Introduction to the Bible & NT Background

1. Welcome (back) to school
Foundations (Year Two)
“Encountering the New
Testament”
I will be your teacher!

2. What is the Bible
& how did we receive it?
biblos = a collection of (66) books
OT (Old/ 1st Testament) = 39 books
NT (New/ 2nd Testament) = 27 books
Approx. 40 different authors
In 3 languages: Hebrew, Aramaic & Greek
…over c.1500 years
…& don’t forget about the Apocrypha
(14 extra “hidden” inter-testamental books)

3. INSPIRATION
“Inspiration is the mysterious process by which
the Word of God & the word of mankind
combined to produce the original autographs
(manuscripts) of the Bible. The result was a
fully authoritative & trustworthy revelation.”
Key verses: 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21 & Heb. 4:12

4. (Christian) theories of inspiration
 Neo-Orthodox  God's word speaks
through it
 Dictation  God uses authors
only as instruments
 Limited  God protected some
inspiration (the kernel) of it
 Verbal/ plenary  God breathed out
each part & all of it
inspiration (every “jot & tittle”)

5. Authority
Creation
GOD Jesus
Scripture
The message:
God made, God loves, God saves…our world.

6. CANON
“Art is limitation: the essence
of every picture is the frame”
GK Chesterton “Orthodoxy” 1908.

7. Canon
Derived from Heb. kaneh (a reed)?
From ancient Greek κανον (rod, measuring
stick)
…later used in Greek for a standard or rule.
Philo of Alexandria (20 BCE – 50 CE): uses the
term κανον to refer to the “rule of truth”
First used by the Church fathers from the time of
Irenaeus (115/ 120 -178 CE )
(ie. kanon of the church…of the truth…of faith)

8. NT references to κανον
“As for those who follow this rule (κανον) –
peace be upon them, and mercy upon the
Israel of God.” (Gal. 6:16 NASV)
“Let us keep living by that same standard
(κανον) to which we have attained.”
(Phil. 3:16 NASV)

9. Canon – a definition
“Canon serves as a road marker of biblical
authority by serving as the rule of Scripture.
Canon both reflects the theological shaping
of Scripture and sets the boundaries for the
interpretation of Scripture as the Word of
God by communities of faith.” (Charles
Scalise
From Scripture to Theology , p.72)

10. Canon as a set boundary
2 Cor. 10:13 We will not boast about things done outside
our area of authority. We will boast only about what has
happened within the boundaries of the work God has
given us, which includes our working with you. 14 We are
not reaching beyond these boundaries when we claim
authority over you, as if we had never visited you. For we
were the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good
News of Christ.
15 Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone
else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so
that the boundaries of our work among you will be
extended. 16 Then we will be able to go and preach the
Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one
else is working. Then there will be no question of our
boasting about work done in someone else’s territory.”
(NLT)

11. Guiding principles
ALWAYS read a text…
Within it’s context
In light of the big picture (great narrative)
Listening to what others have said
Recognizing your limitations
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of
any private interpretation" (NKJV)
"But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is
a matter of one's own interpretation" (2 Peter 1:20)

12. A Text…
 …is contained within  …is contained within
 A sentence  A manuscript,
 A paragraph scroll (or a codex)
 A chapter  A collection
 A book (of writings)
 A testament
 A collection
 A canon
 A volume
(measuring reed)

13. OT Canon
The Law
The Scriptures
The Prophets
“it stands
written”
The Writings
γεγραπται
“The Law & the Prophets”
Jesus said “All things that were written about me in
the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms must
be fulfilled.” Luke 24:44

14. What about the New Testament?
Life of Jesus
From 4 perspectives (cf. Luke 1:1-4)
Holy Spirit, People of God, Mission of God
History of the Church (cf. Acts 1:1-2)
Pastoral Letters (x21)
Vision of the end (Apocalyptic)
“all scripture”: 2 Tim. 3:16 & Rev.22:18-19

15. NT Canon
The NT written in just under 50 yrs. 45-95 CE
 Who? (Apostolic authority)
 When? (1st century/ lifetime of Apostles)
 What? (Apostolic message - Acts 2)
 How? (Reception by the Church)
 First complete listing of all 27 books:
Athanasius’ Easter letter 367 CE
 So then, why did it take so long?

