OLD TESTAMENT Chap 1 The Story of God’s Boundless Love

The Bible: A Love Letter from God Tells the Story of God’s love for us It is the Word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit Scriptures can nourish and transform our lives if we are open to them.

I. The Bible . . cont’d A. The Great Story 1. Consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament 2. Outline of “The Great Story” a. Creation b. Humans reject—God offers hope and promise of salvation

c. God forms a covenant with the. Chosen People (Israelites, c. God forms a covenant with the Chosen People (Israelites, Hebrews, Jews) d. God offers liberation for the Hebrews e. Sent His divine Son—Jesus— the Messiah f. Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection brought salvation to the world g. Holy Spirit is sent to help us

B. The Inspired Word of God Three important concepts: 1. Revelation-God’s creation of the universe wasn’t an accident, God intended (self-communication) to be in relationship with the created…he reveals himself through creation, events, persons and most fully in Jesus Christ 2. the Word of God-NOT just another name for the Bible...it is both the Bible and Sacred Tradition .

Tradition or Apostolic Tradition= The Apostles’ teaching after giving witness to Jesus Christ through their actions and preaching, as well as the process by which that content is faithfully passed on from generation to generation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is active through Creation, Proclamation of the Prophets, Jesus Christ (life, mission, death and Resurrection), Tradition and Scripture

3. Biblical Inspiration-The Holy Spirit guided human authors to teach without error those truths of God that are necessary for our salvation…it does NOT mean God dictated it. So, the Bible was created in collaboration of God with human beings.

God inspired the writers and also the. Church in choosing which books God inspired the writers and also the Church in choosing which books would be included in the canon (the listing of the books of the Bible) of the Scriptures.

II. Interpreting the Scriptures A. Why Study the Bible? 1. We may not understand the circumstances in which texts were written or the original meaning of the authors. 2. The Church’s Guidance -the Catholic Church provides help in studying and understanding the theological meaning of Scripture

3. Biblical scholarship -Scripture. scholars translate from ancient 3. Biblical scholarship -Scripture scholars translate from ancient language (Hebrew or Greek) to modern languages, also try to understand what was originally meant. 1. There is disagreement among Scripture scholars on their findings and theories—still many questions.

III. A God Who Acts in History Salvation History—The story of God’s actions and the people’s responses over many centuries. God is not aloof or distant from us—He acts within human history. History of ancient Israel and Scripture are intertwined.

A. PREHISTORY—stories of Creation and A. PREHISTORY—stories of Creation and earliest stories of mankind like Noah. B. HISTORY (actual written records) begins with the development of early forms of writing/alphabet C. BIBLICAL PERIOD—(1850 B.C. to 100 A.D.) beginnings of Israel as a people to the time of Jesus and the early Church.