AN OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE Ascension Men’s Bible Study

Let’s Get Acquainted with the Bible General Theme of the Bible How the Bible developed Bible Timelines and Covenants What was the time for each book The Old and New Testaments Words used in our Catholic Faith Expression

Theme or Purpose of the Bible 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

Covenants What is a Covenant? Covenant Mediator Adam Noah Abram Moses David Jesus Covenant Role Husband Father Chieftain Judge King Royal High Priest Covenant form Marriage Household Tribe Nation National Kingdom Catholic Church Covenant Sign Sabbath Rainbow Circumcision Passover Throne Eucharist Scripture Reference Gen 1:26 – 2:3 Gen 9:8-17 Gen 12:1-3; 22:16-18 Ex 19:5-6; 3:4-10 2 Sm 7:8-19 Mt 26:26-28 What is a Covenant? 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

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 What does it mean when we say the Bible is “inspired”? When and where does “inspiration” take place? Scripture Preaching Individual letting the Holy Spirit speak to us What does our catechism say about inspiration of the scriptures? Inspiration: CCC105 God is the author of Sacred Scripture. "The divinely revealed realities, which are contained and presented in the text of Sacred Scripture, have been written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit." "For Holy Mother Church, relying on the faith of the apostolic age, accepts as sacred and canonical the books of the Old and the New Testaments, whole and entire, with all their parts, on the grounds that, 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."

How was it assembled? What does the word Bible mean? Library or collection of books 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. Are there differences between our Catholic Bible and other Bibles? Catholic Bible contains books that are not included in some other Bibles Catholic Bible contains some writings that are not in other Bibles

The “Canon” What do we mean when we say “Canon”? What criteria was used for selecting the books to be included? 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 16th Century

Timelines and Covenants 1000 BC Beginning DATE Monarchy Creation Messiah ERA 1. Adam - Marriage COVENANTS 5. David – National Kingdom 6. Jesus – Catholic Church 2. Noah - Household 3. Abram - Tribe 4. Moses - Nation Covenant is the central thread woven throughout scripture. The stories describe how God the Father, through a series of covenants moves from dealing with one couple to the whole world. Viewing the history of salvation through the covenants enables us to see the fatherly wisdom and power of God.

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

Books of the Bible Old Testament 900 BC 1000 BC Beginning 1200 BC DATE Monarchy Creation Judges ERA Adam - Marriage COVENANTS David - Kingdom Noah - Household Abram - Tribe 1 Samuel Moses - Nation Genesis 2 Samuel Joshua 1 Kings Exodus Judges 1 Chronicles Leviticus Ruth 2 Chronicles Psalms Numbers Proverbs Deuteronomy

Books of the Bible Old Testament 900 BC 800 BC DATE Divided Kingdom Babylonian Exile ERA COVENANTS 2 Kings Nahum Song of Songs Habakkuk Ecclesiastes Zephaniah Amos Jeremiah Ezekiel Hosea Daniel Isaiah Lamentations Micah Obadiah Jonah Baruch

Books of the Bible Old Testament 100 BC 500 BC 300 BC DATE from Exile Return ERA COVENANTS Zechariah Haggai Judith 1st Maccabees Joel 2nd Maccabees Ezra Tobit Esther Sirach Nehemiah Job Book of Wisdom Malachi

Books of the Bible New Testament 70 AD 90 AD 100 AD 48 AD DATE COVENANT Jesus – Catholic Church Colossians 1 Thessalonians Jude Philemon Mark John Acts 2 Thessalonians 1 John Titus 1 Corinthians 2 John Galatians 2 Corinthians 1 Timothy 3 John Romans 2 Timothy Revelation James 1 Peter Luke 2 Peter Ephesians Hebrews Philippians Matthew

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