OVERVIEW of the BIBLE STORY

CREATION GOD CALLS ABRAHAM & PROMISES LAND, KINGDOM, BLESSING OVERVIEW of the BIBLE STORY JACOB (ISRAEL) HAS 12 SONS & 10 COMMANDMENTS ISRAELITES ARE SLAVES IN EGYPT THE JUDGES: Othniel Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, Samson JOSHUA LEADS INTO AND BEGINS TO CONQUER THE HOLY LAND THE JUDGES NORTH (ISRAEL) Jeroboam, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Tibni, Omri, Ahab, Agaziah, Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea. NORTH FALLS TO ASSYRIA NORTH (ISRAEL) Elijah, Elisha, Obadiah*, Jonah*, Amos, Hosea, Nahum* THE EXILE Daniel & Ezekiel PERSIA ALLOWS RETURN OF EXILES CROSS & RESURRECTION TAKEN BY ROME PAUL UN- KNOWN 2000 B.C. 1000 B.C. JESUS ADAM & EVE THE FALL MOSES LEADS BACK TOWARD PROMISED LAND PASSOVER & EXODUS DESERT WANDERINGS THE UNITED KINGDOM: SAUL DAVID SOLOMON THE DIVIDED KINGDOM SOUTH (JUDAH) Rehoboam, Abijam (or Abijah), Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Johoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. SOUTH- FALLS TO BABYLON TAKEN BY GREECE SOUTH (JUDAH) Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk*, Baruch, Haggai, Zechariah*, Malachi BIRTH OF CHURCH 2017 Todd D. Gale todd@stjohnjackson.org walkinthewayblog.blogspot.com

73 BOOKS OF THE CATHOLIC BIBLE PENTATEUCH Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy HISTORICAL BOOKS Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Tobit*, Judith*, Esther, 1 and 2 Maccabees* WISDOM BOOKS Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs, Wisdom*, Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus)* PROPHETIC BOOKS Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch*, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah and Malachi THE GOSPELS Matthew, Mark, Luke and John ACTS of the APOSTLES LETTERS & EPISTLES Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews CATHOLIC LETTERS James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, and Jude REVELATION * The Catholic SEVEN not found in most Protestant Bibles

S of the BIBLE STORY = Exchange between people and lives CONTRACT = Exchange of goods and services Covenants are eternal (on God s part) Sealed oath and sometimes blood Build on previous Covenants Built on God s Name CREATION ADAM (Mt.) Eden Marriage Couple MOSES Mt. Sinai Nation Resources: GENESIS TO JESUS, St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology; BIBLE BASICS FOR CATHOLICS, John Bergsma, Ave Maria Press; A FATHER WHO KEEPS HIS PROMISES, Dr. Scott Hahn, Servant Books; CROSSWAYS, Dr. Harry Wendt, Crossways International; NIV STUDY BIBLE; The CATHOLIC STUDY BIBLE; the ESV STUDY BIBLE UN- KNOWN 2000 B.C. 1000 B.C. JESUS NOAH Mt. Ararat Family ABRAHAM Mt. Moriah Tribe DAVID Mt. Zion Kingdom + Temple NEW Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel) New Mt. Zion / World EUCHARISTIC Jesus Repeats, Renews. Fulfils ALL OVERVIEW The Canon is the collection of books that are inspired by God. Canon comes from a word that means measuring rod, or measuring stick. The Catholic Bible has 73 total books: 46 Old Testament Books and 27 New Testament. The Protestant Bible has 66, 39 Old Testament Books and the same New Testament. The Holy Spirit is the PRINCIPAL AUTHOR and the human writers are the INSTRUMENTAL AUTHORS. The Scriptures are not themselves DIVINE, but they are divinely INSPIRED. They are God-breathed. (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible is INERRANT out lies or mistakes, because God does not lie or make mistakes! That doesn t mean it s an encyclopedia or a text book on quantum physics but it is out error in the way it reveals God and God s Truths to us. We have to always remember (especially in the Old Testament) the human authors interpretation of the Truth. THE WORD is the Sacred Scripture; we also say the WORD is Jesus.

