Exploring the Old Testament: MIDTERM EXAM
According to class lecture, the "____________" is the major crisis of the Old Testament story (i.e. it was NEVER supposed to happen, but did.)
"Exile."
According to class lecture, the "____________" is the key event of the Old Testament.
"Exodus."
The first 11 chapters of Genesis are known by biblical scholars as the "____________. ____________."
"Primeval Narrative."
Define "telescoping."
"Telescoping"—literary feature of "zooming in" on the chronological pace and detail of the story.
According to class ,lecture, divine transcendence is classified as "_____________" and "____________."
"otherness" and "boundless."
According to class lecture, the two creation accounts provide a balanced description of God's character, as both "____________" and "____________." ***IMPORTANT!
"transcendent" and "immanent."
Define "Code of Hammurabi."
- A Babylonian King Hammurabi (Early 18th Century BCE) - Discovered in 1901 - Akkadian Language (Cuneiform Script) - Laws codes are similar to Covenant Code in Exodus 20:22-23:33
Identify the 4 MAIN concepts associated with the Ancestral Narrative. ***IMPORTANT!
1. God establishes a covenant of blessing with Abraham. 2. The divine promise is continually threatened. 3. God continually reassures humans of the promise of divine blessing. 4. God continually works to bring about the fulfillment of the promise, often despite human actions.
Identify the two concepts associated with the Primeval Narrative and God's divine providence.
1. Guidance through the consequences of sin 2. Mitigation of the consequences of sin
Identify the 3 MAIN concerns scholars have regarding the Old Testament.
1. Historical: The setting and events described in the Old Testament 2. Canonical: The development of the Old Testament canon 3. Theological: Inspiration of Scripture
Identify the 5 MAIN problems that result from the Fall (Genesis 3).
1. Humans, as part of creation, have boundaries, limits, and elements of order. 2. Humans want to be God. 3. God cannot and will not yield unlimited authority to creation. 4. Humans reject God's will/judgement and transgress those boundaries. 5. Disaster ensues (i.e. sin if a transgression of creaturely boundaries.)
List the 10 Commandments.
1. I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me. 2. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. 3. Remember to keep holy the LORD'S Day. 4. Honor your father and your mother. 5. You shall not kill. 6. You shall not commit adultery. 7. You shall not steal. 8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. 10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
Identify the 2 MAIN concepts of the creation narrative.
1. It depicts the nature of the divine-human relationship. 2. It depicts the relational character of the human community.
Explain/identify the 3 MAIN characteristics of the "Cairo Manuscript."
1. It is believed to have been written around 800 C.E. 2. It was acquired by Abraham Firkovitch in the 1830's. 3. It was renamed the Leningrad Codex" in 1863.
According to class lecture, what is the "surprising path" of God's divine agency? (HINT: SPMR) ***IMPORTANT!
1. The Situation: Sovereign God Present 2. The Purpose: Divine Providence 3. The Means: Covenantal Relationship 4. The Result: Blessing
Identify the 3 MAIN concepts associated with God's imminence.
1. The Tabernacle 2. The Incarnation 3. The Holy Spirit
What are the two crucial categories identified in Leviticus? (HINT: Good vs. bad)
1. The holy/unholy spheres 2. The clean/unclean spheres
Define "covenant."
A covenant is an agreement enacted between two parties in which one or both parties make premises under oath to perform or refrain from certain actions stipulated in advance. Hebrew term: herit, meaning "pact, compact, covenant." Greek term: diatheke, meaning "last will and testament, covenant." For the two sections of the Christian Bible, "covenant" is the metaphor used to describe the relationship between God and the people of God.
Define "source criticism."
A method that tries to determine which sources the biblical writers used to compose their accounts.
Compare/contrast biblical and dogmatic theology. ***IMPORTANT!
Biblical: observing and understanding the text within its historical milieu. ***Descriptive Dogmatic: focuses on identifying and explicating God's eternal truth. ***Normative
Who was "Abraham Firkovich?"
