bible writers had to say on all of the subjects they discussed. 2. He determined for them by inward prompting (plus providential conditioning and control) the manner in which they should express His truth. He did not dictate the manuscript to them but He revealed His truth (visions, spoke directly, etc.) to them and showed them how they should present it. He led them to express His Word in terms of their own outlook, interests, literary habits, peculiarities of style. The Inspiration of the Old Testament “one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matt. 5:18) “no prophecy of the scripture of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Pet. 1:20-21) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Tim. 3:16) The prophets introduce their “thus saith the Lord,” “the word of the Lord that came unto me,” or something similar. - 3,808 times in O.T. Textual Transmission - the scribes (later, Masoretes; Masorah = tradition) and the customs of copying the Scriptures; counting the the words and the letters. Hebrew text (Masoretic) - Aramaic paraphrases (Targums) - Greek version (Septuagint, 280 BC) - Syriac 100 AD. The Inspiration of the New Testament God moved writers of N.T. to record His Word faithfully as He did with writers of O.T. They were conscious of what the Holy Spirit was doing through them. “perfect understanding of all things from the very first” (Luke 1:3) - eyewitness of events (John 21:24) St. Paul knew that he was expressing what the Holy Spirit directed him to write (1Cor. 2:13; 4:14; 5:9; 14:37; 2Cor. 9:1; 2 Pet. 3:15) N.T. text has been copied constantly from the start. Manuscripts: 5,000 in Greek and 15,000 in other languages - 2nd to 4th century. Ancient translations: Latin (the Vulgate), Jerome 400 AD. Syriac, Bishop Rabbula of Edessa 400 AD. Coptic, 300 AD. Divisions Jewish (Hebrew) - The Law (Torah); The Prophets (Nebiim): Former & Latter; The Writings (Ketubim): Poetry, the Scrolls (Megillot), History Christian - OLD TESTAMENT: Law (5 books); Historical (12 books); Poetry (5 books); Prophecy: Major Prophets (5 books), Minor Prophets (12 books) NEW TESTAMENT: The Gospels (4 books); History (1 book); Letters/Epistles: Pauline (14 books), Catholic (7 books); Prophecy (1 book) Catholic & Orthodox - Deuterocanonical : Tobit; Judith; 1 & 2 Maccabees; Wisdom; Ecclesiasticus (Son of Sirach); Baruch; Additions to Esther & Daniel

2. How Do I Read and Understand • Value: • Divine messages and promises of the Creator to His creation. • God’s commandments and will towards us. • Dialogue of mutual love and friendship. • Discovery of God, the Person of Jesus Christ, and His plan for the human race. • Living words to be experienced in our daily life. • Light and guidance for our steps, choices, etc. in life. • Comfort, support, encouragement at times of need. • Understanding: • Interpretation - Historical and literal interpretations; example – crossing the Red Sea • Moral interpretations; example – trusting the Lord • Spiritual and allegorical or symbolic interpretations; example – Baptism • Help - Study Bibles; Life Application Bibles; Commentary; Information Books; Interpretation Books • English versions - King James; New King James; Revised Standard; New International; Good News; Jerusalem; New English • Habits: • Program - Plan to read all the books of the Bible – choose the order • Read daily - Daily bread; spiritual food for the soul; must be consistent / regular • Time - Priority over other things • Understand - Pay attention to the verses mentioned in sermons and read in the Church; listen to Bible tapes • Memorize - Learn to recall verses; associate them to events in your life; memorize as many as you can • Meditate - Think of God’s promises and dealings with the people of the Bible and apply them to yourself • Seriousness - Take your Bible and all of the above very seriously

3. Books of the Old Testament What are the THREE major divisions of the Hebrew OT? What are the FOUR major divisions of the current OT? What was the language of the OT? What is the Septuagint LXX? What is the meaning of “canon” in reference to the Bible? What are the Deutero-canonical Books?

