sacred scripture

7/29/2019 Sacred Scripture

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Chapter Two: SACRED SCRIPTURES

Stories of Life and Faith
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OBJECTIVES:

Discern of Gods message in our daily

experiences through reflective reading of theScriptures.

Understand and appreciate the significance ofthe Scriptures as the living Word of God andits relevance in our everyday experience


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I. MeaningII. OriginIII. Nature of the BibleIV. Methods in interpreting the

Scripture.

V. Conclusion


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Our personal and communal experiences,

as collective memory, are significant part ofour live. They link our past with the presentand give meaning and values to our human

existence.


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As community , we gather strength and courage in

remembering our shared experiences, mostespecially the realization of common aspiration anddreams


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In our collective memories, we recall eventsand persons who play significant roles inthese shared experiences such as nationalevents, natural calamities, and the like.


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The stories in the Bible share to us the

experiences of people who have placed theirtrust and confidence in God and Hisliberating promise of salvation.

.


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Sacred Scripturesare stories inspired by the peoples experienceof God. It is a record of how the peopleresponded to, remembered, and interpretedsuch experience.


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The Bible then, was written by persons whohad an experiences of God guided by the

inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it was writtenfor the people of God searching for theauthenticity of human life


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Bible is a series of faith expression, that is , a

confession of faith in God.

The term Bible is derived through Latin fromthe Greek biblia,or books, the diminutiveform of byblos, the word for papyrus orpaper, which was exported from the ancient

Phoenician port city of Biblos.

.


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In true sense the Bible is not just a book but a libraryof books in which recorded the gradual unfolding of

the Divine revelation and Divine Plan for humanity


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Strictly speaking , a book of history, nor is it a science

textbook or text

It is a religious book that uses religious language.

Religious language is by nature is symbolic and iftaken literally, the message mayBecome obscured or even appear absurd.


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Oral tradition (source)The Sacred Scripture did not just come as a writtentext some parts of it were also intended to be spoken,

preached, proclaimed and even sung.

Jewish called it miqra from the verb qara whichmeans to, to call out or proclaim


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Written tradition (source)

The oral tradition handed down from

generation to generation until theywere put down in writing.


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These Oral and written source were actual events andexperience of people; incidents occasioned andhappening.

This happening gives meaning or determined the kindof literature we have in the Bible .


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The decisive events in the life of the peopleof Israel in their relationship with God.

From these decisive events, we can trace

the origin of the different types ofliterature

In the Bible such, as poetry, legal

documents, psalms, letters, myths, andproverbs.


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DEVELOPMENT

1. Events and Experiences( Sitz im leben )

2. Oral Tradition3. Written Tradition4. Edited Tradition5. The Canon


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The people of Old and New Testament cameto know God through WHAT GOD DID

People remembered those encounterswith God, reflect on them,

committed them to memory, andtransmitted them to succeedinggenerations through stories, rituals and

celebration.


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By understanding the whole process, we seethat the BIBLE is not merely an ancientdocument that was written once and for all.

It evolved as Gods living expression Of His love for His chosen people who as also

evolved from expressing their own national

concern to display a concern for universalsalvation.


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1. Masoretic Text

2. Dead Sea Scrolls

3. Septuagint


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Masoretic Text Hebrew masar, to handdown (traditional). The traditional Hebrewtext of the Bible, dated 930-1009 AD.

Consists of 39 books (can be traced to theJewish rabbis who were the successors of thePharisees during the time of Jesus.


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Dead Sea Scrolls Found in 1947 atQumran cave, oldest manuscripts ofthe Bible, 100 BC 100 AD. The only

complete scroll is ISAIAH, the restare fragments. Can be traced to theEssenes.


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Septuagint Greek version of the Hebrewtext, earlier than the Dead Sea Scrolls.Septuagint, 70 rounded number of the

legendary 72 translators (dated 300 250BC, actual composition). Earliestmanuscripts dated 100 400 AD. Has 46

books.


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The two major parts of the Bible

1. The Old Testament/ Hebrew Scriptures

written tradition of the Jewish people,largely written in Hebrew, which began to becollected and written about 1000 BCE.

.


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2. The New Testament/Christian Scriptures Acollection of selected traditions of the early ChristianChurch written within about 100 years of the death ofChrist. Believed to be inspired by God, and therefore

constituting authentic revelation.

Testament from the Latin word testamentum,

which means a close covenant. A close bond betweenGod and His people


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Old Testament records the story of how Israel was chosenfrom all nations to become the covenanted people of God. Itunderlines the disobediences and infidelity of Israel to the

covenant in the face of unfailing love and fidelity of God.

