Test 1 Flashcards
-answer Study Guide One questions -definitions from his powerpoints
What does the term “Pentateuch” mean?
five-volume (book)
What is the Jewish name for the Pentateuch and what does it mean?
“Torah” = instruction
What are the two major divisions of the Pentateuch and how do they relate to each other?
-Gen. 1–11 (question/problem)
-Gen. 12–Deut. 34 (answer/solution)
[remember Gen. 12:3 – bless = bless and curse = curse]
In what respect is the Pentateuch “complex” ? probably not on test
- dual nature of historical narrative and legislation (‘twofold character’)
- lack of continuity and order in subject matter
- significant differences in vocabulary, syntax, style, and general composition
- variable use of divine names Yahweh (“Lord”) and Elohim (“God”)
- duplications and triplications of material
How does the Pentateuch’s complexity relate to the question of authorship? probably not on test
**-complexities reveal that the Pentateuch is a composite work with a long and involved history of transmission and growth (aka: probably mult. authors over many years)
-narratives were probably preserved orally, then likely written down in the Mosaic period; poetic and prose accounts of Exodus and wanderings likely added in early Davidic period; gathered from various compilations, docs of the Mosaic age maybe finally made into a single collection by Ezra in the period of restoration after the Exile (5th cent.)
What is the case for Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch? probably not on test
biblical sources and tradition agree that Moses wrote narrative, legislative, and poetic lit.
What is the “documentary theory” of the composition of the Pentateuch?
a hypothesis seeking to separate out the various ‘sources’ behind the present text of the Pentateuch
What are the 4 sources identified in the Documentary Theory?
- J
- E
- D
- P
In the Documentary Theory, what does “J” refer to?
- Jawist (or Yahwist, from Yahweh) - describes God as Yahweh, starting in Gen 2:4, it includes much of Genesis and parts of Exodus and Numbers; dated between 950 and 850 B.C.
- emphasizes God’s nearness and the continuity of God’s purpose
In the Documentary Theory, what does “E” refer to?
- Elohist (from Elohim) - primarily describes God as El or Elohim; starts Gen 20 (previously thought 15), covers material similar to “J”; dated around 750 B.C. and set in northern Israel; J and E = supposedly difficult to distinguish
- stresses God’s transcendence
In the Documentary Theory, what does “D” refer to?
- Deuteronomy - a different source (or author) is associated with Deuteronomy alone; usually dated around 621 B.C.
- considered preaching on the law
In the Documentary Theory, what does “P” refer to?
- Priestly - this encompasses writings scattered from Gen 1 through the notice of Moses’ death at the end of Deuteronomy; supposedly dated around 500 B.C.
- historical narrative expanded with legal texts and other material
- concerned with origin and regulation of institutions in Israel
- emphasizes God’s holiness, sovereignty, and transcendence along with the establishment of the true worship of Yahweh led by the priests
What does the name “Genesis” mean?
- greek = “source, origin”
- hebrew = “in the beginning”
What is the basic structure of Genesis?
- divides into 10 sections
- “toledoth formula” – signal of the survival and continuity of God’s plan for creation despite the ravages of human sin
Describe the literary nature of Genesis 1.
(short answer = Strongly characterized by schematic character and careful logical arrangement) probably not on test
consists of a highly structured series of succinct, almost formulaic, sentences; creative commands consisting of the following components:
- an introductory word of announcement, “God said…”
- a creative word of command, “let there be”
- a summary word of accomplishment, “and it was so”
- a descriptive word of accomplishment, “God made…,” “the earth brought forth…”
- a descriptive word of naming or blessing, “God called…,” “God blessed…”
- an evaluative word of approval, “God saw that it was good”
- a concluding word of temporal framework, “It was evening and it was morning, day…”
What are the four major theological themes of Genesis 1-11?
- God is Creator
- the entrance of sin into the created order radically alters the original creation
- God’s judgment meets human sin at each point
- God sustains both the creation and humans by his preserving grace
What does the major theological theme of Genesis 1-11, “God is Creator” entail?
- all of Creation came forth at the free and sovereign command of God
- combats the view of nature’s forces as divine beings
- all creation is dependent on God and will give answer before God
- Creation, including humanity, was good
What does the major theological theme of Genesis 1-11, “the entrance of sin into the created order radically alters the original creation” entail?
- willful disobedience
- blame on humankind
- loss of innocence
- loss of open fellowship with God
- manifestation of sin keeps growing and effects every part of life/Creation
What does the major theological theme of Genesis 1-11, “God’s judgment meets human sin at each point” entail?
- in beginning, judgment for each is the new state in which one must live in a world now characterized by sin and alienation
- woman and man are penalized, not cursed
- confronts the sin of corporate humanity (tower of Babel)
What does the major theological theme of Genesis 1-11, “God sustains both the creation and humans by his preserving grace” entail?
- death, though certain, is at an unspecified time
- gives clothes/ways to cope with guilt and shame
- sets mark of protection over guilty (Cain)
- promise of continual natural order (Gen. 8:22 - “As long as earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”)
- election and blessing of Abraham
What is theologically significant about the Hebrew term, bara’ (translated, “to create”)?
- has God as only subject in the OT, and no mention is made of the material out of which an object is created
- -only God creates, as only God saves
What does the Bible mean when it says that humanity was created in the “image of God” ?
- uniform OT abhorrence of representation of God in any form
- phrase raises humans above the rest of creation by placing them alongside God
- “according to a similar but not identical representation”
- humans became God’s representatives on earth
Who were the ‘creators of Mesopotamian civilization’ ?
a-Hyksos
b-Sumerians
c-Hammurabi
b-Sumerians
Which ancient civilization’s life was’ organized around the temple,’ and had closely integrated religious and political authority?
a-Sumerians
b-Hammurabi
c-Hyksos
a-Sumerians
In what ancient civilization did trade, commerce, and economic life flourish?
a-Sumerians
b-Hyksos
c-Hammurabi
a-Sumerians
Politically, which ancient civilization consisted of independent city-states?
a-Hammurabi
b-Hyksos
c-Sumerians
c-Sumerians
The Babylonian King “‘in a series of brilliant campaigns…defeated his rivals,” and ruled a “modest empire” from Nineveh to the Persian Gulf was who?
a-Sumer
b-Hammurabi
c-Hykso
b-Hammurabi
The ancient king who use/developed a law code that had “striking parallels with the laws of the Pentateuch” was who?
a-Hykso
b-Sumer
c-Hammurabi
c-Hammurabi
The Egyptian name which means “foreign chiefs” and refers to a group whose “exact identity is still much debated” is?
a-Hyksos
b-Hammurabi
c-Sumerians
a-Hyksos
What 1st evidence is cited to support the historicity of the patriarchal narratives?
1: literary study
- primary message is theological
- came through complex process of oral and written tradition
- stand closest in literary type to historically based narratives
What 2nd evidence is cited to support the historicity of the patriarchal narratives?
2: authentically reflected conditions of the early 2nd millennium
- popularity and distribution of names
- Abraham’s journey to Canaan makes sense w/the time
What 3rd evidence is cited to support the historicity of the patriarchal narratives?
3: nomadic lifestyle
- fits 2nd millennium Ancient Near East (ANE) culture
What 4th evidence is cited to support the historicity of the patriarchal narratives?
4: social and legal customs
- valid parallels between patriarchal customs and the ANE
- shows accurate reflection of social and historical setting in which Bible places them
What 5th evidence is cited to support the historicity of the patriarchal narratives?
5: general picture of patriarchal religion
- God = personal God of patriarchal father and his clan (vs of places and sanctuaries as among Canaanites)
- God grants unilateral covenant and divine protection
- patriarchal religion not a flashback into past of later Israelite belief
How did the religion of the patriarchs differ from their Canaanite neighbors?
patriarchs had a personal, promising relationship w/the One God VS canaanites w/many gods who were associated w/places
List and briefly discuss the 3 major theological themes of the patriarchal narratives.
- Election and promises of God
- fulfillment despite conflict w/real life journey/circumstances
- reaffirmed through generations
- evil human plots can be turned to good from Gods - Faith and Righteousness
- faith must be/is total and complete- -God gives the example of complete faith/provisions
- Covenant
- central theme in all of Scripture
- “the covenant of promise depends only on the unchangeable character of the One who makes it”
On what two points did Jesus’ view of the the authority of the OT differ from that of his Jewish contemporaries?
- Jesus saw the over exaggeration of the legal system and sought to emphasize love, forgiveness, and inward piety instead of justification by works.
- Jesus insisted that he was the fulfillment of the OT
In what respect is the OT “the indispensable foundation on which the NT is built”?
It is the account of ways God has worked, and a summary of what He has demanded; it is the record of preparation for Christ’s viewpoint of the OT’s dynamic (NOT static)
Distinguish between revelation and inspiration
Revelation- Divine disclosure of truth in scripture
Inspiration- Initial human reception of truth prompted by the Holy Spirit
What were the three human channels of divine revelation in ancient Israel?
- Priests who gave instruction on religious and ethical matters
- The wise who offered advice concerning life’s problems to kings and commoners
- The Prophets who delivered messages that expressed God’s purposes for the people
What do the authors mean when they say that “a biblical doctrine of inspiration is concerned with the product rather than the process”?
It does not deal with theories of psychology or to how inspiration was acieved; what matters is that it WAS achieved
What does the word “canon” mean?
from a Greek word - “measuring stick” — “the standard or official list of books that make up the Bible, as a rule of faith and practice for God’s people”
What are the three parts of the Hebrew Bible?
Law, Prophets, Writings
How and why did the Christian church change the order fo the Hebrew canon?
- Placed the books in order of prophetic oracles from Isiah onwards at the end of the OT
- To pave the way for the added NT as the record of fulfillment of the OT
In what languages was the OT written?