ADAM & EVE ABRAHAM & SARAH JACOB (ISRAEL) HAS 12 SONS ISAAC Old Testament Key Characters THE JUDGES: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, Samson MOSES & AARON THE JUDGES NORTH (ISRAEL) Jeroboam, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Tibni, Omri, Ahab, Agaziah, Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea. ISRAEL NORTH (ISRAEL) Elijah, Elisha, Obadiah*, Jonah*, Amos, Hosea, Nahum* THE EXILE Daniel & Ezekiel EZRA & NEHEMIAH UNKNOWN DATE 2000 B.C. 1000 B.C. JESUS NOAH JOSHUA RUTH SAMUEL SAUL The Old Testament Christians call the first part of their canon the Old Testament, as compared to what Jesus reveals in the New. It is made up of the DAVID Jewish Sacred Scripture, which is usually called the Tanakh. Most of the original writings were composed in Hebrew, some passages SOLOMON JUDAH SOUTH (JUDAH) Rehoboam, Abijam (or Abijah), Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Johoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. MACABEES SOUTH (JUDAH) Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Baruch, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi in Aramaic and a few books in Greek. Tanakh is an acronym of the first Hebrew letter of each subdivisions: Torah (the Teaching, also known as the Five Books of Moses), Nevi'im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings) hence TaNaKh. There are two main versions of the Tanakh: a traditional Hebrew or Masoretic Text either 24 or 39 books (some books or scrolls are separated in some manuscripts) and the Greek translation called the Septuagint 46 books. Catholics use the 46 book Septuagint as their Old Testament, many Protestants and other Christians use the Masoretic Text. Traditionally, the Jewish division of the books would be ( some books only in the Greek Septuagint marked *): TORAH : Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy NEVI IM: Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah, Malachi, Baruch* KETUVIM: Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Tobit*, Judith*, 1 Maccabees*, 2 Maccabees*, Wisdom*, Sirach* Todd D. Gale todd@stjohnjackson.org walkinthewayblog.blogspot.com

OVERVIEW Bible Basics This Is The Word Of God In The Words Of Men. The Sacred Scriptures were written for all peoples of all cultures of all times. It is not written in English. It is not written from a Western American 21st Century point -of-view; yet it IS for us also. Remember, like Jesus, it is both human and divine. The human author certainly must be considered as we try to observe and understand the Scriptures. We have to always remember (especially in the Old Testament) the human authors interpretation of the Truth. We need to see the author s limitations and bias and cultural influences but in all that, don t forget there is also a Divine Author. The Genre Generates Our Approach. Some of the books of the Bible are poetry, some prose, others are personal letters, some are lists and histories, some are fanciful tales. The Bible has adventure, drama, humor, parables, songs and long lists of obituaries. It helps to know the genre to know how to approach what we are reading. Revealed By God Not Invented By Us. The Bible is God s search for humanity He comes to us and tells us Who He is and what He expects for us to enter into His life. The Scripture is revealed Truth. It was received by us from God. It s HIS story, HE tells it to us. God gave us His Word, we did not invent it. History And Relationship. Judaism and Christianity are rooted in historical events, real people who encountered a relationship the Living God. As we walk through, never forget that these are not fairy tales. The Bible paints very real characters flaws and stumbles. The Upward Spiral Of Morality And Slow Revelation. Scripture is a slow unveiling of Truth and the moral law of Christ. It starts baby-steps and is primitive and then slowly unveils the deeper truth. The Old Testament starts in a very brutal pagan society that slowly spirals upward through God's revelation until it reaches its summit Jesus. Many of our Bible stories take place on those lower levels of the spiral: the people do not yet know Christ, true divine peace, God's forgiveness, Christ's self sacrifice, or the grace of the Holy Spirit. Uno Unfolding. As this story slowly unfolds we clearly see ONE story, one God, one plan for salvation. Even though there are 73 books in this library, there is one unfolding story. Solidarity. This is a very Jewish understanding of the world. We are radically connected to each other and to the world. When we sin, it affects our children and our whole culture and even generations to come. When we sin, it affects the earth. We are radically connected as by one man, the human race fell, also by one man, the human race is saved. Wrestle With The Word. Remember the scene in Genesis where Jacob wrestles an Angel of the Lord and refuses to stop? We need to wrestle sometimes the living Word until we understand. We may not have 100% understanding, we may not be able to make something fit into our thoughts, but approach the mystery of the Word a willingness to wrestle it for a time. God, let us see it. We observe what is written. God, let us understand it. We analyze it. God, let us walk it. We apply it to our own Christian walk.

