Old Testament

Old Testament Inspired Inerrant Interpretation Inspired     Inspired- breathed into by the Holy Spirit The Word of God in human words Dei Verbum 11 God used the authors talents and ensured that all that He wanted written was written and no more  Not dictation  Not “robotic” take over Inerrant  No errors in matters of faith and morals  Could have historical and scientific errot  Could have grammatical, written eror depending on the author  All that is needed for understanding revelation Interpretation  Within the context of the church  Official interpretation by the Magisterium  Within the context of the whole- not isolated phrases/commands Genesis  Primeval history – Creation of the world – Events preceding the Patriarchs     Creation The Fall The Flood Tower of Babel Genesis  Two major sections – Genesis chapters 1-11  Creation  Fall  Flood  Tower of Babel – Genesis Chapters 12-50  Story of the Patriarchs Mesopotamian Myth Stories  Similarities to – Enumah Elish – Tale of Gilgamesh – Myths of Etana, Adapa,Baal  Elements of the stories used differently to show a very different God from that of these other sources Creation       Opens with P account Strict format- easy memorization God’s word Everything God created is good God has a plan Very structured/ordered Genesis 1  Day1- Heavens/ light  Day 2- Waters  Day 4- Specific lights  Day 5- Fish and sea creatures  Day 6- Animals and humans  Day 3-Dry land and vegetation REST God is in control Genesis 2        J source Older than P source God is very close to humans God is like a potter-molding bodies Allows Adam to name Adam’s rib No Shame Genesis 3          Also J source God walking around the garden The Fall Why is there sin in the world? God did not create sin Serpent- common symbol of evil Now shame when naked God still loves them- makes them clothes Etiology- why there is hard labor, toil, death Genesis 4        Cain and Abel Abel- younger- a shepherd Cain- the older- a farmer (Caananite) Left to their own devices- people sin Mark of Cain God still loves him God punishes but does not abandon The Flood          J and P sources Many repetitions P- 1 pair 6:19-20// J- 7 pairs 7:2-3 Like Gilgamesh story but different God chose to destroy because of man’s sin After flood- like a do-over Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth 1st Covenant- rainbow God loves us despite our weaknesses and failures Tower of Babel     Ziggurat Etiology- why many languages Humans again disobey God They build a civilization-God told them to go out to the world  Going it alone results in punishment and separation  Balal- confusion  Babel- Babylon Pre history ends here God DOES NOT abandon Theology          There is only one God God created everything Everything God created is good Humans created in image and likeness of God Importance of Sabbath Importance of community Human tendency to sin Disobedience to God is cause of evil Sin causes alienation from God and others The Patriarchs     Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph  Egypt Creation of a People  Can’t prove these folks exisited as described  Nomadic life- tent dwellers  Tended sheep and goats  But history tells us of the migration of peoples from Mesopotamia to Canaan Abraham      Came from Ur Makes his way to Canaan- very long journey Call from God- 75 years old Abram hears, believes, obeys Story of – – – – – Call Faith Journey Covenant Fulfillment Covenant with Abraham  God’s promises – 12:7, 13:14, chapter 15       Covenant Ritual in Chapter 15 Sarai doubts Hagar- Ishmael Human efforts don’t produce proper heir Chapter17- Covenant of circumcision God renames Abraham and Sarah Abraham  Visitors who predict birth soon  Abraham bargains with God for sake of Lot in Sodom  Birth of Isaac  Chapter 22- Testing of Abraham  Abraham buys burial plot for Sarah  Now has legitimate claim to the land  Arranges wife for Isaac- NOT a Canaanite  Isaac marries Rebekah Isaac and Rebekah  Rebekah is barren  But God answers Isaac’s prayers  Twins – Esau- red and hairy (a hunter like Edomites) – Jacob- grabs Esau’s heel (a shepard)  Isaac favors Esau  Rebekah favors Jacob Jacob      Trickster Tricks Esau out of birthright for soup With Rebekah, tricks Esau our of blessing God had already chosen Jacob God works through their trickery to produce His end  Jacob takes a while to fully accept his role  After he sees the ladder- 28:20-22  Totally conditional- tries to control God Jacob         Falls in love with Rachel Laban says 7 years Laban tricks Jacob with Leah Jacob stays with Leah, servants, and Rachel Rachel is barren, but finally gives birth to Joseph Family returns to Canaan Jacob wrestles with angel on the way Now that he has matured and accepted God’s will, God renames him “Israel”  God Renews covenant with Jacob (chapter 35)  Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin Twelve Tribes of Israel  Sons of Jacob – – – – – – – – – – – – Reuben Simeon Levi Judah Zebulin Issachar Dan Gad Asher Naphtali Joseph (Ephraim+Mannasseh*) Benjamin Mother Leah Leah Leah Leah Leah Leah Bilhah Zilpah Zilpah Bilhah Rachel Rachel  * Sons of Joseph Joseph           Taunts his other brothers He is the favorite They sell him into slavery in Egypt He does well in Egypt- rises up in rank Becomes powerful Famine strikes Canaan Brothers come to beg Joseph “plays”with them, then forgives Saves family Reason for being in Eqypt Covenant  Central Event of the Pentateuch  Binding-( Karat Berit-shackle)  Formal ritual – Parity Treaty- between equals – Vassal Treaty- between overlord and smaller     Sinai Covenant like a vassal treaty Some similarities to modern day contract A “love” treaty between God and the Israelites Based on mutual trust Covenant vs. Contract  Review handout Exodus  Story of Moses – Burning bush (Chapter 3) – Reluctant  10 Plagues  Death of the first born  Passover Exodus  Into the Desert – Manna and quail – People are Major whiners  Down to Mt. Sinai  Covenant on Sinai – Described 3 times – Ex 19-24, Ex 32-34, Deut 4:44-6:20  10 Commandments  Moses does not make it to Promised Land