28 September 2016
St. Mary (Покрова) Cathedral
Opening prayer (from the Prayer before the Gospel during the Diving Liturgy)
Make the pure light of Your divine knowledge shine in our hearts, Loving Master, and open the eyes of our minds that we may understand the message of Your Gospel. Instill also in us reverence for Your blessed commandments, so that overcoming all worldly desires, we may pursue a spiritual life, both thinking and doing all things pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are the Light of our souls and bodies, and to You we give the glory, together with Your Father, without beginning, and Your All Holy, Good, and Life- Creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. (2 Corinthians 6:6; Ephesians 1:18; 2 Peter 2:11)
The Source(s) of the Bible
Following Christ, the Apostles, and the Early Church, the Orthodox Church primarily uses the Septuagint. It was an official translation completed well before the Incarnation of Christ.
- This makes it more “objective” than the post-Incarnational Jewish Masoretic Text and Canon (most Roman Catholic and Protestant Bibles rely primarily on the Masorertic text). The Masoretic text was prepared in the 7-9th century (with the addition of vowels etc.).
- To the extent translation requires a worldview, the Septuagint (not just its translation, but its canon) represents a dominant Jewish worldview in the centuries just prior to the Incarnation. That worldview is different than that of contemporary Judaism.
- The Septuagint differs little from the Masoretic Text; both are supported by the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Dead Sea Scrolls help demonstrate that there was textual diversity before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. [Note on recent discovery showing the general reliability of the Masoretic text).
How the Bible is Organized
New Testament (we’ll cover it later) and Old Testament.
Old Testament Organization (Septuagint)
- The Torah. According to tradition, it was revealed to Moses on Mt. Sinai (most connect it with Moses (e.g. Exodus 33:11 & Galatians 3:19), but admit to it being touched by many hands). The five books of the Torah are also called the Five Books of the Law, the Pentateuch and the Books of Moses.
- Genesis (beginning). God’s creation of the world, the fall of mankind, and the three patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob)
- Exodus (departure). The early life of Moses, the Israelite escape from Egypt, and revelations at Mount Sinai.
- Leviticus (of the Levites). Historically, takes place at the foot of Sinai and continues to describe how God is to be honored and how Israelites are to live.
- Numbers (you’ll see!). Describes the Israelites’ time in the desert up to their arrival at the banks of the Jordan.
- Deuteronomy (second law). Moses’ last words to the Israelites. His death.
- The Books of History. The history of Israel from their arrival at the promised land to just before the Incarnation. They are thought to have been written well after the events they describe. The Books of History are Joshua (the conquering of the promised land), Judges tThe Israelites struggle with righteousness and idolatry), Ruth, I Kingdoms (aka I Samuel), II Kingdoms (II Samuel), III Kingdoms (I Kings), IV Kingdoms (II Kings), I Paraleipomenon (I Chronicles), II Paraleipomenon (II Chronicles), Nehemiah, I Esdras, II Esdras (Ezra), Tobit, Judith, Esther, I Maccabees, II Maccabees, III Maccabees.
- Books of Wisdom. Psalms, Prayer of Manasseh, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon (aka Song of Songs or Canticle of Canticles), Wisdom of Solomon, Wisdom of Sirach (aka Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach; aka Ecclesiasticus)
- The Prophets.
- Major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah (includes Baruch and the Epistle of Jeremiah), Ezekiel, Daniel (includes the Song of the Three Children).
- Minor prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Why did some early Christians want to ban the Old Testament from the Biblical Canon? Why do we care about the Old Testament? It is “The Scriptures” referred to in the New Testament. It is about God, Christ, and God’s plan for the world.
Questions?
Homework: Genesis One-Three. Try to read it like an ancient would have!
