C e 1-Module-2021

Wesleyan University- Philippines
Maria Aurora, Aurora
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“Introduction to the Bible”
Lesson 1 : INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE

Objective:
Every learner should know the history of the bible from its origin. The learners should
know that the bible was the inspired words of God that can be used for doctrine, for re-
proof and correction in righteousness.
Introduction:
The bible is unlike any other books, it has no expiration. It is profitable at all times to
all generation. It does more than give an account of events that happened long ago.
Although that in itself is valuable. The bible does more recounts man’s search for God,
although there is much that can be learn from it.
Motivation:
You should gain information on what the bible is, the origin of the bible. How it is made
and how it is come to the Philippines.
The Bible came to us
Bible
IT IS DERIVED FROM THE GREEK WORD BIBLOS WHICH MEANS BOOKS.
THERE ARE 66 INDIVIDUAL BOOK.
●39 BOOKS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ( WRITTEN IN HEBREW, THE LANGUAGE OF THE
JEWISH PEOPLE WITH A FEW PART OF ARAMAIC)
●27 BOOKS INTHE NEW TESTAMENT (WRITTEN ENTIRELY IN GREEK, THE COMMON
LANGUAGE OF THE TIME)
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How the Bible was made

THE EARLIEST BIBLICAL TEXT WERE WRITTEN ON SCROLLS MADE FROM PAPYRUS OR
A PARCHMENT.
 PAPYRUS ( A PLANT BASED PAPER)

 PARCHMENT ( ANIMAL SKIN THAT HAD BEEN SCRAPED, BURNISHED AND
STITCHED TOGETHER)
THE BIBLICAL BOOKS HAD TO BE COPIED OVER AGAIN AND AGAIN SO THAT
THEY COULD BE PRESERVED.
How the Bible came to the Philippines

VALENTINO SITOY (ACCORDING TO THIS WORK AN ABORTED SPANISH
PROTESTANT MISSION TO THE PHILIPPINES)
- SAY THAT BY 1853 THERE WERE MORE THAN 1,000 BIBLES AND MORE THAN
100 NEW TESTAMENTS CIRCULATING IN THE ISLANDS.
IT IS ALSO SAID THAT MANY BIBLES WERE BROUGHT IN DURING THE LIBERAL
PERIOD OF GOVERNOR-GENERAL DE LA TORRE'S RULE (1869-1871)
THE NEXT STORY IS WHEN FR. MANRIQUE ALONSO LALLAVE AND SR FELIPE P.
CASTELLS ATTEMP TO INTRODUCE A SHIPMENT OF BIBLES INTO THE COUNTRY.
ANOTHER STORY IS THAT PAULINO ZAMORA, NEPHEW OF FATHER JACINTO ZAMORA,

ACCORDING TO GERALD H. ANDERSON, PAULINO SMUGGLED A BIBLE INTO MANILA
THROUGH A SEA CAPTAIN.
The Books of the Bible
OLD TESTAMENT
ALSO KNOWN AS THE JEWISH TANAKH

IT IS THE FIRST 39 BOOKS IN MOST CHRISTIAN BIBLE.
IT CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING.
●THE CREATION
●THE HISTORY OF PATRIARCHS
●THE EXODUS FORM EGYPT
●FORMATION OF ISRAEL AS NATION
●THE PROPHETS
●THE WISDOM BOOKS
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NEW TESTAMENT
A COLLECTION OF 27 BOOKS
REFERS TO THE NEW COVENANT OR PROMISE
BETWEEN GOD AND HUMANITY THROUGH THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS
CHRIST.
IT IS ALSO THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS,

THE GROWTH AND IMPACT OF THE EARLY CHURCH.
The Books of the Old Testaments and their Division
PENTATEUCH/LAW HISTORY
GENESIS JOSHUA JUDGES RUTH
EXODUS 1 SAMUEL 2 SAMUEL 1 KING
LEVITICUS 2 KING 1 CHRONICLES 2 CHRONICLES
NUMBERS EZRA NEHEMIAH ESTHER
DEUTERONOMY
POETRY MAJOR PROPHETS MINOR PROPHETS
JOB ISAIAH HOSEA
PSALMS JEREMIAH JOEL
PROVERBS LAMENTATION AMOS
ECCLESIASTES EZEKIEL OBADIAH
DANIEL JONAH
MICAH
NAHUM
HABAKKUK
ZEPHANIAH
HAGGAI
ZECHARIAH
MALCHI
History is the story of men achievement although it is a failure or a success

that happened in the past, present, and the future that bring progress to
human life.
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The Book of the New Testament and their Division
GOSPEL HISTORY PAUL’S LETTER

MATTHEW ACTS ROMANS
MARK 1 CORINTHIANS
LUKE 2 CORINTHIANS
JOHN GALATIANS
EPHESIANS
PHILIPPIANS
COLOSSIANS
1 THESSALONIANS
2 THESSALONIANS
1 TIMOTHY
2 TIMOTHY
TITUS
PHILEMON
GENERAL LETTERS PROPHECY

HEBREW REVELATION
JAMES
1 PETER
2 PETER
1 JOHN
2 JOHN
3 JOHN
JUDE
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ACTIVITY
Name:
Course, Year and Block:
1. The earliest biblical were written on scroll that is made up of ________ and
___________.
2. It is made up of animal skin that had been scraped, burnished and stitched
together.
3. It is a plant based paper.
4. It is a collection of 27 books that refers to the new covenant or promise between God
and humanity.
5. It I the first 39 books of the bible.and it includes the creation.
Enumerate the 2 major books of the Bible.
Enumerate the 5 division of the old testaments.
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Lesson 2 : OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY

Objective:
Every learner should know the history of the bible from its origin. The learners should
know that the bible was the inspired words of God that can be used for doctrine, for re-
proof and correction in righteousness.
Introduction:
The bible is unlike any other books, it has no expiration. It is profitable at all times to
all generation. It does more than give an account of events that happened long ago.
Although that in itself is valuable. The bible does more recounts man’s search for God,
although there is much that can be learn from it.
Motivation:
You should gain information on what the bible is, the origin of the bible. How it is made
and how it is come to the Philippines.
Overview of the Bible

 it is about 611,000 words ;long and divided into 66 smaller documents called “books”
of the bible
 it is also a collection of writings from different authors, writing at different times.
 maybe it is a bit confusing because the bible itself is a book.but dont worry it is a book
of books.
 that means if you want to know the bible better, you'll need to get acquainted with 66
documents it
 comprises.
THE OLD TESTAMENT

 the old testament includes 39 books which were written long before jesus was born.
 the first five books of the bible are called the torah, or the law of moses.
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THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

GENESIS
AUTHOR: TRADITIONALLY MOSES, BUT THE STORIES ARE MUCH OLDER
THIS BOOK ANSWERES TWO BIG QUESTIONS: “HOW DID GOD 'S RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE
WORLD BEGIN?” AND “WHERE DID THE NATION OF ISRAEL COME FROM?”
FACTS:MOST OF THE FAMOUS BIBLE STORIES YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT ARE

PROBABLYFOUND IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS.
THIS WHERE THE STORIES OF ADAN AND EVE, CAIN AND ABEL, NOAH AND THE ARK,
TOWER OF BABEL, ABRAHAM AND ISAAC, JACOB'S LADDER,AND JOSEPH'S
COAT OF MANY COLORS ARE RECORDED.
EXODUS
THE BOOK OF EXODUS IS THE STORY OF GOD RESCUING THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
FROM EGYPT.
IT IS THE SECOND BOOK OF THE PENTATEUCH AND IT'S WHERE WE FIND THE
STORIES OF THE TEN PLEAGUES,THE FIRST PASSOVER, THE PARTING OF THE RED
SEA, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
AUTHOR: TRADITIONALLY MOSES.
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS IN EXODUS:

