Old Testament History and Content St Mark Coptic

Old Testament, History and Content St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Saint Paul Servant Preparation Program Feb. 1, 2004 • Charlotte, NC http: //www. coptic. org/stmarknc

Old Testament, History and Content “And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. ” - Luke 8: 10 Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

What is Theology? The word “theology” is easily broken down into two Greek words: • Theos (God) • Logos (word) Thus “theology” is a discourse about God. Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

How do we study Theology? • Saint Gregory the Theologian’s golden rule: we are to theologies in the manner of the fishermen, but not of Aristotle. “ • Origen: theology is an exhalation, outpouring and shinning forth from God. To be counted worthy of spiritual knowledge does not lie within our power… He it is that, by theologizing, proclaimed the things concerning God to his true disciples; and we, using the traces that they have left behind in their writings, acquire thereby a starting point from which ourselves to embark upon theology. Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

How do we study Theology? • Our human reason can be effectively excised only within faith. “I believe in order to understand” Luke 24: 16 and 8: 10. • Saint Basil: “Every theological statement falls short of the understanding of the speaker. Our understanding is weak and our tongue is even more defective. ” • Archpriest John Meyendorff: “It is simultaneously contemplation of God and expression of the inexpressible”. • Corinthians 13: 12 Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

Authentic Theology Authentic theology is impossible without purification. Although theology remains always a gift of God’s grace, this free gift requires on the human side our full cooperation, (1 Corinthians 3: 9). 1) Repentance as starting point and also something that continues throughout our earthly life. 2) Constant ascetic effort. Saint Gregory of Nyssa “if we are to theologize, our life must correspond to our faith; there is no orthodoxy without orthopraxy. It leads us to the denial of our selfish ego and to humility, is not solitary but ecclesial. 3) Prayers and theology are essentially connected. To theologize, as the Fathers understood it, is to glorify God in praise and prayer, and indeed to become ourselves a living hymn of praise to god Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

Theology • There can be no theology without inner stillness, silence of the heart. (Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46: 10). • Theology as the knowledge of God, as not merely talking about God but also listening to Him. Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

The Holy Bible • The word “Bible” comes from the Greek word biblia, which means “books”. So the Bible is really a collection or library of many books. • These books are divided into two main parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

The Holy Bible ● It contains 73 books, 46 (39 main books plus 7 Second Canonical books removed by Protestants) in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament • More than forty writers from all parts of the world over nearly two thousand years. • It is one book as God inspires it. • It contains a variety of writings, stories, tales, biographies, poems and proverbs, but as a whole it concentrates on one message from the beginning till the end and it is the message of salvation, carried out by our Lord Jesus Christ. • We find the crimson line clear in all its books and we notice clearly how the wonderful Divine plan in the Old Testament prepared humanity for salvation and how the events and topics were symbols of the Lord and His work of expiation. Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

The Old Testament tells the history of the people of Israel. This history is based on their faith in the God of Israel and on their religious life as the people of God. The authors of these books wrote about what God had done for them as a people and how they were to worship and obey God in return. Included among the Old Testament Hebrew Scripture a number of books that are part of the Greek translation of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint. They provide significant knowledge of developments prior to the era of the New Testament. Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

The Old Testament The following chart shows the different groups of books that make up the Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

Languages of the Old Testament • The Old Testament language was Hebrew. Some of the chapters were written in Aramaic. • Scripture was translated into Aramaic which was spoken by Jews people after the exile. • Hebrew was known as the sacred language. The books of the Old Testament were written in Hebrew and gradually after the exile the Scripture was written in Hebrew using the Aramaic alphabet. • Second Canonical books which were part of the Septuagint, the Greek translation, was rejected by Jews because it was not written in Hebrew. The Protestants followed the Jews in rejecting these books. Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

Writing Tools Stones (Exo : 1: 34) They used pen made of iron to write on stones (Job 19: 24) or pen made of iron and with a pin of diamond (Jeremiah 17: 1). They also engraved directly on stones and sometimes they filled the engraved letters with led (Job 19: 24). Diamond and precious stones, like the stones of the high priest (Exodus 28: 9, 21) Metal like iron, copper, led, bronze, and gold. Wood, (Numbers 17: 2 -3 and Ezekiel 37: 16 -17). Ostarca, piece of pottery was also used in writing. Papyrus the ancient Egyptian invention which they probably used after leaving Egypt (Ex 17: 14). Many manuscripts were found written in their original language on papyri, leather and parchment which are very thin treated leather. Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

Rolls, Scrolls & Codex • They used the papyri, leather, and parchment in a form of rolls or scroll. Jews used rolls and scroll even after the invention of books, the use of the books was forbidden in the synagogue. • The Hebrew language is written from right to left. They used to write without leaving space between the words, so it depends on the reader who knows how to read. Even if there is not enough space to finish the word on the line, the rest of it will be written in the next line. Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

Hebrew Language & Vowels Hebrew language has no vowels, so the meaning of the word may change depending on how it will be vocalized. There was a great need to find a way of putting the accents on the right place above the letters. So they used dots and accent above and under the letters to help the reader pronouncing it right. Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

The Scribes Teachers of the law, the wise men, registrars and writers. After the exile their role became more important in interpreting the law (Nehemiah 8: 8). Scribes were from the Levi’s tribe and Aaron’s children. Their role was to write, understand, interpret and count the letters of the books. They reserved the meaning and the reading of the scripture. They had authority (Matthew 23: 2). Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

The Scribes (cont. ) Counting the letters of the scriptures making sure no mistakes or addition has happened to the words of the scriptures. A report at the end of each book. Number of words, letters and verses. They mention the middle verse, the middle letter, and the middle word. If the number is not correct, the scribe knows that there is a mistake, so if he could not find the mistake, he will have to rewrite the book. This applies to the original copy in Hebrew and of course does not apply to the translated version. In the second century B. C. people became dedicated to this work and they were not from the Levi’s tribe and they were called Farrecis. Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

The Message of Salvation Carried out by our Lord Jesus Christ The Law Creation, early relationship between God and people, God’s promise to bless Abraham and his descendants. God led the Israelites out of a life of hardship and slavery in Egypt. God’s covenant and the law. Levi the priestly tribe, ritual and ceremony. Census Moses’s speech reviewing the laws of God. Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC

The Message of Salvation Carried out by our Lord Jesus Christ History The victory over the Canaanites by Joshua. The division of the land among the tribes. Judges to lead God’s people Samuel and the anointment of the first King. Saul’ failure and the anointment of David. Strong and unified nation vs. weak and divided nation. The division of the Israelites to Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Babylon’s captivity. Prophesies before and after the captivity Old Testament History & Content • St. Mark Coptic Church • Charlotte, NC