1
Q
Explain the difference between general introduction and special introduction.
A
- General introduction deals with introductory matters common to the entire Old Testament.
- Special introduction deals with the individual books of the Old Testament, treating matters of authorship, date, purpose and integrity.
2
Q
Hebrew is a member of what family of languages?
A
Semitic
3
Q
How are the Semitic languages classified?
A
East Semitic - Akkadian
South Semitic - Arabic, Ethiopic, Amharic
North Semitic - Aramaic, Syriac (East Branch)
West Semitic - Urgatic, Phoenician, Canaanite
4
Q
Why is cognitive language study important?
A
Knowing the meaning of a word in a similar language may help determine its meaning in another language.
5
Q
What is the oldest language?
A
Sumerian
6
Q
What demonstrates the ancientness of the Aramaic language in Genesis?
A
The Aramaic name “Jegar Sahadutha” that Laban gave to the stone heap in Gen. 31:47. Jacob called it Galeed (Hebrew).
7
Q
What first universal language would Moses have spoken as an educated person?
A
Akkadian
8
Q
What are the two types of Hebrew script?
A
Archaic and Square Script
9
Q
What kind of script would Moses have used?
A
Archaic
10
Q
What is the place of origin and time period of square script?
A
Assyria, possibly introduced by Ezra at about 400-430 BC.
11
Q
Inspiration of the Old Testament extends only to what?
A
The original autographs.
12
Q
What is Benjamin Warfield’s definition of inspiration?
A
Inspiration is a “supernatural influence exacted on the sacred writers by the Spirit of God, by virtue of which their writings are given divine trustworthiness.”
13
Q
What is the difference between inspiration and illumination?
A
Inspiration - a supernatural act of God that gave the original writers the words to pen.
Illumination - the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit to enable the believer to understand written revelation.
14
Q
When was the Old Testament written?
A
Between 1500 and 400 BC.
15
Q
What are some evidences of the inspiration of the Old Testament?
A
- There is significant unity among the 39 books.
- Only Christianity and Judaism are defensible of all the religions.
- Only Christianity shows a plausible order and explanation of nature. Other religions have done poorly.
- God is incapable of falsehood.
- Scripture claims direct revelation from God (Lev 23:26, 1 Sam 16:1 and 7, Isa 1:10, Hab 2:2).
16
Q
Why can’t historical and spiritual truth be separated (as Charles A. Briggs believed)?
A
The New Testament makes no distinction:
* Paul's comment in 1 Tim 2:13-14 concerning Adam and Eve would not make sense. * Matt 12:40 compares Jesus' three days in the tomb with Jonah's three days in the belly of the fish. * Romans 5:14-19 would be absurd without a literal Adam.
17
Q
Explain the inadequacy of the so-called “Mind of Christ” for judging doctrinal truth and error in the Bible.
A
It is inconsistent to determine what the viewpoint of Christ was based on some of his recorded statements, and then reject the authenticity of His other statements because they conflict with modern principle.
18
Q
What is Neo-Orthodoxy?
A
It is the belief that because the Bible was written by fallible man, it must contain errors. The Bible, to them, is a “witness” to the Word of God that comes into being when man encounters God (existential).
19
Q
What is the mystical or illumination theory of inspiration the basis for?
A
Cults
20
Q
What is the natural inspiration theory?
A
The Bible is believed to be inspired the same way as Shakespeare - in an artistic sense.
21
Q
What is the partial inspiration theory?
A
Inspiration is believed to extend only to what humans can research or rationalize, like morals and doctrines. The Bible is therefore not infallible in history and science.
22
Q
What is the conceptual inspiration theory?
A
The thoughts, not the words are inspired.
23
Q
What is the mechanical or diction inspiration theory?
A
The authors were passive instruments being controlled by God.
24
Q
Most Hebrew manuscripts are no older than what date?
A
A.D. 1000
25
What versions of the manuscripts take priority over others for the purpose of translation?
Hebrew manuscripts.
26
What are the Dead Sea scrolls also referred to as?
The Qumran discoveries.
27
What were three major discoveries at Qumran?
* Entire book of Isaiah, c. 150-100 B.C.
* Fragmented Hebrew University scroll of Isaiah, c. 50 B.C.
* Habakkuk commentary, c. 150 B.C.
28
What was the date of the Nash Papyrus and what significant texts did it contain?
c. 100 - 50 B.C.
| Contained the Decalogue and Shema (Exo. 20, Deut. 6)
29
In the context of this discussion of manuscripts, what does MT stand for?
Masoretic Text
30
What was contained in the Leningrad MS B-19A and what was it the basis for?
The entire Old Testament, which was the basis for modern Hebrew Bibles (Kittel's Biblia Hebraica)
31
What was the Septuagint (LXX)?
The first Greek version of the Bible, translated in Alexandria from 250 - 150 B.C. for Greek speaking Jews who were unfamiliar with Hebrew.
32
The Septuagint is an important source for what?
Many New Testament quotations.
33
What did the Septuagint provide Jews of the dispersion?
The ability to read the scriptures.
34
What was Origen's hexapla?
