Biblical Studies - General Introduction to Sacred Scripture PDF

who rejects me rejects him who sent me." MODULE 3.3 BIBLICAL STUDIES 101 Luke 10:16 GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO BIBLE OR Jesus words did not vanish with Jesus' SACRED SCRIPTURE...

who rejects me rejects him who sent me." MODULE 3.3 BIBLICAL STUDIES 101 Luke 10:16 GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO BIBLE OR Jesus words did not vanish with Jesus' SACRED SCRIPTURE ascension, His teachings continued to live under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the What is the Bible? preaching of the Apostles and their A. The Bible or Sacred Scripture is the successors, the pope and the bishops, written, inspired, Word of God. 2 Tim 3: collectively known as the Magisterium or 16-17 teaching body of the church B. The Bible is a "fundamental" source of This oral teaching, this living memory, this Divine Revelation. John 21: 24-25 unbroken reception of the living word of God C. Divine Revelation is God's self- from one generation of christians bishops to communication, the unveiling of the the next is what we call, Sacred Tradition. mystery of God and of his redeeming The magisterium is the guardian of this activity. Sacred tradition God's salvific activity has been present The testimony about Jesus emerges from from the beginning of time and made Sacred Tradition, under the guidance and manifest to every age and every generation. inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Its context and His salvific work is evident in creation, in content can only be understood in light of the covenants with the patriarchs, in the the Sacred Tradition of the Church's mighty works of the exodus, in the choosing Magisterium. of a people, in the giving of the law and Together with Sacred Tradition the Bible covenant at Sinai, in the conquest of the form one deposit of Divine revelation. promised land, in the sending of his Son. Hence, that Vatican II, in its Dogmatic This is what we call salvation history, God Constitution Dei Verbum states: reaching out to us time and time again. "Consequently it is not from Sacred D. The fullness of Divine revelation of God's Scripture alone that the Church draws her redeeming works is Jesus Christ (Hebrews certainty about everything which has been 1:1-4) the promised, incarnate, eternal Word revealed. of God made flesh for our salvation. Therefore both Sacred Tradition and Sacred E. Jesus' life (Deeds, Words, preaching, Scripture are to be accepted and venerated person), death (passion, suffering, with the same sense of loyalty and crucifixion), resurrection (victory over reverence." DV No 9 death) also known as paschal mystery unveils the totality of who God is and his What is the meaning of the word Bible? plan of salvation. The word Bible comes from the Greek word F. This fullness of revelation continues to be "Biblia" meaning "books". handed down to us through Sacred The Greek word Biblia itself is derived from Tradition, the living, authentic, unbroken, Biblion, meaning paper, book or scroll and oral transmission of Jesus teachings and was a diminutive or the word byblos or through the Bible. papyrus Hence, Byblos is the root word for Biblia. What is the relationship between the Bible and The name comes from the Phoenician port Sacred Tradition? Byblos from whence Egyptian papyrus was Jesus said : "He who listens to you listens exported to Greece. to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he The phrase “Ta Biblia”, “The books” was used by Hellenistic Jews to referred to U.I.O.G.D.  their Sacred books, the Septuagint, in For instance, some Jewish groups like the particular. This was the Greek version of the Sadducees only recognized as binding the Hebrew scriptures. first five books of the Bible known as the The Christian Scriptures was referred to in Torah or the "Law", or Pentateuch in Greek as Ta Biblia as early as 223 A.D. The Greek. The word Torah in Hebrew means word Bible itself is not found in any book of "Teaching or instruction” the Bible. Other Jewish groups like the Essenes had a much longer canon than the ones used by How is the Bible Divided? most Palestinian and Hellenistic Jews. The Bible is divided in two sections: Most Jews in Palestine adopted a canon A. Old Testament or O.T. containing the Tanak an acronym for the : B. New Testament or N.T. Torah, the prophets, the writings. This The word Testament means “covenant” or canon contains 24 books and is known as “contract” and is derived from the hebrew the Palestinian or Masoretic Canon. This word “berit” was the canon later adopted by the The Old Testament or Hebrew scriptures Protestant reformers in the 16 century. comprises stories about an ancient Jews outside of Palestine known as covenant between Yahweh and the Hellenistic Jews had all the books Hebrews, as revealed to Moses. It also tells contained in the Palestinian or Masoretic how this covenant worked out. Canon, but other books are found in the The New Testament includes stories and canon or Bibles of these Jewish teachings about a new covenant between communities in the diaspora, as well as by God and humanity based on the life of some Rabbis in Palestine. Their Canon was Jesus Christ, the Son of God. known as the Alexandrian Canon or the Septuagint, translated by Jewish