4. The Books of the O.T. The Five Books of Moses – The Law – The Torah Genesis The beginnings (the primeval history) Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob & Joseph Exodus Salvation – Israel in Egypt, Wilderness & Sinai Passover – Covenant – Law – Tabernacle Leviticus Sanctification – Be Holy for I AM HOLY 5 Sacrifices – Feasts – Purifications Numbers In the Wilderness – Trip to the Promised Land Deuteronomy Commitment – 3 Sermons by Moses The Historical Books Joshua – Judges – Ruth I & II Samuel – I & II Kings – I & II Chronicles Ezra – Nehemiah – Esther

5. The Books of the O.T. Poetical Books – Wisdom Books Job Mystery of Suffering Psalms Life of Praise Proverbs Victory of Wisdom Ecclesiastes Illusion of the worldly desires Song of Songs Union with Christ Major Prophets Isaiah – Jeremiah – Lamentation – Ezekiel – Daniel Minor Prophets Hosea– Joel –Amos– Obadiah Jonah–Micah–Nahum–Habakkuk Zephaniah–Haggai–Zechariah–Malachi

6. The Books of the O.T. Deutro-Canonical Books Tobit Judith Cont. of Esther Chapter 10 - 16 Wisdom Joshua Son of Sirach Baruch Cont. of Daniel Ch. 3 (cont.) & Ch. 13-14 I & II Maccabees Psalm 151

7. The Divisions of the Hebrew O.T. They are the same The 24 books in the Hebrew O.T. are identical to the 39 books in the current O.T. The 12 minor prophets as one book and Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah in 4 books instead of 8 The Divisions of the Hebrew O.T. The Law / Torah / Moses 5 The Prophets 4 + 4 The Writings / Psalms 3 + 5 + 3

8. The Language of the O.T. • Hebrew – some Aramaic (in Daniel) • The Septuagint LXX • The Greek translation done in Alexandria in c. 300 B.C. • The Dead Sea Scrolls Language and Documents

9. The Dead Sea scrolls consist of about 900 documents, including texts from the Hebrew Bible, discovered between 1947 and 1956 in eleven caves in and around the Wadi Qumran near the ruins of the ancient settlement of Khirbet Qumran, on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea. The texts are of great religious and historical significance, as they include some of the only known surviving copies of Biblical documents made before 100 BC and preserve evidence of late Second Temple Judaism. They are written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, mostly on parchment, but with some written on papyrus. These manuscripts generally date between 150 BC to 70 AD. The scrolls are most commonly identified with the ancient Jewish sect called the Essenes. The Dead Sea Scrolls are traditionally divided into three groups: "Biblical" manuscripts (copies of texts from the Hebrew Bible), which comprise roughly 40% of the identified scrolls; "Apocryphal" or "Pseudepigraphical" manuscripts (known documents from the Second Temple Period like Enoch, Jubilees, Tobit, Sirach, non-canonical psalms, etc., that were not ultimately canonized in the Hebrew Bible), which comprise roughly 30% of the identified scrolls; and "Sectarian" manuscripts (previously unknown documents that speak to the rules and beliefs of a particular group or groups within greater Judaism) like the Community Rule, War Scroll, Pesher (Hebrew pesherפשר = "Commentary") on Habakkuk, and the Rule of the Blessing, which comprise roughly 30% of the identified scrolls.

10. The Canon From Greek “kanon” meaning reed or cane. It means ruler, measure or standard. In case of the Bible, it refers to the list of books accepted as Holy Scripture: the Canonical Books. The Deutro-Canonical Books or the second Canonical Books are found in the Septuagint (LXX)

11. Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps & Charts : Old and New Testaments. Rev. and updated ed. Nashville, Tenn. : Thomas Nelson, 1996

12. Books of the Old Testament What are the THREE major divisions of the Hebrew OT? Torah (Law / Moses), Prophets, Writings (Psalms) What are the FOUR major divisions of the current OT? Low (Pentateuch / The Five Books), History Books, Poetical Books, Prophets (Major & Minor) What was the language of the OT? Hebrew – some Aramaic (in the Book of Daniel) What is the Septuagint LXX? The Greek translation of the OT (c. 300 B.C.) What is the meaning of “canon” in reference to the Bible? It means rule or standard and it refers to the list of books accepted as Holy Scripture (the Canonical Books) What are the Deutero-canonical Books? Books found in the Greek translation but not in the Hebrew version of the OT. Some of them are accepted by the Orthodox and Catholic churches.

13. Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps & Charts : Old and New Testaments. Rev. and updated ed. Nashville, Tenn. : Thomas Nelson, 1996

14. Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps & Charts : Old and New Testaments. Rev. and updated ed. Nashville, Tenn. : Thomas Nelson, 1996

15. Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps & Charts : Old and New Testaments. Rev. and updated ed. Nashville, Tenn. : Thomas Nelson, 1996