1. Religion 125 Introduction to Christianity Dr. Donald N. Penny

2. Topic 1 Introduction to the Bible A.What is the Bible? 1.A collection of ancient writings produced by ancient Israelites and early Christians.  Not a single, unified book but an “anthology” of 66 (or more) separate writings.  Reflects many different authors, time periods, cultural backgrounds, literary forms, etc. 2.Scripture of the Christian church.  Sacred literature.  Authoritative for religious faith and practice 3.Story of God’s progressive self-revelation:  Beginning with the Creation of the world;  Continuing through the history of Israel;  Climaxing in the life, death, resurrection of Jesus Christ.

3. B.Major Divisions of the Bible 1.Old Testament – three versions (BPJM, p. xiii): a.Protestant OT – 39 books  “Testament” = “covenant” = God’s relationship with nation Israel.  Inherited from Judaism; Jews and Christians share these books as Scripture. b.Hebrew Bible – 24 books  Jewish Bible includes same books as Protestant OT.  Counted and arranged differently (Torah – Prophets – Writings). c.Roman Catholic/Greek Orthodox OT – includes 12-15 “extra” books and parts of books  Based on Septuagint (LXX) – an early Greek translation of Jewish scriptures which included more books than Hebrew Bible.  Protestant reformers removed them because not in Hebrew Bible. 2.New Testament – 27 uniquely Christian books  Same 27 for Protestants and Catholics; not in Jewish Bible.  God’s “covenant” with all who believe in Jesus Christ.  Protestant Bible: 39 (OT) + 27 (NT) = 66 books. 3.Apocrypha (“hidden things”)  About 12-15 books (and parts of books) found in Greek Orthodox and Catholic OT, but not in Hebrew Bible or Protestant OT.  Protestants either ignore them or consider “deuterocanonical.”  Apocrypha is found in middle section of Oxford Bible; important for history of period between OT and NT.

4. C.Origin of the Bible 1.Writing the books (accumulated over more than a millennium)  OT books – written in Hebrew by ancient Israelites (1000-150 B.C.).  NT books – written in Greek by early Christians (50-150 A. D.).  Often based on earlier oral traditions and written sources.  Many authors; influenced by times/culture of their day. 2.Canonization (gathering the books into recognized, authoritative collection) a.Hebrew Bible  Torah (“Law”) – gathered by 400 BC  Prophets – gathered by 200 BC  Writings – not definitively gathered until about 90 AD b.New Testament (see BPJM, pp. 139-40)  Paul’s letters – gathered about 100 AD  Gospels – gathered by 150-200 AD  Basic canon – looking much like ours by 200 AD  Final list of exactly 27 – first appeared in 367 AD

5. D.Inspiration 1.Plenary verbal theory  Exact wording virtually dictated by God.  Little room for human contribution.  Inerrant even in matters of history and science. 2.Dynamic theory  Message inspired by God.  Author writes out of own knowledge, style, etc.  May be inaccuracies of history and science.  Theological message is reliable.