scholars What is the Canon of the Scriptures? in Alexandria, Egypt from early Hebrew For Christians the books found in the Old and Aramaic versions of the Hebrew and New Testament comprise the Canon of Scriptures. This canon consisted of 46 the Scriptures. books, and was written in Koine Greek The word Canon comes from the "kanon" around the year 250 BC. or Hebrew “qaneh” meaning a reed, rule, The Palestinian and Alexandrian Canons list or measuring stick. This word(s) was were more normative than other canons at employed by ancient writers to denote a rule the time of Jesus and the Early Church. or standard. The Alexandrian canon was the canon of Therefore, the Canon of Scriptures is the the Old Testament used and adopted by the authoritative list of books that are Apostles and the early Christian acknowledged as "divinely inspired" by the communities. It is the canon accepted and Church, and are set as the standard for quoted by the Church Fathers and Christian teaching, preaching and acknowledged as canonical in early Church edification. councils such as Hippo 393 A.D. and Carthage 397 A.D. It is also the version How many Canons are there? used by the writers of the New Testament At the time of Jesus the question about the when quoting the Old Testament canonicity of the Hebrew Scriptures was It was not until the year 90 A.D. that the an open question. There was no official, Palestinian Rabbis officially fixed their universal canon. canon at the council in Yavneh. In this council, the Rabbis rejected the Septuagint U.I.O.G.D.  version of the Old Testament adopted by convert and theologian named Sixtus of Christians. This decision by the Palestinian Siena. Rabbis was in part a rejection of Hellenistic and Roman influences that colonized the Who wrote the Bible? region. The Romans destroyed the Jewish The Bible was written by different human temple in the year 70 A.D. authors, mostly Hebrews, many of them This fixing of the canon by the Palestinian unknown. community was also an attempt to radically These sacred writers wrote under the break away from Christianity and anything inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit Christianity considered sacred or inspired. at different times and places over a period By the year 90 A.D., Jews were being of about a thousand years from 900 B.C to harassed by Rome, and Christians in 150 A.D. another, as two different entities. These human authors wrote from numerous The Palestinian Canon and the decision of geographical locations and cultures from the Rabbis of Yavneh was never recognized Babylon, Palestine, Egypt, Rome, Corinth nor adopted by Early Christianity. It wasn’t among others. They also wrote in different until the 16th century that the Reformers languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek. questioned the canonicity of some of the It was the Holy Spirit who moved these books found in the Septuagint known as human authors to communicate, to gather, deutero-canonical, forcing the Church to to research, to edit, to pass on, to write solemnly declared these books as divinely down their collective experiences, stories, inspired and therefore canonical during the and oral traditions of faith. fourth session of the Council of Trent in God did not dictate the Bible, the Holy Spirit 1545. encouraged these human authors to freely cooperate, using their skills, language, Did you know? culture, talents, literary abilities, knowledge, The books found in the Palestinian or oral traditions, and happenings to convey Masoretic canon are known as the people’s experience of God’s Proto-canonical or first canon. self-communication. The books found in the Alexandrian canon or Septuagint but not found in the How many Books are in the Bible? Palestinian canon are known as The Roman Catholic Canon based on the Deuterocanonical or second canon. Septuagint has 73 books divided this way: The deuterocanonical books are: Tobit, ○ Old Testament: 46 books Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, ○ New Testament: 27 books Sirach or Ecclesiasticus, Baruch and The Protestant Canon based on the parts of Esther and Daniel not found in the Palestinian Canon has 66 books divided this Palestinian Canon, but found in the Greek way: version. ○ Old Testament: 39 books Deuterocanonical books are sometimes ○ New Testament: 27 books intercalated with the other books in the Old Testament in Catholic Bibles or placed Did you know? together in a separate section as done by The Christian Canon based on the St. Jerome in his translation, the Vulgate. Septuagint was unchanged until the 16th The classification into protocanonical and Century A.D., when the Father of the deuterocanonical books was developed in Protestant Reformation Martin Luther the 16th century by a Catholic Jewish discarded the Deutero-canonical books, U.I.O.G.D.  because they contradicted essential aspects Books of The Old Testament - Palestinian of his new theological positions. Canon Luther also attempted to remove from the New Testament the books of James, Hebrews, Jude and Revelation, fortunately, he faced opposition from other reformers and this did not happen. The Palestinian Canon used by Protestants has 24 books. This is due to the fact that some books are fused together in one, as it is the case of the twelve Minor Prophets, 1 and 2 Samuel; 1 and 2 Kings; 1 and 2 Chronicles; and Ezra and Nehemiah are also counted as one. For instance, 1 and 2 Did you know? Kings is just Kings in the Palestinian Canon. The Torah or Pentateuch are the first five books of the Bible, and are considered the What are the sections of the Old Testament? constitution of the entire Hebrew Catholic Bibles Scriptures or Old Testament. Torah or Pentateuch According to Biblical Scholars these books Historical Books long attributed to Moses actually originated Wisdom Books from the stories and traditions of four The Prophets primary sources, reflecting four different Deutero-canonical books.* schools of thought about Israel’s relationships with Yahweh. This section occurs only when they are not These sources are known as the Yahwist, intercalated with the rest of the Old Testament Elohist, Deuteronomist, and Priestly. These books and are grouped together as a separate four sources contributed to the final form of section. the Pentateuch. Hebrew Bibles "I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart The Law (Torah) on your laws." - Psalm 119:30 The Prophets (Nebiim) The Writings (Kethubhim)* The four sources of the Torah or Pentateuch In the Hebrew Canon the Historical books are part The Yahwist or (Y) used Yahweh as God's of the Prophets and Wisdom books are part of the name. This author paid special attention to writings. the Southern kingdom of Judah, employed a great deal of narratives, highlighted God's Books of The Old Testament - Catholic Canon intimate closeness to humanity, and depicted God acting as a human person—also known as anthropomorphic language. The Elohist or (E) described God as Elohim or Lord. The Elohist composed about the Northern Kingdom of Israel and was apprehensive about idolatry and morality. One interesting characteristic of the Elohist U.I.O.G.D.  is that he presents God speaking through ○ Hosea symbols such as the burning bush. ○ Joel The Deuteronomist or (D) stressed the ○ Amos importance of the Law as the foundation for ○ Obadiah the Kingdom of Judah. The Deuteronomist ○ Jonah appeared toward the end of the monarchy, ○ Micah when the Covenant Law seemed to have ○ Nahum been forgotten. ○ Habakkuk The Priestly writer or (P) highlighted ○ Zephaniah religious rituals and the function of the ○ Haggai Priesthood. This writer portrayed God as ○ Zechariah more distant and used a more ceremonial ○ Malachi style. This source was written after the Babylonian Exile. Major and Minor Prophets (Adapted from the Catholic Youth Bible) The Historical books narrate the early history of Israel, the conquest of Canaan, The four sources of the Torah or Pentateuch the era of the Judges, the emergence and division of the Monarchy into Northern and Southern Kingdoms, and the events leading to the captivity of both kingdoms by the enemies of Israel. These books are classified under Prophets in the Hebrew canon. The historical books are: ○ Joshua ○ Judges ○ I and II Samuel ○ I and II Kings Major and Minor Prophets Prophets are usually classified as Major and Did you know? Minor Prophets. In the Catholic version of the Scriptures the The Prophets were the moral conscience of books of Joshua, Judges, I and II Samuel, I Israel. Their mission was to announce and and II Kings are not classified under to remind the people of Israel about the love Prophets but under historical books. These that God had for them. They also books are included in the Hebrew Canon denounced the people’s neglect of the under Prophets. covenant. In the Orthodox Canon used by Orthodox The Major Prophets are four: Christians I and II Samuel are known as I A. Isaiah and II Kingdoms. I and II Kings are known B. Jeremiah as III and IV Kingdoms. I and II Chronicles C. Ezekiel are known as I and II Paralipomenon. D. *Daniel Orthodox Christians have a longer canon of (Daniel is not classified as a prophet the Old Testament than Catholics. in the Hebrew Canon) Containing books such as: 3rd and 4th Maccabees, 2 Esdras and Psalm 151. The Minor Prophets are called this way These books are not in the Catholic canon, because they are smaller works. they were accepted as canonical by local There are 12 Minor Prophets: U.I.O.G.D.  Orthodox councils after the Schism of 1054 St. Jerome that divided Christendom into East and St. Jerome once said, “Ignorance of the West. They are used, however, by Eastern Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” St. Catholics in their divine liturgies. Jerome was a biblical scholar, Doctor, mystic and Father of the Church. His given The Wisdom Books name was Eusebius Hieronymous The “Wisdom books” are so called Sophronius. He was born in the year 342 because they are a mixture of philosophical at Stridonius. treaties and poetry. These books are St. Jerome was commissioned by Pope grouped in the Hebrew canon under “the Damasus in the year 382 to translate the writings.” Bible from the original Hebrew, in order to The Wisdom books are: create an official Latin text for the liturgy. ○ Job The Pope’s desire was to create a superior ○ Psalms translation of the Bible than the ones ○ Proverbs circulating at the time. Many of the Bibles at ○ Ecclesiastes that time were written in Greek and were full ○ Song of Songs or Song of Solomon of errors due to poor translation. Note: Sometimes the books of Wisdom, In order