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The Old Testament: The Story of God’s Boundless Love

The Old Testament: The Story of God’s Boundless Love. Bible. Biblia: means “little books” The Bible is the word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit Consists of both the Old and New Testament. Old Testament. Covenant: the conditional promises made to humanity by God

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The Old Testament: The Story of God’s Boundless Love

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  1. The Old Testament: The Story of God’s Boundless Love

  2. Bible • Biblia: means “little books” • The Bible is the word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit • Consists of both the Old and New Testament

  3. Old Testament • Covenant: the conditional promises made to humanity by God • Testament is another word for “covenant” • Old Testament tells the Story before the time of Jesus • Comprised of 46 books

  4. New Testament • Comprised of 27 books • These books detail the life of Jesus and the early Christian community that followed His death and resurrection

  5. Inspired Word of God • DOES NOT mean that God whispered into the ears of writers what they should write • DOES NOT mean the Bibles is factually or scientifically correct • IT DOES MEAN that it contains “all the truth that is necessary for salvation” • Salvation: deliverance of penalty of sin

  6. Inspired Word of God • Authors of biblical writers were influenced by their surroundings and influenced by their ancient myths, legends, stories, and political ideals • Various forms used to meet audiences’ needs. • -Oral tellings • Old Testament was written over a period of about 1,000 years • New Testament was written over a period of about 50 years

  7. The church’s role in Scripture • The Church’s main role is to provide help and guidance in understanding the “meaning” of scripture • Tradition is the oral preaching of Jesus’ followers • Magisterium: the primary teaching body of the Church aka the pope and bishops • Guided by the Holy Spirit • Interpret the Scriptures and Tradition

  8. Salvation history • Salvation history is the Story of God’s actions and the people’s responses over many centuries • Salvation history began around 1850 B.C. to circa 100 A.D.

  9. Periods of Biblical History • The Founders and the Promise • The Exodus of the Israelites and the Covenant • Taking over the Promised Land • The Nation and the Temple • The Kings and the Prophets • The Babylonian Exile and the Jewish Dispersion • Jesus, the Savior • Judaism after the Biblical Period

  10. The Founders and the Promise • Story begins with Abraham, a wandering herdsman who lived in present day Iraq around 1850 BC • God made a covenant with Abraham promising him land in modern-day Israel (Canaan)

  11. The Exodus and covenant • Story of escape from Egypt led by Moses • Covenant of the 10 Commandments • Hebrew people were made “the people of God”

  12. Taking Over the Promised Land • Led by Joshua, the Israelites take over the Promised Land • They fought to take back the land being led by judges • Begin to build up a vast empire

  13. The Nation and the Temple • Around 1,000 BC Israel became recognized as a nation • King David was the GREAT leader from this period • David’s son Solomon builds the Temple in Jerusalem

  14. The Kings and Prophets • After Solomon's death, the Kingdom is divided • Prophets began to speak out against the kings • Prophets tried to re-new the covenant with God

  15. The Babylonian Exile and Dispersion • Concept of monotheism is developed • Monotheism: belief in one God • Released after about 50 years of captivity • Most important period in biblical scholarship

  16. Jesus, The Savior • Jesus the Christ comes for the forgiveness of sins • Christianity develops and Christians (the followers of Christ) believe Christ is the Messiah—anointed one

  17. After Jesus • Destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD • Official canon of the Bible is set in 90 AD • Canon: list of books recognized as divinely inspired

  18. The Catholic Canon • There are 46 Books in the Catholic Canon • Four main groups: • The Pentateuch • The historical books • The wisdom books • The prophetic books

  19. The Pentateuch • The first five books of the Old Testament—means five books • Jews refer to these books as the Torah • The five books of the Pentateuch are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy

  20. The Historical Books • These books tell the story of conquering the Promised Land • Discuss Joshua, the judges and the first kings

  21. The Wisdom Books • Poetic books that discuss ways of prayers • They also discuss the power of faith in every day life

  22. The Prophetic Books • Prophets are broken up into three periods: • Pre-exilic prophets • Exilic prophets • Postexilic prophets

  23. Beginnings: Stories of God’s Creation and PRomises

  24. Genesis • Genesis means “beginning” • “Israel’s pre-history” • Depicts: • Story of Creation • Adam and Eve and the Fall • Cain and Abel, Noah • The Tower of Babel

  25. Babylonians • Polytheistic: worshiping many gods • These gods were self-serving, violent and destructive • These gods thought of human beings as slaves and humans were put in the middle of the wars between the gods • Babylonians felt a need to please the gods

  26. Jewish Faith • Monotheistic: believe in one God • Unlike Babylonians chaotic world, Jews believed that out of chaos God brought forth goodness, order, beauty and life

  27. How Jews were Different? • Jews believed God to be good, humans to be good and life to be good • Sabbath day: importance is that it set the Jews apart from their Babylonian captors • By putting it in the story of Creation is emphasized its importance

