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What is the Old Testament of the Bible? Story of the Old Testament Dr. Grant Testut What is the Old Testament of the Bible? What is the Bible? What is a Testament? What is meant by “Old”? Three underlying questions: 1. What is the Bible? Comes from the Greek ta biblia (ta. bibli,a), meaning “the little books/scrolls” “…we did not need these things, since we had as an encouragement the holy scrolls (ta biblia) that were in our possession.” (I Macc. 12:9) The Bible began not as one document, but several. “Scripture(s)” comes from the Latin scriptura (pl. scripturae), meaning “a writing”. The Canon of Scripture From Gk. kan?n (o` kanw,n) “reed, measuring stick” A “rule” for faith and practice Based on what is considered Inspired by God Authoritative Council of Jamnia (ca. 90 A.D.) Councils of Hippo (393 A.D.) and Carthage (397 A.D.) “All scripture (graph?) is God-breathed (theopneustos) and useful for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the person of God might be readied, having been equipped for every good work.” - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 The Canon of Scripture From Gk. kan?n (o` kanw,n) “reed, measuring stick” A “rule” for faith and practice Based on what is considered Inspired by God Authoritative “Council” of Jamnia (ca. 90 A.D.) Councils of Hippo (393 A.D.) and Carthage (397 A.D.) What is the Bible? What is a Testament? What is meant by “Old”? 2. What is a Testament? From the Latin testamentum (“will”, as in “last will and testament”); “something witnessed” (cf. testari) Used to translate the Greek and Hebrew words for “covenant”; but what is a ‘covenant’? “On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your offspring I have given this land; from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River.’” - Genesis 15:18 “Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the people’s hearing. And they said, ‘Everything that the LORD has stipulated we shall obediently perform.’” - Exodus 24:7 2. What is a Testament? From the Latin testamentum (“will”, as in “last will and testament”); “something witnessed” (cf. testari) Used to translate the Greek and Hebrew words for “covenant”; but what is a ‘covenant’? Limitations to the term “testament” The term is not readily associated with “covenant” The OT (and NT) is not just “testament” material The OT contains more than one “testament” What is the Bible? What is a Testament? What is meant by “Old”? 3. What is meant by “Old”? The term only becomes relevant in relation to something “new”. “‘Days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I shall make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Not like the covenant that I made with their ancestors in the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; my covenant which they themselves broke, even though I had been a husband to them,’ declares the LORD.” - Jeremiah 31:31 “And [Jesus took] the cup, likewise, after having eaten, and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out on your behalf.’” - Luke 22:20 “It is not as though we are, by our own resources, qualified to claim anything as coming from ourselves. Our qualification is, rather, from God, who also qualified us as servants of a new covenant; not [a covenant] of the letter, but of the spirit. For the letter kills, but the spirit makes alive…But their minds were hardened. For up to this very day the same veil remains over the reading of the old covenant, and it is not unveiled, seeing that it is in Christ that [the veil] is rendered useless.” - 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, 14 3. What is meant by “Old”? The term only becomes relevant in relation to something “new”. Can imply “worn-out/out-dated” Yet the OT was the Bible of the early church The OT is still very relevant today Many Jews and Christians prefer the title “Hebrew Scriptures” to “Old Testament” What is the Bible? What is a Testament? What is meant by “Old”? So what makes up the Old Testament? The OT in Christian Tradition Five divisions; look up the OT books in the Table of Contents The Law – the first 5 books (“Books of Moses”) The Histories – Joshua through Esther The Wisdom Books – Job through Song of Songs (a.k.a. “The Song of Solomon”) The Major Prophets – Isaiah through Daniel The Minor Prophets – Hosea through Malachi The OT in Jewish Tradition Called “TaNaKh” for its three major divisions: Tôr?h (“The Law”) First 5 books (the “Books of Moses”) Neb?’?m (“The Prophets”) Historical books called “Former Prophets” Ket?b?m (“The Writings”) Includes the Psalms, wisdom literature Same books; different groupings and order L A W H I S T O R Y W I S D O M P M R A O J P O H R E T S M I N O R P R O P H E T S Genesis Isaiah Exodus Jeremiah Leviticus Lamentations Numbers Ezekiel Deuteronomy Daniel Joshua Hosea Judges Joel Ruth Amos 1+2 Samuel Obadiah 1+2 Kings Jonah 1+2 Chronicles Micah Ezra Nahum Nehemiah Habakkuk Esther Zephaniah Job Haggai Psalms Zechariah Proverbs Malachi Ecclesiastes Song of Songs/Solomon T O R A H N E B I ’ I M K E T U B I M Genesis Habakkuk Exodus Zephaniah Leviticus Haggai Numbers Zechariah Deuteronomy Malachi Joshua Psalms Judges Job 1+2 Samuel Proverbs 1+2 Kings Ruth Isaiah Song of Songs/Solomon Jeremiah Ecclesiastes Ezekiel Lamentations Hosea Esther Joel Daniel Amos Ezra Obadiah Nehemiah Jonah 1+2 Chronicles Micah Nahum P F R O O R P M H E E R T S P L R A O T P T H E E R T S Why “Story” of the Old Testament? Thought question: What is a “story”? A story is the telling of a series of events in a purposeful manner (with a beginning, middle, and end). A story, whether fictional or historical, invites the audience to participate in the events described. Every person has a worldview, and every worldview is a story about existence/the universe. Jews and Christians trace their beginnings to the story of the Old Testament. The Story of the OT is foundational to the faith of Christians, because: It is the beginning of their story. It is God’s message to them. L A W H I S T O R Y W I S D O M P M R A O J P O H R E T S M I N O R P R O P H E T S Genesis Isaiah Exodus Jeremiah Leviticus Lamentations Numbers Ezekiel Deuteronomy Daniel Joshua Hosea Judges Joel Ruth Amos 1+2 Samuel Obadiah 1+2 Kings Jonah 1+2 Chronicles Micah Ezra Nahum Nehemiah Habakkuk Esther Zephaniah Job Haggai Psalms Zechariah Proverbs Malachi Ecclesiastes Song of Songs/Solomon L A W H I S T O R Y Genesis Isaiah Exodus Jeremiah Leviticus Lamentations Numbers Ezekiel Deuteronomy Daniel Joshua Hosea Judges Joel Ruth Amos 1+2 Samuel Obadiah 1+2 Kings Jonah 1+2 Chronicles Micah Ezra Nahum Nehemiah Habakkuk Esther Zephaniah Job Haggai Psalms Zechariah Proverbs Malachi Ecclesiastes Song of Songs/Solomon S T O R Y O F T H E O T Genesis Isaiah Exodus Jeremiah Leviticus Lamentations Numbers Ezekiel Deuteronomy Daniel Joshua Hosea Judges Joel Ruth Amos 1+2 Samuel Obadiah 1+2 Kings Jonah 1+2 Chronicles Micah Ezra Nahum Nehemiah Habakkuk Esther Zephaniah Job Haggai Psalms Zechariah Proverbs Malachi Ecclesiastes Song of Songs/Solomon S T O R Y O F T H E O T Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1+2 Samuel 1+2 Kings 1+2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther W I S D O M P M R A O J P O H R E T S P M R I O N P O H R E T S Psalms Isaiah Haggai