to accomplish this great task, St. Ecclesiasticus, or Sirach are intercalated Jerome took upon himself to study many of with the Wisdom books. Sometimes they the ancient languages in which the Bible are grouped with the rest of the was written such as: Hebrew, Aramaic, Deutero-Canonical books. Chaldaic among others. Jerome spent years as a hermit working diligently on the Reflective Points about the Old Testament translation. St. Jerome’s final work was the The Old Testament like the rest of the Bible Latin version of the Scriptures known as the is a document of faith. Its purpose is to elicit Vulgate, this translation of the Bible faith in those who ponder upon its divine became the official Latin text of the content. The O.T. is not meant to be read as Scriptures for the Catholic Church. a document of science, archeology, St. Jerome settled in Bethlehem where he astronomy or history. lived as an anchorite in a cave that was The Term Old Testament does not mean believed to have been the birthplace of outdated. The message of the Hebrew Christ. St. Jerome died in Bethlehem in the Scriptures remains as new as ever. God’s year 420. Holy Mother Church celebrates faithfulness, love, redemptive work, his feast on September 30, the actual date covenant, are themes that never go out of of his death. style in God’s language. “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” When reading the O.T. one must take into - St. Jerome consideration the time, culture, language in which it was written. One cannot apply to Did you know? the O.T. the assumptions and No original texts of the Bible remain, the six presuppositions of our modern era. oldest codices (Bibles) are: The Old Testament is a sacred document of ○ Codex Vaticanus: 4th century great importance in our Catholic liturgy, one located in Rome must approach the text of the O.T. with a ○ Codex Sinaiticus: 4th Century prayerful attitude of reverence and awe, for located in London it is the word of God. ○ Codex Alexandrinus: 5th Century located in London U.I.O.G.D.  ○ Codex Ephraemi: 5th Century located in Paris INDUSTRY ○ Codex Bezae: 5th Century located FISHING – in the rivers and in Lake Tiberias in Cambridge University which marketed smoked or dried fish all ○ Codex Ambrosianus: 6th Century over the country located in Milan ST. PETER’S FISH MODULE 3.4: JEWISH WORLD DURING THE TIME OF JESUS 3. Large government building projects PALESTINE during the time of Jesus sponsored by King Herod The land that the Israelites had made their King Herod employed many laborers by home commissioning many public works (e.g. means “Philistine land” building temple in Jerusalem, palaces, ports, fortresses, stadiums, ornate stone PALESTINE TODAY carvings, etc.) In the broad geographical sense, Palestine refers to an area that includes contemporary SOCIAL CLASSES Israel and the Palestinian territories, parts of 1. The upper class was made up of the Jordan, and parts of Lebanon and Syria temple priests and priestly aristocracy (including the Sadducees – a Jewish sect) ECONOMY 2. The middle class was comprised of traders The economy of first century Israel was and merchants, artisans (stonecutters, supported by three key segments: masons, sculptors) and craftsman (metal, wood, cloth dye). The Pharisees (another 1. Agriculture of olives, figs, grains, dates, Jewish sect), sages, scribes, and teachers and vineyards were also a part of the middle class. AGRICULTURE 3. The lower class was made of laborers Livestock was reared everywhere (weavers, stone carriers, slaves Sheep and goats produced meat, milk, (non-Jewish person taken into slavery leather and wool because of debt), and the unemployable Temple consumed a vast number of cattle (lepers, blind, insane, crippled, etc.) for sacrifices Donkeys, camels, horses (a rich man’s BODIES OF WATER IN ISRAEL animal) JORDAN RIVER Jordan River is a 251 kilometres (156 miles) 2. Trade fostered by Israel’s key location on long river in West Asia flowing to the Dead the Mediterranean Sea Sea Consisted mainly of barter SEA OF GALILEE Foreign trade Or SEA OF TIBERIAS is the largest Imports were chiefly luxury goods: cedar, freshwater lake in Israel incense, aromatics, gold, iron and copper, DEAD SEA spices also called the Salt Sea, is a salt lake Exports – food, perfume, skins and bitumen bordering Jordan to the east and Israel and from the Dead Sea the West Bank to the west. The Dead Sea is Palestine could have been a land flowing the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. with milk and honey, had it not been for With 33.7% salinity, it is also one of the taxation and the unjust distribution of wealth world's saltiest bodies of water. This salinity U.I.O.G.D.  makes for a harsh environment in which ○ Elders animals cannot flourish, hence its name. ○ High Priest (Sadducees) - presider The sea is called "dead" because its high ○ Scribes (Pharisees) salinity prevents macroscopic aquatic Country priests organisms, such as fish and aquatic plants, About 7,000 from living in it, though minuscule quantities Very close to the common people and of bacteria and microbial fungi are present. shared their life, work and their poverty Offer incense in the temple TRIP TO ISRAEL OVER HOLY GROUND Some were scribes, many were Pharisees Look for the groups mentioned Levites ACTS 4:1-17 A kind of