16. Possible reasons
Keeping in mind all were in use from times of
Church Fathers (Irenaeus q. 21 out of 27)
A divided church (East & West)
Caution (ensure we get it right)
Opposition & difficulty in communication
The circulation of various books (& collections) in
different places
There could have been more collections in
circulation that we realize!
God accommodates to our humanity
Canon emerged in reaction to false writings

17. Criteria in the selection process
 Apostolic Origin — attributed to and based
on the preaching/teaching of the first gene-
ration apostles (or their close companions).
 Universal Acceptance — acknowledged by
all major Christian communities in the ancient

world (by the end of the 4th century).
 Liturgical Use — read publicly when early
Christian communities gathered for the Lord's

Supper (their weekly worship service).
 Consistent Message — containing a
theological outlook similar or complementary
to other accepted Christian writings.

18. …or to put it another way
Was it…
Written by a reputable leader from God?
Recognized by men of God (accepted by
leaders of the covenant people of God)?
Collected, preserved and used by the people
of God? (Deut. 31:26; 2 Tim. 3:14; 4:13)?
Inspired by the Spirit of God (ie. does it have
the ring of truth/ would God say this)?

19. Did the NT authors know they were writing
Scripture?
2 Tim. 4:13? Paul’s final word
(“bring…the scrolls & the parchments”)
2 Peter 3:16? Peter’s final
word
(…“the other scriptures”)
Rev. 22:18-19? John’s final word
(“the prophecy of this book…do not add …or
take away”)

20. Jesus’ attitude to Scripture
His scripture was the Torah (the Law & the Prophets)
He… read it,
“People do not
memorized it,
live on bread
quoted it,
alone, but on
preached & taught it. every word that
He… loved it, comes from the
“fed” on it, mouth of God.”
used it, (Matt 4:4/ Luke
lived it 4:4, q. Deut. 8:3)
& fulfilled it.

21. Types of writing in the NT
Historical narrative Acts
Laws Sermon on the
mount; Jas. 1:25
Poetry & song Phil. 2; Rev. 5
Parables & sayings Matt. 13
Prophecy
Matt. 24; Rev.
(& Apocalyptic)
Biography 4 Gospels
Paul, Peter, John,
Letters James & Jude

22. TRANSMISSION
How the Bible came to us
HEBREW/ ARAMAIC
SEPTUAGINT/ NT (GREEK)
LATIN (VULGATE) 405
(JOHN WYCLIFFE) C.1320-1384
(WILLIAM TYNDALE) 1494-1536
MODERN CATHOLIC
BIBLES KING JAMES VERSION 1611
MODERN VERSIONS

23. Modern versions/ translations
RV 1881 NIV 1978
ASV 1901 NKJV 1982
RSV 1952 / rev. 1971 (New Jerusalem)
NEB 1970 1985
NCV 1986
(NAB 1986/ rev.
1992) NRSV 1989
NASB 1963 CEV 1995
Amplified 1965 (rev. ASV) NLT 1996
(Jerusalem 1966) ESV 2001
LB 1971 The Message 2002
GNB 1974 / rev. 1993 TNIV 2005

24. Hermeneutics
(principles of interpretation)
Lit… to translate, explain, interpret
Two classic examples:
Ezra (Ezra 7:6, 10; Nehemiah 8:1-8)
Jesus (Luke 24:27, 45; Luke 10:21)

25. Anselm (of Canterbury)
" I do not seek to understand that I
may believe, but I believe that I may
understand. For this too I am
persuaded, that unless I first believe,
I shall not understand.“
1033-1109 CE

26. Jesus (the key to interpretation)
“Nor does his (the Father) word dwell in
you, for you do not believe the one he
sent. You diligently study the Scriptures
because you think that by them you
possess eternal life. These are the
Scriptures that testify about me, yet you
refuse to come to me to have life.”
John 5:38-40