GOD (YAHWEH)
MOSES
AARON
PHARAOH
LEVITICUS
LEVITICUS IS ABOUT HOLINESS. IT IS KNOWN AS THE BOOK OF RULES THAT
THE ANCIENT ISRAELITES BELIEVED THEY HAD TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO BE CLOSE
TO THEIR GOD.
AUTHOR: TRADITIONALLY CREDITED MOSES

AS THE HUMAN AUTHOR.
IMPORTANT CHARACTER IN THIS BOOK:

GOD ( YAHWEH)
MOSES- HE LED T ISRAELITES FROM EGYPT TO SINAI.
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AARON- OLDER BROTHER OF MOSES AND HIGH PRIEST OF ISRAEL.
NUMBERS
THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE BOOK IS ISRAEL'S REPEATED REBELLION AND GOD'S
REPEATED MERCY AND DISCIPLINE ON HIS PEOPLE.
IMPORTANT CHARACTER IN THIS BOOK:

GOD (YAHWEH)
MOSES
AARON
ELEAZAR - AARON'S SON, WHO TAKES HIS PLACE WHEN AARON DIES.
BALAAM- A DIVINER FOR HIRE FROM FAR AWAY. HE HIRED BY ISRAEL'S ENEMIES TO
CURSE GOD'S PEOPLE.
JOSHUA- MOSES AIDE'S WHO SPIES ON THE PEOPLE OF CANAAN. GOD SELECTS HIM
TO BE MOSES SECCESSOR.
DEUTERONOMY
REVIEWS THE TORAH AND FORESHADOWS THE REST OF THE OLD TESTAMENT'S
STORY.
PRIMARILY THE RETELLING OF MOSAIC LAW.
AUTHOR: TRADITIONALLY MOSES.
JOSHUA
THE BOOK OF JOSHUA KICKS OFF THE SECTION OLD TESTAMENTB HISTORY IN THE
MODERN CHRISTIAN BIBLE.
THE BOOK OF JOSHUA MARKS GOD FULFILLING HIS PROMISED TO ABRAHAM:
THIS BOOK ALSO MARKS THE END OF AN AGE OF ISRAEL.
MAIN CHARCTER OF THE BOOK:

JOSHUA- FROM THE TRIBE OF EPHRAIM, AND HE SERVED AS
MOSES AIDE SINCE YOUTH.
GOD
FUN FACT': YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD OF A FEW FANTASTIC STORIES

FROM THIS BOOK. (THE BATTLE OF JERICHO)
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JUDGES
THE BOOK OF JUDGES FEATURES A HOST OF CHARACTERS. IT'S HERE WE FIND THE
STORIES OF WELL KNOWN SUNDAY SCHOOL STAPLES LIKE THE RELUCTANT WARRIOR
GIDEON AND STRONG MAN SAMSON.
THE PERIOD OF JUDGES IS A DARK ERA IN ISRAEL'S STORY. THIS BOOK SHOWS HOW
PERSISTENT ISRAEL IN FORGETTING THE LORD, AND HOW FAITHFUL GOD IS TO
DISCIPLINE AND DELIVER HIS PEOPLE.
RUTH
THE STORY OF RUTH TAKES PLACE DURING THE TIME OF THE JUDGES; IT IS A
BRIGHT STORY OF HOPE DURING A VERY DARK PERIOD IN ISRAEL'S SPIRITUAL AND
POLITICAL HISTORY.
THE BOOK OF RUTH IS A LOVE STORY, BUT IT IS FAR MORE THAN A ROMANCE.
RUTH'S DEVOTION TO NAOMI AND BOAZ.
1 SAMUEL
ISRAEL DEMANDS A KING, WHO TURNS OUT TO BE QUITE A DISAPPOINTMENT.
SAMUEL SERVES THE PEOPLE AS A PROPHET AND JUDGE. HE SPEAKS THE WORD OF
THE
LORD TO THE PEOPLE. WHEN SAMUEL GROWS OLD AND THE ISRAEL'S ENEMIES
ATTACK, THE PEOPLE DEMAND THAT SAMUEL APPOINT A KING.
THE PEOPLE DO NOT LISTEN TO SAMUEL SO THE LORD GIVE THEM SAUL.
SAUL IS A FOOLISH, SELFISH, COWARDLY KING. HE IGNORES THE WORD OF THE

LORD AND CRAVES THE APPROVAL OF MEN. KING SAUL DOES NOT KEEP THE LAW OF
MOSES.
2 SAMUEL
WHEREAS THE BOOK OF FIRST SAMUEL SHOWS ISRAEL'S TRANSITION FROM GOD'S
AUTHORITY TO SAUL'S IRRESPONSIBLE RULE.
SECOND SAMUEL DOCUMENTS THE TRANSITION BACK TO GOD-HONORING

LEADERSHIP UNDER DAVID.
1 KING 2 KING
THE BOOK OF FIRST AND SECOND KINGS ARE THE STORY OF ISRAEL'S DECLINE.
THE BOOK OF FIRST AND SECOND KINGS ARE THE STORY OF ISRAEL'S DECLINE.
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THESE BOOKS OF HISTORY PICK UP WHERE SECOND LEFT OFF: ISRAEL IS UNITED
UNDER THE GODLY KING DAVID, WHO APPOINTS HIS SON SOLOMON TO RULE AFTER
HIM.
1 CHRONICLES 2 CHRONICLES
THE FIRST AND SECOND CHRONICLES IS AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF GOD'S
COVENANT
WITH DAVID, AND HOW THINGS PLAYED OUT AFTERWARD.
THE CHRONICLES WERE WRITTEN SOMETIME AFTER THE HEBREWS RETURNED TO

JERUSALEM FROM BABYLON-POSSIBLY BY EZRA.
THE AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK TRADITIONALLY EZRA.
EZRA
EZRA , THE SCRIBE, ANSWERS THE CALL TO TEACH ISRAEL THE WAYS OF GOD
AGAIN.
THE BOOK OF EZRA CHRONICLES BOTH STORIES: REBUILDING THE TEMPLE AND
REMEMBERING THE LAW.
AUTHOR: EZRA
NEHEMIAH
THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH IS ABOUT RE ESTABLISHING GOD'S PEOPLE BOTH
PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.
LIKE THE BOOKS OF EZRA AND ESTHER, NEHEMIAH TELLS USWHAT HAPPENED
AFTER THE JEWISH EXILE TO BABYLON.
AUTHOR: NEHEMIAH
ESTHER
THIS BOOK IS ALL ABOUT CORAGE, FAITH, BETRAYAL, POLITICS, ND PLOTS OF
GENOCIDE.
THIS BOOK IS A DRAMA ABOUT HOW TWO JEWS RISKED EVERYTHING TO SAVE
THEIR
PEOPLE.
IMPORTANT CHARACTER OF THE BOOK:
QUEEN ESTHER: THE HEROINE. SHE KEEPS HE JEWISH DECENT A SECRET.
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MORDECAI: ESTHER'S COUSIN. SHE IS A DEVOUT JEW CHARACTERIZED BY HAMAN:
ENEMY OF JEWS. HE IS CALLED “AGAGITE”.
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KING AHASUER: HE BRINGS ESTHER AS A NEW QUEEN AFTER HE DEPOSES QUEEN

VASHTI. HE ALLOWS ESTHER AND MORDECAI TO WRITE THEIR
COUNTER- LAW AND ENACT THEIR OWN FEASTS. HE IS THE KING OF
127 PROVINCES . AND HE IS THE WEAKEST MONG THE MAIN
CHARACTERS.
JOB
SOMEONE WANTS TO PROVE THAT JOB WILL CURSE GOD. THIS IS THE CENTRAL
CONFLICT OF THE BOOK.
JOB IS THE FORST OLD TESTAMENTBOOK OF POETRY.
JOB IS CONSIDERED WISDOM LITERATURE: THE BOOK HEPS US TO UNDERSTAND

