CHAPTER 3 SURVEYING THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE JESUS CHRIST: GOD’S REVELATION TO THE WORLD.

CHAPTER 3SURVEYING THE BOOKS

OF THE BIBLE

JESUS CHRIST:GOD’S REVELATION TO THE

WORLD

Best Seller

The Bible was first printed in 1454

The Bible is always at the top of any best-seller’s list

Familiar Sayings from the Bible

“A HOUSE DIVIDED”“APPLE OF HIS EYE”

“CAN A LEOPARD CHANGE HIS SPOTS”

“OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES”“HANDWRITING ON

THE WALL”“LABOR OF LOVE”

“BY THE SKIN OF MY TEETH”

“EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY”

Formation of the Old Testament

Before the actual writing took place, there was a period of oral traditions

that came from the experiences the people had with God and with

each other.

Many historians believe the Chosen People began to preserve their stories during the reign of King

Solomon (950 BC).

Many editors were involved, resulting in many

OT books being compilations.

The Old Testament Canon

The Septuagint (a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) was common

during Jesus’ day.

Jewish scholars omitted the seven books written in

Greek from the Septuagint.The Council of Trent

accepted all the books in the Septuagint as part of the Old Testament canon.

Protestant Reformers accepted the official list of

Hebrew Scriptures accepted by rabbis in AD 90.

Survey of the Old Testament Books

Pentateuch

Most scholars believe that four different oral

traditions went into writing the foundational

Pentateuch.

Genesis Exodus

Leviticus Numbers

Deuteronomy

The Historical BooksHow God remained faithful to

the covenant; how the Israelites struggled to live

by its terms

Joshua Judges Ruth

1 and 2 Samuel 1 and 2 Kings

1 and 2 Chronicles Ezra and Nehemiah

Tobit, Judith, and Esther 1 and 2 Maccabees

Survey of the Old Testament Books

The Wisdom Books

How God works in our everyday lives

Job Psalms

Proverbs Ecclesiastes

Song of Songs Wisdom Sirach

Prophetic Books

The biblical prophets were a messengers from God.

Worship the one, true God Accept God’s love and

mercy Be just, especially to the

poor Know that God will

ultimately triumph

Classifying the Prophets

MAJOR PROPHETS:Isaiah

JeremiahEzekielDaniel

MINOR PROPHETS:Hosea

JoelAmos

ObadiahJonahMicahNahum

HabakkukZephaniah

HaggaiZechariahMalachi

The Writing of the New Testament

Stage 1: 6 BC—

AD 30/33

Stage 2: AD 30—

50

Stage 3: AD 50—c. 120

Stage 1: The Historical Jesus

Jesus lived a typical life of a Jewish boy

Began his public ministry c. 28 AD

Taught, healed, and proclaimed the coming of the Kingdom of God

Crucified by Pontius Pilate c. 30 AD

Rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion

Stage 2: Oral Tradition

“Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all

creation”

KERYGMA—preaching to unbelieversDIDACHE—teaching, further catechesis

LITURGY—worship of the Christians

Why Commit the Oral Tradition to writing?

The end of the world was not coming as quickly as the early Christians at first thought it would

Distortions to the Gospel were occurring

More instruction was needed

Stage 3: The New Testament Writings

First written books of the New Testament were the letters of St. Paul

The four Gospels, Acts, Catholic Epistles, and Revelation were probably

written in the latter half of the 1st century

Survey of the New Testament

The Sacred Tradition of the Church, administered by the Apostles and their successors, determined

which books were to be included in the canon and which were not under the inspiration of the

Holy Spirit.

Types of Writing in the New Testament

Gospels

The heart of the Scriptures!

Mark (~60—75)Matthew (~80—90)

Luke (~85)John (~80—110)

Acts of the Apostles

Second part of the Gospel of Luke

Acts tells the early history of the Church

Types of Writing in the New Testament

Pauline LettersCirculated in his name; either

written by Paul himself or a disciple of Paul

1 and 2 Thessalonians Galatians

Philippians 1 and 2 Corinthians

Romans Philemon

Colossians Ephesians

Titus 1 and 2 Timothy

The Letter to the Hebrews

Emphasizes Christ’s superiority over all

creation

Perfect sacrifice of Death on the cross took away

sin, fulfilling the promises of the Old

Testament

Types of Writing in the New Testament

Catholic Epistles

Letters intended “for all” (Catholic means

“universal)

James1 and 2 Peter

Jude1, 2 and 3 John

Revelation

This highly symbolic work’s purpose was to encourage Christians who were undergoing persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ.