Encountering the Older Testament

The Greek Kanon

• It had to be unbendable• It had to be dependable

as to its straightness

KANWN

Canonicity refers to the church’s recognition of the authority of

the inspired writings.

Josephus"For we have not an

innumerable multitude of books among us, disagreeing

from and contradicting one another [as the Greeks have],

but only twenty-two books, which contain the records of all the past times; which are justly believed to be divine...

(Contra Apion 1:8).

Josephus"It is true, our history has

been written since Artaxerxes, very peculiarly,

but has not been esteemed of the like authority with the former by our forefathers,

because there has not been an exact succession of

prophets since that time." (Contra Apion 1:8).

Pentateuch Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

Historical Books

Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles,

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

Poetic Books

Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon

Prophetic Books

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel,

Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah,

Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Torah Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

Prophets(Nabi’im)

Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, The

Twelve (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk,

Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)

Writings(Kethuvim)

Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations,

Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles,

How was the Bible Written?

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for

reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that

the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every

good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Theopneustos

All Scripture is inspired by God…

• The Fact of Inspiration

All Scripture is inspired by God…

• The Fact of Inspiration• The Extent of Inspiration

All Scripture is inspired by God…

• The Fact of Inspiration• The Extent of Inspiration• The Object of Inspiration

• Neo-Orthodoxy Theory: God is seen as transcendent so that we cannot receive an accurate revelation of Him.

Orthodoxy:The Bible is the

Word of God

Neo-Orthodoxy:The Bible giveswitness to theWord of God

• Neo-Orthodoxy Theory• Mechanical Dictation Theory• Limited Inspiration• Verbal Plenary Inspiration

Can our copies of the Bible be trusted?

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Original Manuscript

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The Science of Interpretation

Fundamental Questions in Hermeneutics

• What did it mean to the original characters of the narrative?

• What did it mean to the author?• What did it mean to the original

recipients?

Readers Today

Moses Israelites

Bible

Fundamental Questions in Hermeneutics

• What did it mean to the original characters of the narrative?

• What did it mean to the author?• What did it mean to the original

recipients?• What does it mean in light of New

Testament revelation?

Mesopotamia

Egypt

Hatti

Mesopotamia

Egypt

Hatti

LandBridge

DESERT

Israel

Hittites

Assyria

Egypt

Babylon

Assyria

Babylon

Egypt

Hittites

AramPhoenicia

Israel

• Central Mountain Range

• The Coastal Plain

• Jordan Rift Valley

• Central Mountain Range

• The Coastal Plain

• Jordan Rift Valley

• Central Mountain Range

• The Coastal Plain

• Jordan Rift Valley

• Central Mountain Range

• The Coastal Plain

• Jordan Rift Valley• Trans Jordan

• The Valley of Jezreel

• The Valley of Jezreel

• The Yarmuk River

Gilead

• The Valley of Jezreel

• The Yarmuk River• The Jabbok River

Gilead

• The Valley of Jezreel

• The Yarmuk River• The Jabbok River

Gilead• The Arnon River

Moab

• The King’s Highway

• The Way of the Sea (the Way of the Philistines)

Jericho

Megiddo

Climate of Canaan• Mediterranean Climate• Dependent upon winter rains

–Early Rains: October–Later Rains: April

What are the Overarching themes of the Pentateuch?

What is the Big Idea of the Old Testament?

What is the Big Idea of the New Testament?

Creation

Genesis 1 - 11

Fall Flood Tower of Babel

Historical Books

2000 - 1500Period of the

Patriarchs

1500 - 1000 1000 - 500Exodus

and Sinai

Judges Kings of Israel and Judah

Ret

urn

Poetic BooksTorah

Prophetic Books

Creation Covenant

God gives a land

But like Adam they have transgressed the covenant; There they have dealt treacherously against Me. (Hosea 6:7)

Creation Covenant

God gives a land

Noahic Covenant

Abrahamic Covenant

Renewal of the land

Promise of a land

Adamic Covenant

Salvation promise

Mosaic Covenant

Blessings & cursings in the land

Davidic Covenant

King over the land

New Covenant

King dies for His kingdom

Removalfrom the

Land

Return toto the Land

Indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the

Lord (Numbers 14:21).

• A People• A Land• A Nation• A King

• All People

• The World

• All Nations

• The King

• The Temple• The Vine• The Servant• The Seed

If I be lifted up from the

earth

I will draw all men to

myselfJohn 12:32