‭Lesson 1 Guiding Questions‬

‭ . Why isn’t the Bible a history or science manual?‬

1
‭The Bible is not a history or science manual because its primary purpose is to convey‬
‭religious, moral, and spiritual teachings rather than serving as a comprehensive guide to‬
‭history or science. While it contains historical narratives and references to the natural‬
‭world, these elements are presented within a‬‭theological and cultural context‬‭. The‬
‭Bible uses historical events and scientific observations to illustrate spiritual truths and‬
‭provide guidance for faith and ethics. It is a religious text with a broader focus on faith,‬
‭morality, and spirituality.‬

‭ . What is the significance of the Bible being written in Greek, Aramaic, and‬
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‭Hebrew?‬
‭The Bible was written in different languages for‬‭historical and cultural reasons‬‭:‬
‭●‬ ‭Hebrew‬‭: Most of the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) was originally written in‬
‭Hebrew. It is the language of ancient Israel and the Jewish people, making it‬
‭central to Jewish religious identity.‬
‭●‬ ‭Aramaic (Language that JS spoke)‬‭: Some portions of the Old Testament,‬
‭primarily in the books of Daniel and Ezra, were written in Aramaic. Aramaic was‬
‭a common language in the ancient Near East, and its use in these sections‬
‭reflects historical contexts such as the Babylonian exile.‬
‭●‬ ‭Greek:‬‭The New Testament was written in Greek. This choice was influenced by‬
‭the widespread use of Greek in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Hellenistic‬
‭period. Writing in Greek allowed the authors to reach a broader audience and‬
‭facilitated the spread of early Christianity.‬

‭3. What is Apocrypha, and why is it important?‬

‭●‬ ‭The Apocrypha refers to a collection of books and writings that are not part of the‬
‭canonical Hebrew Bible but are included in some Christian Bibles. These books‬
‭include Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, and‬
‭others.‬
‭●‬ ‭The significance of the Apocrypha varies between Christian‬
‭denominations.‬‭Some consider these books as part of the Old Testament, while‬
‭others view them as valuable but not on the same level as the canonical books.‬
‭●‬ ‭The Apocrypha provides historical, moral, and theological insights and helps to‬
‭bridge the gap between the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is‬
‭important for understanding the development of Jewish and Christian thought‬
‭during the intertestamental period.‬