Introduction to the Bible

Foundations (Year One)

“Encountering the Old Testament”

I will be your teacher!

Goals: intellectual
spiritual
To learn, to grow and to work hard
The sessions
The textbook
The assignments

“The story we find ourselves in”
(Learn to see the big picture & how all the pieces fit)

 biblos = a collection of (66) books
 Divided into two testaments (covenants):
OT (Old Testament) = 39 books
NT (New Testament) = 27 books
 Approx. 40 different authors, editors & compilers
 In three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic & Greek
 Over a period of approx. 1500 years

…& don’t forget the Apocrypha (14 extra “hidden”
books, written between the testaments)

“Inspiration is the mysterious process by which
the Word of God & the word of man combined
to produce the original autographs
(manuscripts) of the Bible. The result was a fully
authoritative & trustworthy revelation.”

Key verses: 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21 & Heb. 4:12

Dictation God uses authors only
as instruments
Verbal/ plenary God breathed out
inspiration each part & all of it

Limited God protected some
inspiration of it

Neo-Orthodox God's word speaks
through it

Creation

GOD Jesus

Scripture

The basic message:
God made, God loves & God saves…our world.

“Art is limitated: the essence of
every picture is the frame”

GK Chesterton “Orthodoxy” 1908.

Derived from Heb. kaneh (a reed)?

From ancient Greek κανον (rod, measuring stick)
…later used in Greek for a standard or rule.

Philo of Alexandria (20 BCE – 50 CE): uses the
term κανον to refer to the “rule of truth”

First used by the Church fathers from the time of
Irenaeus (115/ 120 -178 CE )
(ie. kanon of the church…of the truth…of faith)

“As for those who follow this rule (κανον) –
peace be upon them, and mercy upon the
Israel of God.” (Gal. 6:16 NASV)

“Let us keep living by that same standard
(κανον) to which we have attained.”
(Phil. 3:16 NASV)

2 Cor. 10:13 We will not boast about things done
outside our area of authority. We will boast only
about what has happened within the boundaries of
the work God has given us, which includes our
working with you. 14 We are not reaching beyond
these boundaries when we claim authority over you,
as if we had never visited you. For we were the first to
travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of
Christ.
15 Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work
someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your
faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work
among you will be extended. 16 Then we will be able
to go and preach the Good News in other places far
beyond you, where no one else is working. Then
there will be no question of our boasting about work
done in someone else’s territory.” (NLT)

“Canon serves as a road marker of biblical
authority by serving as the rule of Scripture.
Canon both reflects the theological shaping
of Scripture and sets the boundaries for the
interpretation of Scripture as the Word of
God by communities of faith.”
(Charles Scalise
From Scripture to Theology , p.72)

 …is contained within  …is preserved within
A sentence A manuscript
A paragraph A scroll (or a codex)
A chapter A collection (of
A book writings)
A collection (of A canon
books) A translation
A testament

ALWAYS read a text…
Within it’s context
In light of the big picture (great narrative)
Listening to what others have said
Recognizing your limitations

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any
private interpretation" (NKJV)
"But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a
matter of one's own interpretation" (2 Peter 1:20)

Historical narrative
Laws
Poetry & song
Parables & sayings
Prophecy
(& Apocalyptic)
Biography
Letters

The Law
The Scriptures
The Prophets “it stands
written”
The Writings
γεγραπται
(Jesus x18)

Jesus said “All things that were written about me
in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the
Psalms must be fulfilled.” Luke 24:44

The Law (Torah) The Writings
(Hagiographa)
Genesis Poetic books
Exodus Psalms
Leviticus Job
Numbers Proverbs
Deuteronomy
The Twelve
Five rolls/ scrolls
The Prophets Hosea (Megilloth)
Former Joel Ruth
Prophets Amos Songs of Songs
Joshua Obadiah Ecclesiastes
Judges Jonah
Samuel
Lamentations
Micah Esther
Kings
Nahum
Latter Prophets Habakkuk Historical books
Isaiah Zephaniah Daniel
Jeremiah Haggai Ezra/ Nehemiah
Ezekiel Chronicles
Zechariah
Malachi

