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READING ASSIGNMENT

Explore the nature of biblical interpretation and the role of myths in the book of Genesis. Discuss the creation truths, existential distinctions, and the story of Adam and Eve. Reflect on Ryan and Pitman's arguments about Noah's flood.

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READING ASSIGNMENT

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  1. READING ASSIGNMENT For Tuesday – UCC pages 169-176 For Friday – UCC pages 184-191

  2. Comunicación y Gerencia THE BIBLE Religious Studies One – Unit 6 “The Hebrew Scriptures”

  3. STYLES & CRITICISMS

  4. OVERVIEW Bible – from Greek word “byblos” Who What Where When Why How

  5. WHO? The Ancient Israelites (Modern Judaism did not exist prior to the destruction of the Temple in 6th century B.C.)

  6. WHAT? • Salvation History – story of the Israelite relationship with God (NOT history the way we are used to from school) • God’s love for us as evidenced in the life and works of Jesus • The early mission to continue the presence of Jesus in our world

  7. WHERE? The Middle East At the “crossroads” between… Egypt Greco-Roman Europe/Asia Minor Persia/Syria Arabia/India

  8. WHEN? 2000 BC – 65 AD

  9. WHY? To codify and transmit the stories of God’s revelation concerning the three stories of salvation, Jesus, and mission.

  10. HOW? • The OT was organized between 800-100 BC • The NT was organized between 40-100 AD • Here’s how… • Canon – books considered to be a part of the Bible (OT closed in 1st century AD, NT closed in 5th century) • Canonicity requires inspiration, age, proper theology, and use • Translation – OT written in Hebrew and Aramaic, while NT written in Greek (Eventually both were translated into Greek, then Latin, then the vernacular)

  11. Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) Pentateuch (Torah) History Books Wisdom Literature Prophetic Books New Testament (Christian Scriptures) The Gospels Acts of the Apostles The Epistles (letters) Book of Revelation CONTENTS

  12. OT LITERARY STYLES • Myth – story meant to explain something that cannot otherwise be explained • Legend – story based in fact but exaggerated to demonstrate a point of faith or morality • Saga – collection of legends involving one character raised to the level of “epic” • Law – rules that the Israelites are supposed to obey in order to remain in God’s grace • Prophecy – variety of forms, including foretelling of events, messages from God, and warnings from prophets • Prayer – offerings to God usually requesting protection/ strength or offering thanksgivings or praising God • Song – lyric (musical) poetry used similarly to prayers

  13. NT LITERARY STYLES • Gospel – spiritual/salvation account of the life, works, and teachings of Jesus • Parable – anecdote (story) meant to teach lessons in plain and simple terms • Letters – communications between early Church leaders and the Christian communities throughout the early Church

  14. OT-NT LITERARY STYLES • Miracles – stories where the natural order is subverted to make a holy point • Apocalypse – stories relating symbolically to the “end times”

  15. INTERPRETATION • Literal – total fact with no interpretation • Literary – viewed as literature with interests in setting, plot, and character (a.k.a. Stylistic) • Historical – viewed as history with interest in actual events and evidence (a.k.a. Archeological/Scientific) • Cultural – viewed in light of the fact that The Bible is the product of a particular people in a particular place at a particular time (a.k.a. Contextual) • Mythographical – viewed within the symbolic framework of myth (a.k.a. Metaphorical) • Linguistic – interprets the language and translations in order to uncover “original” meaning • Theological – interpreted exclusively to support teachings of faith and morals

  16. RESPONSE PAPER 6A Explain which form of Biblical Interpretation you find the most helpful? What about the least helpful? What is the point of Biblical Interpretation?

