1. Creation Unveils God

2. Old (or First) Testament
46 books
Many of the texts written in 6th century BCE
Written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek
Mostly Hebrew scripture (not all of it is though)
Ugarit storm god, Baal. Featured in 1 Kings 20

3. Categorization of First Testament Scripture
Torah (Law)
History
Wisdom Literature
Prophetic Books
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Tobit
Judith
Esther
1 Maccabees
2 Maccabees
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs (Solomon)
Wisdom (of Solomon)
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Baruch
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi

4. Four Accounts of Creation
Genesis 1:1-2:3
Genesis 2:4-2:25
Job 38
Isaiah 42:5-25

5. Genesis 1:1 – 2:3 Formless void already exists God as a spirit
Creates through verbal commands
God names creation
Creates humans
Imageo Dei

6. Day
Division of Habitat
Populating Habitats 1
Separates Light from Darkness 4
Creates Lights to govern day, night and seasons 2
Separates Sky and Earth 5
Creates sea creatures and birds 3
Separates Dry Land from Sea 6
Creates land animals and humans

7. Genesis 2:4 – 2:25 Physical world already existed Time already existed
God physically forming out of clay
Geographic locations
Man names creation
Operation

8. Job 38 Laid foundations of earth Heavenly beings shouted for joy
God shut out sea (chaos)
God has walked through depths of death and darkness
God alone knows the ordinances of heaven and earth

9. Isaiah 42:5-25 God is creator of heaven and earth
God gives life, and spirit, to people
Leads people to righteousness
All other deities are idols
True glory belongs to God
Holiness

10. Revelation in History and Law

11. Categorization of First Testament Scripture
Torah (Law)
History
Wisdom Literature
Prophetic Books
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Tobit
Judith
Esther
1 Maccabees
2 Maccabees
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs (Solomon)
Wisdom (of Solomon)
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Baruch
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi

12. Law and History Texts
First five books of the Bible/Torah (Pentateuch) outline the Law
Law meaning “Something laid down, fixed”
Historical texts
Ancestry of the Hebrews

13. Law Centres around Covenant Basis of society
Law points to highest values (constitution)
Point to relationship with God
Without laws, Canada would cease being a sovereign, democratic, capitalist, parliamentary-democracy. Laws, therefore, establish who and what we are.

14. God of the Covenant
Covenant comes from Hebrew Berit (literally, to shackle)
Different kinds of Covenants
Friendship
Contract
Peace Treaty
Marriage
Treaty between Kings
Lord and Vassal
Above: Friendship Covenant
Below: Master-Servant Covenant

15. Law of God Decalogue (Exod. 20) The Covenant Code (Exod. 21-23)
Casuistic Laws (Case-by-case scenarios)
Laws originating from rural economy (not nomadic)
Deuteronomist Code (Deut )
Laws originating from urban monarchy
Laws from king, how to conduct war, how to determine who is a real prophet
The Holiness Code (Lev )
Laws for Priests
Nothing symbolizes law better than the ravenous characters of Boston Legal

16. History Covered in First Testament
Over 2000 years of history covered
Extends as far back as 4000 BCE (time of Abraham)
Formation of Israel
Israel situated between main powers of the Middle East
Constantly being conquered and re-conquered

17. God Intervenes in History
Prophets
Messiah Figures
Nature

18. Atonement Sacrifice and ritualistic purification
Innocent blood offered up
Establishes right relationship with God
Receive worldly blessings
Shift in 6th century BCE
Development of afterlife

19. National Identity Zionism A light to the nations
God physically present in the Temple

20. The Prophets Unveil God

21. Categorization of First Testament Scripture
Torah (Law)
History
Wisdom Literature
Prophetic Books
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Tobit
Judith
Esther
1 Maccabees
2 Maccabees
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs (Solomon)
Wisdom (of Solomon)
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Baruch
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi

22. Misconceptions
Fortune tellers
Precognition
“Doom and Gloom”

23. What is a Prophet Intermediary between human and divine realm
Hebrew Nabi “One who is called”
Vocation
Messenger of God

24. Calling from God Commission Resistance Reassurance Acceptance
Examples Exodus 3, Isaiah 6

25. Moses Called in wilderness Mission to God
Comes closest to God in the Old Testament

26. Eight Century Elijah (1 Kings 17 - 2 Kings 2) During reign of Ahab
Elisha (2 Kings 3-10)
Micah (1 Kings 22)
Amos
Hosea
Isaiah

27. Issues Early 8th century, growth of state bureaucracy Rise in wealth
Gap between rich and poor
Social Justice
Late 8th century, rise of Assyrian Empire

29. 5th and 6th Century Prophets
Second Isaiah
Jeremiah
Ezekiel
Daniel