GOD,HIS CREATION, OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM AND HOW WE SHOULD RESPONSE.
PSALMS
PSALMS IS A COLLECTION OF 150 POEMS WRITTEN OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
MANY WERE ORIGINALLY PUT TO MUSIC, AND USED IN THE JEWISH TEMPLES TO
PRAISED THE LORD.
PSALMS HAS IT ALL HISTORY,POETRY, PRAYER,SONG, CHANT NG PROPHECY.
PSALMS HAS MORE AUTHORS THAN ANY OTHER BOOK IN THE BIBLE.
DAVID (73 PSALMS) ASAPH FAMILY (12 PSALMS)

THE SONS OF KORAH (11 PSALMS) SOLOMON
(2PSALMS) MOSES (1 PSALM) ETHAN THE
EZRAHITE (1 PSALM)
PSALMS IS THE ONLY BOOK OF THE BIBLE THAT ISN'T

GIVEN CHAPTERS.
PROVERBS
THE BOOK PROVERBS IS A COLLECTION OF WISE SAYINGS, MANY OF WHICH ARE
ATTRIBUTED TO SOLOMON.
PROVERBS IS A WORK OF WISDOM LITERATURE, AND THE THIRD OF THE OLD

TESTAMENT BOOK OF POETRY.
PROVERBS URGES THE READER TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON WISDOM, JUSTICE,

AND RIGHTEUOSNESS. HIS SAYINGS ARE SOMETIMES DIRECT INSTRUCTION,
SOMETIMES GENERAL OBSERVATION.
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ECCLESIASTES
ECCLESIASTES IS AN EXAMPLE OF OLD TESTAMENT WISDOM LITERATURE, AND IT'S
FOURTH BOOK OF POETRY IN THE BIBLE.
IT IS LONG FORM OF POETIC DISCOURSE: IT POSES ONE MAIN QUESTION AT THE

BEGINNINGAND SPEND THE NEXT TWELVE CHAPTERS ARRIVING AT THE ANSWER.
AUTHOR: TRADITIONALLY SOLOMON
SONG OF SOLOMON
THE SONG OF SOLOMON ALSO KNOWN AS THE SONGS OF SONGS CELEBRATES THIS
KING OF UNION: A MAN AND A WOMAN BECOME ONE.
IT'S A BALLAD OF LOVE AND LONGING. IT'S AN EXCHANGE OF LOVE NOTES. IT'S A
STORY OF ADORATION, SATISFACTION, DELIGHT, AND SEXUAL DESIRE.
SONG OF SOLOMON IS ONE OF THE TWO BOOKS IN THE BIBLE THAT DON'T MENTION
GOD.
ISAIAH
ISAIAH IS THE FIRST OF THE MAJOR PROPHETS. ISAIAH IS THE MAJOR PROPHET
WHOSE STORY TAKES PLACE BEFORE THE FALL OF JERUSALEM.
ISAIAH LOOKS INTO THE FUTURE TO SEE JUDAH'S BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY.

ISAIAH PERSONALLY INTERACTS WITH THE KINGS OF JUDAH, THE SOUTHERN
KINGDOM, AND SO HIS STORY COVERS SOME OF THE EVENTS IN KINGS AND
CHRONICLES.
ISAIAH PREACHES OF THE COMING KING WHO WILL RULE ISRAEL AND THE NATIONS
IN JUSTICE AND PEACE. HE ALSO LOOKS FORWARD TO A SPECIAL SERVANT OF GOD:
ONE WHO WILL FULFILL ALL ISRAEL'S DUTIES AND BEAR THEIR SINS.
AUTHOR: ISAIAH
JEREMIAH
JEREMIAH IS THE SECOND MAJOR PROPHETS. JEREMIAH IS THE LONGEST BOOK OF
THE BIBLE BY WORD COUNT IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE.
JERIMAIH IS KNOWN AS THE “WEEPING PROPHET”
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AUTHOR: JEREMIAH
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LAMENTATIONS
THE BOOK DEALS WITH THE QUESTION, “HOW COULD IT HAPPEN?” “HOW COULD
JERUSALEM FALL TO THE BABYLONIAN?”\
THE FALL OF JERUSALEM IS A SPIRITUAL EVENT,

ONE THAT HAPPENED BY SPIRITUAL MEANS FOR
SPIRITUAL REASONS.
LAMENTATIONS SITS IN THE MAJOR PROPHETS SECTION OF OUR ENGLISH BIBLE. IT

FOLLOWS THE STORY OF JEREMIAH, WHO TRADITIONALLY WROTE LAMENTATIONS.
AUTHOR: TRADITIONALLY JEREMIAH
EZEKIEL
EZEKIEL IS THE WATCHMAN. AND HE SEES SOME INCREDIBLY SAD THINGS ON THE
HORIZON.
EZEKIEL IS THE 4TH OF THE MAJOR PROPHETS. EZEKIEL HAS HIS FAIR SHARE OF
ORACLES, BUT THIS BOOK IS BEST KNOWN FOR EZEKIEL'S VISSION.
EZEKIEL IS THE WATCHMAN , AND THROUGH HIM WE SEE SOME GOD'S GENEROUS
PLANS FOR ISRAEL THAT HAVE YET COME ABOUT.
AUTHOR: EZEKIEL
DANIEL
DANIEL QUICKLY DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF FROM THE MEN OF BABYLON. HE IS
LOYAL TO HIS GOD. DANIEL'S GIFT ARE FROM THE GOD OF ISRAEL, AND THE YOUNG
MAN BECOME A TESTIMONY TO HIS GOD IN A STRANGE LAND.
DANIEL ALSO HAS VIVID, SYMBOLIC VISIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ISRAEL, WORLD
KINGDOMS, AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD. THE BOOK OF DANIEL IS ABOUT HOW GOD
SHOES HIS EVERLASTING WISDOM, POWER AND FAITHFULNESS THROUGH ONE OF
ISRAEL'S GREATEST PROPHETS. DANIEL IS THE LAST OF THE MAJOR PROPHETS AND
HE WAS A CAPTIVE OF JUDAH.
DANIEL IS ONE OF THE FEW OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS THAT EXPICITY REFFERENCE
BODILY RESURRECTION.
AUTHOR: DANIEL
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HOSEA
GOD TELLS A MAN NAMED HOSEA TO MARRY A HARLOT. BUT SHE LEAVES HOSEA
AND COMMIT ADULTERY.
THEN GOD TELLS HIM TO GO AFTER HER AND BRING HER BACK. HOSEA'S MARRIAGE
IS SYMBOLIC OF GOD'S COVENANTRELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL.THROUGH HOSEA,
THE LORD TELLS THE STORY OF ISRAEL'S DISOBEDIENCE, HIS DISCIPLINE, AND HIS
STEADFAST FAITHFUL OF LOVE.
THIS BOOK IS THE FIRST MINOR PROPHETS. HOSEA IS FROM THE NORTH ND HE
MINISTERED TO THE NORTH.
HOSEA'S MARRY A HARLOT NAMED GOMER BECAUSE GOD WAS PROVING A POINT:
ISRAEL HAD TREATED HIM IN THE SAME WAY GOMER TREATS HOSEA.
LIKE JEREMIAH AND HABAKKUK, HOSEA LIVES TO SEE HIS PROPHECY OF
CAPTIVITYCOME TO PASS. HOSEA MINISTERED DAY OF SOUTHERN KINGS AHAZ AND
HEZEKIAH, WHO REIGNED WHEN THE NORTHERN KINGDOM WAS SACKED AND
CARRIED OFF BY ASSYRIA.
AUTHOR: HOSEA
JOEL
AUTHOR: JOEL
HUNDREDS OF YEARS LATER AFTER THE LORD SENT A PLAGUE OF LOCUST ON THE
EGYPTIANS, HE WAS JUDGING HIS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME KIND OF PLAGUE FOR
STRAYING FROM HIM.
JOEL EXPLAINS TO THE PEOPLE WHAT THE LORD WANTS FROM THEM: REPENTANCE.
THE LORD WOULD SOON HAVE THIS DAY, BOTH WITH JUDAH AND THE WHOLE
WORLD. JOEL'S MESSAGE HAS TWO STRONG POINTS:
● GOD IS JUDGING JUDAH: BUT HE WILL BLESS AND RESTORE THEM AGAIN WHEN
THEY REPENT.
●GOD WILL JUDGE ALL THE NATIONS ON JUDAH'S BEHALF.
AMOS
AUTHOR: AMOS
AMOS IS A SIMPLE SHEPHERD IN SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH. HE WASN'T A

