2.  Why do we call it ‘old’?  We call it old because of the wisdom and tradition it holds.  Why do we have to understand the Old Testament to fully understand the Christian faith?  They are the foundation of Christian faith and of Jesus’ teaching.  What is salvation history ?  SH is the saving action of God throughout history. Examples: Noah, Moses, Jesus

3.  Who are the patriarchs?  They are the ancestors and faith leaders of the Israelites. Examples:  Abraham, Isaac, Jacob  Why was there animosity between Jews and Christians in past centuries?  There was animosity because some Christians viewed Jews as ‘Christ-killers,’ despite the fact that Jesus himself was Jewish. Christians should view the Jewish community as extended family.

4.  What is divine revelation?  DR is God’s reveal ing of himself and his plan of goodness throughout history.  What is a covenant?  A covenant is a sacred agreement between God and his people.  What is biblical inspiration?  BI is the process by which God the Holy Spirit assisted human authors in writing the Bible.

5.  What are your personal thoughts on biblical inspiration?  What is the canon?  The canon is the official collection of inspired books of sacred Scripture. OT=46, NT=27  Why do Catholics have seven extra books in their Bible?  Around 100ce, some Jews took out seven books of the Hebrew Scriptures because of their Greek overtones. Martin Luther rejected these books.

6.  What beliefs set Jews apart from the surrounding culture? (1900bce and beyond)  One God  God as creator  God made a covenant with the Chosen People/Israelites/Jews/Hebrews  What is natural moral law?  NML is the intrinsic ability of humans to discern between good and evil through the use of reason.  How is Jesus the New Covenant?  He fulfilled the Law of Moses by giving a new law of love, extending God’s covenant beyond the ‘Chosen People’ to people everywhere.

7.  Why does the story of the Old Testament have specific relevance for Christians as part of the history of their faith?  It teaches values and lessons of universal truths of human experience that apply today to all people.  Who are the matriarchs?  Founding mothers of Israel Extra points if you can name them…  (Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel)

8.  What is polytheism?  Belief in many Gods And monotheism is….  Belief in one God!  Conquest of Canaan: Why was Israel at the height of its power under the reign of David’s son, Solomon? (We’ll get more into this history later in the semester.)  Solomon built the first temple in Jerusalem after his father captured Jerusalem and brought the Ark of the Covenant there.  What is oral tradition?  History that is passed down through generations by word of mouth