THEOLOGY 101: SALVATION HISTORY (OLD TESTAMENT)

CHAPTER I: BASIC BIBLE ORIENTATION

(INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE)

THE BIBLE
a. Working Description of the Bible
“is the Word of God”
b. For whom?
“For us mankind”
c. Purpose
“For our salvation”

In other words, “the Bible is the Word of God, for us mankind, and for our salvation.”

In addition:

= it is a “collection of many Books (Library of Holy Books).”

= written by many authors (Sacred Writers) for many thousand years.
= its origin is God (God’s Word).

The Holy Bible is revered by the Catholic Church with great homage since its
existence because its origin is God Himself.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BIBLE

…if the person is open to the Spirit if God:

= it gives inspiration, guidance, and assurance of God’s love for humanity.

= the Word of God affects one’s life and destiny.

Further:

= the Holy Bible, expresses the truth about our loving God.
= in the O.T. and N.T., God makes His promises and fulfills them.
= His Words and Deeds are like “Sun” in the dark.

Quotation from the letter to the Hebrews 4:12, which says:

 “Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two edged
sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joins and marrow, and able
to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.”

The letter to the Hebrews attests to the power of the Words of god. Our human
experiences concerning one’s word can be a source of consolation or desolation to one’s
heart. Our word can have a marked effect to the one whom it is addressed. The same is
true with God’s word. The word of god is good news but for those who do not want to
listen, God’s word is something not very inspiring. However, for most of us, we believe
that God’s word is truly good news, source of inspiration, guidance and assurance of our
loving God.

TWO MAJOR DIVISIONS OF THE BIBLE

1. Old Testament and 2. New Testament

What does the word “testament” mean in the Bible?

The word “testament” mean, “covenant or agreement” between God and His chosen
people.

1. The Old Testament

It deals with the story of the chosen people of Israel in the light of the various
agreements between God and His people Israel.

2. The New Testament

It deals with God’s fulfillment of His promise of redemption through the incarnation
of His divine son Jesus Christ, our Lord, savior and mediator between God and mankind
(John 1:14).

CANONS OF THE BIBLE

What does the word “Canons” mean in the Bible?

The word “Canons” in the Bible means, “collections of inspired books in both Old
and New Testaments.
1. The Old Testament – is a compilation of “sacred books” of the Hebrews written
around a period of 900 years. It prepares and announces the coming of a savior
or redeemer or mediator between God and mankind.

The books of the Old Testament:

a. Pentateuch
b. Historical Books
c. Wisdom Books
d. Prophetical Books

CANONS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. Alexandrian Canon and 2. Jewish or Palestinian Canon:

1. The Jewish or Palestinian Canon

The Rabbi who met at Jamnia, a town of Jerusalem, ca. 70 A.D. under Johanan
ben Zakkai accepted thirty-nine books (39). This is based on the Jewish method of
dividing the Old Testament Canon which counted as twenty-four. The 39 books are known
as the Jewish or Palestinian Canon in the Old Testament.

2. The Alexandrian Canon

The Jewish-Greek speaking group who lived outside Palestine and shepherded by
the Rabbi in Alexandria, accepted seven additional books. These are the following: 1 & 2
Maccabees, Tobit, Judith, Sirach, Wisdom, and Baruch. Parts of Daniel and Esther are
also included in the additional books incorporated in the Old Testament Canon.
Alexandrian Canon was produced and translated by Jewish Bible scholars or elders into
Greek mainly for the use of the Jews living outside Palestine in Alexandria.

Most of the Christians (Catholics and Protestants) used the Alexandrian Canon in
order to have the whole listing and complete set of Old Testament books.

However, some Christians still adhere to the Jewish or Palestinian Canon.

Moreover, the additional books which were incorporated later into the so called
Alexandrian Canon are also known as the “Deutero-Canonical Books.”
 DESCRIPTION OF EACH CLASSIFICATION
(FOLLOWING ALEXANDRIAN CANON)

1. Pentateuch

This consists of five books attributed to Moses. These books express the will of
God for His chosen people from creation since the time of Adam & Eve, call of Abraham,
Jacob, Moses, up to the story of Joshua. These books narrate the story of God and His
people Israel as well as how God chose and formed Israel.

2. Historical Books

These books narrate the stories of Israel after her deliverance from Egypt as slaves
going to the Promised Land. After the chosen people were punished in the desert for
almost 40 years, God’s people began to build their nation. These books narrate the
difficulties, the pain as well as the glory and triumphs experienced by Israel.

3. Wisdom Books

These books, although written many centuries ago, are still sources of inspirations,
hope and assurance from God. These books abound with simple sayings which are full
of wisdom. They also include proverbs, prayers or psalms about greatness and goodness
of God, frustrations and thanksgiving and love of God for His people. They also express
trust and confidence, fear and anxieties during the people’s dull moments and captivity
under foreign power.

