Transcript Chapter 1
Essential Question 0Why is the Hebrew Scripture important to not only the Jews but also to Christians as well? I CAN: 1. Discover the organization of the Hebrew Scriptures 2. Explain important themes and literary devices in the Hebrew Scriptures 3. Evaluate the Jewish tradition of Biblical Interpretation 4. Analyze the role of the Tanakh in Jewish and in Christian Life Organization of the Jewish Bible 0Broken into three different sections: 1.Torah 2.Nevi’im 3.Ketuvim 1) Torah 0 First five books of the Hebrew Scripture 0 From the Hebrew word “teaching” 0 Greek word Pentateuch meaning “five parts” 0 Central teachings and laws of Judaism 0 In geologies has word “begat” which means “was the ancestor of” 2) Nevi’im 0 Second part of Hebrew Scriptures; from the word “Prophets” 0 Within Israel, prophets were the ones who spoke on behalf of God. 3) Ketuvim 0 Third and Final part of Hebrew Scripture; means “writings” 0 These books include many different writing themes and literary forms such as: prayers, poetry, and wise sayings. Hebrew Scriptures 0 The whole Hebrew Scriptures is known as the Tanakh (made up of initial sounds of the Hebrew words Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim 0 All share one consistent theme: the relationship between God and humans, especially the people of biblical Israel How Jews Read the Hebrew Scriptures 1. Plain Sense- (peshat) looks to the surface and meaning of text or words 2. Inquiring- (derash) looks deeper into the meaning, such as rabbi or minister 3. Allegorical- (remez) looks for parallels between the scriptural text and more abstract concepts 4. Mystical- (sod) biblical text as symbolic code that can bring hidden wisdom and personal connections Christians and the Hebrew Scriptures 0 Believe that the Hebrew Scriptures point to Jesus Christ and a new covenant established and recorded in the New Testament 0 Some call it Old Testament, while others call it Hebrew Scriptures The Name of God 0 Names carry enormous power within Hebrew tradition 0 Exodus 3:15- personal name of God revealed and is the most powerful and sacred of all 0 Christians translate it as Yahweh 0 Tetragrammation- four letters (YHWH) that make up the personal name of God Name of God Cont. 0 It was to only be spoken in the holy of holies, Hebrews substituted its name for Adonai (Lord) 0 Jehovah- vowel sounds of Adonai and consonants of Yahweh 0 Some religious people spell out G-d so as not to desecrate his name Other Hebrew Writings 0 Talmud- comprises both the Mishnah and Gemara, both oral law and later elaborations and commentaries 0 Midrash- A creative interpretation or exposition of the meaning of a biblical text Midrash Hebrew Scriptures in Jewish and Christian Life 0 Deuteronomy 6: 4-9- Moses’s farewell address, sum up the centrality of Hebrew Scriptures in Jewish identity, faith and daily life. 0 Jesus was a Jew 0 Most Christian liturgies (structured public worship) read from Hebrew texts and sing portion of psalms 0 Follow the Ten Commandments