inferior clergy who had lost all power SOCIAL GROUPS About 10,000 THE CLERGY Performed subordinate functions in the THE ELDERS Temple: prepared sacrifices, collected the THE SCRIBES tithes, provided music and acted as Temple THE PUBLICANS police RELIGIOUS GROUPS PHARISEES THE ELDERS SADDUCEES Lay aristocracy ESSENES Village chiefs and rich merchants with seats SAMARITANS in the Sanhedrin POLITICAL GROUPS Hung on to their power by conniving with Zealots both the Roman rulers and the high priests RICH and SENIOR CLERGY Seem to have been Sadducees HERODIANS THE SCRIBES SOCIAL GROUPS Especialists in the Law THE CLERGY Official interpreters of the scriptures, The priestly aristocracy of Jerusalem providing not only rules for everyday life but Led by the HIGH PRIEST or chief priest also legal judgments for the courts ○ President of the SANHEDRIN, the Some were priests, but the majority were highest governing body in Palestine lay people and Pharisees during the time of Jesus Extended to all people the rules of purity ○ The only one who can enter the Holy (formerly reserved for priests only) thereby of Holies allowing all to be close to God Temple authorities ○ Also part of the aristocracy THE PUBLICANS (or the tax collectors) ○ All these priests were Sadducees Jews who collected taxes on behalf of the Sanhedrin Roman rulers Greek term “sit together” They had a tendency to increase taxation Session 2x a week for the benefit of their own pockets, they Political power enact laws, own police, had a bad reputation and were regarded as death sentence, fixed doctrine, regulates public sinners religious life. 70A.D. – cease to exist as a political power RELIGIOUS GROUPS Consists of 21 members PHARISEES U.I.O.G.D.  Holy men RICH and SENIOR CLERGY Separated (meaning of their name) from the Collaborated willingly in order to preserve Hasmonaeans whom they thought to have their power broken faith Meditated faithfully on God’s Law HERODIANS Their fault: rely on their holiness to win a Supporters of Herod Antipas place in heaven They were hostile to Jesus They believe in the resurrection THE INSTITUTIONS SADDUCEES The temple and the synagogue were the Priestly aristocrats central places of Jewish religious worship Recognize only the Pentateuch as the Law and instructions. Did not believe in either the resurrection or angels Collaborated with the Roman rulers to stay in power ESSENES A monastic order living as a community on the shore of the Dead Sea Under the leadership of a priest they called the Teacher of Righteousness Parted company with the Jews Lived a life of prayer and meditation on the scriptures Their monastery was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70 THE WESTERN WALL SAMARITANS Also called THE WAILING WALL the only Of very mixed origin and were separated remaining part of the Second Temple during from official Judaism the time of Jesus They had the Pentateuch in common with the Jews but built their own temple on Mount Gerizim Very tense relations between them and the Jews Jesus called one of them the “Good Samaritan” POLITICAL GROUPS Zealots Also called sicarii, after the name of their TEMPLE short sword – sica Herod restored the Temple to all its former Mainly responsible for the revolt which splendor culminated in the disaster of AD 70 The holy place, where God made himself present U.I.O.G.D.  Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Lambs were killed in the Temple which were Holies once a year on Yom Kippur, the Day then eaten by families after sunset of Atonement Festival lasted for 8 days Sacrifices were offered on the great altar Pentecost, 50 days later, was originally the Morning and evening a lamb was consumed harvest festival as a perpetual sacrifice along with During the Christian era it had become the numerous private sacrifices celebration of the giving of the Law on Sinai At festival times, there were far more sacrifices FEAST OF TABERNACLES Paschal lamb had to be sacrificed there Recalls the time in the wilderness before being eaten at the family meal Each family built a hut out of branches on After the final destruction of the Temple in the edge of the city AD 70, the Jewish Passover was celebrated Procession of priests to the fountain of without a lamb Siloam, accompanied by people carrying Not only the center of religion but the palms political center also (the Sanhedrin met here) YOM KIPPUR Also the economic center Also called the Day of Atonement A penitential festival THE SYNAGOGUE AND JEWISH WORSHIP Rosh ha-Shanah or the New Year Festival Synagogue – congregation of believers was the preparation for it The building in which the community meets The Feast of Hanukkah, or dedication celebrated the purification of the Temple THE SYNAGOGUE services took place 3x a day THE SABBATH ○ Reading of the Law THE MOST SACRED JEWISH PRACTICE ○ Sermon ITS STRICT REST WAS MEANT TO ○ Recitation of psalms ENABLE PEOPLE TO STOP WORK AND ○ 3 great benedictions TO PRAISE GOD ○ Recitation of the Shema ○ 18 benedictions JESUS AND THE TEMPLE The temple was very special to Jesus Jesus in the Synagogue Mary and Joseph presented him to the Jesus spent a lot of time in synagogues (Mt. priest in the temple 4:23). at the age of 12, he joined his parents on He taught in them (Mt. 13:54) their trip to Jerusalem to worship in the healed in them (Luke 4:33–35; Mark 3:1–5) temple and debated the interpretation of Torah in he drove away the moneychangers and them (John 6:28–59). vendors doing business at the temple courts THE THREE GREAT PILGRIM FESTIVALS Where is God’s dwelling place? PASSOVER What is the loveliest of God’s dwelling Celebrated the liberation of the people at place? the time of the Exodus What space is left for God? The foxes have About 20,000 pilgrims came to Jerusalem lairs and the birds have nests, yet the Son for this occasion of Man has nowhere to lay his head, save in the hearts of those who love and believe U.I.O.G.D.  