PHROPHET OR NOR ON HIS FAMILY.
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AMOS IS THE THIRD MINOR PROPHETS.
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AMOS MINISTRY MAY HAVE BEEN THE EARLIEST OF THE MINOR PROPHETS. HE
PREACHED DURING THE REIGNS OF UZZIAH IN JUDAH AND JEROBOAM II IN ISRAEL.
THIS BOOK FOCUSES ON GOD'S SOVEREIGN JUSTICE:
GOD IS SOVEREIGN
GOD IS JUST.
THE BOOK OF AMOS REMINDS US THAT GOD'S BLESSINGS DON’T ALWAYS COINCIDE
WITH OUR OBEDIENCE.
OBADIAH
AUTHOR: OBADIAH
THIS BOOK OBADIAH IS A BRIEF PROPHETIC WORDREGARDING THE NEARBY NATION

OF EDOM.
EDOM IS THE LONG RIVALRY OF ISRAEL, BUT NOW EDOM HAS GONE TOO FAR.
OBADIAH'S MESSAGE IS SIMPLE: NO MATTER HOW SAFE THEY THINK THEY ARE, NO
MATTER HOW WISE THEY THING THEY ARE, EDOM CAN'T GET AWAY WITH THIS.
OBADIAH IS THE FOURTH OF THE MINOR PROPHETS. OBADIAH WRITINGS MAINLY

CONCERN THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF ISRAEL- IN OBADIAH'S CASE, IT IS THE NATION
OF EDOM.
JONAH
AUTHOR: JONAH
JONAH HAS ONLY FOUR CHAPTERS.

JONAH IS THE MOST WIDELY KNOWN OF THE MINOR PROPHETS.
THE BOOK OF JONAH IS A STORY AND NOT A SERMON. IT FOCUSES ON THE PROPHET,
NOT THE PEOPLE.
JONAH CONTAINS HARDLY ANY PROPHECY AT ALL.. ONLY ONE LINE.. “YET FORTY
DAYS AND NINEVEH WILL BE OVERTHROWN”
MICAH
AUTHOR: MICAH
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MICAH IS THE SIXTH OF THE MINOR PROPHETS. MICAH CALLED OUTH BOTH
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN KINGDOMS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH.
MICAH CALLS THE PEOPLE'S INJUSTICE TO LIGHT. MICAH ADMONISHES THE PEOPLE,
TELLING THEMTHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER.
IN THIS BOOK, WE SEE HOW SERIOUSLY GOD TAKES JUSTICE AMONG HIS PEOPLE.
NAHUM
AUTHOR: NAHUM
GOD SENDS THE PROPHET NAHUM TO REVEALS NINEVEH'S FUTURE: UTTER

DESOLATION.
NAHUM IS THE SEVENTH OF THE MINOR PROPHETS
NAHUM WAS WRITTEN AFTER THE ASSYRIAN SACKED THE EGYPTIAN CITY OF
THEBES, OR NO- AMON. IT WAS LIKELY WRITTHEN BEFORE THE BABYLONIANS TOOK
ONEVEH IN 612 B.C.. NAHUMIS A SIMILAR TO HABAKKUK, TOO.
WHILE NAHUM FORETELLLS THE DOWNFALL OF A WORLD EMPIRE,
HABAKKUK ANTICIPATES THE EMPIRE THAT TAKES ITS PLACE: BABYLON
HABAKKUK
AUTHOR: HABAKKUK
HABAKKUK IS THE EIGHT OF THE MINOR PROPHETS.
HABAKKUK SAW THIS HAPPEN ON HIS OWN LIFETIME.

(JUDAH'S PUNSHIMENT)
LIKE NAHUM, HABAKKUK FORESEES GOD'S JUDGEMENT ON THOSE WHOE OPPRESS

OTHER NATIONS AND LEAD THEM INTO WICKEDNESS.
HABAKKUK SPEAKS OF BABYLON'S FALL: AN EVENT WHICH THE PROPHET DANIEL

WITNESSES.
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HABAKKUK ISN'T WELL- KNOWN BOOK OF THE BIBLE, BUT IT CONTAINS ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT LINE IN CHURCH HISTORY.
“THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY HIS FAITH”
ZEPHANIAH
AUTHOR: ZEPHANIAH
ZEPHANIAH IS THE NINTH OF THE MINOR PROPHETS.
HE TRACE HIS LINEAGE BACK TO MAN NAMED HEZEKIAH.
ZEPHANIAH WAS PROBABLY A CONTEMPORARY OF HABAKKUK, NAHUM AND

JEREMIAH.
ZEPHANIAH PREACHED HIS MESSAGE DURING THE RULE OF KING JOSIAH WHO
INITIATED RELIGIOUS REFORM IN ALL OF JUDAH AND SOME SURROUNDING
TERRITORIES.
HAGGAI
AUTHOR: HAGGAI
THE BOOK OF HAGGAI BEGINS AS A WAKE- UP CALL TO THE JEWS WHO HAD
NEGLECTED THE TEMPLE, BUT IN ENDSWITH AN EXAMPLE OF HOW GOD DELIGHTS
IN HIS CHILDREN'S OBEDIENCE.
HAGGAI IS THE TENTH OF THE MINOR PROPHETS.
HAGGAI SHOWS UP ON THE SCENELONG AFTER DESTRUCTION TOOK PLACE.
HAGGAI POINTS THE JEWS IN AN OBEDIENT DIRECTION, PARTICULARLY THEIR

LEADERS ZERUBBABEL ( THEIR GOVERNOR ) AND JOSHUA (THE HIGH PRIEST, NOT
THE ONE WHO FOUGHT AT JERICHO).WHEN THEY OBEY, GOD AFFIRMS.
HAGGAI IS ALSO THE MOST SPECIFIC OF THE MINOR PROPHETS WHEN IT COMES TO
DATES: HE GIVES THE MONTH AND DAY OF EVERY MESSAGE GOD SENDS HIM.
ZECHARIAH
AUTHOR: ZECHARIAH
ZECHARIAH IS THE ELEVENTH OF THE MINOR PROPHETS.
ZECHARIAH IS EASILY THE HARDEST TO UNDERSTAND AMONG THE MINOR

PROPHETS.
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ZECHARIAH “LIFT UP HIS EYES” TO SEE SCENES, CHARACTERS, AND STRANGE
OBJECTS. ZECHARIAH IS ONE OF ONLY TWO MINOR PROPHETS WHO RECORDS HIS
VISIONS IN
THS WAY: THE OTHER ONE IS AMOS.
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ZECHARIAH IS ULTIMATELY A MESSAGE OF ASSURANCE: GOD HAS BROUGHT THE

JEWS BACK TO JERUSALEM, AND HIS WORK OF RESTORATION IS FAR ROM OVER.
MALACHI
AUTHOR: MALACHI
IT IS THE LAST BOOK OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.
MALACHI FINISHES OOF THE MINOR PROPHETS.

