C2 - beliefs & sacred writing Flashcards
importance of Bible
-comes from Greek term “Bibilicon” & means “book”
-collections of 66 or 73 books btw C. 1000 BCE & 100 CE recognized by Christians
-books were written for diff audiences & purposes but all were guided by the Holy Spirit so they’re still important
define Bible
-a collection of books from OT & NT & comes from a Greek term meaning “book”
define NT
-27 books about the story of incarnation of God written in Greek
describe what is in the OT
-Laws: first 5 book give rules to live by
eg. Books in the Torah
-History: gives history of Jews in OT
eg. Book of Kings
-Wisdom: teachings on God & how to use our God- given talents
eg. Psalms, Songs of Songs
-Prophecy: lives of Prophet who challenged people to stay faithful to God
eg. Isaiah, Micah
define OT
-39 or 46 books written mostly in Hebrew about God & Israel before the time of Jesus
describe what is in the NT
-Gospels: life of Jesus
eg. Mathew, Mark, Luke, John
-Acts of apostles: start of early Church till 60 AD
-Letters: written to early Church communities by people & explains how to live as a Christian
eg. First letter to the Corinthians, Paul’s letter
-Revelation: Books written by John which some believe describes the end of the world
criterias for books to be in the Bible
-Authority has to be one of the Disciples (eye- witnesses/ teachings)
-Accepted by all Churches
-Match other presentations of Christian belief
-Written early on, before the end of 1 century
How does the Word of God work
-stirring in the human heart which is the Holy Spirit
-“Ru’ ach” in Hebrew means breath.
-God gave Adam spirit in Genesis 2. The Spirit is always with humans & guides people. It’s called inspiration
-God speaks to people all the time & the bible records the some of the convo. people had with God
Matching:
-Prophets & the Word of God
-Gospel & the Word of God
-Epistles & the Word of God
-Inspired by God’s word: pass on God’s message
-teachings & actions of Jesus: Word made flesh means Word’s of God
-Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit & wrote letters to help Christians apply Jesus’ teachings to their lives
What all Christians believe & don’t believe
Believe:
-refer to Scripture as “Word of God”
-accept that the words were recorded by diff. people across thousands of years
-God inspires these words
Don’t believe:
-their interpretation of inspiration differ
Liberal interpretation of Genesis
-Both accounts are are myths, not to be taken literally
-people reflect on God as the creator & it’s meaning for humans
-Focus on message of accounts: gives understanding on God & his creation
-key messages:
-God made everything
-Everything made by God is good
-Humans are the highest point of God’s creation
Fundamentalist interpretation of Genesis
-Bible is accurate in all aspects because it’s the Word of God
-God informed humanity about his truth
-God will not mislead humans by giving wrong info because he loves humans
-Humans cannot prefer their own interpretation to the Words of God
-Some believe in the order of the creation but a day might have been >24h
Scientific influence on liberal views interpretation of Genesis
-Look for meaning in scripture; not literally
-Big bang & evolution links to Biblical understanding
-Focus on OT as a myth aside form Jesus’s life in NT
-Since & religion can be compatible
-“The Big Bang does not contradict the divine act of creating but rather requires it” & “The creator gives Being to all things” - Pope Francis (2014)
literalist interpretation of Genesis
-Everything from the Bible can be taken word of word: literal
-God won’t mislead humans
-World is only a few thousand years old
-Think the world is younger than scientist claim
-Called Young earth creationist
difference in inspiration
-Liberalist: inspiration = message of scripture from God but words written are influenced by authors; time, culture & context shape what is written
-Fundamentalist & Literalist: inspiration = God giving the word directly to the author
history in OT literature
-Set of stories about the Israelites conquest from the Promised land to Zion in 539 BC
-2 types of texts: Former prophets, Writings
-Written to show God’s work in history so viewed differently than other history: more theology than history
-Order:
-Joshua - Israelites in Canaan
-Judges & Ruth - apostacy during Judges
-1 & 2 Samuel & 1 Chronicles - start of Davidic Monarchy
-1 & 2 Kings & 2 Chronicles - Destruction fo Jerusalem, Babylonian captivity
-Ezra- Nehemiah - Jews who returned form exile
-Esther - Jews who lived in Persia
myths in OT literature
-Ways to convey truths & lessons through symbolic narratives
-Written to instruct people about nature of God than be an account of history
-Teach lessons about God’s relationship with people, consequence of disobedience & value of faith
-Some people regard these as historical
-Order:
-Genesis:
-chap1 - 11: story of God & the world
-chap 12 - 50: story of God, Abraham & his fam.
-Genesis 1: God created a good world from nothing & gave it to humans to rule but
they give to evil and ruin it
-Genesis 2: God’s love for humanity as it created it specifically for Adam
-Noah’s Ark: Noah was chosen by God to save himself, his fam & all animal species
Psalms in OT literature
-Collection of 150 poems in 5 book in order of the biblical story
-Prayer book for exiles after Babylonial captivity - reconnect with Go’s after temple was destroyed
-Written by Israelite sages, kings & prophets
-2 types of poem:
-lament: how bad the world is
-praise: how good the world is
-Order:
-Psalms 1: mediate on Torah
-Psalms 2: God’s promise to King David that one of his descanted would be king
-Books 1& 2: king David & his fam.
-Book 3: Israel’s exile
-Book 4: brokenness of world
-Book 5: Exodus story & Songs of Ascent
-5 poem : praise God for being faithful
Songs in OT literature
-Collection of poetic songs & prayers praising God
-Hymns
-3 songbooks: Psalm, Songs of Solomon (Songs), lamentations
-Literature if complex layered poetry
-Songs of Songs: love poem about God’s love
-Book of Psalms: 10 poetic songs & prayer to help with worship
-Bible has almost 200 songs
Prophecy in OT literature
-2 sections:
-Major: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel
-Minor: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah,
Haggi Zechariah, Malachi
-Prophets are intermediaries btw God & people
-Written to foretell events & show God had a plan all along
-Isaiah: themes of judgment, redemption & coming of Messiah
-Jeremiah: repentance for Israel’s disobedience
-Micah: themes on social injustice, repentance & salvation through the Messiah
-Amos: themes on social justice, genuine worship & caring for oppressed
Gospel in NT literature
-Mathew, Mark, Luke & John show Jesus’ life in similar ways
-Mark is earliest, John is latest
-All shows that Jesus = Son of God, Messiah & his death brings salvation
-Some differences btw them because they were written for diff. audiences
Book of Acts in NT literature
-Written by same author as Luke’s Gospel
-Story of early church in Jerusalem & how it spread to the gentile world - including Jesus’ ascension, Pentecost & early church
-Show how Christian practices started
-Ends with Paul preaching Gospel in Rome
Epistles in NT literature
-Some written to specific communities/ people; others are general
-Letters are prized by people who received them
-Written to guide Christian faith, correct beliefs, God’s love, Jesus’ death & resurrection
Revelation in NT literature
-Comes from Greek word “apokalypsis” & means revelations
-Last & only apocalyptic text in NT
-Written by same authors as John’s Gospel
-Prophetic text focus on John’s visions & he sends them to 7 churches of Aisa minor
-Most difficult book in NT to interpret: lots of symbolism & imagery
-About what has yet come