27. Process of interpretation
Scripture (inspired & authoritative)
Hermeneutics (principles, practice & discipline)
Exegesis (lit. to dig out = to study for truth)
Theology Lifestyle
(what we believe) (how we live)

28. Three steps Three gaps
(to interpretation) (of interpretation)
The author History
The text Language
(or message)
The reader Culture
(recipient)

29. 4 basic steps (for Bible study)
2. Interpretation
(What does it mean?)
3. Comparison 1. Observation
(How does it correlate?) (What does it say?)
4. Application
(How does it affect our lives?)

30. Role of the Holy Spirit
Inspires authors to Reveals to the reader
write the text through the text
"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes,
he will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13)

31. Remember the role of the Canon
“Let scripture interpret scripture”
Interpret the text in light of the whole
Interpret the OT in light of the NT
(& vice versa)
“The new is in the old concealed –
the old is in the new revealed”

32. Basic tools
 A good translation (formal vs. dynamic equivalent)
 Other translations (for comparison)
 Interlinear Bible (Heb/Eng. Gk/Eng.)
 Concordance (online or software = easiest)
 Dictionary/ Encyclopedia (NBD; ISBE)
 Atlas (or good maps)
 Commentaries (background, culture, theology)
www.biblegateway.com

33. AUTHORITY- Can we trust the NT
Internal evidence (eye-witnesses)
Peter (Mark) Luke 1:2; 2 Peter 1:16;
Matthew 1 John 1:1-3
John (5 books)
James & Jude (brothers of Jesus)
Paul (Luke)
 Continuity with and fulfillment of the OT
External evidence
(manuscripts & secular sources)

34. How many manuscripts are there?
• Approximately 5,000 Greek manuscripts
• 8,000 manuscript copies of the Vulgate (Latin
translation of the Bible by Jerome from 382-405 CE).
• More than 350 copies of Syriac Bible
(Christian Aramaic version of the NT).
These originated from 150-250 CE; most of the
copies are from the 400’s.

35. How early?
John Rylands fragment: about 117-138 CE
- was found in Egypt & contains John 18:31-33, 37-38.
Chester Beatty manuscript: 200 CE
- contains large portions of the NT.
Codex Sinaiticus: 340 or 350 CE
- contains the NT and ½ of OT.
Codex Vaticanus: 325-350 CE
- contains the NT and Greek version of OT.

36. “John Rylands
fragment”
John 18:31-33
& 37-38.
c.117-130 CE

37. By comparison
Writing Date written # of copies Interval
Caesar “Gallic wars” (50 BC) 10 950 yrs.
Pliny “History” (100 CE) 7 750 yrs.
Tacitus “Annals” (100 CE) 20 1000yrs.
NT (50-100 CE) 5000+ 50 yrs.

38. The Message
“Promise & fulfillment”
The kingdom (reign) of God
OT (shadow) NT (now & not yet)

39. Relationship between OT & NT
 Promise Fulfillment
 Shadow (Type) Substance
 Law (Moses) Grace (Jesus)
 (Old) Covenant (New) Covenant
 Sacrifice & Once for all sacrifice
offerings (Jesus to God)
 Priesthood All are priests
 Kings (David) King (son of David)
 Nation Nations
 Land Earth

40. NT development of OT themes
The kingdom of God (Dan. 2:44; 7:13-14)
New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-33)
Judgment & Salvation
Victory (over God’s enemies)
People of God (filled with the Spirit) – Ezek. 37
Temple (worship) & Torah (instruction)
Messianic hope (Dan. 9; Is. 40-55)
New Creation (Is. 65-66)

41. The land
God’s people
…in God’s land
…ruled by God’s king
…acc. to God’s law

42. Political & religious
background

43. Political background to the NT
 The return under the Persians (539 BC)
 Conquest (& rule under the Greeks)
 Conflict with the Syrians
 Maccabean revolt (& independence)
 Domination of Rome
 Rise of Herod the Great
 Jewish response resist
withdraw
or compromise

