1. What is the Bible? Chapter 1 NOTE:
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Chapter 1

2. Overview How to read the Bible Catholic Perspective
Who wrote the Bible?
Salvation History – Covenants with God
Connection with the Church
The Canon: Why only these books?

3. Key Ideas – Chapter 1 What is the Bible?
Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium (pp. 6-9)
The Bible as Religious History (pp.10-13)
Salvation History and the Canon of Scripture (pp.14-18)
Focused Reading 2 Timothy 3:10-4:5; “What is the nature of Sacred Scripture and what are its purposes?”

4. The Catholic Perspective
catholic means “universal” when capitalized refers to the Catholic Church or one of her members
All Catholics are Christian, not all Christians are Catholic.
Scripture AND Tradition
Tradition: “the living transmission of the Gospel message”
Which came first?
Cannot be separated
The Magisterium
Inerrant

5. Who wrote the Bible? Divinely Inspired – God is the principal author
Human Authors
Many different authors
Free, intelligent, subordinate instruments of the Holy Spirit
Different Styles and Audiences

6. Different Authors/Different Writings
Luke 1:1-4
Song of Songs 2:8-13
1 Chronicles 2:1-17
Romans 6:1-4
Revelation 12:1-6

7. Different Authors/Different Writings
Luke 1:1-4
Accurate History
Song of Songs 2:8-13
Beautiful Poetry
1 Chronicles 2:1-17
Family Geneology
Romans 6:1-4
Complicated Theology
Revelation 12:1-6
Symbolic Vision

8. The Bible is Sacred Literature
Not a History book, but takes place throughout history
Not a science book, but explains the “Why”
Ancient Literature – yet still completely relevant today
The Bible is religious
Literal vs. Spiritual

9. Biblical Timeline – small groups
How many archeological periods span biblical events?
Which book of the Bible covers human prehistory?
When did Abraham live?
In what archeological period was the Exodus?
When was David king of Israel?
During which archeological period did Christ appear on earth?

10. Salvation History How God’s plan to save us unfolded through the ages
From the Beginning of Creation to the end of the world (past, present and future)
A series of covenants
Contract vs. Covenant
Seven Covenants

11. The Church as Guide Jesus formed the Church
Instructed others to go do the same
Misunderstandings in Scripture & disagreements in human interpretations
The Church guides us in our understanding

12. The Canon Divided into two sections
Old Testament – Before Christ
New Testament – After Christ
Both equally important
What can be used during Liturgy of the Word?
canon – from the Greek word meaning “measuring rod” or “rule” – divinely inspired, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit
Tradition and the Council of Trent ( )
“Deuterocanonical” and “Apocrypha”

13. Canonicity – what makes a book Canonical
Three Criteria for Canonicity
Apostolicity
Orthodoxy
Catholicity
What did Sacred Authors wanted to affirm and what God wanted to reveal? (to understand Scriptures correctly for us):
Conditions of the time and culture
Literary Genres
Modes of Feeling
Modes of Speaking
Modes of Narrating, etc.

14. Conclusion
The Relationship among Sacred Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium.
The Bible as an inerrant, human-divine creation
The Bible as works of literature
The Bible as Objective History
The Concept of Salvation History
How Catholics understand Faith, including the Scriptures
How the canon of Scripture was determined.

15. The Old Testament Chapter 2 NOTE:
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Chapter 2

16. Overview Old Testament to Christianity Major Sections
Book of Laws
Historical Books
Wisdom Literature
Prophetic Books
Broad Overview of OT History
Typology

17. Key Ideas – Chapter 2 The Old Testament
The Law of the Old Testament (pp )
The History, Wisdom and Prophecy of the Old Testament (pp )
Old Testament History and Typology (pp )