Major Biblical THEMES and Truths that ECHO MAJOR THEMES: THE LORD GOD SAVES. Yahweh Yasa. Yeshua. Joshua. Jesus. CREATION. God created everything and it was GOOD This is Original Holiness. And people are created in God s image. SIN. Sin is turning away from God. Our NATURE is now sinful, there is a power inside us that leads us to sin. This is Original Sin. We NEED a SAVIOR!. Covenant is the building of kingdom A covenant is a promise, more than a contract or an agreement. Covenant is the exchange of people and lives, it is family and RELATIONSHIP. It cannot be broken. PASSOVER. The Exodus is the great saving act: death will pass over those who believe and are marked. OBEDIENCE. EATING. The garden of Eden, hospitality, Passover Lamb, Manna, scrolls, bread & wine, Eucharist, fruit from the Tree of Life... PROVIDENCE. God is in control. It s HIS world. HIS plan. HIS story. UPSIDE DOWN TRUTHS. Life from death. First must be last. Suffering brings joy. Blessed are the poor. Humbled are exalted. Lose your life to find it. ECHOED TRUTHS: BARREN BIRTHS. Women who cannot conceive children have miraculous births. THE YOUNGER IS CHOSEN OVER THE OLDER. SHEPHERDS HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE. TURN AWAY = BAD. TURN BACK = GOOD. RETURN! WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE. Passing through water saves or destroys. GOD IS LOVE AND WANTS US IN RELATIONSHIP! GOD IS A TRINITY AND A UNITY EXILE. Exile was to purify and cleanse. HOPE. MESSIAH. Messiah was the hope. Messiah is the Anointed One, the Christ, the Savior. Throughout the Old Testament through types, foreshadows, hints, peeks, we have tremendous hope in what s to come.