Born in 1786 (died 1874), he was was a famous Karaite writer and archaeologist, collector of ancient manuscripts, and a Karaite Hakham. He amassed the world's largest collection of unpublished medieval Judaic texts, and secured the Cairo Manuscript in the 1830's.
According to class lecture, what is the "late" date of the Exodus?
Circa 1250 BCE ("Late Date") Support: - Merneptah Stele - Pithom and Ramses (Exodus 1:11) - Destruction of Hazor (Joshua 11:10) - Highland Excavations
According to class lecture, what is the "traditional" date of the Exodus?
Circa 1440 BCE ("Traditional Date") Support: "Habiru" Armana Letters (1400-1350 BCE) Some archaeologists believed the "habiru" referenced the early days of the Hebrew nation; others disagree strongly with this perception and don't advocate for the alignment.
According to class lecture, which biblical passage is "the Pentateuch in a nutshell"?
Deuteronomy 26:5-10 - God chooses Abraham and his descendants and promises the land of Canaan. - Israel goes down into Egypt and is enslaved, from which the Lord delivers them. - God will bring Israel into Canaan as promised.
In which chapter of the Joseph narrative is God's promise to Abraham reassured?
Genesis 48 (i.e. Joseph brings Israel and his children to safety from the famine.)
Approximately how many toledot (i.e. generations) are included in the literary composition of Genesis?
Genesis is structured around ten toledot, which interconnect between the Primeval and Ancestral Narratives (5 toledot for each narrative.)
Define "tradition criticism."
Identified as the "history of a telling," it is the study of a transition's transmission from oral to written form and is interested in the pre-literary, oral stages of the text but the latter stages of literary compilation.
How does the creation account in the Enuma Elish differ from that of Genesis?
In the Enuma Elish, creation is the unintended by-product between the unions of the supernatural beings. In Genesis, it was an intentional act arranged by God.
What's the book of Deuteronomy about?
It contains the laws and instructions from God for the second generation of Israelites and is set on the plains of Moab (directly across from the Promised Land), after 40 years of wilderness wandering. Moses delivers a "valedictory address" to the people of the first day of the eleventh month in the 40th year.It
Define "tabernacle."
It served as the Symbol of Divine Presence (i.e. the Lord resided inside it.)
According to class lecture, how does God's imminence work as provision?
It works as provision because He sustains and redeems Creation.
According to class lecture, which Old Testament book is referred to as "Holiness How-to?"
Leviticus.
Which Father of Tradition Criticism is associated with the Deuteronomist?
Martin Noth.
Define "synchronic."
Meaning "Together + time,"synchronic analysis focuses on the text as a whole artifact in its final form, including its literary and canonical features (i.e. text as a "portrait").
Define "diachronic."
Meaning "through" + "time,"diachronic analysis focuses on the history of and behind the text, including its origin, setting development, and transmission (i.e. text as a "window").
Define "ministry."
Ministry—Being an agent of God's redemptive work in the world. - Creational Design (i.e. how a state of restoration might look) - Cultural Idolatry (i.e. how sin has corrupted) - Healing Action (i.e. how to enable restoration)
Define "Primeval Narrative."
The "story of first things."
According to class lecture, what is the Old Testament about?
The Old Testament is the story and observed tradition of the people of Israel, accounted in terms of their relationship with God (i.e. from prehistory to the ancestors, through the kings and prophets, and to the exile and the return from the exile.)
Define "henotheism."
The belief in and worship of a god who is superior to all other, lesser gods.
Define "polytheism."
The belief in and worship of many gods.
Define "atheism."
The belief that there is no god.
Define "providence."
The caring for, protecting, sustaining, and guiding of the Lord.
Define "descriptive study."
The descriptive study of the Old Testament seeks to explain or assert objective statements about the text (i.e. describe it, not follow it word-for-word.)
Define "toledot."
The word toledot is a Hebrew word meaning "generations," "descendants," or "genealogies." The literary composition of Genesis is held together and structures around ten toledot, or generations. This toledot structure creates a literary and theological interconnection between the Primeval and Ancestral Narratives (5 toledot for each narrative.)
Identify the 2 MAIN types of covenants established in the ancient Near East.