MALACHI SHOWS UP ON THE SCENE LONG AFTER THE DESTRUCTION TOOK PLACE-
AND WARNS AGAINST REPEATING THE SINS OF THE FATHERS.
ACTIVITY
Name:
1. How many books are included in the Old Testaments?
2. It is the last book of the Old Testament.
3. How many books are in the Pentateuch?
4. What are the 2 division of the prophet?
5. This book is only have four chapters.
Enumerate the books under the Pentateuch
Enumerate the books under the History
Enumerate the books on the Old Testaments.
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LESSON 3: THE NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY

THE NEW TESTAMENT IS THE PART OF THE BIBLE THAT TELLS THE STORIES OF
JESUS' LIFE, DEATH, RESSURECTION, AND FOLLOWERS.
THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
MATTHEW
AUTHOR: MATTHEW
MATTHEW IS THE FIRST GOSPEL IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
MATTHEW DOESN'T STATE HIS PURPOSE EXPLICITY. HOWEVER, HIS OPENING VERSE
MAKES IT CLEAR WHAT THIS BOOK ALL ABOUT. JESUS, THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF
DAVID, THE SON OF ABRAM.
THE BOOK OF MATTHEW IS ARRANGED INTO FIVE MAIN SECTION. EACH SECTION
OPENS WITH STORIES OF JESUS' LIFE AND MINISTRY, AND CLOSES WITH A LONG SET
OF TEACHING FROM JESUS, CALLED DISCOURSES.
MARK
AUTHOR: JOHN MARK
MARK IS THE SECOND GOSPEL IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
MARK'S GOSPEL IS VERY BRIEF AND FOCUSES MORE ON THINGS JESUS SAID.
LIKE THE OTHER GOSPELS. MARK RECORDS JESUS LIFE: HIS MIRACLES, BETRAYAL,
DEATH, RESURRECTION AND COMMISSION.
MARK IS A BRIEF OF SYNOPSIS OF JESUS.

LUKE
AUTHOR: LUKE
LUKE IS THE THIRD GOSPEL.

LUKE TELLS JESUS'SOTRY IN EXTENSIVE DETAIL, MORE SO THAN ANY OTHER
GOSPEL.
LUKE FRECORDS MIRACLES, SERMONS, CONVERSATIONS, AND PERSONAL FEELINGS.
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THE BOOK OF LOOK SHOWS US JESUS, WHO CAME TO SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST.
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LUKE'S GOSPEL IS WRITTEN IN WAYS THT JEWISH AND NON JEWISH PEOPLE CAN
UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK IS MEANT TO GIVE BELIEVERS AN ACCURATE,

CHRONOLOGICALUNDERSTANDING OF JESUS' LIFE, MINISTRY, DEATH AND
RESSURECTION.
JOHN
AUTHOR: JOHN
JOHN IS THE FOURTH AND LAST GOSPEL IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. JOHN FOCUSES
IN THE DIETY OF CHRIST MORE SO THAN THE OTHER.
THE MIRACLES RECORDEDIN JOHN'S GOSPEL ARE WRITTEN THAT THE READER
WOULD BELIEVE IN JESUS AND FIND LIFE IN HIS NAME.
UNLIKE LUKE, JOHN DOES NOT AIM TO CHRONICLE THE WHOLE LIFE OF CHRIST.
INSTEAD, JOHN PRESENTS A SIGNS AND TEACHINGS THAT SHOULD COMPEL US TO
BELIEVE IN JESUS.
ACTS
AUTHOR:LUKE
THIS BOOK TELLS US HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME UPON THE CHURCH, AND HOW
THE GOSPELSPREADS FROM JERUSALEM TO ROME.
THE BOOK PICKS UP WHERE THE GOSPELS LEAVE OFF.
THE BOOK OF ACTS BEGINS WITH THE ASCENSION OF JESUS AND THE COMING OF
GTHE HOLY SPIRIT, AND GOES ON TO SHOW HOW THE APOSTLES PREACHED CHRIST
TO THE WORLD.
ACTS IS THE FOLLOW UP TO THE GOSPEL OF LUKE.
ACTS SHOWS US THAT JESUS WAS TRUETO HIS WORD: THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME TO
THE DISCIPLES AND EMPOWERED THEM TO WORK MIRACLE AND PREACH THEOOD
NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
ROMANS
AUTHOR: PAUL
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ROMANS IS THE FIRST OF PAUL'S LETTERS.
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PAUL HAS NOT YET BEEN TO ROME, AND WANTS TO ENCOURAGE THE CHURCH AND
REMIND THEM OF THE THINGS THEY BELIEVE. SO PAUL WRITES THEM A LETTER.
AND THIS LETTER IS AMONG THE MOST ARTICULATE DESCRIPTION OF THE
GOSPEL,SALVATION, AND CHRIST'S WORKEVER WRITTEN.
1 CORINTHIANS
AUTHOR: PAUL
FIRST CORINTHIANS IS NOT A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO SOLVING CHURCH PROBLEMS,

HOWEVER.INSTEAD OF TELLING THE CHURCH PRECISELY WHAT TO DO, PAUL
PROPOSES A NEW PERSPECTIVE: PUT GOD'S GLORY FIRST. IT IS THE KEY TO
OVERCOMING STRUGGLES.
1 CORINTHIANS IS A LETTER WRITTEN TO A PEOPLE PAUL KNEW WELL. PAUL'S

FAMILIARITY IS VERY OBVIOUS IN THIS LETTER, SPECIALLY IN HIS FATHERLY
LANGUAGE.
2 CORINTHIANS
AUTHOR: PAUL
SECOND CORINTHIANS IS THE THIRD OF PAUL'S LETTER.
IN THEWAKE OF ALL THAT HAPPENED SINCE WRITING FIRST CORINTHIANS, PAUL

WRITES TO THE CHURCH TO RESOLVE A FEW LINGERING CONCERNS AND ISSUES:
●WHERE THE CORINTHIANS STAND WITH PAUL.
●WHY PAUL HASN'T VISITED CORINTH SINCE THEY REPENTED.
●HOW TO COMPLETE THE CONTRIBUTION FOR THE CHRISTIAN AT JERUSALEM.
●PAUL'S AUTHORITY AS AN APOSTLE.
GALATIANS
AUTHOR: PAUL
GALATIAN IS THE FOURTH OF PAUL'S LETTER.
THE GALATIAN FELT PRESSURED TO SEEK SALVATION FROM THE LAW OF MOSES,
EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD ALREADY ACCEPTED THE GRACE OF CHRIST.
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THE BOOK OF GALATIANS SUCCINTLY OUTLINES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
LAW OF MOSES AND GOD'S NEW
COVENANT WITH THE CHURCH.
PAUL DEFENDS THE TRUE GOSPEL, AND DEALS WITH A FEW QUESTIONS THAT
WOULD NATURALLY ARISE IN AN ARGUMENT OF LAW
VS. GRACE.
EPHESIANS
AUTHOR: PAUL
PAUL'S LETTER TOTHE EPHESIANS HAS THE ANSWER. THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS(A
CITY IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE) HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED DURING PAUL'S TWO YEAR
STAY. THEY HEARD THE CALL, THEY BELIEVED, AND THEY TURN AWAY FROM THEIR
OLD IDOLS AND PRACTICES.
NOW PAUL WRITES TO REMIND THEM OF WHERE THEY STAND IN THE FAMILY OF
GOD, AND HOW TO BEHAVE AS MEMBERS OF THAT FAMILY.
PAUL CALLS ATTETION TO THREE MAJOR THEMES: GRACE, PEACE AND LOVE.
EPHESIANS IS THE FIFTH OF PAUL'S LETTER. PAUL'S WROTE EPHESIANS TO

ACCOMPLISH TWO THINGS. DESCRIBE THE CHRISTIAN'S CALLING PRESCRIBE THE
CHRISTIAN'S WALK.
LIKE HIS LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS AND COLOSSIANS, THIS EPISTLE IS MEANT TO
ENCOURAGE THE EPHESIANS TO WALK IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL..
PHILIPPIANS
AUTHOR: PAUL
PHILIPPIANS IS THE SIXTH OF PAUL'S LETTER.
NO BOOK OF THE BIBLE FOCUSES ON THE JOY LIKE

