AN OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE Review and Part II Ascension Men’s Bible Study

Review What is the primary story throughout the Bible? –The Bible is the story of God’s Love for His chosen people. What method does God use to express His love for His chosen people? –Expressed by relating God’s Covenants in the stories given to us in the Books of the Bible

Review What are the six covenants?

Covenants Covenant Mediator Covenant Role Covenant form Covenant Sign Adam Husband Marriage Sabbath Noah Father Household Rainbow Abram Chieftain Tribe Circumcision Moses Judge Nation Passover David King National Kingdom Throne Jesus Royal High Priest Catholic Church Eucharis t It means to “come together” or “to agree”. Involves a formal, solemn and binding pact between two or more parties. Each party must live up to its end of the bargain. It is more than a contract in that it is an exchange of persons versus the exchange of properties. It is sworn by a promise and an oath What is a Covenant? Gen 1:26 – 2:3 Gen 9:8-17 Scripture Reference Gen 12:1- 3; 22:16-18 Ex 19:5- 6; 3: Sm 7:8-19 Mt 26:26-28

The development of the Bible Oral Traditions/stories Scribes began writing down these accounts as literacy was developed Assembly of the stories was first started in the time of the Kings Prophets were often literate or had scribes who wrote for them New Testament writings were written by clerks or assistants of the apostles, eye witnesses, or by the Apostles themselves

The development of the Bible Inspiration of the Scriptures: When and where does “inspiration” take place? –Writing of the Scripture –Preaching of the Word –Individual letting the Holy Spirit speak to us Hearing the Word – i.e. homilies Reading the Word – individually or in groups

How was it assembled? What do we know about how the Bible was put together? –Assembling the Bible (library) took a long time –Choices had to be made about which writings –General usage within Judaism and Christianity played a major role.

The “Canon” What is the Canon and how it was developed –The books included in the Canon were in common use in the Christian community from early on as the teachings of the Apostles were written – by approximately 300 A.D. a definitive set were in general use –The books supported the theme of God’s love for his people. –The Official Roman Catholic Bible was not approved in its final form until the Council of Trent in the 16 th Century (translations continue to be updated and adjusted based on new discoveries and informatio)

The Books of the Bible How are the books organized/arranged? OLD TESTAMENT The Pentateuch Historical Books Wisdom Books Prophetic Books NEW TESTAMENT Gospels New Testament Letters Catholic Letters

What is the relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament –The New Testament is revealed through the Old Testament when we see the “types” or representatives of Jesus in the Old Testament figures.

Introduction to the Bible Part II Word Studies Relationship of the Covenant to our Catholic Faith Expression Becoming Familiar with our new Catholic Study Bible

Word Studies in our Catholic Faith expression Canon Covenant Inspiration Canon Catholic Prophetic Typology

Our Catholic Faith Expression What do we mean when we speak of the “Canon”? Canon: 120 It was by the apostolic Tradition that the Church discerned which writings are to be included in the list of the sacred books. This complete list is called the canon of Scripture. It includes 46 books for the Old Testament (45 if we count Jeremiah and Lamentations as one) and 27 for the New.

Our Catholic Faith Expression What does the term “Covenant” mean? Covenant: 1150 Signs of the covenant. The Chosen People received from God distinctive signs and symbols that marked its liturgical life. These are … signs of the covenant, symbols of God's mighty deeds for his people. Among these liturgical signs from the Old Covenant are circumcision, anointing and consecration of kings and priests, laying on of hands, sacrifices, and above all the Passover. The Church sees in these signs a prefiguring of the sacraments of the New Covenant.

Our Catholic Faith Expression When we speak of the “inspiration of the scriptures” what is meant? Inspiration: CCC105 God is the author of Sacred Scriptures. … which are contained and presented … have been written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit." “The church… relying on the faith of the apostolic age, accepts as sacred and canonical the books of the Old and the New Testaments, … written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they have God as their author, and have been handed on as such to the Church herself."

Our Catholic Faith Expression What does the word “Catholic” mean? Catholic: 830 The word "catholic" means "universal," … The Church is catholic in a double sense: First, the Church is catholic because Christ is present in her. "Where there is Christ Jesus, there is the Catholic Church." In her subsists the fullness of Christ's body united with its head; this implies that she receives from him "the fullness of the means of salvation" which he has willed: correct and complete confession of faith, full sacramental life, and ordained ministry in apostolic succession. The Church was, in this fundamental sense, catholic on the day of Pentecost and will always be so until the day of the Parousia.

Our Catholic Faith Expression We refer to ourselves as “Christians”. What does Christian or Christianity mean? Christianity: 108 … Christianity is the religion of the "Word" of God, a word which is "not a written and mute word, but the Word which is incarnate and living". … Christ, … through the Holy Spirit, "opens [our] minds to understand the Scriptures."

Our Catholic Faith Expression Prophets play an important role in the Bible. What does “Prophet” or “Prophetic” mean? Prophets: 2595 The prophets summoned the people to conversion of heart and, while zealously seeking the face of God, like Elijah, they interceded for the people In the Old Testament the prophets announced that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the hoped-for Messiah for his saving mission. The descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at his baptism by John was the sign that this was he who was to come, the Messiah, the Son of God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit; his whole life and his whole mission are carried out in total communion with the Holy Spirit whom the Father gives him "without measure."

Our Catholic Faith Expression An important tool of Roman Catholic Theology (study of the scriptures) is “Typology”. What is this tool? Typology: its’ purpose and value studies how Christ was foreshadowed in the Old Testament (Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Melchizedek, Passover lamb, temple) thereby revealing the profound unity of the Old and New Covenants.

How does the Covenant Relationship impact our Catholic Faith Expression? Covenants are based on an Oath sworn by God and his people Oath = (Latin) Sacramentum Each time we experience one of the sacraments we are renewing our covenant oath with God.

Becoming Familiar with our new study Bible

Highlights of the study Bible: Table of Contents Alphabetical listing of the books and abbreviations Reading Guide The Old Testament The New Testament Footnotes and Scripture references Glossary Lectionary Index to the Reading Guide Concordance Maps and index to the maps

Table of Contents Pg V

Alphabetical listing of books and abbreviations: pg XV

Reading Guide pg 1

The Old Testament pg 1

The New Testament pg 1331

Introduction to each Book i.e. pg 1400

Footnotes and Scripture References i.e. pg 1403

Glossary: pg 1781

Lectionaries: Sunday Mass pg 1809, Weekdays pg 1815

Index to Reading Guide pg 1823

Concordance pg 1854

Maps and Map Index follow the concordance

Map Index

Enjoy your new copy of the Holy Scriptures