Background To Background To Scripture:Scripture:Part TwoPart Two

Terms To KnowTerms To Know LiteralistLiteralist – People who read and interpret the – People who read and interpret the

bible passages word for word based on the bible passages word for word based on the actual words in their ordinary meaning.actual words in their ordinary meaning.

ContextualistContextualist – People who weave together – People who weave together the whole situation, background or the whole situation, background or environment relevant to a particular event, environment relevant to a particular event, personality etc. when reading and interpreting personality etc. when reading and interpreting the bible.the bible.

PatriarchPatriarch – One of the founders of the ancient – One of the founders of the ancient Hebrew families in the Bible: Abraham, Isaac, Hebrew families in the Bible: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.Jacob.

Terms to Know:Terms to Know: CovenantCovenant –A binding and solemn –A binding and solemn

agreement made by 2 or more individuals, agreement made by 2 or more individuals, the promises made by God to people, as the promises made by God to people, as recorded in the Bible.recorded in the Bible.

TestamentTestament – An agreement or last will. It is – An agreement or last will. It is also an affirmation of beliefs or convictions.also an affirmation of beliefs or convictions.

Gospel Gospel – Derived from the Old English – Derived from the Old English GODSPEL meaning “good news”. The Good GODSPEL meaning “good news”. The Good News of what God has done in and through News of what God has done in and through Jesus.Jesus.

Terms to KnowTerms to Know Christ Christ – Derived from the Greek word CHRISTOS – Derived from the Greek word CHRISTOS

meaning “anointed one”.meaning “anointed one”.

ResurrectionResurrection – The rising of Jesus from the dead – The rising of Jesus from the dead after his death on Good Fridayafter his death on Good Friday

ApostleApostle – Greek term that means “one sent out” – Greek term that means “one sent out” and is related to the Hebrew term SILIAH which and is related to the Hebrew term SILIAH which translates to “one who is to complete the task or translates to “one who is to complete the task or acts in the place of the sender”acts in the place of the sender”

DiscipleDisciple – meaning “student”. Any student who – meaning “student”. Any student who follows a teacher. Apostle and Disciple are not the follows a teacher. Apostle and Disciple are not the same. The Apostles were specifically picked by same. The Apostles were specifically picked by Jesus to go out and spread his word.Jesus to go out and spread his word.

Terms to KnowTerms to Know

A.D.A.D. – Anno Domini (Year of the Lord) - term used – Anno Domini (Year of the Lord) - term used to represent the period of time since Jesus’ birth.to represent the period of time since Jesus’ birth.

C.E.C.E. – Common Era – Term now used to represent – Common Era – Term now used to represent the period of time since Jesus’ birth.the period of time since Jesus’ birth.

B.C.B.C. – Before Christ - term used to represent the – Before Christ - term used to represent the period of time before Jesus’ birth.period of time before Jesus’ birth.

B.C.E.B.C.E. – Before Common Era - term now used to – Before Common Era - term now used to represent the period of time before Jesus’ birth.represent the period of time before Jesus’ birth.

Is Scripture Really True?Is Scripture Really True?

As Catholics we believe two important As Catholics we believe two important principles:principles:

1.1. InspirationInspiration – A divine influence upon – A divine influence upon human beings which resulted in the human beings which resulted in the writing of the Scriptures. Since all of the writing of the Scriptures. Since all of the Bible is the word of God and it was written Bible is the word of God and it was written through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Bible reveals the truth.the Bible reveals the truth.

Is Scripture Really True?Is Scripture Really True?

As Catholics we believe two important As Catholics we believe two important principles:principles:

2.2.Inerrancy Inerrancy – While there are minor – While there are minor errors in the scriptures (dates, errors in the scriptures (dates, names, etc.) there are NO ERROR in names, etc.) there are NO ERROR in the message itself. the message itself.

Kinds Of TruthKinds Of Truth ReligiousReligious – God tries to communicate – God tries to communicate

with people through their lives.with people through their lives. MoralMoral – “Thou Shall Not Kill” – “Thou Shall Not Kill” SymbolicSymbolic – “If your eye causes you to – “If your eye causes you to

sin, pluck it out.”sin, pluck it out.” ProverbialProverbial – “The early bird gets the – “The early bird gets the

worm.”worm.” HistoricalHistorical – Jesus was born in Bethlehem – Jesus was born in Bethlehem

and lived his young life in Nazareth.and lived his young life in Nazareth. ScientificScientific – 2+2=4 – 2+2=4

The Holy Bible: InspirationThe Holy Bible: Inspiration

The Old Testament is the recorded The Old Testament is the recorded history of God revealing Himself to history of God revealing Himself to the Hebrew people. the Hebrew people.