PHILIPPIANS.
THE IMRISONED PAUL HEARS THAT THE PHILIPPIANSARE GOING THROUGH DIFFICULT
CIRCUMSTANCES.
●THE WERE BEING PERSECUTED FOR THEIR FAITH.
●OTHER TEACHERS WERE TRYING TO TROUBLE THEIR FRIEND PAUL WHILE HE WAS
IN PRISON.
●THEIR FRIEND EPAPHRODITUS HAD GONE TO VISIT PAUL BUT HAD FALLEN VERY
SICK.
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●FALSE TEACHERS WERE TRYING TO SUBMIT THE GENTILE BELIEVERS TO THE OLD
TESTAMENT LAW.
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THE EPISTLE IS MEANT TO ENCOURAGE PHILIPPIANSTO JOYFULLY WALK IN MANNER
WORTHY OF GTHE GOSPEL.
PHILIPPIANS FOCUSES ON THE BELIEVER'S ATTITUDE.
PHILIPPIANS HAS THE HIGHEST CONCENTYRATION OF THE WORDS TRANSLATED

“REJOICE” OR “JOY”
COLOSSIANS
AUTHOR: PAUL
THE BRIEF OF THIS BOOK OF COLOSSIANS IS ALL ABOUT WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST.
IN THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS, PAUL TEACHES THE COLOSSIANS WHO THEY ARE IN
CHRIST.
IN THE LAST TWO CHAPTERS, HE INSTRUCTS THEM ON HOW TO WALK IN CHRIST.
COLOSSIANS IS THE SEVENT OF PAUL'S LETTER.
PAUL MAKES A FEW STATEMENTS AS TO WHY HE WROTE THIS LETTER:
●HE HEARD ABOUT THEIR GROWTH AND WANTS TO ENCOURAGE THEM.

●HE WANTS THEM TO WALK IN CHRIST AND REMAIN ESTABLISHED IN THEIR FAITH.
●HE KNOWS FALSE TEACHERS ARE TRYING TO LEAD THEM ASTRAY.
COLOSSIANS EMPHASIZES THE BELIEVER'S MIND.

1 THESSALONIANS
AUTHOR: PAUL
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST POSITIVE LETTERS FROM PAUL TO A CHURCH.
THE THESSALONIANS SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR CHURCHES IN THE AREA.
FIRST THESSALONIANS IS THE EIGHTH OF PAUL'S LETTER.
PAUL OPEN HIS LETTER COMMENDING THE THESSALONIANS FOR THEIR “WORK OF
FAITH”, “LABOR OF LOVE” AND “STEADFASTNESS OF HOPE”.
PAUL WRITES TO REMIND, ENCOURAGE, AND INSTRUCT THEM CONCERNING A FEW

AREAS OF INTEREST.
●ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE THESSALONIANS
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●EXPRESSION OF PAUL'S AFFECTION FOR THEM.
●INSTRUCTION FOR THE FUTURE.
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2 THESSALONIANS
AUTHOR: PAUL
THE CHURCH HAD CONTINUE GROWING IN FAITH AND LOVE WITH THE HOPE THAT
JESUS WOULD RETURN.
THE THESSALONIANS WERE BEING TOLD THAT THE DAY THEY HAD HOPE FOR HAD
ALREADY PASSED.
SOME OF THEIR OWN HAD JUST GIVEN IN. THEY WERE UNDISCIPLINED, DOING NO
WORK, AND YET TRYING TO BE INVOLVED IN EVERYONE ELSE'S AFFAIR.
THIS CHURCH WAS VERY DEAR TO PAUL'S HEART; THEY WERE HIS CHILDREN IN THE
LORD SO HE FREACHES OUT TO THEM AGAIN WITH A LETTER ADDRESSES THESE
THREE ISSUES
SECOND THESSALONIANS IS THE NINTH OF PAUL'S LETTER.

PAUL'S NEED TO ADDRESS THE THREE TROUBLES THE CHURCH IN
THESSALONICA FACED.
●PERSECUTION FROM THE OUTSIDE.
●DESAIR FROM FALSE DOCTRINE.
●BUSY BODIES IN THE CHURCH.
1 TIMOTHY
TIMOTHY WAS PAUL'S PROTEGE “ CHILD IN FAITH”
1 TIMOTHY IS ABOUT SOUND DOCTRINE AND GODLINESS. PAULS DEALS WITH TWO
ISSUES IN THIS EPISTLES: WHAT CHRISTIAN SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT TEACH. WHAT
GODLINESS LOOK LIKE IN THE CHURCH.
FIRST TIMOTHY IS A LETTER TO A YOUNG CHURCH LEADER WITH SPECIFIC

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO “FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT”.
THIS BOOK GIVES US A LOOK AT PAUL'S INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE

CHALLENGES TIMOTHY FACED.
FIRST TIMOTHY IS THE FIRST OF PAUL'S PASTORAL EPISTLES.
TIMOTHY HAS SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH PAUL, AND IT SHOWS. IN THOS LETTER,
WE SEE PAUL'S EXPECTATIONS OF TIMOTHY.
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TIMOTHY A IN GREAT DETAIL AND FOCUS MORE ON “HOW” FIRST TIMOTHY LAYS OUT
SPECIFIC WAYS TO HONOR ELDERS AND WIDOWS.
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2 TIMOTHY
AUTHOR: PAUL
PAUL'S SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY FOCUSES ON SOLEMN CHARGES TO THE

YOUNGER PASTOR:
●GUARD AND FIGHT FOR THE GOSPEL
●PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS.
●CONTINUE AND SOUND TEACHING.
●PREACH THE WORD.
SECOND TIMOTHY SHOWS US WHAT PAUL NEEDED ANOTHER PREACHER TO KNOW

BEFORE HE WAS TAKEN FROM THE WORLD.
SECOND TIMOTHY IS THE SECOND OF PAUL'S PASTORAL EPISTLES.
SECOND TIMOTHY IS PROBABLY THE LATEST OF PAUL'S LETTERS.
TITUS
AUTHOR: PAUL
TITUS IS PAUL'S PARTNER IN MINISTRY, A GENTILE. LIKE TIMOTHY, TITUS IS PAUL'S

CHILD IN THE FAITH, HE WAS INTRODUCED TO CHRIST THROUGH PAUL'S MINISTRY.
THIS SHORT EPISTLE UNPACKS THAT CONCEPT IN PAUL'S LIST OF THINGS TITUS
SHOULD DO:
APPOINT ELDERS
INSTRUCT PEOPLE TO BE SENSIBLE
ENCOURAGE GOOD DEEDS
THE BOOK OF TITUS IS A SHORT GUIDE TO SETTING UP IN ORDER LOCAL CHURCHES

OF FIRST CENTURY CRETE.
TITUS IS THE LAST PAUL'S PASTORAL EPISTLES.
TITUS GIVES US A CONCISE ARGUMENT FOR GOOD DEEDS: THE PEOPLE OF THE
CHURCH SHOULD BEHAVE DIFFERENTLY FROM THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD
BECAUSE GOD HAS CHANGED THEM.
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PHILEMON
AUTHOR: PAUL
PHILEMON IS A GOOD GUY. HE LOVES JESUS AND THE OTHER BELIEVERS.
PHILEMON OWN SLAVED, ONESIMUS. ONESIMUS HAD RUN AWAY FROM PHILEMON,
AND SOMEHOW MET IN PAUL IN HIS TRAVEL. PAUL SHARED THE GOSPEL TO
ONEMISUS AND HAD BEEN SAVED.
PAUL SAID TO ONEMISUS TO GO BACK TO HIS OLD MASTER.
ONEMISUS IS GOING TO SHOW UP ON PHILEMON'S DOORSTEP WITH A NOTE FROM

PAUL.
THIS MESSAGES URGES HIM TO DO SOMETHING UNHEARD OF: FORGIVE ONESIMUS
AND ACCEPT HIM AS A BROTHER NOT A SLAVE.
PHILEMON IS A HYBRID. THE MAIN THRUST OF THE LETTER IS TO PHILEMON, AN

