IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH GENESIS 1:1 The Old Testament God Reveals Himself to His People – God the Perfect Father

Introduction to the Old Testament The first & longest half of the Bible is called the Old Testament (O.T.) or “Old Covenant” O.T. story distinguishes Judaism from all other religions of the world in two ways:  Based on historical facts in history  God reveals Himself both in words & deeds- over time

The story of salvation Creation is God’s plan beginning to unfold  Creating by the power of His Word Gn1:1

The Story of Salvation The word “Bible” means “book” (singular) However, the Bible consists of 72 books Written by 40 different authors over 1600 years, but all inspired by God the Holy Spirit Using different literary styles & forms  History, prophecy, poetry, drama, letters, practical advice, and much more…

What kind of story is this? The Bible tells us what kind of story we are in  It is a love story, because it is history, and history is “His story” & He is love  Love is God’s plan & purpose in all that he does The story unfolds in three acts  Creation  Fall  Redemption: has 3 parts  God reveals himself as Father in the O.T.  Jesus the Son of God is revealed in the N.T.  Holy Spirit is sent to empower the Church & disciples

Genesis means “beginning” Genesis is the book of beginnings  Universe  Man  Sin  Salvation (the main theme of the whole Bible)

Genesis Genesis is the 1st book of the Pentateuch or Torah (Jewish)  Pentateuch = Greek word meaning “5 volume book”, the first five books of the Bible are the Pentateuch  Torah = Aramaic word meaning “the Law” - 10 commandments  (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)

The author of Genesis Moses is referred to as the author of Genesis, Genesis is history but not scientific history  This does not mean myth or fable, but that its style is often poetic & content is selective to teach its purpose  Author (photographer) points only at subject important for purpose Time span of Genesis covers more years than rest of the Bible Only God can create –Bara’ out of nothing- by the infinite power of his Word Jewish notion of creation radically distinct from all others

Our Father’s Plan God has revealed himself in history gradually Why read the Bible?  It is our family heirloom we need to understand  Ephesians 1:5 “ destined in love to be his sons”  Romans 8:15 “ received a spirit of adoption as Sons” Started long ago with Israel and now we are called (grafted on) into the family of God  Pius XI “ spiritually we are all Semites” descended from Shem  Rom 11:24 wild olive shoot grafted on  Israel history is Catholic (universal) history  Rom 4:16 Abraham is the father of all who share his faith

4 Foundational Principles of the Bible 1) God is our Father 2) Salvation as divine Sonship 3) The Covenant  The overarching theme of the Bible (salvation history) 4) The Church as God’s Family

Most important Mystery in Life Is this: God is our Father His greatest desire is not to punish us for doing wrong, but to reveal himself as father Garden of Genesis 2, “familyhood” of God  That’s where He wants us to live…with Him! He wants to walk & visit & converse with us - in a growing friendship of love & intimacy But what he wants us to call Him is Father He is a Father exactly as Jesus portrayed in Luke 15, with arms wide open with a smile on his face

Salvation: Sharing in the Sonship of God Salvation is receiving the gift of supernatural life (sanctifying grace) allowing us to become sons of God Baptism empowers us to become children of God We participate in Jesus’ own life of divine Sonship Pope Pius XII “Christian Religion is the unique religion of Divine Sonship”

Covenant A covenant is a binding oath or promise made between God and a person (s) A covenant is a sacred family bond  that binds God the Father to us as family  Key to understand the Christian Faith Understanding the covenants will help you see what God is doing in Salvation History = family history How God is Fathering his family  A Father who keeps his promises – who keeps covenant with us

Covenant vs contract Covenant- kinship bond family relations Un-breakable, Permanent Exchange of Persons  “I am yours, you are mine" Based upon swearing an Oath  Oath sworn by invoking God’s Holy name (for help to keep it)  Latin word for Oath is sacramentum( sacraments)  Ritual act after verbal promise share a meal, sacrifice animals Renewing our Covenant w/ God At every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, or Eucharistic Meal Contract- partnership Breakable, temporarily Exchange of property, goods Based upon a promise  If promise broken go separate ways

Covenants in Salvation History 1) Marriage covenant with Adam 2) Household covenant – Noah & family 3) Tribal covenant- Those under Abraham’s authority 4) Nation covenant – under Moses & 12 Tribes 5) Kingdom covenant- under David & successors 6) New Covenant- Catholic (universal) Covenant  Jesus establishes a world wide family

God’s Covenant with Adam Marital covenant: family form of 1st covenant between Adam& Eve & God The Fall: A&E disobeyed, supernatural life lost The Promise : “ protoevangelium” promise of a future Savior  (First Gospel) = future good news  Genesis 3:15 God said to the serpent “I will put enmity (hostility) between you & the woman, and between your seed (evil doers) & her seed (Jesus); He shall crush your head, and you shall bruise his heal”

Consequences of disobedience: Original Sin The original harmony of A & E with God, each other and within themselves is destroyed.

Consequences of Disobedience: Original Sin Free Will, allows us to reject God’s fatherhood  In Old Testament the punishment of God was a means for God to guide his people toward repentance & back into His friendship

4 results of Original Sin Because of their sin, God warned A&E that when we try to “be fruitful” –  1) Childbirth will be painful  2)familylife : relationships will be difficult, hard  3) Work will be toil : homework, chores, jobs  4) Illness & death : sickness, colds, cancer

Promises to Noah