4. Prophetical Books

These books express God’s message to His people through the prophecies of the
prophets. The prophets always appear every time there is disorder and chaos in their
community. They warn and guide, console and challenge the people to act immediately.
They also assure the people of God’s enduring love in spite of their wickedness and
unfaithfulness to God’s covenant.
 DIVISIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

ALEXANDRIAN CANON JEWISH CANON

(46 BOOKS) (39 BOOKS)
PENTATEUCH TORAH (LAW)
1. Genesis 1. Genesis
2. Exodus 2. Exodus
3. Leviticus 3. Leviticus
4. Numbers 4. Numbers
5. Deuteronomy 5. Deuteronomy

HISTORICAL BOOKS PROPHETICAL BOOKS

6. Joshua 13. 1 Chronicles (Former)
7. Judges 14. 2 Chronicles 6. Joshua 10. 1 Kings
8. Ruth 15. Ezrah 7. Judges 11. 2 Kings
9. 1 Samuel 16. Nehemiah 8. 1 Samuel
10. 2 Samuel 17. Esther 9. 2 Samuel
11. 1 Kings 18. Judith (Latter)
12. 2 Kings 19. Tobit 12. Isaiah 13. Jeremiah 14.
13. 1 Chronicles 20. 1 Maccabees Ezekiel
14. 2 Chronicles 21. 2 Maccabees
(12 minor Prophets)
WISDOM BOOKS 15. Hosea 21. Nahum
22. Psalms 26. Job 16. Joel 22. Habakkuk
23. Proverbs 27. Wisdom of 17. Amos 23. Zephaniah
24. Ecclesiastes Solomon 18. Obadiah 24. Haggai
25. Song of Songs 28. Sirach 19. Jonah 25. Zechariah
20. Micah 26. Malachi

PROPHETICAL BOOKS WISDOM BOOKS/WRITINGS

(Major) 27. Psalms 36. Ezrah
29. Isaiah 32. Lamentations 28. Job 37. Nehemiah
30. Jeremiah 33. Ezekiel 29. Proverbs 38. 1 Chronicles
31. Baruch 34. Daniel 30. Ruth 39. 2 Chronicles
(Minor) 31. Song of Songs
35. Hosea 39. Obadiah 43. 32. Qoheleth
Zephaniah 33. Lamentations
36. Amos 40. Jonah 44. Haggai 34. Esther
37. Micah 41. Nahum 45. 35. Daniel
Zechariah
 38. Joel 42. Habakkuk 46.
Malachi

2. New Testament – is the fulfillment of God’s promise to His Israel, as Jesus Christ
reveals God the Father’s love for humanity, through His works of redemption, His
life, ministry, suffering and death, resurrection and glory for the whole creation.

CANON IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

There is only one Canon in the New Testament for both Catholic and Protestant
Christians. They have the same number of books. They differ only in their interpretation
of the New Testament and in their manner of proclaiming it. Both have the same intention
in proclaiming the good news about God’s love through Jesus and His Church, the
redemption of humanity and the whole creation.

DIVISION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT (27)

DESCRIPTION OF THE BOOK

1. Gospels (4)
These are written by the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They discuss
the life, death, resurrection and triumph of Jesus including His promise of redemption to
those who believe in Him and do God’s will.

2. Acts of the Apostles (1)

This book discusses the ministry of the Apostles, how the Apostles spread the
teachings of Jesus through His words and deeds. This is believed to be written by Luke,
the Evangelist.

3. Christian Letters in General (21)

These are the letters or writings by the Apostles like Peter, Paul, James, John, and
Jude. They try to get responses and give exhortation to those Christian communities they
had established which were inspired by Jesus’ Spirit. They are somehow directly in-
charged of those communities.

4. Book of Revelation (1)

This book is written by John the Evangelist. The book contains many events that
will happen in the future, based on the experiences of men right here and now. The
approach and style is futuristic.
 THE CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS

Oral Tradition

At the early stage of the history of the chosen people, there were no written
materials. Everything was passed on by word of mouth. Their experiences and
relationship with God, fellowmen and creation were stories for their younger generations
to evaluate. This was the common practice at that time in handling down their
experiences, beliefs, traditions, and customs. This process is known as “Oral Tradition.”

Written Tradition

After the chosen people achieved some kind of peace and stability, they began to
write their experiences. Their gifted men and women in their community wrote these
experiences in story form. They were inspired by the Spirit of God to write His message
and the people’s stories concerning their relationship with their God. This written form is
commonly known as the “Bible” or the “Written Tradition.” These refer to both the Old
and the New Testament.

ASSIGNMENT

INSTRUCTIONS: (Maximum of 5 sentences per answer for each question)

1. On a yellow pad paper, write your name, subject, time, date, and answer the following:
a. How the Holy Bible could be a source of inspiration, guidance and assurance of
God’s love for humanity?
b. Why the Canons of the Old Testament of the Catholics and Protestants were
different?
c. How the “Word of God” was formed and became the “Bible” as we have it now?
2. How were you affected by our discussions concerning the “Word of God”?
3. How the OT and NT were related concerning God’s plan of saving humanity and the
whole creation?