Because of the many divergences in the manuscripts of the LXX during his time, Origen painstakingly copied out six translations into parallel columns. The fifth column was the only one later published.
35
What were the Aramaic Targums?
Aramaic paraphrases of the OT Hebrew text to explain its meaning to Jews who no longer understood their native language.
36
Who was responsible for the Latin Vulgate?
Jerome (A.D. 390-404)
37
Was Jerome's translation the only Latin version of the Old Testament?
No. There was the Old Latin, or Itala version, c. A.D. 200.
38
What was the Syriac version of the Bible?
Syrian Christians produced a Bible in their Eastern Aramaic dialect, c. A.D. 200.
39
What was the Peshitta and what does it mean?
This was the Syriac Old Testament. Peshitta means "the simple."
40
What is the task of lower/textual criticism?
To restore or get the original meaning of the text.
41
Who were the Sopherim?
Scribes from 400 B.C. to A.D. 200 that first came about during the time of Ezra. They standardized a pure text of the Hebrew Scriptures based on the manuscripts they had.
42
What is significant about the Masoretes?
They gave the final form to the Old Testament and preserved oral tradition.
43
Define canon.
Canon comes from the Greek word kanōn, which means "straight rod", "straight edge" or ruler. Theologically, canon means confomity to the divine standard of authority.
44
How did Bible books become accepted into the canon?
They were tested for inadequacy, but the true test was the recognition of Scriptures by believers due to the working of the Holy Spirit. The canon took a long time until there was a general consensus.
45
How is the Old Testament divided up in the English Bible and what does it follow?
Following the Vulgate:
1. Torah (books of the Law)
2. Books of history
3. Poetry
4. Major and Minor Prophets
46
How is the Old Testament divided up in the Hebrew?
1. Torah
2. Former prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings)
3. Latter, major/minor prophets
4. Writings (Poetry and wisdom, megilloth, historical)
47
Who was Jean Astruc?
French Physician who suggested Moses used two sources for the construction of the Pentateuch, an Elohim source and a Yahweh/Jehovah source. His purpose was not to undo Mosaic authorship, but this was the beginning of the documentary hypothesis.
48
What is the Documentary Hypothesis?
The theory that Moses is not the author of the Pentateuch, but that is was compiled by authors from different sources in different places over a period of five centuries.
49
What are the four documents of the Docuntary Hypothesis and what do they stand for?
J - Jahwist author
E - Elohist author
D - Deuteronomist author
P - Priestly Code
50
Who was Julius Wellhausen?
He restated the Documentary Hypothesis with great skill and persuasiveness, supporting the JEDP sequence upon an evolutionary basis.
51
How does the Wellhausen school tie religion to evolution.
Religion is just a stage of a people's evolutionary development and an expression of their cultural activity.
52
What is key evidence to Mosaic authorship?
The Scriptures claim Moses to be the author. Exo. 17:4, Joshua 1:7-8, 1 Kings 7:3, John 7:19)
Moses was able to write, and was well educated in the house of Pharaoh.
53
How were the divine names of God used as criteria for source division?
Documentarians did not believe the Hebrew authors were capable of using more than one name for God.
54
What are the divine names used in the Pentateuch and what do they mean?
Jehovah - covenant name of God - "LORD"
Elohim - means "powerful one" or "almighty God", and used when identifying God as Creator.
Adonai - means "sovereignty" - "Lord"
55
A careful study of the etymology of the names Elohim and Yahweh reveals what?
The name chosen in the passage of scripture depended upon the context of the situation. Yahweh was used for God's love for his people, for instance. Elohim was associated with creation.
56
What are late words?
Words occurring in the Pentateuch that are seldom used elsewhere in Hebrew literature, which leads Documentarians to believe portions of the text were written during or after Israel's exile.
57
Why do Documentarians believe that the presence of an Aramaism in the text indicates lateness?
The Jews did not begin to adopt Aramaic until the Babylonian captivity.
58
How does Archer refute the presence of Aramaisms as a basis for dating the Pentateuch late?
The Genesis record makes it clear that Aramaic influences were at work in Hebrew from the earliest stages:
* Abraham had a long sojourn in Aramaic-speaking Haran.
* Isaac's bride, Rebekah, came to him from Aramaic-speaking Padan-Aram.
* Under David's and Solomon's rule, there were rich cultural exchanges with Aramaic-speaking areas, like Damascus.
59
What are the three supports of the Wellhausen theory. (Think of a stool with three legs.)
* Darwinian evolution
* Late Writing - writing was thought to be a skill that came after Moses' time
* Uncivilized, barbaric world before 1500 B.C.
60
What provided evidence that the world was not barbaric before 1500 B.C.?
Leonard Wooley excavated Ur of the Chaldees in southern Sumeria in 1922-24. It proved to be a flourishing city with an advanced civilization around 2000 B.C. (Abraham's time).
61
What are the major theories of creation?
* The Literal Day theory that creation happened in six 24-hour days.
* The Day-Age theory that each day of creation could have been an indefinite time, supporting geological data that the earth is very old.
* The Revelatory Day theory that creation was revealed to the author of Genesis in six days, not performed.