There are at least two types of covenants or treaties in the ancient Near East: 1. Parity treaty (i.e. a covenant between "equals") 2. Suzerainty treaty (i.e. a treaty between the "superior" and "inferior")
Identify the 5 key events that threatened God's covenant with Abraham.
Threats to the Promise 1. Abraham, Sarah and the Egyptian pharaoh (Gen. 12) 2. Abraham's conflict with Lot (Gen. 13) 3. Sarah's barrenness/Hagar & Ishmael (Gen. 16) 4. Abraham, Sarah and King Abimelech (Gen. 20) 5. God tests Abraham (Gen. 22)
Identify the 4 key events in the Joseph narrative that threatened the promises God made with Abraham.
Threats to the promise: 1. Portrayal of Joseph 2. Betrayed by and separated from family 3. Sold into slavery 4. Thrown into prison
How are God's promises to Abraham reassured/fulfilled?
Through the birth of Isaac.
According to class lecture, what does God's transcendence refer to?
Transcendence as otherness: God's existence is completely above and beyond the limits of the material, finite creation. God is wholly "other" than creation. Transcendence as boundless: He is not limited by creation, but is sovereign over it.
What is the book of Leviticus about?
Typically, the book of Leviticus is understood to set forth the ritual law of Israel with purpose being to teach the people of Israel how to be holy.
Identify the 3 MAIN promises God gave to Abraham in their established covenant.
Ultimately, the promises include 1) land, 2) prosperity, and 3) relationship.
Identify the 5 MAIN concepts relating to how the Imago Dei is described in the Old Testament. ***IMPORTANT!
1. There is some ambiguity in the OT's use of the expression (rational, volitional, moral, social, spiritual) 2. It includes both man and woman 3. It sets man and woman apart from the rest of Creation 4. It establishes humanity's preeminent position in Creation 5. Although marred by sin, humanity remains in the image of God after the Fall
Identify the 3 MAIN divisions of the Hebrew Bible. ***IMPORTANT!
1. Torah (i.e. the Law) 2. Neviim (i.e. the Prophets) 3. Kethubim (i.e. the Writings)
Identify the 3 distinct sections the Old Testament is organized into. (HINT: T + N + K)
1. Torah (i.e. the Law) 2. Neviim (i.e. the Prophets) 3. Kethubim (i.e. the Writings)
According to Julius Wellhausen, what are the 5 critical components of source criticism?
1. Vocabulary (e.g. Divine Names) 2. Style Shifts 3. Doublets 4. Theological Perspectives 5. Witness (Numbers 21, 14, Joshua 10, 13)
Identify the 3 MAIN Jewish texts associated with Old Testament canonization.
1. Wisdom of Jesus ben Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 2. Josephus in Against Apion 3. Babylonian Talmud
Identify the two MAIN assumptions of the Documentary Hypothesis.
1. [Negative] View of history & religion 2. [Negative] View of Jewish culture & faith
What is the main point of the Ancestral Narrative?
1.) It identifies and established the origins of a people 2.) The fulfillment of the promise depends on God
Define "canon."
A canon is a "standard" or "norm." For the purposes of this class: "Canon" refers to matters of compilation, selection, and standardization of the Old Testament scriptures.
In which two chapters of Genesis is the Abrahamic Covenant repeated?
Genesis 15 and 17.
What is the "Merneptah Stele?" ***IMPORTANT!
- Discovered in Thebes, 1896 - Egyptian Pharaoh Merenptah, son of Ramses II who ascended circa 1213 BC - War Song of Merneptah: "Israel is laid waste, its seed is no more."
According to class lecture, what are the 3 MAIN "keen insights" the Fall reveals about human nature?
1. "Good for good" (appetite) 2. "Delight to the eyes" (beauty) 3. "Desirable to make one wise" (pride)
According to class lecture, God is: 1. A transcendent God who is "____________" but not "____________." 2. An immanent God who is "____________" us but not "____________" of us.
1. "revered" but not "removed." 2. "with" us but not "one" of us.
Identify the 4 MAIN "patriarchs" that comprise the "Ancestral Narrative" (Genesis 12-50).