The Good News was spread only by word of Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words mouth of eternal life. - John 6:68 The original proclamation of the apostles after Pentecost is called kerygma How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place Others soon joined the first disciples: REFRAIN: Barnabas, the Seven (including Stephen How lovely is Your dwelling place O, Lord, mighty and Philip) and above all, Paul God, Lord of all. Even the lowly sparrow finds a Apostles and disciples fulfilled Jesus’ home for her brood, and the swallow, a nest for command to preach the Good News first to herself where she may lay her young in Your altars, the Jews and then to the Gentiles. Here we my King and my God. (REFRAIN) Blessed are they have an announcement of the faith of the whose dwelling is Your own, Lord of peace. Blest first Christians are they refreshed by springs and by rain when Faith in Jesus – was the core teaching that dryness daunts and scathes. Behold my Shield, my the first preachers passed on to the world King and my God. Their preaching consisted in narrative faith (REFRAIN) accounts of Jesus’ earthly life I would forsake a thousand other days anywhere if I could spend one day in Your courts, belong to You alone. My strength are You alone, my Glory, my King and my God. (REFRAIN) CODA: How lovely, Your dwelling place O, Lord, mighty God, Lord of all Paul was converted around AD 36 and went on to bring the good news to Asia Minor, to MODULE 3.5: 3 STAGES IN THE FORMATION Greece, and finally, to Rome OF THE GOSPELS Between 51-53 Ad, Paul wrote letters to STAGE 1: various communities JESUS’ LIFE IN PALESTINE (4- 3 BC to Throughout this period, official Judaism A.D. 30) gradually began to reject the Christians STAGE 2: A full-scale rebellion was triggered in 66 AD, ORAL TRADITION (A.D. 30-70) when somebody emptied a pot full of urine STAGE 3: outside a synagogue, defiling a holy site. THE WRITTEN GOSPELS (A.D. 70-100) The Jews were furious and a riot broke out, during which some Jews shouted insults at STAGE 1 JESUS’ LIFE IN PALESTINE Florus, the Roman Governor of Judaea. 1. Birth of Jesus Florus, angered by their refusal to identify → MINISTRY OF JESUS who was responsible for the riot, ordered his 2. Death and Resurrection troops to destroy the market and kill anyone they saw. Commissioned his apostles to preach his The massacre by the Romans turned what message of salvation to all nations had been occasional violence into a full-scale Jewish revolt STAGE 2: ORAL TRADITION (A.D. 30-70) In 70 AD, the Romans destroyed the temple The period immediately following Jesus’ in Jerusalem and looted its sacred contents Resurrection Was the proclamation totally by word of mouth only? U.I.O.G.D.  No. Partial written compilations of Jesus’ THE 4 EVANGELISTS parables, miracles and sayings and an organized the materials according to their outline of the Passion narratives were own particular sources and purpose already being written and passed around By the special grace of the Holy Spirit, called Reasons why the Gospels were not written at once: Biblical inspiration 1. Traditionally, the Semitic people preferred OT/NT were written under the inspiration of the spoken, “living” word to the written word the Holy Spirit 2. Early Christians did not feel the need to Have God as their author record the facts about Jesus’ life in written form EVANGELISTS 3. Early Christians expected the Risen Christ Their concern was not on reporting a will come back soon chronological summary of the details of Jesus’ life Reasons why the Gospels were finally written but on sharing the incredible Good News down: EACH evangelist pictures Jesus according 1. Apostles and original witnesses were dying to their perspective. or being martyred 2. The Good News was being preached farther THE GOSPELS and farther away from Jerusalem and from ONE JESUS, FOUR GOSPELS the Jewish culture, and religion and MATTHEW Christian communities became larger and ○ known as the SYNOPTICS or larger. SYNOPTIC GOSPELS 3. When they realized Christ would not be MARK coming back soon as they had expected, ○ SYNOPTIC is from the Greek words they saw the need for a more permanent syn and optic – “to see together” record of Jesus’ message for the future LUKE generations of Christians ○ They are called synoptic gospels because they share many Stage 3: THE WRITTEN GOSPELS similarities Gospels were written over a period of 30-40 JOHN years, from about A.D. 60- 100 ○ John is different from the three. It is faith testimonies to the life, death and longer and written in a more poetic resurrection of Jesus tone written by believers for fellow believers and St. Irenaeus to inspire new believers St. Irenaeus, the leader of a church in purpose and limitations: Jn. 20:30-31 France about the year 170 A.D., declared “there can be only four gospels that are EVANGELISTS (writers of the 4 Gospels) authentic. These were written by Jesus’ true followers.” (He was a disciple of a bishop who was a disciple of John the Evangelist!) U.I.O.G.D.  