Religion 101
Why does the university require this course?
To have a firmer understanding to the foundations of our beliefs
What is the Old Testament?
39 Books
6-10 centuries
Two dozen+ authors
Before the Jews were born
First 17 books are arranged chronologically
Remaining 22 are randomly arranged
The canon of the Bible
The Old Testament is part of the ‘canon: of scriptures for Jews and Christians
“Canon” = List of authoritative writings
Jewish = The Hebrew Bible
Protestant = Old Testament, New Testament
Catholic = Old Testament, Apocrypha, New Testament
How did we get the Old Testament?
Books were originally written in Hebrew (1300-300BC)
Oldest Surviving copies are in the Dead Sea Scrolls (250-50AD)
Oldest Greek Translation at 250BC (Septuagint = LXX)
Oldest surviving copies are “codexes” (200-400AD)
The Old Testament in Church
Early Christians read the Septuagint, which includes the seven books of the Apocrypha
Jerome produced the Latin Vulgate (at the time a common language) from the Septuagint at 400AD
Renaissance scholars (1400-1600AD) studied Hebrew and Greek copies seeking earliest forms possible
The Bible in English
Protestant leaders argue to omit the Apocrypha
They called for translations in the native language of Christians (not Latin)
A stream if ‘modern’ English translations followed:
King James Version (1611)
American Standard Version (1901)
Revised Standard Version (1952)
New American Standard Bible (1971)
New International Version (1973)
New Standard Revised Version (1989)
Setting the Stage
Egypt (3100BC)
Sumer (2800BC)
Syria (2300BC)
Babylon (2200BC)
Assyria (2200BC)
Canaan (1500BC)
Phoenicia (1300BC)
Israel, Edom, Moab, Ammon (1100BC)
Israel’s enduring contribution lies in its religious/theological ideas
Israel’s place in the Ancient World
Mostly farmers, herdsmen
Export olive oil and wine
Small nation, relatively late on scene, crossroads between Egypt and Mesopotamia
It’s monotheism profoundly
To have a firmer understanding to the foundations of our beliefs
What is the Old Testament?
39 Books
6-10 centuries
Two dozen+ authors
Before the Jews were born
First 17 books are arranged chronologically
Remaining 22 are randomly arranged
The canon of the Bible
The Old Testament is part of the ‘canon: of scriptures for Jews and Christians
“Canon” = List of authoritative writings
Jewish = The Hebrew Bible
Protestant = Old Testament, New Testament
Catholic = Old Testament, Apocrypha, New Testament
How did we get the Old Testament?
Books were originally written in Hebrew (1300-300BC)
Oldest Surviving copies are in the Dead Sea Scrolls (250-50AD)
Oldest Greek Translation at 250BC (Septuagint = LXX)
Oldest surviving copies are “codexes” (200-400AD)
The Old Testament in Church
Early Christians read the Septuagint, which includes the seven books of the Apocrypha
Jerome produced the Latin Vulgate (at the time a common language) from the Septuagint at 400AD
Renaissance scholars (1400-1600AD) studied Hebrew and Greek copies seeking earliest forms possible
The Bible in English
Protestant leaders argue to omit the Apocrypha
They called for translations in the native language of Christians (not Latin)
A stream if ‘modern’ English translations followed:
King James Version (1611)
American Standard Version (1901)
Revised Standard Version (1952)
New American Standard Bible (1971)
New International Version (1973)
New Standard Revised Version (1989)
Setting the Stage
Egypt (3100BC)
Sumer (2800BC)
Syria (2300BC)
Babylon (2200BC)
Assyria (2200BC)
Canaan (1500BC)
Phoenicia (1300BC)
Israel, Edom, Moab, Ammon (1100BC)
Israel’s enduring contribution lies in its religious/theological ideas
Israel’s place in the Ancient World
Mostly farmers, herdsmen
Export olive oil and wine
Small nation, relatively late on scene, crossroads between Egypt and Mesopotamia
It’s monotheism profoundly