1. Divine Revelation
Old Testament

2. Outline for Test Overview of the Bible Pentateuch Book of Genesis
What is it?
Its purpose and theme
Its structure and contents
Pentateuch
General information
Time span
Importance to both Christian and Jew
Oral to written tradition
4 different traditions
Book of Genesis
Chapters 1-11
etiologies
Truths about creation and sin
Promise of redemption
Chapters 12-50
Beginning of God’s chosen people
Patriarchs
Covenant

3. Pentateuch First Five Books of the Bible
In Hebrew known as the “Torah”
Written by many authors in 4 writing traditions, taken from oral and early written stories
Begins with creation and ends with the death of Moses
Gives the religious history of humankind, particularly the chosen people, and God’s basic moral expectations.
It is the core or center of the Old Testament and contains myth like stories, genealogies, and codes of law.
It is important to both the Jewish and Christian faiths since it reveals much about God and his relationship with and expectations of humanity

4. Sources of Pentateuch
Oral tradition: Unwritten, memorized stories and accounts of historical events passed on, by word of mouth, from generation to generation.
Written records: early attempts of recording stories and accounts by primitive writing forms.
Experience-oral stories-written accounts-final redactions

5. Authorship of the Pentateuch
It was originally thought that Moses had written the books of the Pentateuch
It has been established, however, that many different writers recorded these books
The many different writers brought their own styles to their writing and these styles have been sorted into 4 writing traditions

6. Writing Traditions Yahwist: Elohist:
God is called Yahweh
Uses anthropomorphism.
Humans have direct contact with God
Stories of sin and God’s promises
Elohist:
God is called “Elohim”
Humans have indirect contact with God (visions, dreams, messengers)
God demands righteousness and justice
Sometimes the Yahwist and Elohist traditions overlap

7. Writing Traditions (cont’d)
Deuteronomic
Encourages obedience to the Law
Success or failure of Israel depend upon Israel’s observance of the Law
Blessed are those who… cursed are those who…
Priestly
Probably the final editors of the Pentateuch
Stressed the importance of worship, ritual and purity
Emphasized the power of God

8. Book of Genesis
“The Beginnings”

9. Primeval History Chapters 1-11 The Creation Stories The Fall of Man
Continuation of sin
Sin multiplies
Social Sin

10. Creation Stories God made all things good and holy
God made us responsible for each other and the environment
God gave us human sexuality
Humans are made in the image and likeness of God.
Humans share the same organic substance as all creation
Humans are made to be relational

11. Human Beings Summit of Creation Human Dignity Immortal Soul Reason
Made in God’s image and likeness
Immortal Soul
God breathed into the human His breath
Reason
Free Will
Choose to do right or wrong
Stewardship
Care for all creation
Human Sexuality
Binding love
Procreation

12. The Fall The original sin Results of this action: Hope of redemption
The first humans give in to the temptation of evil in the garden and disobey God
Results of this action:
Loss of relationship with God
Loss of harmony between man and woman, humans and nature
Suffering and death enter the world
Following generations are born with concupiscence
Hope of redemption
God promises to send someone to crush evil
(Gen. 3:15)

13. Concupiscence Sin continues Sin multiplies Sin becomes societal
Cain and Abel
Sin multiplies
Noah
Sin becomes societal
Tower of Babel

14. Salvation History
Begins with the “protoevangelium”, the promise of a savior to crush evil and restore original holiness. (Gen. 3:15)

15. Salvation History
Continues with the beginning of God’s people. The call to Abram to become the Father of a great nation, Israel

16. Age of the Patriarchs
Chapters 12-50, Origins of the Chosen People of God
Begins with the story of Abram
Introduces the covenant made with Abram
The fulfillment of the promises made to Abram
God is not limited by human boundaries
Continues with Isaac
The account of Esau and Jacob
God’s plan overcomes human sin and weakness
Ends with the accounts of Joseph
God brings good from evil
Divine Providence

17. Abraham Begins with the story of Abram, a nomad from Ur
Introduces the covenant made with Abram
Great Nation
Promised Land
Descendents
The fulfillment of the promises made to Abram
Ishmael
Isaac
God is not limited by human boundaries
Sarai conceives and gives birth to a son, Isaac

18. Covenant with Abraham Land (Gen.15:18-21) Great Nation (Gen.12: 1-3)
Israelites
Ishmaelites
Descendents (Gen
Change of name, (signifies a change of life)
Abram= Abraham
Sarai= Sarah
Faith
Circumcision, Blood covenant
All Jewish men must be circumcised.

19. Isaac The sacrifice of Isaac: God tests Abraham’s faith
God keeps His promises
Rebekah:
God is not limited by human boundaries
Rebekah gives birth to Esau and Jacob (twins)

20. Jacob The account of Esau and Jacob
God’s plan overcomes human sin and weakness
Trickery leads to more of the same

21. Joseph Ends with the accounts of Joseph Divine Providence
God’s active presence in our lives especially in times of distress
God brings good from evil
Joseph is sold
Joseph is wrongly accused and imprisoned