chapter one

Question 1

why study the bible adacemically?

Answer 1

1. A window into the ancient world,
2. the influence of bible on western civilization
3. bible continues to be seen as authorative
4. academic studying is not at odds with devotional readings of the bible

Question 2

how did we get the bible?

Answer 2

scripture - writtings that function authoratively for the faith of a group

canon - list of authorative texts that function as scripture for a particular faith,

Question 3

Hebrew Bible and OT

Answer 3

hebrew canon of scripture refered to as Tanakh - 3 parts
1. The law - torah
2. Prophets - laterprophets
3. Writtings (ketuvim)

Question 4

Sepatuagint

Answer 4

Greek trans of the hebrew bible

Includes jewish texts not in the hebrew or protestant bibles

Question 5

Pentateuch

Answer 5

The greek name for the first five books of the OT

Question 6

Apocrypha

Answer 6

Adittional jewish texts excluded in hebrew and protestant bibles

Question 7

New Testament canon

Answer 7

Most originated in the 1st century ce
finalized by 4-5th century

First is paul letters,
matthew, mark and luke

Four gospel collection - matthew, mark, luke, john

Catholic universal letters - james, peter, john, juda

Question 8

How should we read the bible?

Answer 8

Questions of origin - world behind the text

Of literature - laws, prophets, gospels

Of reception - who we are and how we live affects our understanding

Question 9

The geographical map of 1500-1800

Answer 9

Mesopotamia - enuma elish, epic of gilgamesh, land of babylonians and assyrians

Syria - OT stories took place

Egypt - Israelites captivity, baby jesus and family

Palestine - central hill country and jordan rift

Question 10

Old Testament Is not about:

Answer 10

1. Random groups of ancients trying to find meaning,
2. Not sources for scientific answers,
3. Not to teach theology,

Question 11

How to study the Old Testement?

Answer 11

Two aspects of narratives such as story grammar and discourse,

Analysis of discourse leads to interpretation

Question 12

The creation story

Answer 12

Gen 1-2 frame the creation

unformed tohu - days 1-2
unfilled bohu - 4-6

The 7th day God rested - Sabbath day

Question 13

Christianity

Answer 13

Began as a jewish movement and the bible is like the hebrew versian

Jewish and christian canons are collections of collections

Question 14

textual criticism

Answer 14

reconstructing the earliest form of the text by analyzing and comparing many manuscripts.

Question 15

variant readings

Answer 15

diffrences in manuscripts,