* The Gap theory that an indefinite amount of time occurred between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2, held by Scofield.
62
What was the purpose of the universal flood?
Universal judgment
63
What gives evidence that the flood was universal and not local?
Textual evidence from the Old and New Testaments, oral and written tradition from around the world, and from Semitic sources such as the Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic.
64
What are some issues critics have with the flood?
* The Hebrew word "earth" could also be translated "land".
* The volume of water had to be incredible.
* The ark is thought to be too small.
65
What are the features of the Noahic covenant and what is its sign?
* The rainbow signifies that God will never again destroy life with water.
* The covenant is everlasting.
* The covenant establishes the seasons of the year (atmosphere dumped most of its protective water, creating seasons of cold and hot)
* The covenant comes with the commandment to be fruitful and multiply.
* Beasts would generally fear man.
* Flesh may be eaten, except for blood.
* Capitial punishment established - life is so precious, that to take another's life is to forfeit your own.
66
What is the Hebrew word for covenant?
berith
67
What are some promises God made to Abraham?
* Covenant is everlasting.
* Abraham would be the father of many nations.
* A great nation would come from Abraham.
* Abraham's seed would be as many as the dust of the earth.
* Covenant is conditional but the condition was fulfilled in Genesis 15:6.
* Covenant is unilateral, or in other words, up to God to keep it.
68
What is the sign of the Abrahamic covenant?
circumcision
69
What is the most plausible interpretation of the idea that there are gaps in the genealogies of Gen. 5 and 10?
The genealogies record only the most prominent members of the ancestry of Abraham, leaving out an undetermined number of links. For example, a grandfather begat a grandson... skipping over the son/father in between.
70
Are the gaps in the genealogies a reason to push back the date of Creation?
Yes, but not indefinitely.
71
Who were the "sons of God" in Genesis 6?
Possibly fallen angels who cohabited with mankind, or Sethites (sons of God) who married Cainites (daughters of men).
72
What is the theme of Genesis?
The origin of the created world, of the human race, of the various nations, and the covenant family that composes the redeemed people of God.
73
What is the theme of Exodus?
Commencement of Israel as a covenant nation.
74
What is the theme of Leviticus?
That which pertains to the Levites.
75
What is the theme of Numbers?
Israel under God's training in the wilderness.
76
What is the theme of Deuteronomy?
It is a restatement of the laws contained in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers
77
Some (liberals) hold that the name Yahweh was not known in Genesis. Explain.
The name Jehovah/Yahweh was known but used little. The patriarchs preferred the use of "God Almighty."
78
Using Scripture, date the Exodus.
* Early date: 1445/1446 B.C. - 1 Kings 6:1 states that the exodus took place 480 years prior to the start of Solomon's temple in 966 B.C. 966 + 480=1446. Judges 11:26 gives the time from the beginning of Joshua's conquests to the year of Jephthah the judge in 1100 B.C. as 300 years. 1100 + 300 + 40 years of wilderness wandering = the approximate date.
* Late date: 1280 B.C. - Exodus 1:11 states that the Israelites did construction work in the city of Ramses, evidence that they were in Egypt during the reign of Ramses II. But this does not square with 1 Kings 6:1.
79
What are the three parts of the Mosaic covenant?
1. The Decalogue (Exodus 20)
2. The laws governing the social life of Israel (Exodus 21-24)
3. The laws governing the religious life of Israel (Exodus 24-32)
80
Who were the Hyksos?
A dynasty of Asiatic invaders of Semitic origin. It is likely that the "Pharaoh who knew not Joseph" and put the Hebrews to labor was from the Hyksos dynasty.
81
What were the six blood sacrifices and their respective purposes?
1. Burnt offering - to propitiate for sin in general
2. Sin offering - for specific transgressions where no restitution was possible
3. Trespass offering - for specific transgressions where restitution was possible
4. Thank offering - for unexpected blessing or deliverance already granted
5. Votive offering - for blessing or deliverance already granted, when a vow had been made in support of the petition
6. Freewill offering - to express general thankfulness and love toward God
82
What is an explanation for the incredible number of quail on the ground in Numbers 11:31?
A misinterpretation of the text. The quail were forced to fly low to the ground where they were easily killed for food.
83
What does the Palestinian Covenant (Covenant of Posession) elaborate on?
The promises concerning the land in the Abrahamic covenant. It was conditional based on their obedience to the Mosaic covenant. They would be blessed, their enemies would be judged, and there was promise of a coming Messiah.
84
What would happen to Israel if they were disobedient to the Mosaic covenant?
They would be dispersed. But they would all one day be returned to the land.
Old Testament Introduction
flashcards
Decks in class (13)
# Cards
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Midterm Review84
-
Chapter 19 Study Questions29
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Chapter 20 Study Questions23
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Chapter 21 Study Questions22
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Chapter 22 Study Questions18
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Chapters 23-24 Study Questions15
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Chapters 25-27 Study Questions35
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Chapters 28-29 Study Questions12
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Chapters 30-31 Study Questions40
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Chapters 32-33 Study Questions34
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Chapter 34 Study Questions17
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Chapter 35 Study Questions27
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Final Exam Study Questions103