The New Testament tells of the establishment of a

new and final covenant, opened to all mankind, andsealed by the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.


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The Testaments, though distinct, areintegral. The New Testament is thedefinitive fulfillment of Gods loving

purpose for humankind from thebeginning which was initially realizedthrough Israel in the Old Testament.


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THE OLD TESTAMENTthe Jews call the SacredScripture TaNaKsection of theirBible. TaNaKis an acronym that

stands for Torah(Law) Nebiim (Prophets), andKethubin (writings)

Pentateuch( or the Law) orTorah, comes from the Greekword pente which means fiveand teuxos which means case


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The Law another name for the Torah.Gives a rule of life derived from Godsrequirements in the covenant, the divineguidance for living.

Pentateuch the first five books of theBible providing the earliest tradition of

the Israelite people, and revered by themas representing Gods special teaching andguidance.


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1. Genesis from beginning and ends up thedeath of Joseph in Egypt.

a. Chapters 1-11 human beings loving

relationship at the beginning oflife, of how a broken relationshipwith Him occurred, and the firstpromise of deliverance made byGod.


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b. Chapters 12-50 How God, through Abraham and

Sarah and their descendants, took the initial stepin the saving plan for His people; ends withstories on life of the Israelites in Egypt, and thedeath of Joseph.


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2. Exodus- the story of liberation thatmarks the birth of Israelites as a nation

3. Leviticus- the books of laws consistmainly on religious ceremonies onworship and on family relationship

and community life.


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4. Numbers- gives the account of Israel s 40years of complains and discontent as theywander through the desert.

5. Deuteronomy- means the second law. Itcontains Moses speeches on the eve of hisdeath.


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The Historical Books How the people lived out the demands of the

covenant

The ups and downs of Israels living out thepromises they made in the covenant

Books written after the exile (Ruth, Esther, Judith,and Tobit) relate stories of Jewish piety which

bolstered the spirits of the people trying to rebuildtheir shattered lives after the return from exile inBabylon.


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The Writings

Israel reflects on human life in the light of eachfaith

Offers religious insights into human behavior

Wrestles with a deep human question the

problem of suffering.

h l k


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The Historical Books

2. Judges3. Ruth

4. 1 Samuel

5. 2 Samuel6. 1 Kings

7. 2 Kings

8. 1 Chronicles

9. 2 Chronicles

10. Ezra

1. Joshua 11. Nehemiah


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14. Judith

15. Esther16. 1 Maccabees

17. 2 Maccabees

13. Tobit


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18. Job19. Psalms

20. Proverbs21. Ecclesiastes

22. Song of Songs

23. Wisdom24. Sirach

The Wisdom Books


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The Prophetical Books

26. Jeremiah

27. Lamentations

28. Baruch

29. Ezekiel30. Daniel

31. Hosea

32. Joel33. Amos

34. Obadiah

25. Isaiah


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36. Micah37. Nahum

38. Habakkuk

39. Zephaniah

40. Haggai

41. Zechariah

42. Malachi

35. Jonah


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1. Tobit

2. Judith3. Wisdom4. Sirach

5. Baruch6. 1 Maccabess7. 2 Maccabees

Th G t L f F ith L ft b th


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The Great Legacy of Faith Left by theHebrew Scriptures

1. There is but one God (YHWH He Who Is)

2. YHWH is a saving God who enters in our history

3. YHWH acts in human history, and the history ofIsrael is a history of God acting in the world

4. YHWH has taken the initiative to establish a close

personal relationship with the people.

5. The law of God is essential to the covenant.


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Eight Tips about the Canonical Arrangement of the NT (to

help you learn the correct order of the 27 NT books):

The 27 books of the New Testament

areNOTlisted in chronologicalorder(the order in which they were writtenhistorically); several otherprinciples

were operative.


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The overall order begins with the life ofJesus (four Gospels), then deals with thebeginnings and expansion of the Church

(Acts), then addresses particular issues andproblems in early Christianity (Letters,Epistles), and finally focuses on theEschaton or "End Times"(as describedsymbolically in the Book of Revelation).


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The four Gospels are listed in what was

traditionally regarded as their chronologicalorder (i.e., Matthew was thought to be the oldestGospel); most scholars today, however, believethatMarkwas the first written Gospel (or at leastthe oldest of the four canonical Gospels in their

full versions, as we know them today).


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TheActs of the Apostles was

originally the second volume of Luke'stwo-volume work; but when the fourGospels were grouped together, Acts

was placed after John


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The Pauline Letters (written by, or atleast attributed to Paul) are divided intotwo sub-groups: those written to

communities and those addressed toindividuals; within each sub-group, theletters are arranged not in chronologicalorder, but rather in decreasing order oflength (more or less, although Galatians isslightly shorter than Ephesians).


