CHAPTER 3CHAPTER 3

SURVEYING THE BOOKS SURVEYING THE BOOKS

OF THE BIBLEOF THE BIBLE

Ave Maria Press; adapted Ave Maria Press; adapted by AHSby AHS

JESUS CHRIST:JESUS CHRIST:GOD’S REVELATION GOD’S REVELATION

TO THE WORLDTO THE WORLD

Best SellerBest Seller

The Bible was first printed in 1454The Bible was first printed in 1454

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

Familiar Familiar Sayings Sayings

from the Biblefrom the Bible

““A HOUSE DIVIDED”A HOUSE DIVIDED”

““APPLE OF HIS EYE”APPLE OF HIS EYE”

““CAN A LEOPARD CAN A LEOPARD CHANGE HIS SPOTS”CHANGE HIS SPOTS”

““OUT OF THE OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES”MOUTHS OF BABES”

““HANDWRITING ON HANDWRITING ON THE WALL”THE WALL”

““LABOR OF LOVE”LABOR OF LOVE”

““BY THE SKIN OF MY BY THE SKIN OF MY TEETH”TEETH”

““EAT, DRINK, AND EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY”BE MERRY”

Formation of the Formation of the Old TestamentOld Testament

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

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

each other.each other.

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

Solomon (950 BC).Solomon (950 BC).

Many editors were Many editors were involved, resulting in many involved, resulting in many

OT books being OT books being compilations.compilations.

The Old Testament The Old Testament CanonCanon

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

during Jesus’ day.during Jesus’ day.

Jewish scholars omitted the Jewish scholars omitted the seven books written in seven books written in

Greek from the Septuagint.Greek from the Septuagint.The Council of Trent The Council of Trent

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

Protestant Reformers Protestant Reformers accepted the official list of accepted the official list of

Hebrew Scriptures accepted Hebrew Scriptures accepted by rabbis in AD 90.by rabbis in AD 90.

Survey of the Survey of the Old Testament BooksOld Testament BooksPentateuchPentateuch

Most scholars believe Most scholars believe that four different oral that four different oral

traditions went into traditions went into writing the writing the

foundational foundational Pentateuch.Pentateuch.

GenesisGenesis ExodusExodus

LeviticusLeviticus NumbersNumbers

DeuteronomyDeuteronomy

The Historical BooksThe Historical Books

How God remained faithful to How God remained faithful to the covenant; how the the covenant; how the

Israelites struggled to live by Israelites struggled to live by its termsits terms

JoshuaJoshua JudgesJudges RuthRuth

1 and 2 Samuel1 and 2 Samuel 1 and 2 Kings1 and 2 Kings

1 and 2 Chronicles1 and 2 Chronicles Ezra and NehemiahEzra and Nehemiah

Tobit, Judith, and EstherTobit, Judith, and Esther 1 and 2 Maccabees1 and 2 Maccabees

Survey of the Survey of the Old Testament BooksOld Testament Books

The Wisdom BooksThe Wisdom Books

How God works in our How God works in our everyday liveseveryday lives

JobJob PsalmsPsalms

ProverbsProverbs EcclesiastesEcclesiastes

Song of SongsSong of Songs WisdomWisdom SirachSirach

Prophetic BooksProphetic Books

The biblical prophets were a The biblical prophets were a messengers from God.messengers from God.

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

mercymercy Be just, especially to the Be just, especially to the

poorpoor Know that God will Know that God will

ultimately triumphultimately triumph

Classifying Classifying the Prophetsthe Prophets

MAJOR PROPHETS:MAJOR PROPHETS:IsaiahIsaiah

JeremiahJeremiahEzekielEzekielDanielDaniel

MINOR PROPHETS:MINOR PROPHETS:HoseaHoseaJoelJoel

AmosAmosObadiahObadiah

JonahJonahMicahMicahNahumNahum

HabakkukHabakkukZephaniahZephaniah

HaggaiHaggaiZechariahZechariahMalachiMalachi

The Writing of the The Writing of the New TestamentNew Testament

Stage 1: Stage 1: The Historical JesusThe Historical Jesus

Jesus lived a typical life of a Jesus lived a typical life of a Jewish boyJewish boy

Began his public ministry c. 28 Began his public ministry c. 28 ADAD

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

Kingdom of GodKingdom of God

Crucified by Pontius Pilate c. Crucified by Pontius Pilate c. 30 AD30 AD

Rose from the dead three days Rose from the dead three days after his crucifixionafter his crucifixion

Stage 2: Stage 2: Oral TraditionOral Tradition

““Go out to the whole world; Go out to the whole world;

proclaim the gospel to all creation”proclaim the gospel to all creation”

KERYGMA—preaching to unbelieversKERYGMA—preaching to unbelievers

DIDACHE—teaching, further catechesisDIDACHE—teaching, further catechesis

LITURGY—worship of the ChristiansLITURGY—worship of the Christians

Why Commit the Oral Tradition to Why Commit the Oral Tradition to writing?writing?

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

Distortions to the Distortions to the Gospel were Gospel were occurringoccurring

More instruction was More instruction was neededneeded

Stage 3: Stage 3: The New Testament The New Testament

WritingsWritingsFirst written books of the New Testament First written books of the New Testament

were the letters of St. Paulwere the letters of St. Paul

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

the latter half of the 1the latter half of the 1stst century century

Survey of the New TestamentSurvey 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 Types of Writing in the New TestamentNew Testament

GospelsGospels

The heart of the The heart of the Scriptures!Scriptures!

Mark (~60—75)Mark (~60—75)Matthew (~80—90)Matthew (~80—90)

Luke (~85)Luke (~85)John (~80—110)John (~80—110)

Acts of the ApostlesActs of the Apostles

Second part of the Second part of the

Gospel of LukeGospel of Luke

Acts tells the early Acts tells the early history of the Churchhistory of the Church

Types of Writing in the Types of Writing in the New TestamentNew Testament

Pauline LettersPauline Letters

Circulated in his name; either Circulated in his name; either written by Paul himself or a written by Paul himself or a

disciple of Pauldisciple of Paul

1 and 2 Thessalonians1 and 2 Thessalonians GalatiansGalatians

PhilippiansPhilippians 1 and 2 Corinthians1 and 2 Corinthians

RomansRomans PhilemonPhilemon

ColossiansColossians EphesiansEphesians

TitusTitus 1 and 2 Timothy1 and 2 Timothy

The Letter to the HebrewsThe Letter to the Hebrews

Emphasizes Christ’s Emphasizes Christ’s superiority over all superiority over all

creationcreation

Perfect sacrifice of Death Perfect sacrifice of Death on the cross took away on the cross took away

sin, fulfilling the sin, fulfilling the promises of the Old promises of the Old

TestamentTestament

Types of Writing in the Types of Writing in the New TestamentNew Testament

Catholic EpistlesCatholic Epistles

Letters intended “for all” Letters intended “for all” (Catholic means (Catholic means

“universal) “universal)

JamesJames 1 and 2 Peter1 and 2 Peter

JudeJude 1, 2 and 3 John1, 2 and 3 John

RevelationRevelation

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