INDIVIDUAL CHURCH LEADER, BUT THE LETTER IS ALSO ADDRESSED TO APPHIA,
ARCHIPPUS, AND THE CHURCH IN PHILEMON'S HOUSE.
PHILEMON ISN'T THE SHORTEST BOOK OF THE BIBLE( THAT'S 3 JOHN) BUT IT IS ONLY
ONE CHAPTER LONG WITH 335 WORDS.
HEBREWS
THE BOOK OF HEBREW IS A LONG LIST OF REASONS TO CLING JESUS.
HEBREW WAS WRITTEN FOR CHRISTIANS WHO HAD BEEN IN THE CHURCH FOR A
WHILE.
IT'S A WORD OF EXHORTATION, A MESSAGE THAT COMFORTS US AND MOTIVATES US

TO OBEY GOD.
HEBREW IS AABOUT JESUS SUPREMACY. NO OTHER BOOK IN THE BIBLE SO

POWERFULLY DEMONSTRATES JESUS SUPREMACY.
APART FROM ROMANS, HEBREWS IS THE MOST DOCTRINE-HEAVY BOOK OF THE NEW
TESTAMENT.
THIS BOOK COMPELLINGLY PREACHES AND RE-PREACHES CHRIST TO THOSE WHO

KNOW HIM.
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HEBREW IS ALSO WELL KNOWN FOR ITS ELEVENTH CHAPTER, WHICH HAS BEEN
NICKNAMED THE “HALL OF FAITH”.
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JAMES
AUTHOR: JAMES
THE APOSTLE JAMES MEETS THIS LINE OF THOUGHT HEAD ON: “FAITH WITHOUT
WORK IS DEAD”
HE WRITES A LETTER TO THE CHRISTIAN JEWS SCATTERED ACCROSS THE WORLD.
IN ONLY 108 VERSE, JAMES ADDRESSES THE TRIALS HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS
ARE FACING IN THE WORLD.
1 PETER
AUTHOR: PETER
THE APOSTLE PETER WRITES THIS CHRISTIANS A LETTER TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES
IN TWO WAYS:
●TESTIFY THE TRUTH.

EXHORT THEM TO LIVE ACCORDINGLY.
TO PETER , SUFFERING IS SOMETHING THE CHRISTIAN

SHOULD ALWAYS SEE COMING.
NO OTHER BOOK OF THE BIBLE FOCUSES ON SUFFERING AND GLORY AS MUCH AS

FIRST PETER.
FIRST PETER IS THE SECOND OF THE GENERAL EPISTLES.
THIS LETTER FROM PETER FOCUSES ON THE SUFFERINGS AND GLORY OF CHRIST
AND HIS CHURCH. TO PETER, CHRISTIAN SUFFERING ISN'T SOMETHING TO PUT UP
WITH- ITS SOMETHING TO EXPECT.
2 PETER
AUTHOR: PETER
AFTER JESUS ROSE FROM THE GRAVE, HE HAD A SPECIAL CONVERSATION WITH
PETER ABOUT HOW THE APOSTLE WOULD DIE.
PETER KNOWS THAT HE WILL DIE FOR THE LORD, AND THAT HIS TIME WAS DRAWING
NEAR.
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SECOND PETER URGES THE CHURCH TO STAND FIRM- BECAUSE EVEN WHEN PETER
IS GONE, THE CHURCH WAS CARRY ON.
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SECOND PETER IS THE THIRD OF THE GENERAL EPISTLES.
PETER HAD SAID IN A PREVIOUS LETTER THAT “ THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES
FOREVER”
PETER WOULD DIE, BUT HE BELIEVED THE SCRIPTURES WOULD LIVE ON- AND HIS
LAST RECORDED WORDS URGES US TO REMEMBER THEM.
1 JOHN
AUTHOR: JOHN
JOHN'S LETTER MOVES AROUND FROM THEME TO THEME, BUT HE MAKES THREE
THINGS VERY CLEAR TO THE CHURCH:
THE CHILDREN OF GOD BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST

THE CHILDREN OF GOD KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS
THE CHILDREN OF GOD LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
FIRST JOHN IS POWERFUL. IT'S ALSO A BIT ODD. IT READS SOMEWHAT LIKE A
LETTER, SOMEWHAT LIKE A SERMON, AND A LITTLE LIKE SOME PASSAGES FROM
PROVERBS.
FIRST JOHN'S ROLE IN THE BIBLE IS CLOSELY RELATED TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN.
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN WRITTEN TO PERSUADE NON- CHRISTIAN TO BELIEVE IN
JESUS AND FIND ETERNAL LIFE IN HIS NAME.
NO OTHER BOOK OF THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT LOVE AS OFTEN AS FIRST JOHN.
2 JOHN
IN SECOND JOHN, THE ELDER BRIEFLY EXPLAINS THE FRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE THREE:
●LOVE AND THRUTH

●TRUTH AND OBEDIENCE
●OBEDIENCE AND LOVE
JOHN WRITES THIS SECOND LETTER TO THE “CHOSEN LADY AND HER CHILDREN”
SECOND JOHN IS THE FOURTH OF THE GENERAL EPISTLES.
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SECOND JOHN IS THE SECOND SHORTEST BOOK OF THE BIBLE. IT'S ONLY ONE
CHAPTER LONG, AND HAS ONLY THIRTEEN VERSES.
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3 JOHN
THIRD JOHN IS THE FIFTH OF THE GENERAL EPISTLES.
THIRD JOHN IS THE SHORTEST BOOK OF THE BIBLE: ONLY 219 WORDS.
JUDE
AUTHOR: JUDE
JUDE HADN'T ALWAYS BELIEVED IN JESUS, BUT AFTER HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD,
THINGS CHANGED. THE WORLD CHANGED. HIS BROTHER CHANGED. JUDE
CHANGED.
IN JUST 25 VERS, JUDE'S COVERS A FEW IMPORTANT POINTS FOR CHRISTIANS TO

REMEMBER:
●THE THREAT TO THE FAITH
●CHARACTERISTIC OF THE UNGODLY.
●THE APOSTLES WARNINGS.
JUDE IS THE SEVENTH AND LAST OF THE GENERAL EPISTLES. JUDE'S CONTENT
MIRRORS THE SECOND AND THRID CHAPTERS OF PETER'S SECOND LETTER.
JUDE ALSO RELIES HEAVILY ON THE INSPIRED SCRIPTURES, SPECIALLY GENESIS

AND NUMBERS.
JUDE IS ONLY ONE CHAPTER LONG, AND IT'S FIFITH SHORTEST BOOK OF THE BIBLE.
REVELATION
AUTHOR : JOHN
REVELATION IS THE RESOLUTION OF ALL THINGS:

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ONCE AGAIN PHYSICALLY AND LITERALLY RESTORED TO
EARTH. THE DEAD ARE RAISED.
THE FINAL JUDGEMENTS ARE RENDERED. AND A THINGS ARE MADE NEW.
REVELATION IS TRADITIONLLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE APOSTLE JOHN, WHO ALSO

WROTE A GOSPEL AND THREE NEW
TESTAMENT LETTERS.
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REVELATION MAY BE DISTINCT FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT. REVELATION'S
SYMBOLIC VISIONS ARE SIMILAR TO
WHAT YOU'D SEE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES OF EZEKIEL, DANIEL, AND
ZECHARIAH.
REVELATION IS THE LAST BOOK OF THE NEW TESTAMENT AND THE BIBLE .
Activity
Name:
1. It is the last book of the new testament and also the last book of the bible.
2. This book is only has one chapter.
3. It is the shortest book of the bible.
4. The 3 John is consist of only _____ words.
5. He is Paul’s protege.
Enumerate the Books in the New Testament and arrange it according to their
divisions.
In particular order.
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MIDTERM
Objective:
To implant in the mind of everyone the vital role preformed by the chosen leaders by
God. How they become victorious in all battles in lives they encountered. Also to give
insight to the learners the view of God’s leader, under the leadership of God.
Introduction:
God calls leaders not because of their own strength and potentials. God calls leader who
one in teachable spirit. The chosen leaders of God always follows and obeys God
instructions. They are all equip by God.
Motivation:
You should understand the characters of a leader. You should know that becoming a
leader is being a servant not being a boss. The very purpose of being a leader is “to served”
not “to be served”.
LESSON 4
KNOWING THE FOREFATHERS OF OUR FAITH
THE STORY OF ABRAHAM