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The anonymous "Letter to the Hebrews"comes immediately after the Pauline lettersbecause people usedto think it too was

written by Paul; it may have been writtenby one of his followers, but was almostcertainlynotwritten by Paul himself.


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The Catholic or General Epistles are also

listed in decreasing order of length,although letters attributed to the sameapostle are grouped together.


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The Book of Revelation (singular!not "Revelations"!) closes out the NTcanon, since it concludes with a

description of the end of time (NewHeavens, New Earth, New Jerusalem,etc.).

Ten Stages of NT Formation and


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Ten Stages of NT Formation andTransmission

1. The Historical Jesus - words are spoken and deedsare performed by Jesus himself during his lifetime onearth

2. Oral Tradition - traditions and beliefs about Jesus

are developed and passed on by early Christiancommunities.

3. Written Sources - some of the miracles and/orsayings of Jesus are compiled and recorded in early

written documents.


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4. Written Texts - individual letters, full Gospels, etc.,are written with particular messages for particularsituations.

5. Distribution - some writings are copied and shared

with other Christian communities throughout theMediterranean.

6. Collection - certain Christians begin collecting theletters of Paul and gathering together several

different Gospels.


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7. Canonization - four Gospels, severalcollections of letters, and a few other textsare accepted as authoritative scriptures.

8. Translation - biblical texts are translatedinto ever more ancient and modern

languages: Latin, Syriac, Coptic,Armenian, etc.


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9. Interpretation - the meaning of the scriptures isinvestigated on various levels: literal, spiritual,historical, social, etc.

10. Application - communities and individuals use theNT for practical purposes: liturgical, moral,sacramental, theological, etc.

Four Criteria for Canonicity(why certain books were


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y yeventually accepted into the NT Canon, while others wererejected):

1. Apostolic Origin- attributed to and/or based on thepreaching/teaching of the first-generation apostles(or their closest companions).

1. Universal Acceptance- acknowledged by all majorChristian communities in the Mediterranean world(by the end of the fourth century).


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4. Liturgical Use- read publicly along with the OTwhen early Christians gathered for the Lord's Supper(their weekly worship services).

5. Consistent Message- containing theological ideascompatible with other accepted Christian writings(incl. the divinityandhumanity Jesus).


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The New Testament: Gospels

The Gospels are not biographies; they do

not pretend to be accurate history.

They were written in the light of the

resurrection experience.


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The early Christian community, theChurch, is an important factor in theproduction of the Gospels

Each Gospel bears the distinctive markof of its human writer a distinctive

theology, a distinctive style, a distinctiveagenda.


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Gospelsare summaries ofthe Jesus memories

1. Mark (written about 70 A.D)2. Matthew (written about 80-90

A.D)3. Luke (written about 85-95 A.D)4. John (written about 95-100A.D)


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The first three Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and

Luke) are called the Synoptic Gospels (Greeksynoptikos,viewing at a glance) because theyprovide the same general view of the life andteaching of Jesus.They narrate almost the same incidents, oftenagreeing in the order of events, and use similarphrasing. In many instances they use identical

phrasing.


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Acts of the Apostles

Was written by Luke. Ittells how earlyDisciples led by the spirit

and commissioned byChrist preached theGood News both the Jewishand Gentiles communities.


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Saint Paul (circa AD 3-62), the greatest missionary

of Christianity and its first

theologian, called Apostle to

the Gentiles. Writing of Paulmeant as replies to question

coming from particular

communities or clarification

of problems pertaining to

doctrines or moral behavior

Epistles of Paul


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Romans1Corinthians

2 CorinthiansGalatiansPhilippiansPhilemon

1 ThessaloniansEphesians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy

2 TimothyTitusColossians


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Out these 13 epistles, only seven according to scholars weregenuinely Pauline writing. The other six is attributed to Paulby other authors who were believed to be companions anddisciples.

Catholic Epistles are addressed to the wholeChurch and not just to particular Christiancommunities.

JamesJude

1 Peter2Peter1John2John

3John


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The Letter to the HebrewsWas probably written by Apollos (cf. Acts 18:24-18)which

accounts the thought of Paul during the last month of his lifein prison in Rome.

Book of RevelationWas written by John at a time when Christians were beingPersecuted because of their faith in Jesus Christ as a Lord.

Interpreting the Stories in the


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Interpreting the Stories in theScriptures

The reading of the Sacred Scripture requirescareful and meaningful interpretation. In the

encyclical of Pope Pius XII in 1943, DivinoAffante Spiritu, he gave the biblical scholars thefreedom to use the methods of historico-critical

scholarship in reading and interpreting thebible.