When we discuss revelation through When we discuss revelation through scripture, we must mention the term scripture, we must mention the term inspiration. inspiration.

The Holy Bible: The Holy Bible: InspirationInspiration

InspirationInspiration refers to God working refers to God working through the authors of the Hebrew through the authors of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures to and Christian Scriptures to communicate religious truth.communicate religious truth.

The authors were somehow in touch The authors were somehow in touch with the truth of God in their lives. with the truth of God in their lives. This is what we mean when we say This is what we mean when we say that the Bible is inspired.that the Bible is inspired.

InspirationInspiration

It would be inaccurate, however, to It would be inaccurate, however, to imagine that God simply whispered into imagine that God simply whispered into the author’s ear what to write, while the the author’s ear what to write, while the author merely wrote it down.author merely wrote it down.

To be honest, we don’t really know how To be honest, we don’t really know how God inspired the authors. We recognize God inspired the authors. We recognize that it is a that it is a mysterymystery. .

What is important is the end result, the What is important is the end result, the written record of God’s revelationwritten record of God’s revelation. .

InspirationInspiration

It is important to understand that the It is important to understand that the authors were limited in their authors were limited in their understanding, education, and culture.understanding, education, and culture.

Sometimes these limitations can be Sometimes these limitations can be seen in the Bible, but the religious seen in the Bible, but the religious truth still remains.truth still remains.

Keep in mind the Bible is the Keep in mind the Bible is the Word of Word of God in the words of human beings.God in the words of human beings.

Literary Forms In The BibleLiterary Forms In The Bible

MythMyth - a traditional story focusing on the - a traditional story focusing on the deeds of gods or heroes, often in explanation deeds of gods or heroes, often in explanation of some natural phenomenon.of some natural phenomenon.

ListList – an itemized series of names, words, etc., – an itemized series of names, words, etc., usually recorded in a set order.usually recorded in a set order.

ProphecyProphecy – a prediction made under divine – a prediction made under divine influence and direction.influence and direction.

LawLaw – a rule of conduct, moral principle, ect., – a rule of conduct, moral principle, ect., derived from a generally recognized concept of derived from a generally recognized concept of universal justice.universal justice.

SermonSermon – a speech of a serious or solemn – a speech of a serious or solemn kind of pronouncement.kind of pronouncement.

Literary Forms In The Literary Forms In The BibleBible

Legend: Legend: an unauthentical story from an unauthentical story from earlier time preserved by tradition and earlier time preserved by tradition and popularity thought to be historicalpopularity thought to be historical

Fable: Fable: a brief tale that has a moral a brief tale that has a moral using persons, animals or inanimate using persons, animals or inanimate things or charactersthings or characters

Drama: Drama: a story about people’s lives, a story about people’s lives, including dialogue and interactionincluding dialogue and interaction

HistoryHistory – a record or account usually – a record or account usually written in chronological order of past written in chronological order of past events, especially those concerning a events, especially those concerning a particular nation or people.particular nation or people.

LetterLetter – a written or printed – a written or printed message, usually of a personal nature message, usually of a personal nature or concerning a specific subject.or concerning a specific subject.

ProverbsProverbs (poetry)– prose or poetic (poetry)– prose or poetic statements or maxims for instruction.statements or maxims for instruction.

ParablesParables – short allegorical stories – short allegorical stories told to bring out a moral religious told to bring out a moral religious truth.truth.

PsalmPsalm – a sacred song or poem. – a sacred song or poem.

Name That Literary FormName That Literary Form

1 John 5:18-211 John 5:18-21 Luke 15:1-10Luke 15:1-10 Matthew 5:1-5Matthew 5:1-5 Isaiah 65:15-17Isaiah 65:15-17 Genesis 3:1-3Genesis 3:1-3 Numbers 13:5-15Numbers 13:5-15 Leviticus 11:24-25Leviticus 11:24-25 1 Kings 16:151 Kings 16:15 Ecclesiastes 5:10Ecclesiastes 5:10 Psalm 40:1-3Psalm 40:1-3