© Cambridge University Press 2014 WHAT IS THE OLD TESTAMENT? The Old Testament [OT]... is a library from the ancient Israelites has been preserved for years has been translated into 100s of languages has made an inestimable contribution to human history.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 DISCUSSION What impact has it had on history and culture? What impact (if any) has it had on you?

© Cambridge University Press 2014 OT’S RELIGIOUS CONTRIBUTION The world’s three monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam - have a common origin in the Old Testament’s conviction that Israel’s God is the sovereign Lord of the universe, and in a few contexts, the only God of the universe.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 ISRAEL’S GOD Israel’s God was known by the distinctive personal name YHWH. Probably pronounced as “Yahweh” Often translated as “LORD” Ancient names reflect name bearer’s character Derives from the Hebrew verb “to be” Has a causative meaning: “he causes to be” or “he creates”

© Cambridge University Press 2014 DISCUSSION Arnold suggests that monotheism is “Israel’s gift to the world.” Do you agree? Why or why not?

© Cambridge University Press 2014 THE OT’S MANY NAMES For Jews, this library is known as the Tanak, an acronym based on the collection’s subdivisions: T = Torah = “law or instruction” N = Neviim = “prophets” K = Ketuvim = ‘writings’

© Cambridge University Press 2014 THE OT’S MANY NAMES For Christians, it is known as the Old Testament This is a theological assertion about how Israel’s scriptures relate to Jesus. This collection contains the “old covenant” and the New Testament contains the “new covenant.”

© Cambridge University Press 2014 THE OT’S MANY NAMES For Muslims, this library is the first in a series of divinely revealed sacred texts (kitab) given through God’s legislative prophets: Adam Noah Abraham Moses Jesus Muhammad

© Cambridge University Press 2014 THE OT’S MANY NAMES The Qur’an highlights and honors the Tawrat (Torah) given to Moses and the Injil (Gospel) given to Jesus. But the Qur’an given through Muhammad is considered the final and definitive revelation for Islamic faith.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 THE OT’S MANY NAMES For many scholars, this library is often called the Hebrew Bible in order to avoid terminology: a) sounds non-English b) privileges one faith tradition over another However, this term incorrectly implies: a) the entire collection was written in Hebrew b) the existence and equal status of Bibles written in other languages

© Cambridge University Press 2014 MONOTHEISM IN THE OT OT monotheism is one of the most significant developments in human history, but the OT texts are not uniform in their beliefs about God: -some assume polytheism -others assume monotheism. Israel’s authors and scribes likely assumed God moved their ancestors from polytheism through a concept of God’s universal sovereignty to an understanding of God’s singularity.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 DISCUSSION Therefore, Arnold asserts, “The expression of monotheism in the whole of the OT is greater than the sum of its parts.” What does he mean? Do you agree?

© Cambridge University Press 2014 THEOLOGICAL POSITIONS Atheism holds that no god exists. All ancient peoples assumed the existence of the divine, so the OT does not attempt to prove God’s existence. Polytheism holds that many gods exist. All ancient peoples believed in numerous deities who were usually organized in a hierarchal pantheon. The OT contains passages that reflect an early belief in a divine council in which Israel’s God was supreme.

EGYPTIAN PANTHEON © Cambridge University Press 2014 Stele of Qadesh (Art Resource; image reference: ART ; photo credit: “Erich Lessing/Art Resource, NY”)

© Cambridge University Press 2014 THEOLOGICAL POSITIONS Henotheism is the cognitive acceptance of one god without denying the existence of others. Monolatry holds the same position as henotheism but also makes the commitment to serve and be loyal to the one supreme god. Early Israelite religion may be described as monolatrous henotheism. They were committed to worship Yahweh without denying the reality of other gods.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 THEOLOGICAL POSITIONS Monotheism is the belief that there is only one God Explicit Monotheism specifically denies the existence of other gods. Implicit Monotheism does not specifically deny that other gods exist. Emergent Monotheism refers to the gradual appearance of beliefs about God’s singularity. Affective Monotheism refers to monotheism as an expression of devotion not dogma or theology.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 OT MONOTHEISM The OT might be called implicitly monotheistic. It reflects a society in which monotheism eventually won the day as the best explanation, the most consistent belief system. As such, the OT in not a uniformly monotheistic book, but rather a monotheizing document.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 OT MONOTHEISM Israel’s convictions about God became the heartbeat of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, which share a common conviction in the one singular God who created the universe and first revealed himself to ancient Israel’s ancestors. This semester we will explore the Old Testament assertions about Yahweh and the influence of the OT’s monotheism on the world.