The World of the Old Testament John

The World of the Old Testament © John Stevenson, 2013 Maps by David P. Barrett, used by permission

Course Objectives • • Explain the general content, overall message, and flow of thought for each book of the Old Testament. Interpret the Old Testament in light of its historical and redemptive context. Explain the nature of revelation as progressive and rooted in history. Apply the newly acquired material to your ministries, Bible studies, sermon preparation, and daily lives.

Textbook A Survey of the Old Testament: The Bible Jesus Used. John Stevenson Hollywood, FL: Redeemer, 2008

Grade Scale • In Class Memorization Quizzes: • Take Home Open book Quizzes: • Research/Bible Study/Sermon Papers: • Final Exam: 10% 30% 30%

What is the “Bible? ”

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

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,

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

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

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