IN THE BEGINNING….CLASS ONE OF THREE

Our Lady of the Presentation ParishMary Pat Storms

June 18, 2013

• What is the Torah?1

• How Catholics read Scripture2

• The Book of Genesis3

Today’s Overview

WHAT IS THE TORAH?

The First Five Books of the Old Testament

• Genesis• Exodus• Leviticus• Numbers• Deuteronomy } Collectively

known as:

The TorahThe Pentateuch

The Torah in the Jewish Tradition

• The Torah or “teaching” is the foundation of the Jewish faith.

• The rest of the Hebrew Scriptures flow from the Torah.

• Without the Torah, without the laws, there would be no story to tell of God’s chosen people.

• Jewish scholars and rabbis study the Torah word-by-word; their interpretations and insights are recorded in the Talmud.

GenesisCreation and stories of primeval times.Ancestors in faith.

ExodusStories of Moses, deliverance of the Hebrew People and the Law (10 Commandments.)

LeviticusBe holy as God is holy. Laws related to sacrifice, priests and religious feasts.

NumbersMore laws; wanderings in the desert on the way to Promised Land. Repeated unfaithfulness increases period of wandering.

DeuteronomyThe “second law.” Moses farewell at the borders of the Promised Land.

The Torah/Pentateuch is the foundation for all of Scripture: these five books are meant to be read as a whole. They tell the story of God’s plan for all humans.

HOW DO CATHOLICS READ SCRIPTURE?

Studying Scripture

Historical Approach

Theological Approach

Inspirational Approach

Studying Scripture

Historical ApproachThe Scriptures were not intended to be an historical record, but do have historical value.

Studying Scripture

Theological Approach:What does the Bible say about a specific issue of doctrine or theology?

Importance of reading as a whole.

Studying Scripture

Inspirational Approach:How can the Scriptures help me see the face of God and know his will for my life?

Baptism empowers us to study Scripture in this way.

Dei VerbumHow Catholics read and interpret Scripture:• For meaning• In context of entire Canon and Tradition of the Church• In view of the universe

Exegesis: critical, scholarly examination of a passage of the Bible to explain meaning.

Hermeneutics: using exegesis to ask what the text means for us today.

Catholics and Fundamentalists

Catholic Interpretation• The Bible is God’s word

written by humans.• Scripture and Tradition• Historical perspective is

necessary for interpretation.• Accepts scientific-critical

methods of interpretation• Read in context of Church

and community of faith in all centuries

Fundamentalist Interpretation• The Bible is God’s word.• Scripture alone (Sola

Scriptura)• Historical perspective is

unnecessary.• Rejects scientific-critical

methods of interpretation• Read individually and

personally.

GENESIS

Oral and written traditionJ: YahwistPOETStoryteller

E: ElohistPROPHETChallenger

P: PriestlyPRIESTLegislator

D: DeuteronomistPARENTSExhorter

10 or 9 century BCLove stories: God and his peopleEarthy language

after 900 BCStresses the role of the prophetStress on moralityCovenant is more important than kings

8 and 7 century BCStrong on ritualGod is distantPermanence of God’s covenantFormal style of writingArranged stories around 500 BC

8 and 7 century BCRole of family, very moralisticeloquent

10 Themes of Genesis• God created a world that is GOOD• God has blessed humans; they are GOOD• Humans tend to sin• But, God loves them anyway and shows mercy• God keeps his promises• The covenant binds humans and God• The Law is an expression of this covenant• Worship is praise; praise is thanksgiving.• We live in community because God wants us to do so.• God directs all of history.

Lessons from Genesis• All of our lives are part of God’s plan; we can know and

live this plan.• Prayer and daily life are guided by the same vision.• God is God; we are not.• Humans should try to be holy like God.• If we are holy, we must forgive and show compassion.• Life is a journey.• This journey requires trust in God.• We are from the earth. The Promised Land is our heritage.• Our faith begins in our homes.• Fill your life with prayer.

An Outline of Genesis• Preamble. The Creation of the World (1:1–2:3)• I. The Story of the Nations (2:4–11:26)

– The Creation of the Man and the Woman, Their Offspring, and the Spread of Civilization (2:4–4:26)

– The Pre-flood Generations (5:1–6:8)– The Flood and the Renewed Blessing (6:9–9:29)– The Populating of the World and Babel (10:1–11:9)– The Genealogy from Shem to Terah (11:10–26)

• II. The Story of the Ancestors of Israel (11:27–50:26)– The Story of Abraham and Sarah (11:27–25:18)– The Story of Isaac and Jacob (25:19–36:43)– The Story of Joseph (37:1–50:26)

Genesis Part I: Primeval History

• Creation • Sin• Evil overwhelms the world; God begins again

Genesis Part 2: Family HistoryThe Patriarchs– Abraham– Isaac– Jacob– Joseph

The Matriarchs– Sarah– Rebekah– Rachel,

Leah, Bilhah, Zilpah

Creation

And God saw it was good…• Heavens: light and darkness

are separated• Waters above and below

are separated• Land and water are

separated; vegetation • Sun, moon and stars• Birds and fish• Animals and humans

Adam and Eve• Garden is a place for humans

to work• Man names animals• Woman is created as a

helpmate, a partner• Cultivate and care for creation• Blessing of relationship

between male and female that leads to creation of more humans.

Sin

Adam and Eve• Tree of good and evil• Free will• Sin of disobedience• Cast out of “garden.”

Cain and Abel• Farmer and herder• Nomads v. settlers• fratricide

God continues to bless the people: Genesis 4 and 5 list the 10 patriarchs before Noah.

Sin and Blessing

• Noah and the flood• Tower of Babel

God continues to bless the people: Genesis 9 and 10 list all the nations of ancient Israel.

Abram

• Nomad– Concubine Hagar – son Ishmael– Wife, Sarai – childless– After Sarah’s death, remarries and has six sons.

CovenantLand of your ownDescendants that number as the stars

Abraham’s Journeys

Abraham and Sarah

Abraham is a descendant of Noah.Lot is his nephew.Hagar is banished with her son, Ishmael, afterSarah gives birth to Isaac

Isaac is wed to Rebekah (at the well)

Isaac and Rebekah

• Isaac is “red-headed.”– Twin sons: Esau (hunter) and Jacob (herder)– Jacob steals his brother’s birthright• Rebekah sends him to her brother, Laban.

Jacob/Israel

• Jacob works for Laban– Seven years for bride - • Leah• Rachel

- Twelve sons, one daughter- Wrestles an angel – becomes Israel

Jacob’s Journeys

Click icon to add picture

Children of Jacob

Some lessons from Genesis

• God works through women, the lowly, the imperfect.

• Because of their relationship with God, people become better people and are able to achieve great things in God’s name.

• Working through ordinary people, God’s plan is revealed.

QUESTIONS?

• Moses, Pharoah, Aaron and Miriam1

• Liberation and Freedom2

• The Law at Sinai 3

Class Two Overview:Exodus