Difference between Protestant and Catholic Bibles The canon of Scriptures refers to the official accepted books of the Jewish and Christian Bibles. The Canon is recognized as divinely inspired, revealed by God. For Protestant Christians and Catholics the Bible is essentially identical, other than seven Old Testament books and some other additions. The Catholic Bible has 73 total books: 46 Old Testament Books and 27 New Testament. The Protestant Bible has 66, 39 Old Testament Books and the same New Testament. These seven extra books found in the Catholic Bible are sometimes called Deuterocanonical (meaning other canon / second canon) or the Apocrypha (meaning hidden or secret). In some Protestant Bibles, the Apocrypha is put in an appendix; in others they are left out entirely. Protestants typically claim that Catholics added these books to the Bible at the Council of Trent in the 1500 s as a reaction to Martin Luther. Catholics would claim the Reformers took some of the books out of the Bible Canon that had been read by Jesus and Christians for hundreds of years. This involves a long and twisted history. When the Jews were scattered into exile by Babylon almost 600 years before Jesus, there was a vibrant Jewish community in what was Alexandria, Egypt. Between 200 and 300 years B.C., this remnant of Judaism had become Hellenistic (Greek) in culture yet they retained their Jewish heritage and practices as much as was possible. Legend says Egyptian King Ptolemy Philadelphus had great interest in the Jewish Scriptures and commissioned seventy (or some accounts say 72) Jewish scholars to make a Greek translation of the Hebrew Canon in seventy days. This Greek Bible, Christians would later call the Greek Old Testament, was named the Septuagint (meaning 70). This became the most commonly used version of the Jewish Bible as the Greek and later Roman Empire spread throughout the world. The Greek Septuagint had 46 Books; the same books found in Catholic Bibles even today. At the time of Jesus, the Jewish Canon of Scripture was not set in stone. The Saducees had a canon of only the Pentateuch (the Five Books of Moses) and they honored the Psalms. The Pharisees tended to stick to the books that were originally written only in the Hebrew language in the Holy Land, before the time of Ezra; typically 24 books. Protestants use this listing today; but Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, and Ezra/Nehemiah were each divided into two parts, and the one Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets was split into twelve separate books; making 39. From a collection found in the 1940 s titled the Dead Sea Scrolls, it appears a group of Jews called the Essenes used 23 of the 24 Hebrew books (no copy of Esther) along some of the Greek books (Tobit and Sirach) and additional mystical books (The Letter of Jeremiah, Book of Enoch, Jubilees and maybe others). Jews in most other regions of the world used the Septuagint as their canon. It appears, because of Greek and Roman influence, the official canon used in the Temple was from the Septuagint, the 46 Greek books; although the language spoken of

prayer and Scripture was mostly Hebrew, the instructions (teachings) in Aramaic or Hebrew. It s interesting to note that often when Jesus and the New Testament authors quote from the Old Testament, they quote lines NOT FOUND in the Hebrew version of Scripture, but lines ONLY FOUND in the Greek Septuagint. Jesus, St. Matthew, St. Paul, St. Peter, and the other New Testament authors use specific lines from the Septuagint in more than two-thirds of their direct quotes from the Old Testament! After Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D., the few Pharisees that survived formed a rabbinical council around 90 A.D. called the Council of Javneh (sometimes called "Jamnia"). It was there that the rabbis decided the official Jewish Canon would be those books that were Hebrew in origin and not tainted by the Greeks. They disregarded the seven Greek books, several sections of Daniel, and many individual lines from Isaiah and other books that were found in the Greek but not the Hebrew manuscripts. Remember, this canon is formed AFTER Jesus. Meanwhile, the Greek Septuagint books were accepted and used by the early Christian Church. The Deuterocanonical books are specifically mentioned by the Didache (the Teaching of the Twelve, one of the oldest non-biblical Christian manuscripts ever found), St. Clement I (Epistle to the Corinthians), St. Polycarp of Smyrna, St. Irenaeus of Lyons, St. Hippolytus, St. Cyprian of Carthage, and St. Augustine. These books were listed at the Council of Hippo in 393, and at Carthage in 397 and 417. Pope Damasus I had his personal secretary, the great St. Jerome, translate Holy Scripture into Latin in the 380 s. Called the Latin Vulgate, St. Jerome used the Hebrew Canon, expressing some concern about the authenticity of the Greek. Later, Jerome did translate some of the books in question and toward the end of his life, he corresponded others that he believed all of the Septuagint Sacred Scripture. In his 1534 translation of the Bible, Martin Luther chose the Hebrew Old Testament 39 books as his resource for translation, relying much on the Latin Vulgate of Jerome. He placed the other books in an appendix and labeled those books Apocrypha. It must be noted that in his first publication, Luther also moved Hebrews, James, Jude and Revelation to an appendix because he doubted their canonicity. Later, they were returned and it appears Luther softened his stance against them. These seven Apocryphal books in question were firmly and finally stated as canonical at the Catholic Church s Council of Trent in the 1500 s. The seven books in question are Tobit, Judith, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), and Baruch.