GREEK: TA BIBLIA ENGLISH: BOOKS THE BIBLE GREEK: TA BIBLIA ENGLISH: BOOKS

COMPOSITION CATHOLIC 1. Old Testament: 46 Books 2. New Testament: 27 Books 3. Total: 73 Books

PROTESTANT Old Testament: 39 Books New Testament: 27 Books Total: 66 Books

THE VALUE OF THE BIBLE A treasure chest of wisdom. Gives insight to the meaning of life. Source of Western culture (words and expressions). Influence on modern religious thought.

6. Most complete history of the past. 7 6. Most complete history of the past. 7. God’s revelations to: Jews, Christians, Muslims. 8. Source of ethical codes. 9. Entertainment. 10. Meditation. 11. Music Composition. 13. Foundation to secular constitutions.

Divine revelation Two Ways Discovering God in Nature (Ps 104:24) Human beings Animals Vegetation Rain and Water Human suffering

2. DIVINE WORDS AND DECREES (PS 119:129-130) Scriptures. Ten commandments. God’s laws. Prophetic utterances Teachings of Jesus Miracles of Jesus

THE PROCESS OF REVELATION God reveals himself to individuals or community. The revelation is shaped by the community and environment. The community interprets the revelation. Context plays a pivotal role.

THE HEBREW BIBLE/SCRIPTURES It has 39 books. These are divided into 3 major categories: The Law (Torah) The Prophets (Nebi’im) The Writings (Ketubim) Acronym: TaNaK

Jewish understanding of the Bible It is not Old Testament because old implies: Old fashioned. 6. Worn out No longer useful. 7. To be discarded Expired. 8. It’s anti-Judaism Superseded. 9. It’s derogatory Not desirable.

It contains only the Old Testament. NT is not part of the Jewish Bible. Jesus is not considered the Messiah. It’s inspired. Was revealed by God. Parts of it are considered historical.

CATHOLIC USE OF OT It means Revered and Accepted. NT means renewed. OT means Not revoked. First. Very important.

Jesus is the Jewish promised Messiah. NT is the fulfillment of the OT. THE CATHOLIC BIBLE Contains both OT and NT. Jesus is the Jewish promised Messiah. NT is the fulfillment of the OT. The OT has 46 books. The NT has 27 books. The books are based on the Septuagint.

Catholic Bible is based on the Septuagint. It is the Greek version of the Hebrew Bible The Septuagint was translated in Alexandria. 70 translators and translations. The Translations were identical.

Councils Affirming 46 OT Books 396 at Hippo. 397 and 417 at Carthage. 1546 Council of Trent: solemn approval was given. The 46 books were accepted by the Greek speaking Jews. The Aramaic and Hebrew speaking Jews of Palestine accepted only 39 books. The seven extra books were written in Greek except Tobit and Sirach, which were originally in Hebrew or Aramaic.

CATEGORIES OF THE SEPTUAGINT Pentateuch The Historical books The Wisdom writings The Prophets NB. Go to p. 7 for the complete list.

OT CANON The Term comes from the Hebrew word qaneh. It means “reed” or “measuring stick”. It gives the list of books that are considered: Authoritative, 2. Inspired 3. Acceptable, 4. Revealed 5. Authentic 6. Final (not to be changed)

CRITERIA Inspiration Widespread acceptance Prophetic (former and later) Conformity with the Torah Language might have played a part.

DEUTEROCANONICAL BOOKS 1 Maccabees, 2. Maccabees Judith Tobit Baruch Sirach, 7. The Wisdom of Solomon

Why are they Deuterocanonical? Deutero means 2nd. They belong to the 2nd Canon. Included in the Septuagint. Most were written in Greek. Not Accepted in Palestine. Accepted in the Canon after 1st and early 2nd C, AD.

First included in the Canon in the 4th C by Church Fathers. At Hippo: 393 AD. Carthage 397 and 417. Council of Trent: 1546. For Catholics they are inspired, And are part of the OT Canon.

PROTESTANTS AND DEUTEROCANONICAL BKS Not acceptable. The books are “Apocrypha” (hidden). Caths use apocrypha for non-canonical bks such as: 1st Enock, the Assumption of Moses, and others. Protestants call totally non-canonical bks pseudepigrapha.

OT TIMELINE Go to p.12