MODULE 4.1: Paul the Apostle Fourteen of the twenty-seven books in the The World of Paul NT have been attributed to Paul Approximately half of the Acts of the Apostles deals with Paul's life and works. However, only seven of the epistles can be accepted as being entirely authentic. The authorship of Hebrews has the most doubt cast against it. The other six are believed to have come from followers writing in his name, using material from Paul's surviving letters and letters written by him that no longer survive MODULE 4.2: Format of Pauline Epistle GREETING Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the Church of God that is in Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name PAUL THE APOSTLE of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. Grace original name Saul of Tarsus to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord was a Christian missionary who took the Jesus Christ. Gospel of Christ to the first-century world (1Cor 1:1-3) In the mid-30s to the mid-50s, he founded several churches in Asia Minor and Europe THANKSGIVING Paul used his status as both a Jew and a I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear Roman Citizen to advantage in his ministry conscience as my ancestors did, as I remember to both Jewish and Roman audiences you constantly in my prayers, night and day. I yearn A native of Tarsus, the capital city in the to see you again, recalling your tears, so that I may Roman Province of Cilicia be filled with joy, as I recall your sincere faith that Paul wrote that he was "a Hebrew born of first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your Hebrews", a Pharisee, and one who mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in advanced in Judaism beyond many of his you. peers (2 Timothy 1:3-5) He zealously persecuted the early followers of Jesus of Nazareth and violently tried to Body destroy the newly forming Christian Church. Apostolic Biography (For you yourselves His dramatic conversion on the road to know, brothers that our reception among Damascus radically changed the course of you was not without effect.) his life. Simple Autobiography (I want you to After his conversion, Paul began to preach know...), that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God Exhortations/Appeal (I urge you, brothers His leadership, influence, and legacy led to and sisters...; I remind you..; the formation of communities dominated by Finally, brothers, we earnestly ask and Gentile groups that worshiped Jesus exhort you... U.I.O.G.D.  Apostolic Parousia (...but I am confident in TITUS, I & II TIMOTHY the Lord that I myself will come soon-Phil these pastoral letters were written either by 2:24) Paul before 67 AD or by a disciple who took Apologetic (Am I not free? Am I not an up his spiritual legacy after his death apostle?..although I may not be an apostle They have one concern: to organize the for others, certainly, I am for you...-1Cor churches and to keep pure the deposit of 9:1-2) faith FINAL GREETINGS/FAREWELL ROMANS Therefore, from the day we heard this, we do not the relationship of Christians with God cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will through all 1ST CORINTHIANS spiritual wisdom and understanding, to live in a the first Christian community in Corinth, who manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully were noted neither for its inner peace and pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and harmony nor for the exemplary moral growing in the knowledge of God.... behavior of tis members (Colossians 1:9-10) 2ND CORINTHIANS Give my greetings to every holy one in Christ enumerates his suffering and trials in the Jesus. The brothers who are with me send their apostolate of Christ greetings, all the holy ones send you their greetings, especially those of Caesar’s household. GALATIANS The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your the most pauline of the pauline writings, the spirit. one in which anger has caused Paul to say (Philippians 4:21-23) what he really thinks MODULE 4.3: Pauline Epistles EPHESIANS Four Stages of the Pauline Epistles written at his house arrest in Rome I & II THESSALONIANS Paul takes up the main themes of the PHILIPPIANS kerygma; he lives in the hope of the the most intimate letter of Paul to all his imminent coming of Christ. loved ones in the Lord-those who were his faithful partners in the journey I & II CORINTHIANS, GALATIANS, PHILIPPIANS, ROMANS COLOSSIANS One central question: how can we become instructions of true Christian gospel in the righteous and be saved? We are not face of certain teachings which were justified by what we do (works, observing threatening the community in Colossae the law) but by faith in Christ. Paul sees the role of Christ above all in his Church 1ST THESSALONIANS stories of thanksgiving and his relationship COLOSSIANS, EPHESIANS PHILEMON with the people of Thessalonica because he wrote these letters from prison in Rome, (CAPTIVITY EPISTLES) 2ND THESSALONIANS Here Paul discovers the place of Christ in history and in the universe. Paul’s instruction to the Church U.I.O.G.D.  1st TIMOTHY RHETORICAL FEATURES IN PAUL’S LETTERS: tells about his letter of gratitude for Diatribe style: (a bitter and abusive speech Philemon and his staff or piece of writing; ironic or satirical criticism) Address a question, usually an COLOSSIANS objection to the line of argument that instructs Timothy on his duty to restrain from “someone” would raise: Rom 6:1. “What false and useless teaching shall we say, then? Shall we remain in sin so that grace may abound?” 