1. Abraham (12-25) 2. Isaac (25-26) 3. Jacob (27-36) 4. Joseph (37-50)
Identify the 3 concepts associated with the Ancestral Narrative and God's divine providence.
1. Blessing to Abraham, his descendants, and all peoples 2. Reaffirmed to Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph 3. Promise progressively realized dispite constant threat
Identify the 4 MAIN types of criticism associated with the synchronic method. ***IMPORTANT!
1. Canonical Criticism 2. Rhetorical Criticism/Discourse Analysis 3. Structuralism/Post-structuralism 4. Reader Criticism
Identify the three theological themes conveyed in Leviticus. ***IMPORTANT!
1. Cosmology: implications of creation and how it functions 2. Divine Presence: implications of God among the people 3. Community: implications of a sinful people living together
Identify and explain the two MAIN forms of God's divine providence. ***IMPORTANT!
1. Covenantal promise (Ancestral Narrative) 2. Divine correction (Primeval Narrative)
According to class lecture, the Primeval Narratives reflects a cycle known as the "3 C's." List all three. ***IMPORTANT!
1. Creation 2. Corruption 3. Correction.
Identify the 5 MAJOR events taking place in the Primeval Narrative. ***IMPORTANT!
1. Creation (Gen. 1-2) 2. Fall (Gen. 3) 3. Cain & Abel (Gen. 4) 4. Flood (Gen. 5-10) 5. Tower of Babel (Gen. 11)
Compare/contrast the two creation accounts found in Genesis.
1. Creation in Genesis 1.1-2.3: God is sovereign and powerful, the only God, and the sole creator of the universe. 2. Creation in Genesis 2:4-25: God is present and active in the creation process, the only God, the sole creator of the universe. This account focuses on the creation of humanity, in which humans are created for a purpose, with significant privileges but also responsibilities.
Identify the 3 MAIN steps in the process of canonization.
1. Crossing the immense [historical-cultural] barrier: retelling. 2. Continued retelling to new generations & circumstances. 3. Texts or groups of texts become normative, are preserved and passed along unchanged and in a fixed form.
Identify the 3 MAIN forms of criticism that fall under the "source criticism" umbrella."
1. Form criticism 2. Tradition criticism 3. Redaction criticism
Identify the 5 Old Testament books that make up the Torah.
1. Genesis 2. Exodus 3. Leviticus 4. Numbers 5. Deuteronomy
Identify the 2 MAIN "Fathers of Tradition Criticism."
1. Gerhard von Rad (i.e. the endorser of the "Hexateuch.") 2. Martin Noth (i.e. the supporter of the "Pentateuch.")
Identify the 4 MAIN theological components of God as "the God of Creation."
1. Monotheism ("I am the only god before you.") 2. Transcendence ("revered but not removed") 3. Immanence ("with us but not one of us") 4. Imago Dei
Identify and distinguish each of Moses' three sermons (i.e. Deuteromomy) ***IMPORTANT!
1. Moses' First Sermon: Survey of the Lord's activity on behalf of Israel and their journey from Sinai to the present setting on the plains of Moab. 2. Moses' Second Sermon: The Shema 3. Moses' Third Sermon: An appeal for the new generation of Israel to accept the Lord's covenant.
List the 7 MAIN covenants established between God and man in the Old Testament. ***IMPORTANT!
1. Noah (Gen. 9:8-7) 2. Abrahamic (Gen. 12, 15, and 17) 3. Mosaic, "Sinai Covenant" (Exodus 19-24) 4. Davidic (2 Sam. 7:8-16, 23:5 and Psalm 89:4) 5. The "New Covenant" (Jer. 31:31-34) 6. The Covenant of Josiah (2 Kings 22-23) 7. The Covenant of Nehemiah (Neh. 9-10)
Identify the 4 MAIN divisions of the Protestant Bible. ***IMPORTANT!
1. Pentateuch: Genesis-Deuteronomy 2. Historical Books: Joshua-Esther 3. Poetical & Wisdom Books: Job-Song of Solomon 4. Prophetic Books: Isaiah-Malachi
Identify the 3 MAIN parts of the "promise of divine blessing" (i.e. the major theme of the Pentateuch) ***IMPORTANT!