 Written by a reputable leader from God

 Inspired by the Spirit of God (ie. does it have the
consistent ring of truth/ would God say this?)
 Recognized by men of God (ie. was it accepted by kings,
priests, prophets & other leaders)
 Collected, preserved & used by the people of God (Deut.
31:26 & later rulers, ie. 2 Chron. 34; Neh.8)

His scripture was the Torah (the Law & the Prophets)

He… read it, “People do not
memorized it, live on bread
quoted it, alone, but on
preached & taught it. every word that
comes from the
He… loved it, mouth of God.”
“fed” on it,
Matt 4:4/ Luke
used it,
4:4, q. Deut. 8:3
lived it
& fulfilled it.

Hebrew/Aramaic/ Greek

Latin Vulgate (405)

John Wycliffe (1320-84)
William Tyndale (1494-
1536)
Modern Catholic
Bibles King James Version (1611)

Modern versions

RV 1881 NIV 1978
ASV 1901 NKJV 1982
RSV 1952 (rev. 1971) (New Jerusalem 1985)
NEB 1970 NCV 1986
(NAB 1986/ rev. 1992) NRSV 1989
NASB 1963 CEV 1995
Amplified 1987 NLT 1996
(Jerusalem 1966) ESV 2001
LB 1971 The Message 2002
GNB 1974 (rev. 1993) TNIV 2005

Lit… to translate, explain, interpret

Two examples:

Ezra (Ezra 7:6, 10; Nehemiah 8:1-8)
Jesus (Luke 24:27,45; Luke 10:21)

" I do not seek to understand that I may
believe, but I believe that I may
understand. For this too I am
persuaded, that unless I first believe, I
shall not understand.“

1033-1109 CE

“Nor does his (the Father) word dwell in
you, for you do not believe the one he
sent. You diligently study the Scriptures
because you think that by them you
possess eternal life. These are the
Scriptures that testify about me, yet you
refuse to come to me to have life.”
John 5:38-40

Scripture (inspired & authoritative)

Hermeneutics (principles, practice &
discipline)

Exegesis (lit. to dig = to study for truth)

Theology Lifestyle
(what we believe) (how we live)

Three steps Three gaps
(to interpretation) (of interpretation)

The author History

The text (or message) Culture

The reader (recipient) Language

2. Interpretation
(What does it mean?)

3. Comparison 1. Observation
(How does it correlate?) (What does it say?)

4. Application
(How does it affect our lives today?)

Inspires authors to Reveals to the reader
write the text through the text

"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes,
he will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13)

“Let scripture interpret scripture”

Interpret the text in light of the whole

Interpret the OT in light of the NT
(& vice versa)

“The new is in the old concealed –
the old is in the new revealed”

 A good translation (formal vs. dynamic equivalent)
 Other translations (for comparison)
 Interlinear Bible (Heb/Eng. Gk/Eng.)
 Concordance (online or software = easiest)
 Dictionary/ Encyclopedia (NBD; ISBE)
 Atlas (or good maps)
 Commentaries (background, culture, theology)

www.biblegateway.com

Promise Fulfillment
 Shadow (Type)  Substance
 Law (Moses)  Grace (Jesus) – John 1:17
 (Old) Covenant  (New) Covenant
 Sacrifice & offerings  One sacrifice
 Priesthood  All priests
 Kings (David)  One King (son of David)
 Nation  Nations
 Land  Earth

The kingdom of God
Judgment & Salvation
The people of God
Restoration of Israel
Hope of a Messiah
Temple, Torah & Redemption
Victory (over God’s enemies)
Good News to all nations
New Creation

Introduction to the Bible

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