  28. Is Creation Story Science? • Creationists: those who insist that the account of Genesis is factually true • Evolutionists: argue that the universe has evolved over millions of years, with humankind as a recent part of that evolution process—biblical accounts of creation were meant to convey religious truth, not scientific fact

  29. Catholic Church’s Teachings • Church teaches that both the biblical account of creation and evolution work together • The biblical creation story is not scientific fact • However, it does contain the underlying truth that God is the source of all goodness

  30. Sin Enters the World • In the 2nd story of creation we encounter the story of Adam and Eve • Adam is accused of eating from the forbidden tree—he passes blame to Eve—she passes blame to the serpent • Result: relationships were hurt, man will have to work and women will be subject to their husbands

  31. Original Sin • The Fall: the first sin of humankind • Original Sin: the inherited sin of Adam and Eve—inclination towards evil • Essentially is human beings refusal to acknowledge God as God and ourselves as dependent on Him.

  32. The Main Point? • It was human beings who chose to rebel against God • God does not create injustice in the world; human beings do by their bad choices

  33. Sin Spreads • Following the Fall, sin continues to spread with Cain and Abel • “Am I my brother’s keeper? • People use this today to try and get out of responsibility of knowing something is wrong and still do it

  34. The First Covenant • Noah’s Flood story is a story about how human beings became corrupted and God attempted to start over • As a result of Noah’s loyalty, God creates a covenant with Noah • Covenant: a solemn promise

  35. Point of Noah • Whoever hears and obeys God’s word will be saved and whoever does not, will be lost • Saved is not in terms of life, but in terms of not forgetting how to love and serve • First covenant, the world will not be destroyed again by a flood

  36. The Tower of Babel • Great sin here is the arrogance the nation had in thinking it could build a tower to heaven • The writer also tried to explain why people speak different languages

  37. Abraham: The Father of Faith

  38. Abraham and Sarah • Abraham was the father of biblical faith—father of Judaism, Christianity and Islam • Sarah: the wife of Abraham

  39. Call of Abram and the Covenant • Semites: ancient peoples of the Near East who the Israelites descended from • Abram travelled from the city of Ur to Haran (hears God’s call in Haran) • God tells Abram to go to Canaan and it is there a great nation will grow • Hint the name: Promised Land

  40. Abram Responds • Abram leaves everything behind and follows God • Abram is disappointed because he is old and does not have a son (heir) • God tells him to look at the stars…everything he sees will be a descendent of his • Sarai and Hagar devise a plan

  41. Abram has more than one wife? • Polygamy: the taking of more than one wife • Although Hagar was taken as a concubine—monogamy was the ideal for biblical fathers • Covenant of circumcision

  42. Sarah is told of impending Birth • Hospitality: a necessity for survival in the ancient times • Sarah laughs because she is too old and does not believe she will be blessed with a child • Isaac: in Hebrew his name means “laugh”

  43. Isaac Enters, Exit Ishmael • Following the birth of Isaac, Sarah expels Hagar and Ishmael in order to preserve Isaac’s inheritance • God continues to watch over Hagar and Ishmael because of her perseverance and faith—she was obedient

  44. Ishmael’s Importance • Ishmael became a Bedouin—a nomadic Arab tribe • Ishmael is considered the father of the Arab peoples • Thus, Muslims claim Abraham as the Father of Faith through the line of Ishmael • Monotheistic: belief in one God

  45. Abraham’s Story of Faith • God tests Abraham by having him take Isaac up to a mountain and sacrifice him as a holocaust • Holocaust: a burnt offering • God steps in at the last minute and provides a ram for holocaust • Stories point—Abraham was willing to do anything for God, including sacrificing the son he waited so long to have

  46. Isaac and Rebekah: The Love Story • As Isaac gets older, his father sends him to Haran to find a bride • Sarah is buried in the new land • Abraham lived until he was 175—or did he?

  47. Jacob • Rebekah is pregnant with twins—youngest one is destined to be the heir • However, according to custom the firstborn is the heir • Rebekah sets out to give Jacob the status of firstborn

  48. Esau and Jacob • Esau and Jacob are the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah • Isaac is set to give Esau the blessing but Rebekah tries to defy this by getting him to give it to Jacob • Esau vows to kill Jacob one day over blessing

  49. Jacob Flees to Haran • Fearing for his life, Jacob flees for Haran and stays at his uncle Laban’s house • Trick of Jacob in marrying Leah rather than Rachel • Jacob stays married for seven years to Leah before marrying Rachel • He then leaves for Canaan where he has an “experience” and his name switches to Israel

  50. Joseph • Joseph is the first son of Rachel and Jacob (Benjamin is his other son with Rachel) • Joseph is the favorite son of Jacob; thus, his brothers resent him • Father gives Joseph a lavish colorful tunic and he begins to have dreams that he will one day be ruler over his family

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