1. Posterity 2. Relationship 3. Land
What are the 5 MAIN theological themes in Numbers?
1. Presence 2. Providence 3. Patience 4. Intercession 5. Sovereignty
Identify the 2 MAJOR categories Genesis is divided into. ***IMPORTANT!
1. Primeval Narrative (Gen. 1-11) - Creation & First Humans - Flood & Post-Flood Humanity 2. Ancestral Narrative (Genesis 12-50) - Abraham - Isaac - Jacob & his sons
Identify the two major literary movements in the Pentateuch. ***IMPORTANT!
1. Primeval Narrative: Genesis 1-11 2. Story of the Divine-Human Covenant (i.e. Ancestral Narrative): Genesis 12-Deuteronomy 34 Together these two broad movements form a literary and theological whole.
Identify the 4 PRIMARY parts of the narrative progression of the Fall account (HINT: SDMP) ***IMPORTANT!
1. Sin: Eating the Fruit (3:6) 2. Divine Speech: Pronouncement of Judgement (3:14-19) 3. Mitigation: Garments for Adam & Eve (3:21) 4. Punishment: Banishment (3:22-24)
Identify the 4 MAIN types of criticism associated with the diachronic method. ***IMPORTANT!
1. Source Criticism 2. Form Criticism 3. Traditional Criticism 4. Redactic Criticism
Identify the two MAIN forms of God's divine agency. ***IMPORTANT!
1. Specific—Means of God's communication with humans through messengers. 2. Generic—God's activity in creation
What are the two other names used to identify the "Leningrad Codex?"
1. The Cairo Manuscript 2. Firkovich B19A (after Abraham Firkovich)
Define "generic divine agency."
Generic—God's activity in creation - Saving/redeeming work, providential care
TRUE or FALSE: Genesis is comprised of a single Creation account.
FALSE! Genesis does not describe a single Creation account; rather, it gives TWO creation accounts, one in 1:1-2:3 and another in 2:4-25.
TRUE or FALSE: Divine correction occurs in the Ancestral Narrative.
FALSE! It's the form of providence that occurs in the Primeval Narrative.
TRUE or FALSE: The Dead Sea Scrolls are the most recent, complete collection of Old Testament documents.
FALSE! One of the oldest collections of OT documents, they circulate from BCE-200 CE and are deemed Incomplete: they do not include the book of Esther.
TRUE or FALSE: The Bible's "creation account" is entirely unique to the near-east.
FALSE! Other cultures have comprised renditions of the Creation, with the Enuma Elish being one of the most famous.
TRUE or FALSE: The Old Testament is an eclectic test.
FALSE! The Old Testament, unlike the New Testament, is NOT an eclectic text, as it uses a single manuscript as its primary source.
TRUE or FALSE: Neviim is a Hebrew word that means law," "teaching," or "instruction."
FALSE! This is the definition for Torah.
TRUE or FALSE: The Documentary Hypothesis is distinctly synchronic.
FALSE! This view is an exclusively diachronic, descriptive analysis, with little contribution to "dogmatic theology."
What is the Deuteronomistic History? (i.e. the "DH")?
Frequently abbreviated as the "Dtr," the DH is a theory of composition used to explain the compilation of the early Old Testament.
Identify the 4 MAIN parts of the Documentary Hypothesis. (HINT: JEDP) ***IMPORTANT!
J- Yahwhist (J) —9th Century B.C.E. E- Elohist (E) —8th Century B.C.E. D- Deuteronomist (D) —7th Century B.C.E. P- Priestly (P) —6th Century B.C.E. Wellhausen views these documents as sources for biblical source criticism, that which identifies the sources behind Scripture. He thinks the early, fresh, "original'' faith of the Israelites (i.e. Yahwhist) should be held in higher regard, especially when compared to the other documents.
Who is recognized as the "Father of Biblical Theology?" ***IMPORTANT!
