2. Chapter 7: The Old Testament
The story of God’s love for mankind since creation began

3. Old Testament explains man’s origin in God, mankind’s failure to follow God’s plan and commands, God’s promise of a Redeemer, God’s choice of a people to be His own, and the history of that people (the Jewish race) leading up to the coming of the Messiah

4. Main theme = God’s covenant with His chosen people

5. Old Testament Story Ancestors of the Faith Exodus Event Monarchy
Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham
Exodus Event
God leads his people out of slavery and into freedom
Monarchy
Golden Era = greatest time and king in the Promised Land
Destruction and Exile
Jewish people disobey covenant and their country is conquered by the Babylonians and Jewish people are exiled
Return and Rebuilding
Jewish people allowed to return to the Promised Land
Greece and Rome
Romans conquer the Israelites and Promised Land

6. 4 groups of books Pentateuch = 1st 5 books of the Bible
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers Deuteronomy
Genesis means beginning in Greek – about beginning of mankind and origin of the world
Exodus records the freeing of the Jewish people
Leviticus tells of the formation of the priestly tribe of Levi and the rules God gave for worship
Numbers describes the life of the Jewish people as they wandered in the desert looking for the Promised Land
Deuteronomy means second law and summarizes the law of the Jewish people and the farewell of Moses

7. Historical Books
Record the history of the Jewish people from the death of Moses through entrance into the Promised Land
16 books
Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, 1 and 2 Maccabees

8. Wisdom Books Give practical advice on life and prayer
Main theme = perfect knowledge will lead us to God; the meaning of pain and suffering we experience in life
7 books
Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Eccelsiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom, Sirach

9. Prophetic Books Prophet = messenger of God
Prophets called people back to God and warned of not repenting of sins
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, Ezekial, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
18 books