2nd TIMOTHY Use of negative expression to convey a introduces pastoral ministry of Paul in the positive meaning-1 Cor 1:25 proclamation of the truth. It depicts Paul’s courage and hope in the face of “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human discouragement later in the course of his wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than apostolic ministry. It is a more personal human strength.” letter to Timothy RHETORICAL FEATURES IN PAUL’S LETTERS: TITUS Formulaic summaries addressed as the person in charge of “Preaching” style, elaborate and solemn developing the Church on the large references to God (Rom 14:12), “So let Mediterranean island of Crete, a place Paul each of us give account of himself to God” had never, according to the NT visited Autobiographic style: a. Simple autobiography (Phil 1:12ff) READING A PAULINE LETTER b. Apostolic biography (1 Thess 2:1-12) RHETORICAL FEATURES IN PAUL’S LETTERS: c. Apologetic (1 Cor 9; Gal 1:11-2:14) Use of parallel words and phrase such as d. Pseudo-autobiography, as a way of “life/death”; “flesh/spirit” generalizing (Rom 7:7ff) Use of paradoxes and expanding on Formulaic summaries metaphorical images Grouping of items for dramatic effect: Gal “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your 4:10, “You observe days, and months, and spirit, brothers. Amen.” (Gal. 6:18) seasons, and years” a. Simple autobiography (Phil 1:12ff) SEVERAL TIMES THE APOSTLE PAUL cited “I want you to know, brothers, that my paradoxes to communicate profound biblical truths. situation has turned out rather to advance He wrote about seeing un-seen things, conquering the gospel, so that my imprisonment has by yielding, finding rest under a yoke, being free yet become well known in Christ throughout the a slave, reigning by serving, being made great by whole praetorium and to all the rest, and so becoming small, being exalted by being humble, that the majority of the brothers, having becoming wise by being fools for Christ, triumphing taken encouragement in the Lord from my through defeat, and living by dying. This article imprisonment, dare more than ever to focuses on three of these: the weak and the strong proclaim the word fearlessly.” (2 Cor. 12:7-10), human wisdom and the foolishness of the gospel (1 Cor. 1:17-25), and b. Apostolic biography (1 Thess 2:1-12) slaves and freedmen (Rom. 6:15-23). “For you yourselves know, brothers, that our reception among you was not without effect….You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we U.I.O.G.D.  behaved toward you believers. As you know, we treated each one of you as father OFFICIAL DECREE/LETTER FROM THE treats his children… EMPEROR DOMITIAN TO THE PROCURATOR IN SYRIA FORBIDDING SUCH A PRACTICE c. Apologetic (1 Cor 9; Gal 1:11-2:14) From the orders of the Emperor Domitian Caesar “Am I not free? Am I not an apostle?Have I Augustus, son of Vespasian, Augustus, to the not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my procurator Claudius Athenodoros; among the work in the Lord? Although I may not be an special problems demanding great concern. I am apostle for others, certainly I am for you, for aware that the attention of my divine father you are the seal of my apostleship in the Vespasian Caesar was directed to the cities,…let Lord.” no one in defiance of my wish, oppress them and let no one requisition guide unless he has permit d. Pseudo-autobiography, as a way of from me; for if the farmers are snatched away, the generalizing (Rom 7:7ff) lands will uncultivated. “But sin, finding an opportunity in the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetousness…” (7:8) WRITING THE LETTER ANCIENT LETTER: a. Relatively short, private letters whose purpose was to transact business between parties, request a favor, recommend the bearer to the recipient, or convey some piece of news b. Official, public letters c. Philosophical letters BUSINESS LETTER SAMPLE: Greetings to Zenon from Apollophanes and Demetrius, brothers, makers of all sorts of woolen clothes for women. If your would like to and if you happen to have need, we are ready to supply what you want. We have heard of the glory of the city as well as of the goodness and justice with which you administer it. That is why we have come to you, Philadelphia, with our mother and wife so that we might be workers. summon us if you would like to work. We make, as you wish, cloaks, tunics, girdles, dresses, ribbons, split tunics, trimming, everything to size. And we can teach our trade, if you wish. Tell Nicias to provide lodging for us. So that we won’t seem strangers to you; we can provide references from people known to you, some from here whom you can trust, others from Moithymis. Farewell. U.I.O.G.D.