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Science of Biblical Interpretation

Exegesis-ex, out of; ago, to lead; sis, a process

-exegesis: the process of leading the meaning from a text

-eisegesis: putting of ones own meaning into a text

-exegesis: reading and understanding the Bible in the waythat the author intends the text to be read

- eisegesis: interpreting the text in the way that the readerunderstands it.


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Mark 3:34 35If we take the meaning out of the text, thenthe kind of relationship here that Jesushimself is indicating is a spiritualrelationship in terms of doing the will ofGod.


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When I consider that Jesus is referring to his physical brothers andsisters, then I am imposing my own meaning to the words of Jesuswhich was not meant by the text. In fact, in the previous verse ofMark 3:33, Jesus questions the physical meaning of mother and

brothers by saying, Who are my mother and my brothers?

TEXTUAL CRITICISM


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TEXTUAL CRITICISMThe study of the different ancient manuscripts of the Bible todetermine the original text from the different variations presentedby the manuscripts.


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Mark 16

There are 4 endings in the gospel of Mark First Ending (verses 1-8)

Second Ending (verses 9-20)

Another ending omits verses 9-20, but adds a verse in

which the women reported back to Peter and hiscompanions who are then credited as continuing Jesusproclamation of eternal salvation.

Another ending adds a different verse which constitutes

the defeat of Satan and Jesus promise of justification inheaven.


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Mark 16

Different endings are actually different variationsoffered by different manuscripts.

The original ending was in verse 8 where the wholegospel concludes with the women fleeing from thetomb, and saying nothing to anyone because of theirgreat fear.

Some copyists could not reconcile the suspense ofMarks Gospel with their background about theresurrection appearances in the other Gospels.

They simply summarized these appearances to give afitting conclusion to the Gospel.


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LITERARY CRITICISM Determines the type of literature of a text and the

form or way by which it is expressed.

Examples of literary forms

Myths stories w/c express a basic truth about life,or a structure of reality in narrative form

Epics heroic, grand, majestic and imposingaccounts of events, the life of a nation, or of anindividual historical hero


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Elegies poems/songs of lament, with amournful contemplative tone

Psalms prayers of adoration, petition,

thanksgiving, and contrition written in poeticform.

Proverbs in declarative form that set forth a

principle or truth concerning persons or materialthings.


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Poetry written in verse, characterized by beauty,imagination, and profundity of message

Parables concise and simple stories told to call forthjudgment on the part of the reader

Letters written message sent to a person or a groupconcerning matters of ordinary or special concern.

Sermon speeches w/c exhort people to belief, moralaction, and true worship in God


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SOURCE CRITICISM

One must have knowledge of the historical background of thetext, and an analytical mind to see the different styles andexpressions within the same text
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The Pentateuch/Torah were not written by just one writer, but ratherfrom four basic sources. These sources are called traditions, i.e.,different times and schools of writers that handed down the text.

The value of this concept about the Pentateuch which is also called asthe documentary theory is that it helps us understand the process of

how the final written text came about. Apparent contradictions in thetext can be understood more clearly as distinct elements of differentschools of storytellers or different traditions.
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REDACTION CRTICISM

- Study of the way a the text was edited, and how itdevelops according to the editors final point of

view.


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Jesus was born in a house (Matthew 2:11) Jesus was born in a manger (Luke 2:7)

Taken out of context, the passage of Matthew mightseem to contradict another passage of Luke.

Considered in context, the point of view of Matthew is To present Jesus with a royal dignity

Luke presented him in

His compassion for the poor.

PENTATEUCHAL TRADITIONS


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YAHWIST(J)-A marvelous storyteller, very vivid,

concrete, and full of imagery-God as a human person (anthromorphism)

ELOHIST (E)


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ELOHIST (E)-Less vivid, less concrete-The inaccessible God who reveals himself

through dreams-Very interested in moral questions, and has adeveloping sense of sin

DEUTERONOMIST (D)


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DEUTERONOMIST (D) Very emotional; to convince people that they

should obey

Contained above all in Deuteronomy, but hasinfluenced other books

PRIESTLY (P)D ft fi d li t


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-Dry, often uses figures and lists

-Technical vocabulary that has something to do with

thecult

-Uses genealogies, important for exiled people to

retracetheir roots


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READING THE SACRED

SCRIPTURES TODAY

1. The present day life experiences of the

people (pretext)

2.Knowledge on the text (scientificexegesis)

3.The faith of the Church (context)

sacred scripture

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