Aramaic, Hebrew
Parchment
carefully prepared leather
Autographa
what the original writings are sometimes called
What is textual criticism?
the task of spotting errors and restoring the Hebrew and Aramaic texts to the original form as close to the original as possible
Septuagint
the Greek OT (from 72 collaborators; means 70)
In what sense is Palestine a ‘land bridge’ ?
connects Europe, Asia, and Africa (aka connects Central Plain to Jordan River)
What is the origin of the name of the land of Palestine?
from the tribe “Pelishtim” (Philistines)
Identify Galilee
(pg 625) top left
Identify the plain of Jezreel
(pg 624/625) separates N (Galilee) and S (Samaria etc.)
Identify Samaria
(pg 625) just below Galilee, separated by plain of Jezreel, central left
Identify Judah
(pg 625) aka Judea, just below Samaria, next to the Dead Sea, 3rd bottom left
Identify the Negeb
(pg 625) bottom left, below Judah and Dead Sea
Identify Sinai
(pg 625/626) peninsula, never considered part of Palestine, south-west of Negeb and Judea etc.
What are the 3 kinds of religious people with the Christian canon?
- Roman Catholic (1/2)
- Eastern Orthodox (1/4)
- Protestant (1/4)
What do WE call the 12 additional books of the Roman Catholic canon?
Apocrypha
What do THEY call their 12 additional books of the Roman Catholic canon?
Deuterocanonical
What were the 2 rivers of Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent?
Tigris and Euphrates
What were the 4 major areas of Palestine/Canaan/Land of the Israelites?
- Coastal Plain
- best agriculture, good rainfall
- not always Israelite territory, often held by Philistines - Central Mountains
- ‘home turf’ for Israelites, N and S (Galilee –> Negeb) - Jordan Rift Valley
- intersection of 2 tectonic plates (1 N, 1 S)
- lowest point of earth not covered by sea - Transjordan Plateau
- rises up to mirror Central Mountains
- sometimes Israelites were more present than others
What were some cultural achievements of the ANE?
- Writing
- -Akkadian Cueneiform = had ‘syllabury’
- -Egyptian Hieroglyphics = mix of syllables and letters
- -Hebrew Alphabet = “The Breakthrough” example
- Mathematics
- Domestication of Animals
- Irrigation Systems
- Metallurgy
- Medicine
- Cities
What are the 3 types of outlines for Genesis?
- by major human characters
- by major focuses (universal history then Israel)
- by major problems (the fall then the solution = all else)
What is the ‘emphasis’ of God’s Divine Names in early Genesis?
- powerful Elohim creates the universe
- personal Yawheh creates humans
What is the Enuma Elish widely known as?
“Babylonian Genesis”
What does it mean that the Enuma Elish is a ‘theogony’ ?
origin/creation account of the godS
What are some comparisons of the Enuma Elish and Gen?
- God or god?
- Biblical God = free & unlimited, EE gods = fear, magic, death, fate
- Prof. Dickens’ analogy - pagan gods = superheroes
- EE humans = an afterthought, evil, slaves
- Gen. humans = climax of creation, image of God, dominion over Creation, ‘very good’
What kind of God did Abram believe God was?
powerful, trustworthy, loving, wise
What are some characteristics of the Covenant?
irrevocable, *sacrificial (all Covenants are), gracious, communal, pre-legal
What is the importance of Genesis 3?
- reason for the rest of the Bible
- w/o fall, no need for flood, Covenant, sacrifices, incarnation of Christ
What is theonomy? autonomy?
- God’s rule
- self rule
What are the 4 movements of the Fall Narrative?
- the problem
- 3rd party, subtle, crafty, a creature (no dualism), introduces Doubt, questions God - the temptation
- false view of sin, of God, and of self - the choice
- Eve is convinced y 3rd party, makes her choice, chooses autonomy and rejects theonomy - the consequences
- sin is contagious, shame, guilt, self-justification, 3-part curse
What is the 3-part curse of the fall?
- on the serpent
- on the woman
- on the man
Prescriptive
God’s desire for all time
Descriptive
what will happen in a fallen world
Protoevangellium
“enmity…between your offspring and hers…he will strike your head, and you…his heel.”
- 1st Good News in Bible
- prophecy of the Incarnation
- in midst of judgment, God acts redemptively
The punishment for sin is ____?
death
How is the flood a midway solution?
Adam –> Noah = 10 generations
Noah –> Abraham = 10
What are 2 contrasts between Gilgamesh epic & Gen. flood story?
- motive
- Gilg. = no motive, gods act capriciously
- Gen. = clear motive, human sin and wickedness - Selection of hero
- Gilg. = no reason to select Utnapishti
- Noah = favor in Lord’s sight, righteous, blameless, walked w/God
How are morality and paganism related, & vs Bible?
- pagan gods like humans (lie, cheat, steal, commit adultery)
- no divinely-est. morality in paganism
- God = Holy, expects people to live holy lives
What is ‘possibly the single most important concept in the Bible’ ?
OT = Old Covenant NT = New Covenant
God’s covenant w/Abram was a lot of what?
back and forth
- God’s promise
- Abe’s objection
What peoples did Ishmael end up being the father of?
the Arabs
Aqedah
binding of Isaac
Preternatural Faith (which Abraham had)
“exceeding what is natural or regular in nature; inexplicable by ordinary means’
=faith above and beyond normal
