Old Testament

1
Old Testament

• Inspired
• Inerrant
• Interpretation

2
Inspired

• Inspired- breathed into by the Holy Spirit
• The Word of God in human words
• Dei Verbum 11
• God used the authors talents and ensured that all
  that He wanted written was written and no more
• Not dictation
• Not robotic take over

3
Inerrant

• No errors in matters of faith and morals
• Could have historical and scientific errot
• Could have grammatical, written eror depending on
  the author
• All that is needed for understanding revelation

4
Interpretation

• Within the context of the church
• Official interpretation by the Magisterium
• Within the context of the whole- not isolated
  phrases/commands

5
Genesis

• Primeval history
• Creation of the world
• Events preceding the Patriarchs
• Creation
• The Fall
• The Flood
• Tower of Babel

6
Genesis

• Two major sections
• Genesis chapters 1-11
• Creation
• Fall
• Flood
• Tower of Babel
• Genesis Chapters 12-50
• Story of the Patriarchs

7
Mesopotamian Myth Stories

• Similarities to
• Enumah Elish
• Tale of Gilgamesh
• Myths of Etana, Adapa,Baal
• Elements of the stories used differently to show
  a very different God from that of these other
  sources

8
Creation

• Opens with P account
• Strict format- easy memorization
• Gods word
• Everything God created is good
• God has a plan
• Very structured/ordered

9
Genesis 1

• Day1- Heavens/ light
• Day 2- Waters
• Day 3-Dry land and vegetation

• Day 4- Specific lights
• Day 5- Fish and sea creatures
• Day 6- Animals and humans

10
REST

• God is in control

11
Genesis 2

• J source
• Older than P source
• God is very close to humans
• God is like a potter-molding bodies
• Allows Adam to name
• Adams rib
• No Shame

12
Genesis 3

• Also J source
• God walking around the garden
• The Fall
• Why is there sin in the world?
• God did not create sin
• Serpent- common symbol of evil
• Now shame when naked
• God still loves them- makes them clothes
• Etiology- why there is hard labor, toil, death

13
Genesis 4

• Cain and Abel
• Abel- younger- a shepherd
• Cain- the older- a farmer (Caananite)
• Left to their own devices- people sin
• Mark of Cain
• God still loves him
• God punishes but does not abandon

14
The Flood

• J and P sources
• Many repetitions
• P- 1 pair 619-20// J- 7 pairs 72-3
• Like Gilgamesh story but different
• God chose to destroy because of mans sin
• After flood- like a do-over
• Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth
• 1st Covenant- rainbow
• God loves us despite our weaknesses and failures

15
Tower of Babel

• Ziggurat
• Etiology- why many languages
• Humans again disobey God
• They build a civilization-God told them to go out
  to the world
• Going it alone results in punishment and
  separation
• Balal- confusion
• Babel- Babylon
• Pre history ends here
• God DOES NOT abandon

16
Theology

• There is only one God
• God created everything
• Everything God created is good
• Humans created in image and likeness of God
• Importance of Sabbath
• Importance of community
• Human tendency to sin
• Disobedience to God is cause of evil
• Sin causes alienation from God and others

17
The Patriarchs

• Abraham
• Isaac
• Jacob
• Joseph
• Egypt

18
Creation of a People

• Cant prove these folks exisited as described
• Nomadic life- tent dwellers
• Tended sheep and goats
• But history tells us of the migration of peoples
  from Mesopotamia to Canaan

19
Abraham

• Came from Ur
• Makes his way to Canaan- very long journey
• Call from God- 75 years old
• Abram hears, believes, obeys
• Story of
• Call
• Faith
• Journey
• Covenant
• Fulfillment

20
Covenant with Abraham

• Gods promises
• 127, 1314, chapter 15
• Covenant Ritual in Chapter 15
• Sarai doubts
• Hagar- Ishmael
• Human efforts dont produce proper heir
• Chapter17- Covenant of circumcision
• God renames Abraham and Sarah

21
Abraham

• Visitors who predict birth soon
• Abraham bargains with God for sake of Lot in
  Sodom
• Birth of Isaac
• Chapter 22- Testing of Abraham
• Abraham buys burial plot for Sarah
• Now has legitimate claim to the land
• Arranges wife for Isaac- NOT a Canaanite
• Isaac marries Rebekah

22
Isaac and Rebekah

• Rebekah is barren
• But God answers Isaacs prayers
• Twins
• Esau- red and hairy (a hunter like Edomites)
• Jacob- grabs Esaus heel (a shepard)
• Isaac favors Esau
• Rebekah favors Jacob

23
Jacob

• Trickster
• Tricks Esau out of birthright for soup
• With Rebekah, tricks Esau our of blessing
• God had already chosen Jacob
• God works through their trickery to produce His
  end
• Jacob takes a while to fully accept his role
• After he sees the ladder- 2820-22
• Totally conditional- tries to control God

24
Jacob

• Falls in love with Rachel
• Laban says 7 years
• Laban tricks Jacob with Leah
• Jacob stays with Leah, servants, and Rachel
• Rachel is barren, but finally gives birth to
  Joseph
• Family returns to Canaan
• Jacob wrestles with angel on the way
• Now that he has matured and accepted Gods will,
  God renames him Israel
• God Renews covenant with Jacob (chapter 35)
• Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin

25
Twelve Tribes of Israel

• Sons of Jacob Mother
• Reuben Leah
• Simeon Leah
• Levi Leah
• Judah Leah
• Zebulin Leah
• Issachar Leah
• Dan Bilhah
• Gad Zilpah
• Asher Zilpah
• Naphtali Bilhah
• Joseph (EphraimMannasseh) Rachel
• Benjamin Rachel
• Sons of Joseph

26
Joseph

• Taunts his other brothers
• He is the favorite
• They sell him into slavery in Egypt
• He does well in Egypt- rises up in rank
• Becomes powerful
• Famine strikes Canaan
• Brothers come to beg
• Joseph playswith them, then forgives
• Saves family
• Reason for being in Eqypt

27
Covenant

• Central Event of the Pentateuch
• Binding-( Karat Berit-shackle)
• Formal ritual
• Parity Treaty- between equals
• Vassal Treaty- between overlord and smaller
• Sinai Covenant like a vassal treaty
• Some similarities to modern day contract
• A love treaty between God and the Israelites
• Based on mutual trust

28
Covenant vs. Contract

• Review handout

29
Exodus

• Story of Moses
• Burning bush (Chapter 3)
• Reluctant
• 10 Plagues
• Death of the first born
• Passover

30
Exodus

• Into the Desert
• Manna and quail
• People are Major whiners
• Down to Mt. Sinai
• Covenant on Sinai
• Described 3 times
• Ex 19-24, Ex 32-34, Deut 444-620
• 10 Commandments
• Moses does not make it to Promised Land