Case for Jesus

1
Case for Jesus Jesus Birth

• Unit 1 Notes
• Menzhuber 2009

2
Bible Organization

• BIBLEBook
• 2 Divisions with 73 Books in the CANON (Official
  List of Books in the Bible)
• Old Testament46 Books
• Books of the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Books
  of Wisdom, Prophetic Books
• New Testament27 Books
• Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, EPISTLES
  (Letters), Book of Revelation
• TESTAMENTCovenant

3
Why Read the Bible?

• TO SEARCH FOR TRUTH!
• Two sources of religious truth in the Catholic
  Christian tradition
• Christian Scriptures (the Bible)
• Church Tradition

4
What is Truth?

• TRUTHActual state of matter conforming with
  fact or reality indisputable
• Truth exists!
• Truth can be known!
• We are rationaluse our reason!
• Some may be mystery to us!
• Truth is universal!
• If there are two contradicting truthsonly one
  or neither of them can be true!
• Truth is certain!
• We should still question!
• Questioning leads to deeper understanding.

5
Denying Truth

• These movements deny the nature of truth
• SkepticismTruth can never be known.
• RelativismThere is no universal truth.
• SubjectivismThere is no universal or certain
  truth.

6
What Truth is in the Bible?

• HISTORICAL TRUTHObjective facts of historical
  events, without further interpretation
• RELIGIOUS TRUTHDeeper meaning of what God
  intends to reveal to people through historical
  events

7
Types of Religious Truth

• RevelationWho is God?
• MoralityHow should we live our lives?
• Human NatureWho are we?

8
Methods of Interpretation

• HISTORICAL-CRITICAL METHODTo find the deeper
  meaning of the Biblical text, we must also have
  knowledge of the history and culture during the
  time and place of events.
• Rhetorical AnalysisStudies the use of persuasion
  in the Bible
• Narrative AnalysisStudying the meaning of
  stories that bring the reader from the historical
  understanding of the text, to its meaning for the
  reader today.

9
Methods of Interpretation continued

• Approaches Based on TraditionThe Bible should be
  read as an interacting whole, a gathering of
  faithful testimonials.
• Approaches that Use the Human SciencesUsing what
  we have learned from sociology, anthropology, and
  psychology to better understand the truths of
  Scripture.
• Contextual ApproachesEach person interprets the
  Bible differently and pays attention to some
  parts more than others therefore, be careful to
  not be biased when reading the Bible.

10
Senses of Scripture

• We must be sure to keep in mind
• Literal SenseReading Scripture word for word as
  truth
• SPIRITUAL SENSEReading Scripture for the
  inspired religious truth/deeper meaning
  (INSPIRATIONGuided by the Holy Spirit)
• Fuller SenseUsually, the literal sense leads us
  to understand the spiritual sense BUT the fuller
  sense discovers the spiritual sense when it is
  different from the literal sense.

11
The Spiritual Sense

• Or should we sayreligious truth?
• Allegorical Sensethe revelation of ideas and
  concepts through characters and events (reveals
  human nature)
• Moral Senselessons about right and wrong
  (morality)
• Anagogical Sensesignifies eternal things
  (revelation)

12
Biblical Interpretation

• Called to exegete
• ExegesisCritical examination of a text
• BIBILICAL EXEGESISCritical examination of the
  Bible
• How do we proceed with all of this information on
  interpretation?

13
Obstacles to Exegesis

• ORAL TRADITIONStories passed on from generation
  to generation sometimes bring changes to the
  original account
• CONTEXT of Writer and ReaderEvery eyewitness and
  reader bring their own perspective and point of
  view

14
Encouragement for Exegesis

• Even with these elements to keep in mind, do not
  forget the Bible is INSPIRED!
• Spiritual SenseThere is religious truth and we
  can find it!
• Revelation (anagogical sense)
• Morality (moral sense)
• Human Nature (found through allegorical sense)

15
OT and NT Relationship
Old Testament
Explains
New Testament
16
Covenants of the OT

• God
• Never destroy the earth by flood
• God
• Son
• Many descendents
• Promised Land
• God
• Always be with them

• Noah Creation
• Promises not to sin
• Abraham Hebrews
• Not to sin, have faith
• Make sacrifices
• Moses Israelites
• 10 Commandments and other laws

Rainbow
Circumcision
Ark of the Covenant
17
OT Covenant Patterns

• Though humans will most likely break their part
  of the covenant, God never will!
• Each covenant includes more and more of Gods
  people.
• The promises build on each other, slowly
  revealing what God wants from us.

18
Make-Up Short Answer

• If you would like to take advantage, please
  complete a short answer response to 5 on your
  study guide by Monday, 9/21.
• I will score it out of 16 as I did the other. I
  will keep the score that is the highest of the
  two short answer responses.

19
Revealing the New Covenant

• Surprise! The promise of the new covenant is
  given in the Old Testament
• Read Jer 31 31-34 with your partner.
• Try to lay out the new covenant the way we did
  with the Old Testament covenants.
• According to Jeremiah, has this covenant come
  into being? How do you know?

20
New Covenant

• God
• Forgiveness of Sins
• Salvation

• All People
• Know God
• Love God (write God on their hearts)
• Want to follow Gods commands

MessiahHebrew word meaning Anointed
One ChristGreek word meaning Anointed One
21
Who is the Messiah?

• Read Isaiah 52-53
• Highlight anything that sounds familiar.
• Images of Messiah
• Unique imageSuffering Servant
• Other images of messiah from the Old Testament
  foreshadow a king, religious leader, or military
  hero as was experienced by Israel in the past.
• Jesus?

22
Infancy Narratives

• Matthew and Luke begin their Gospels with the
  INFANCY NARRATIVESthe stories of Jesus birth
  and early childhood.
• Read Mt 1-2 on your own.
• Highlight events that occur during Mts Infancy
  Narrative (pay special attention to events that
  were not mentioned in Luke).

23
Matthews Religious Truths

• BethlehemRoyal City (Davids City)
• EmmanuelGod with Us in the INCARNATION (God
  becomes flesh)
• Magi-Gentiles accept Jesus Jews reject
• GoldRoyalty
• FrankincenseIncense DIVINITY (Godly)
• MyrrhOil, Anointing for death
• Flee to Egypt and Killing of the InnocentsJesus
  as new Moses reminder of the law

24
Lukes Religious Truths

• ZechariahNeed to trust in God
• ANNUNCIATIONFollow Gods Will
• VISITATIONServe one another
• BethlehemRoyal City (Davids City)
• Stablelike suffering servant (Isaiah)
• ShepherdsGood news is for everyone especially
  the poor
• PRESENTATIONCircumcision Naming JESUS (Yahweh
  Saves)

25
Evangelists (Gospel Writers) Main Message

• Matthew
• Show Jesus is Messiah
• Mark
• Jesus suffering and death
• Luke
• Jesus mercy and compassion
• John
• Show Jesus is God!
• SYNOPTIC GOSPELSSimilar Gospels of Matthew,
  Mark, Luke