Encountering the Older Testament John Stevenson 2016 Maps

Encountering the Older Testament © John Stevenson, 2016 Maps by David P. Barrett, used by permission

Course Objectives • • • Familiarize you with the history and geography of the Old Testament. See the progress of redemption in the Old Testament. Critique the approaches to the Old Testament made by modern scholarship. See the way in which Christ is portrayed in the Old Testament. See the importance of the Old Testament in the life of the believer.

Textbook Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey. Bill T. Arnold & Bryan E. Beyer. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008

What is the “Bible? ”

How do we know the right books are in the Bible?

The Greek Kanon KANWN • It had to be unbendable • It had to be dependable as to its straightness

Canonicity refers to the church’s recognition of the authority of the inspired writings.

Josephus "For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us, disagreeing from and contradicting one another [as the Greeks have], but only twenty-two books, which contain the records of all the past times; which are justly believed to be divine. . . (Contra Apion 1: 8).

Josephus "It is true, our history has been written since Artaxerxes, very peculiarly, but has not been esteemed of the like authority with the former by our forefathers, because there has not been an exact succession of prophets since that time. " (Contra Apion 1: 8).

Pentateuch Historical Books Poetic Books Prophetic Books Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 -2 Samuel, 1 -2 Kings, 1 -2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Torah Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy Prophets Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, The Twelve (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, (Nabi’im) Writings (Kethuvim) Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi) Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra. Nehemiah, Chronicles,

How was the Bible Written?

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3: 16 -17).

Theopneustos All Scripture is inspired by God… • The Fact of Inspiration

All Scripture is inspired by God… • The Fact of Inspiration • The Extent of Inspiration

All Scripture is inspired by God… • The Fact of Inspiration • The Extent of Inspiration • The Object of Inspiration

• Neo-Orthodoxy Theory: God is seen as transcendent so that we cannot receive an accurate revelation of Him. Orthodoxy: The Bible is the Word of God Neo-Orthodoxy: The Bible gives witness to the Word of God

• • Neo-Orthodoxy Theory Mechanical Dictation Theory Limited Inspiration Verbal Plenary Inspiration

Can our copies of the Bible be trusted?

Original Manuscript Copy Copy Copy Copy Copy

The Science of Interpretation

Fundamental Questions in Hermeneutics • What did it mean to the original characters of the narrative? • What did it mean to the author? • What did it mean to the original recipients?

Moses Bible Israelites Readers Today

Fundamental Questions in Hermeneutics • What did it mean to the original characters of the narrative? • What did it mean to the author? • What did it mean to the original recipients? • What does it mean in light of New Testament revelation?

Hatti Mesopotamia Egypt

Hatti Land Bridge Mesopotamia DESERT Egypt

Hittites Assyria Israel Egypt Babylon

Hittites Assyria Phoenicia Israel Egypt Aram Babylon

• The Coastal Plain • Central Mountain Range • Jordan Rift Valley

• The Coastal Plain • Central Mountain Range • Jordan Rift Valley

• The Coastal Plain • Central Mountain Range • Jordan Rift Valley

• The Coastal Plain • Central Mountain Range • Jordan Rift Valley • Trans Jordan

• The Valley of Jezreel

• The Valley of Jezreel • The Yarmuk River Gilead

• The Valley of Jezreel • The Yarmuk River • The Jabbok River Gilead

• The Valley of Jezreel • The Yarmuk River • The Jabbok River • The Arnon River Gilead Moab

• The King’s Highway • The Way of the Sea (the Way of the Philistines) Megiddo Jericho

Climate of Canaan • Mediterranean Climate • Dependent upon winter rains – Early Rains: October – Later Rains: April

Winter Early Rains Fall Latter Rains Spring January Summer

Western Thinking Eastern Thinking Individualism Collectivism Time Oriented Timeliness Oriented Rules Relationship Right / Wrong Honor / Shame

Blessing Father Strong Free King Power Son Kingdom Holy Weak Right hand Left hand Gentile Defiled Crucified Sick Cursing Home Pleased Fruitful Unclean Barren Naked Heir Humiliation Slave Childless Impure

Western Thinking Eastern Thinking Expresses truth in propositional terms Expresses truth in concrete terms What is God?

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18: 2). What is God?

The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night. (Psalm 121: 5 -6).

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want (Psalm 23: 1).

He leads me beside quiet waters (Psalm 23: 2).

Western Thinking Eastern Thinking Expresses truth in propositional terms Expresses truth in concrete terms Expresses truth in absolute categories Expresses truth in generalities

But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet (1 Timothy 2: 12). Woman praying & prophesying (1 Corinthians 11). Old Testament examples of Deborah & Huldah

What are the Overarching themes of the Pentateuch?

What is the Big Idea of the Old Testament? What is the Big Idea of the New Testament?

Genesis 1 - 11 Creation Fall Flood Tower of Babel

1500 - 1000 Period of the Exodus Judges and Patriarchs 1000 - 500 Kings of Israel and Judah Sinai Torah Return 2000 - 1500 Historical Books Poetic Books Prophetic Books

Creation Covenant God gives a land But like Adam they have transgressed the covenant; There they have dealt treacherously against Me. (Hosea 6: 7)

Creation Adamic Noahic Abrahamic Covenant God gives a land Salvation promise Renewal of the land Promise of a land

Removal Mosaic Davidic New from the Covenant Land Covenant Return to to the Land Blessings & cursings in the land King over the land King dies for His kingdom

Indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord (Numbers 14: 21). • A People • A Land • A Nation • A King If I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men to myself John 12: 32 • The Temple • The Vine • The Servant • The Seed • All People • The World • All Nations • The King T. J. Campo