Back to Bible Basics for Orthodox Christians Session 2

Back to Bible Basics for Orthodox Christians

Session 2 – The Old Testament

Reference: Old Testament Survey, LaSort, Hubbard, Bush

Prayer before reading of the Holy Scriptures: Shine within our hearts, loving Master, the pure light of Your divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our minds that we may comprehend the message of Your Gospel. Instill in us also reverence for Your blessed commandments so that, having conquered sinful desires, we may pursue a spiritual life, thinking and doing all those things which are pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are the light of our souls and bodies, and to You we give glory, together with Your Father who is without beginning and Your all holy, good and life giving Spirit, always now and forever and to the ages of ages.

  1. Organization – Law, History, Wisdom, Prophets
    1. Torah (Law) Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
      1. Most important books in the OT
      2. Historical narrative but not history
      3. Contains laws, history, rituals
      4. Story of Creation-Rebellion-Judgment-Promise-Deliverance
      5. Summary Themes
        1. Genesis Creation,Rebellion,Judgement,Promise
          1. Origins (all – creation/sin/promise)
          2. Original Sin – Cause/Effect
          3. Original Promise – A savior will come
        2. Exodus – Salvation from Slavery
          1. Savior appointed by God
          2. People given ‘a way out’ by God
          3. People rebel along the way
          4. God creates a plan for salvation
          5. God established the Temple
        3. Leviticus – The Rital and Regulations of Worship
        4. Numbers – The interaction of God with His People
        5. Deuteronomy – How to Love God
    2. History – Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Kingdoms, Second Kingdoms, Third Kingdoms, Fourth Kingdoms, First Chronicles, Second Chronicles, First Ezra, Second Ezra, Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, Maccabees
      1. What is the Prophetic Voice? “If you live according to God’s will this happens. If you choose not to live according to God’s will, this happens.” This is NOT fortune telling, but a warning to live according to God’s will.
      2. Also referred to as Prophets (Sometime called History and Prophets)
      3. Distinct from the Prophets because a timeline is included.
      4. History is told using the Prophetic Voice
    3. Wisdom – Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom of Solomon, Wisdom of Sirach
      1. Purpose – Edification of God’s People
      2. Focus on life AS the People of God
      3. “Life is celebrated in the sexuality of the Song of Songs, in the exuberant gratitude on the hymns and thanksgiving songs of the Psalms, and in the down-to-earth enjoyment advocated in parts of Ecclesiastes.” (p 427 OT Survey)
      4. Provides insight into the life of the OT Church
    4. Prophets – Hosea, Amos, Micah, Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Baruch, Lamentations, Epistle of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel
      1. Focus on life choices and consequences
      2. No direct historical continuity (as opposed to history prophets)
  2. Purpose – Everything points to the Savior Jesus Christ
    1. Never should be read ‘as if’ Christ didn’t come
    2. Foundation of the Church
    3. Ultimately the OT is the story of the savior, rather than the story of the saved.
    4. Preparation for the NT, rather than a separate volume