the old testament - st. francis preparatory school€¦ · old testament literature an introduction...
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Old Testament Literature
An Introduction to the Old Testament
Old Testament Literature
History of the nation of Israel
Record of Hebrew Law
Influence of religion in Western Civilization ◦ Sources of Conflict (The Crusades)
◦ Sources of Division (The Pilgrims, Anglican Church)
Record of Ancient Times ◦ Politics
◦ Geography
Perhaps the most significant book of the Western Canon ◦ The best selling book of all time
Allusion: a brief reference intended to enhance meaning ◦ Literary Allusions
◦ Pop Culture Allusions
"Christy didn't like to spend money. She was no Scrooge, but she seldom purchased anything except the bare necessities".
"As the cave's roof collapsed, he was swallowed up in the dust like Jonah, and only his frantic scrabbling behind a wall of rock indicated that there was anyone still alive".
Understand beliefs of others ◦ 13 million Jews in the world
◦ 2.2 billion Christians in the world (33%)
◦ 5.3 million current Jews in USA
◦ 241 million Christians in the USA (78%)
Major religions use OT as spiritual authority ◦ Judaism
◦ Christianity
◦ Islam
Can help your own spiritual development ◦ Exposes faults and weaknesses
◦ Provides models of faith
Describes human nature ◦ Examples of good, evil, and the in-between
Asks questions of the purpose of life ◦ Why are we here?
◦ How should we live?
◦ Why does evil exist? Is justice attainable?
Old Testament Literature
Also known as the Hebrew Bible or the Tanakh
An anthology of diverse works by many authors ◦ 39 books (or 46), spanning approximately 2000
years of material
Originally written in Hebrew and Aramaic Translated into Greek (the Septuagint) and
Latin (the Vulgate)… and eventually English
The Pentateuch (or Torah) ◦ The Five books of Moses:
focused on God’s Covenant with Israel
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
The Historical Books ◦ Books focused on the Kingdom of Israel
Joshua 1 and 2 Chronicles
Judges Ezra
Ruth Nehemiah
1 and 2 Samuel Esther
1 and 2 Kings
The Wisdom Books ◦ Poetic books that reflect on knowing God and living
a wise life
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
The Major Prophets ◦ Longer books that show interaction between God
and wayward Israel
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
The Minor Prophets ◦ Shorter books that show interaction between God
and wayward Israel
Hosea Nahum
Joel Habakkuk
Amos Zephaniah
Obadiah Haggai
Jonah Zechariah
Micah Malachi
Books that Jerusalem rejected as being authoritative in 100 AD, but still present in many Christian texts
Tobit
Judith
Wisdom
Sirach
Baruch
1 & 2 Maccabees
Old Testament Literature
Genesis 5:3
Job 4:16
Daniel 5:4
Jeremiah 7:12
Leviticus 6:12 – 15
Numbers 7 – 8
Exodus 15:3 – 16:4
Deuteronomy 4:6b – 8a