Chapter 3: Torah (Book of Moses)

Question 1

The first five books of the Old Testament are collectively known as the: (Psalms, Pentateuch, Epistles)

Answer 1

Pentateuch

Question 2

What does the term “Torah” more accurately translate to? (Law, Instruction, Story)

Answer 2

Instruction

Question 3

Which theory suggests that the Pentateuch is composed of multiple sources written by different authors? (Mosaic Hypothesis, Documentary Hypothesis, Historical Hypothesis)

Answer 3

Documentary Hypothesis

Question 4

According to the Documentary Hypothesis, which source is associated with the priestly tradition? (J , E, P)

Answer 4

P

Question 5

Genesis 1:1-2 suggests that God’s creation was an imposition of order on: (Chaos, Darkness, Nothingness)

Answer 5

Chaos

Question 6

In Genesis 1:27, being created in God’s image most likely refers to: (Physical likeness, Spiritual divinity, Human sovereignty over creation)

Answer 6

Human sovereignty over creation

Question 7

What is the primary responsibility of humans toward the Earth, according to Genesis 2:15? (To conquer it, To tend and keep it, To exploit its resources)

Answer 7

To tend and keep it

Question 8

What does the phrase “male and female” in Genesis 1:27 signify? (Gender hierarchy, Equality in creation, Patriarchal dominance)

Answer 8

Equality in creation

Question 9

True or False
The term “Torah” is best translated as “law” in Christian usage.

Answer 9

False

Question 10

True or False
The Pentateuch consists of the first five books of the New Testament.

Answer 10

False

Question 11

True or False
The Documentary Hypothesis supports the idea that Moses authored the entire Pentateuch.

Answer 11

False

Question 12

True or False
The creation of humans in Genesis 1:27 emphasizes the superiority of males over females.

Answer 12

False

Question 13

True or False
Genesis 1:1-2 suggests that God created the world from nothing.

Answer 13

False

Question 14

True or False
Humans are given authority to misuse the earth in Genesis 2:15.

Answer 14

False

Question 15

True or False
The phrase “God’s image” in Genesis 1:27 refers to human sovereignty over creation.

Answer 15

True

Question 16

The first five books of the Old Testament are known as the ______ or the Pentateuch.

Answer 16

Torah

Question 17

The creation story in Genesis 1:1-2 portrays God bringing ______ out of chaos.

Answer 17

Order

Question 18

According to the Documentary Hypothesis, the Pentateuch is made up of four sources: J (Jahwist), E (Elohist), D (Deuteronomist), and ______.

Answer 18

P (Priestly)

Question 19

Genesis 1:26-28 affirms that humans, both male and female, were created to govern ______.

Answer 19

Creation

Question 20

The verse “Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it” emphasizes human _________ for the earth.

Answer 20

Responsibility

Question 21

In 2 Peter 3:8, it is stated that with the Lord, one day is as a ______ years, and a thousand years as one day.

Answer 21

Thousand

Question 22

The term “Torah” more accurately translates to ______ or teaching rather than “law.”

Answer 22

Instruction

Question 23

The creation of man in “God’s image” signifies human ______ over creation, not the right to exploit it.

Answer 23

Sovreignity

Question 24

Who is traditionally attributed as the author of the Pentateuch?

Answer 24

Moses

Question 25

Which hypothesis explains the multiple authorship of the Pentateuch?

Answer 25

Documentary Hypothesis

Question 26

What does “Torah” more accurately mean in translation?

Answer 26

Instruction

Question 27

In whose image were humans created, according to Genesis 1:27?

Answer 27

God’s

Question 28

According to 2 Peter 3:8, how long is one day to the Lord?

Answer 28

Thousand Years

Question 29

What was the man tasked with doing in the Garden of Eden according to Genesis 2:15?

Answer 29

Tend and keep it

Question 30

Write the Bible Reference
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Answer 30

Genesis 1:1

Question 31

Write the Bible Reference
Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

Answer 31

Genesis 2:15

Question 32

Write the Bible Reference
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Answer 32

2 Peter 3:8

Question 33

Answer in one or two sentences:
What does the Documentary Hypothesis suggest about the authorship of the Pentateuch?

Answer 33

The Pentateuch is a composite work that combines multiple source documents written by different authors rather than being completely authored by Moses. The four main sources are J (Jahwist), E (Elohist), D (Deuteronomist), and P (Priestly).

Question 34

Answer in one or two sentences:
What is the significance of being created in “God’s image” according to Genesis 1:27?

Answer 34

Being created in God’s image signifies that humans are granted sovereignty over creation, but with the responsibility to care for and protect it.

Question 35

Answer in one or two sentences:
What does 2 Peter 3:8 say about the biblical interpretation of time during creation?

Answer 35

With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Question 36

Answer in a paragraph:
God’s creation of human is a critical part of the characterisation of creation - Explain?

Answer 36

God’s creation of humans is also a critical part of the characterisation of creation. We must especially understand that there is gendered bias or hierarchy in creation; rather, the assertion of equality is at the very root of the Bible, whereby the “male and female” were created together to govern creation (Genesis 1:26-28). This, hence, subverts any long-standing and deeply entrenched patriarchal assumptions that can be traced back to Old Testament societies that failed to recognise God-given equality.

Question 37

Answer in a paragraph:
Describe the concept of creation as presented in Genesis 1:1-2 and its ecological implications.

Answer 37

Genesis 1:1-2 presents creation as an act of God bringing order out of chaos, positioning God as the enabler of creation rather than creating from nothing. This perspective suggests that creation is an ongoing process sustained by God’s will. The ecological implication of this understanding is that humans, created in God’s image, are entrusted with the responsibility to care for the Earth. Rather than having dominion that allows for exploitation, humans are called to be stewards of creation, ensuring its fruitfulness and sustainability for the benefit of all life. This responsibility is emphasized in Genesis 2:15, where humans are tasked with tending and keeping the garden, symbolizing the Earth.

Question 38

Write an essay:
Analyse the differences between the traditional and modern scholarly views on the authorship of the Torah with an explanation on the Documentary Hypothesis?

Answer 38

The authorship of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy - is a topic that has been debated by scholars for many centuries. The traditional belief, particularly within religious circles, is that Moses wrote the entire Pentateuch. However, modern biblical studies use various critical methodologies to analyse the text, which leads to different perspectives on how it was composed.
The Documentary Hypothesis is a widely accepted theory regarding the authorship of the Pentateuch. According to this theory, the Pentateuch is a composite work that combines multiple source documents written by different authors rather than being completely authored by Moses, as traditionally believed. Scholars have identified four main sources, referred to as J (Jahwist), E (Elohist), D (Deuteronomist), and P (Priestly), that were combined to create the Pentateuch.