  17. READING ASSIGNMENT For Tuesday – Genesis 1-3 For Friday – Genesis 4-11

  18. GENESIS & MYTH

  19. NATURE OF MYTH Myth is fundamental style of communication found in The Book of Genesis Myth – method of storytelling used by primitive peoples to make sense of their universe Myth contains nine essential elements

  20. ELEMENTS OF MYTH • Quest or journey (physical/spiritual) • Moral teaching • Role of gods/super-humans • Anthropomorphic non-humans (guides/ interpreters of the “natural” way) • Explanation of “greater truth” • Majick – subversion of natural order • Wise, sage figure • Use of symbol to convey meaning • Oppositional resolution (good/evil)

  21. CREATION TRUTHS God = Creator Creation = Ex Nihilo Humanity = Imago Dei

  22. EXISTENTIAL DISTINCTIONS • Light from Darkness • Sky from Water (2/5 elements) • Land from Sea (1/5 elements) • Sun and Moon (1/5 elements & “Time”) • Life from Non-Life (Fifth Element) • Human from Non-Human (reason, conscience, and free will)

  23. ADAM & EVE Eve is created from Adam, AND both are tempted by the “serpent” to disobey God THEREFORE… Adam and Eve are expelled from the Garden Man must toil and struggle to survive Woman will experience “labor” Serpent must slither on the ground

  24. IN SEARCH OF NOAH’S FLOOD Do Ryan and Pitman’s arguments convince you? Why or why not?

  25. CAIN & ABEL • Older brother (Cain) is jealous of younger brother (Abel) who is “practically perfect in every way” • Cain murders Abel in jealous rage • Cain dodges God’s questioning • God “marks” Cain and forces him to wander • Story explains first “true” sin • Provides other important moral lessons

  26. NOAH’S FLOOD • God is angered by his creation • He orders Noah to build and ark and rescue the animals before the flood comes • Flood waters destroy the Earth • After they recede, Noah (and his family) re-people the world • Story explains…How animal species come to live in strange places, Origins of “rainbow” and “salvation”, Origins of Divine attributes: Vengeful and Forgiving • The establishment of “first” covenant

  27. TOWER OF BABEL • People want to be closer to God so they begin constructing a great tower to heaven • God punishes this arrogance by giving each person a different language • Mythic Lessons…You can only be as close to God as God will allow, Provides explanation of where different languages come from, Provides explanation for the origin of the “Hanging Gardens”

  28. RESPONSE PAPER 6B Select one of the five stories from Genesis 1-11 Explain how this story fits into the categories of myth

  29. READING ASSIGNMENT Understanding Catholic Christianity Pages 59-7

  30. THE PATRIARCHS OF ISRAEL

  31. ABRAHAM • Remainder of Pentateuch tells the stories of Israel’s five patriarchs (founding fathers) • Abraham called by God from Ur to settle in Canaan • Abraham accepts and God promises to protect him (1st Covenant) • Begets Ishmael and Isaac ( 2nd covenant) • God tests Abraham’s faith with Isaac • Circumcision at Shechem (3rd covenant) • Abraham remains patriarch of all three western faiths

  32. JACOB • Jacob (the younger son) tricks Esau (the older son) out of his birthright by deceiving their father, Isaac • Jacob flees to stay and work for Uncle Laban Marries twice (Leah/Rachel) and has numerous children who eventually become known as the “12 tribes of Israel” • On his return to Esau to seek forgiveness, Jacob wrestles with an angel of God and is renamed “Israel” • Upon Jacob’s return, Esau welcomes him with great enthusiasm

  33. JOSEPH • Joseph (favored son of Jacob) is sold into slavery in Egypt by his jealous brothers • Turns up in jail for his rebuke of Potiphar’s wife where he in accurately interprets the dreams of two of Pharaoh's servants and the Pharaoh himself • Pharaoh is so impressed that Joseph is made a royal governor • During the famine, Jacob sends his sons to Egypt for food, where Joseph eventually forgives • Eventually, the descendents of these brothers are enslaved by the Egyptian government and remain so for 400 years

  34. MOSES • Moses was an Israelite slave who was spared Pharaoh’s death edict and raised in the royal household • Becomes an Egyptian prince of great distinction, but soon learns of his true heritage • While living with the slaves, Moses kills an Egyptian overseer before being banished • Moses settles and marries in Midian • Burning Bush informs Moses of his true ministry • Pharaoh will not release the slaves, hence the plagues (Passover) • After escaping Pharaoh (Red Sea Crossing), Moses leads the Israelites to Mt. Sinai and the Ten Commandments • As punishment for the Golden Calf, the Israelites must wander in the desert for 40 years

  35. READING ASSIGNMENT Exodus 1-20

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