44. Between the testaments (400 “silent years”)
Cyrus II - Darius III 539 (458, 445) BCE
Alexander (the Great) 331 BCE
Ptolemy Seleucus
Antiochus (Epiphanes) 167 BCE
Hasideans Hasmoneans
Pharisees Freedom fighters
Mattathias
164 BC Judas Maccabeus Jonathan Simon
John Hyrcanus
Aristobulus Alexander = Salome
Hyrcanus Aristobulus
Rome Pompey 63 BCE

45. The Herodians
Esau (Edomites/ Idumeans)
Antipater (Gov. of Judea) 47-43 BCE
Herod (the Great) 37-4 BCE
Aristobulus Philip Antipas Archelaus
Herod Agrippa I
Herod Agrippa II

46. Edom (Edomites/ Idumeans)
"I have loved you," says the LORD.
But you ask, "How have you loved us?"
"Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" the LORD says.
"Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated,
and I have turned his mountains into a
wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert
jackals." Edom may say, "Though we have
been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins."
But this is what the LORD Almighty says:
"They may build, but I will demolish. They will
be called the Wicked Land, a people always
under the wrath of the LORD."
(Malachi 1:2-4 cf. Genesis 25; Numbers 20)

47. Religious background to NT
 Priests & Scribes
 Pharisees
 Sadducees
 Essenes (Qumran)
 Zealots
 Herodians (Edomite/ Idumean)
 Samaritans (mixed race)

48. Response of Judaism
Hasmonean Hasidim Herodian
Revolt Religion/ Torah Compromise
Maccabees Pharisees (Idumean) Kings
Freedom- “separated -ones” Herod the Great
fighters
Independence Essenes Sadducees
A purified “last
Zealots & Sicarii
days” community

49. What sort of people were they?
People of the torah Pharisees
People of the sword Zealots
People of deception Herodians
People of the last days Essenes

50. People of the Torah
The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers,
singers, temple servants and all who separated
themselves from the neighboring peoples for the
sake of the Law of God, together with their wives
and all their sons and daughters who are able to
understand- all these now join their brothers the
nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and
an oath to follow the Law of God given
through Moses the servant of God and to obey
carefully all the commands, regulations and
decrees of the LORD our Lord. (Neh. 10:28-30)

51. People of the sword
1 O LORD my God, I take refuge in you;
save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
2 or they will tear me like a lion
and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
6 Arise, O LORD, in your anger;
rise up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake, my God; decree justice.
7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you.
Rule over them from on high;
11 God is a righteous judge,
a God who expresses his wrath every day.
12 If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he makes ready his flaming arrows. PSALM 7

52. People of deception
“In those days there was no king in Israel, but every
one did that which was right in their own eyes.”
Judges 17:6
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the
end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12; 16:25
The LORD said… "Do not consider his appearance or his
height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not
look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the
outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the
heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

53. People of the last days
"See, I will send my messenger, who will
prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the
Lord you are seeking will come to his temple;
the messenger of the covenant, whom you
desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.
“But who can endure the day of his coming? Who
can stand when he appears? For he will be like
a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit
as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify
the Levites & refine them like gold and silver”
(Mal.3:1-3)

54. Expectation of a new day/ age
Then those who feared the LORD talked with each
other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll
of remembrance was written in his presence concerning
those who feared the LORD and honored his name.
"They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day
when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare
them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who
serves him. And you will again see the distinction
between the righteous and the wicked, between those
who serve God & those who do not."
( Mal. 3:16-18)
"But for you who revere my name, the sun of
righteousness will rise with healing in its wings."
(Mal. 4:2 cf. Luke 1:78)

55. The Forerunner
"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that
great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will
turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the
hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will
come and strike the land with a curse." (Mal. 4:5-6)
"Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the
Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in
the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of
the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the
wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people
prepared for the Lord.“ (Luke 1:16-17)