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Canon – Canonical Books

The writings that are recognized by the Church as authoritative / part of the Bible

It developed over time through acceptance by Christians and the Church fathers; then confirmed by the Churches

Septuagint (c. 250 B.C.)

Latin word for 70 – represented by the Roman numeral: LXX

72 scholars, under the sponsorship of Ptolemy Philadelphus translated OT to Greek

Quickly became the Bible of the Jews outside Palestine

Became the Bible for the early Church

Deuterocanonical Books

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Apocrypha – Deuterocanonical

Refer to variety of books and additions found in the Septuagint (the Greek) but not in the Hebrew OT

Apocrypha: derived from a Greek word that means “hidden” – acquired the meaning “false”

Recognized by the Catholic and Orthodox Churches as canonical (Deuterocanonical) based on the Septuagint

The Hebrew canon of the OT was discussed among the Jews until it was finally settled in the Council of Jamnia (c. 90)

This Hebrew canon was not accepted by the early Church

Dead Sea Scrolls

Discovered in 1947 in caves overlooking the Dead Sea

Includes OT books, a few books of the Apocrypha and other books

1,000 years closer to the originals than were previously known

Demonstration of the care with which OT texts were copied

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Deuterocanonical Books

Deuterocanonical (accepted by the Church as authentic) rather than Apocryphal (false)

Tobit Charity – the righteous suffers for a short time

14

Judith God grants victory

16

The Rest of Esther Prayers, letters and visions

6

Wisdom of Solomon Wise sayings

19

Ecclesiasticus The Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach

Church book - high moral and spiritual wise sayings

51

Baruch With the Epistle of Jeremiah

Keeping the faith and the law in exile

6

The Rest of Daniel God saves His seekers

Song of the Three Young Men, History of Susanna,

Bel and the Dragon

1 Maccabees Victory by faith

16

2 Maccabees God’s care

15

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The Assyrian Period 750-610 B.C.

The Babylonian Period 610-450

The Persian Period 450-330

The Hellenistic (Greek) Period 330-166

Alexander the Great 330-323

Rule of the Ptolemies of Egypt 323-198

Rule of the Seleucids of Syria 198-166

Antiochus (IV) Epiphanes – Judaism prohibited 175-164

Mattathias and his sons rebel (Maccabean revolt) 167

Hasmonean Period 166-63

The Roman Period 63 …

From the Exile to Christ

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Deuterocanonical Books

Deuterocanonical (accepted by the Church as authentic) rather than Apocryphal (false)Tobit Charity – the righteous suffers for a short time

14Judith God grants victory

16The Rest of Esther Prayers, letters and visions

6Wisdom of Solomon Wise sayings

19Ecclesiasticus The Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach Church book - high moral and spiritual wise sayings

51Baruch With the Epistle of Jeremiah Keeping the faith and the law in exile

6The Rest of Daniel God saves His seekers

The Song of the 3 Young Men, History of Susanna, Bel and the Dragon1 Maccabees Victory by faith

162 Maccabees God’s care

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Our Lord’s Caesar RulerBirth Augustus Herod the GreatBoyhood at Nazareth Archelaus Judea Herod Antipas Galilee Philip ItureaMinistry, Death and Resurrection Tiberius Pilate Judea Herod Antipas Galilee Philip Iturea

Empire JewsPersian 424 - 331 Enjoyed peace and prosperityMacedonian 359 - 323 Submitted to Alexander 332Ptolemiac 323 - 30 323 - 198 Septuagint 250 - 150Seleucid 312 - 65 198 - 65 Religious repression Antiochus IV Epiphanes Maccabean revolt led by Mattathias and his five sons (Judas) 166 - 134Romans 63 - A.D. 135 Taken by Pompey 64 Caesar Augustus Emperorod the Great King of Judea