Johanne Philip Gabler is widely considered to be the "Father of [modern] Biblical Theology" because of his 1787 inaugural address at the University of Altdorf: On the Correct Distinction Between Dogmatic and Biblical Theology and the Right Definition of Their Goals. Gabler sharply distinguished between biblical and dogmatic theology.
Who was "Julius Wellhausen" and what is he famous for? ***IMPORTANT!
Julius Wellhausen was a German biblical scholar and orientalist. In the course of his career, he moved from Old Testament research through Islamic studies to New Testament scholarship. Wellhausen contributed to the composition history of the Pentateuch/Torah and studied the formative period of Islam. For the former, he is credited as one of the originators of the Documentary Hypothesis.
What is the book of Numbers about?
Numbers starts off with the first census of the people of Israel. It is a complex story of unfaithfulness, rebellion, apostasy, and frustration, set against the background of God's faithfulness, presence, provision, and forbearance.
Who was "Gerhard von Rad?"
One of the "fathers" of tradition criticism, he believed that the early Old Testament writings were not a "pentateuch;" rather, they were a "hexateuch," the first five books PLUS Joshua. Wrote the "Form-Critical Problem of the Hexateuch."
Who was "Martin Noth?"
One of the "fathers" of tradition criticism, he was an avid supporter of the "pentateuch" ideology, and focused the structure [of Exodus] on several different themes: 1. Guidance out of Egypt 2. Guidance into the Promised Land 3. Promise to the Patriarchs 4. Guidance into the Wilderness 5. The Revelation at Mount Sinai
Compare/contrast the Enuma Elish with the Creation account found in Genesis.
Similarities: - The world is watery chaos, covered by darkness, preceding the creation - Similar order of creation: firmament, and sun & moon, humanity - Creator rests after the work of creation is finished. The uniqueness of the Genesis account: - God is the only God, separate from creation, and creator of the visible universe. - God is in complete control of creation. - The heavenly bodies are created, not worshipped. - The heavenly bodies get their light from God, rather than by their own ability.
Define "specific divine agency."
Specific—Means of God's communication with humans through messengers. - Old Testament: Prophets, Angel/Messenger, etc. - New Testament: Holy Spirit, Angel/Messenger, etc.
TRUE or FALSE: Old Testament "canon" involves Judaism & Christianity.
TRUE!
TRUE or FALSE: The Leningrad Codex is the oldest, most complete version of the Old Testament that we have.
TRUE!
TRUE or FALSE: The Pentateuch is a "composite text."
TRUE!
TRUE or FALSE: The Torah is the first major section of the Old Testament.
TRUE!
TRUE or FALSE: Transcendence without immanence is known as pantheism.
TRUE!
TRUE or FALSE: The Cairo Manuscript is the same document as the Leningrad Codex.
TRUE! It was renamed the Leningrad Codex" in 1863.
TRUE or FALSE: The Torah is also frequently called the Pentateuch.
TRUE! Pentateuch comes from the Greek word meaning "five columns." The term was popularized by the Alexandrian Jews (1st century CE). Other terms include "Book of the Law," and the "Five Books of Moses."
What is the key event that ultimately defines Israel as a people?
The Exodus.
Define "divine presence."
The implications of God among the people.
Define "normative study."
The normative study of the Old Testament focuses on understanding the text as an ideal model, or what should typify the subscribing community. (Instead of "normative," the term "prescriptive" is sometimes used.)
What is the major theme of the Pentateuch? ***IMPORTANT!
The partial fulfillment of the promise of divine blessing (Genesis 12:1-3) The fulfillment of this promise will continue into the next major section of the Old Testament (i.e. the Neviim).
Define "cosmology."
The study of the implications of creation and how it functions.
Define "monotheism."
The the belief that there is one living and true God. It stems from the word monotheia, meaning "Sole deity" (5th/6th century C.E.)
What does the acronym "JEDP" stand for?
Wellhausen's format of the document Hypothesis, JEDP stands for: J- Yahwhist (J) —9th Century B.C.E. E- Elohist (E) —8th Century B.C.E. D- Deuteronomist (D) —7th Century B.C.E. P- Priestly (P) —6th Century B.C.E.