ACCORDING TO THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT, ABRAM (THE FATHER IS EXALTED), WHO
IS LATER NAMED ABRAHAM (THE FATHER OF MANY NATION), A NATIVE OF UR IN
MESOPOTAMIA, CALLED BY GOD (YAHWEH) TO LEAVE HIS OWN COUNTRY AND
PEOPLE AND JOURNEY TO AN UNDESIGNATED LAND, WHERE HE WILL BECOME THE
FOUNDER OF A NEW NATION. HE OBEYS THE CALL UNQUESTIONINGLY AND (AT 75
YEARS OF AGE) PROCEEDS WITH HIS BARREN WIFE, SARAI,
LATER NAMED SARAH (PRINCESS), HIS NEPHEW LOT, AND OTHER COMPANIONS TO
THE LAND OF CANAAN (BETWEEN SYRIA AND EGYPT).
EVENTUALLY, HE NOT ONLY HAS A SON, ISHMAEL , BY HIS WIFE MAIDSERVANT
HAGAR BUT HAS, 100 YEARS OF AGE, BY SARAH, A LEGITIMATE SON, ISAAC, WHO IS
TO BE THE HEIR OF THE PROMISE.
ABRAHAM'S CALLING
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ABRAM WAS IN HARAN AT THE AGE OF 75 WHEN HE GOT THE CALL FROM THE
GOD TO LEAVE HIS HOME AND FAMILY BEHIND AND FOLLOW GOD INTO A STRANGE
AND THAT HE WOULD GIVE HIM. ANRAHAM MOVED SOUTH INTO THE LAND OF
CANAAN, A LAND INHABITED BY A WARRIOR PEOPLE CALLED
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CANANITES. HE SETTLED TEMPORARILY IN SECHEM AND BETHEL. GOD TOLD

ABRAHAM HIS DESCENDANTS WOULD INHERIT CANANITES LAND.
EGYPTAN LAY OVER
A FAMINE IN THE LAND FORCED ABRAM AND HIS PEOPLE MOVED TO EGYPT.
FEARFUL THAT PHARAOH WOULD KILL ABRAHAM FOR HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE. ABRAM
ASKED SARAI TO PRETEND SHE WAS HIS SISTER INSTEAD. PHARAOH NOTED SARAI
AND TOOK HER AS CONCUBINE. FOR THIS, GOD STRUCK THE PHARAOH RETURN
SARAI AND ASKD THEM TO LEAVE EGYPT. ABRAHAM LEFT WITH CART OF WEALTH.
RENEWAL OF ABRAHAM'S CALLING
ABRAM RETURNED TO CANAAN WITH LOT AND SARAI, BUT LOT AND ABRAM HAD
A DISPUTE OVER GRAZING LAND FOR THEIR HERDS. BREAKING WITH TRADITIONS,
ABRAM ALLOWED LOT- THE YOUNGER OF THE TWO- CHOOSE THE LAND HE WOULD
TAKE. LOT CHOSE THE FERTILE PLAIN TO THE EAST, AND
ABRAM TOOK THE HILLS TO THE WEST. LOT'S LAND INCLUDED THE CITIES OF
SODOM AND GOMORRAH. AFTER ABRAM WAS GIVEN SETTLED, GOD CAME TO ABRAM
AND RENEWED HIS PROMISE THAT ABRAM WOULD INHERIT FOR HIS DESCENDANTS
ALL THE LAND HE COULD SEE IN EVERY DIRECTION.
LOT MOVED TO SODOM AND WAS CAPTURED WHEN LOCAL TRIBES ATTACKED THE
CITY. ABRAM WHO HAD GROWN WEALTHY AND DISTINGUISHED ARMED HIS MEN AND
PURSUED LOT'S KIDNAPPERS,REGAINNING LOT AND HIS PSESIONS. AGAIN GOD
AFFIRMED HIS PROMISES TO ABRAM, ABRAM NOW BEING WELL ADVANCED IN YEARS
AND WITHOUT OFFSPRING.GOD REAFFIRMED THAT HE WOULD GIVE THE LAND FROM
THE NILE TO THE EUPHRATES TO ABRAM'S DESCENDANTS, BUT ONLY AFTER THEY
HAD SPENT 400 YEARS AS SLAVE.
THE FIRST SON

WITH GOD HAVING MORE THE ONCE AFFIRMED HIS PROMISED OF NUMEROUS
PROGENY TO ABRAM,, SARAI MADE A SUGGESTION. IN THE ANCIENT WORLD, IT WAS
CUSTOM TO OFFER A SUBSITUTE TO BEAR A CHILD TO ENSURE THE CONTINUATION
OF THE FAMILY. RAI OFFERED HER EGYPTIAN HANDMAID, HAGAR TO ABRAM TO
BEAR THEM A CHILD. ABRAM CONSENTED, AND AT THE AGE OF 86 HAGAR BORE HIM
A SON , ISHMAEL.
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THE SECOND SON
THIRTEEN YEARS AFTER THE BIRTH OF ISHMAEL , GOD ONCE AGAIN APPEARED
TO ABRAM ANAD RENEWED HIS COVENANT WITH ABRAM THROUGH THE SIGN OF
CIRCUMCISION AND EVEN EXPANDED THE PROMISES. IF ABRAM WOULD “WALK
BEFORE THE LORD AND BE UPRIGHT” THEN GOD WOULD MAKE ABRAM THE
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“FATHER OF MULTITUDE NATIONS” GODCHANGED ABRAM NAME TO ABRAHAM,
WHICH MEANS THE “FATHER OF MANY NATIONS”, AND HE CHANGED SARAI'S NAME
TO SARAH, MEANING “THE PRINCESS”. GOD ALSO REVEALED THAT THE PROMISES
WOULD NOT COME THROUGH ABRAHAM OR THROUGH ISHMAEL, BUT THROUGH
ANOTHER SON THAT WOULD BE BORN TO SARAH IN YEARS TIME. ABRAHAM
LAUGHED AT THIS SEEMINGLY ABSURD PROMISE, BECAUSE ABRAHAM WAS 99 AT
THAT TIME AND SARAH WAS 89. WHEN ABRAHAM LAUGHED GOD SAID THE BOY'S
NAME WOULD BE ISAAC, WHICH MEANS “HE LAUGHED”.
GOD SPEAKS TO ABRAHAM, IN THE GUISE OF A TRAVELLER WITH COMPANIONS(
WHO WERE TWO ANGELS). THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY TO SODOM TO DESTROY THE
CITY FOR ITS WICKEDNESS. ABRAHAM BOLDLY BARGAINED WITH GOD ON BEHALF OF
LOT, AND BECAUSE OF ABRAHAM'S FAVOR, GOD RELENTED: IF THERE WERE JUST 10
RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE IN SODOM, GOD WOULD NOT DESTROY IT. DURING GOD'S AND
THE ANGEL'S VISIT, ABRAHAM SERVED THEM BEDOUIN HOSPITALITY: A GOAT, ETER
AND OTHER FOOD.LATER, GOD COULD NOT FIND EVEN TEN RIGHTEOUS IN SODOM,
BUT SPARED LOT'S FAMILY BY WAVING THEM TO DESTROY BEFORE HE DESTROYED
THE CITY. LOT'S WIFE WAS TURNED TO A PILLAR OF SALT WHEN SHE TURNED TGO
VIEW SODOM AS SHE FLED.
A YEAR LATER, SARAH GAVE BIRTH TO ISAAC. SARAH GREW INCREASINGLY JELOUS
OF HAGAR AND ISHMAEL, AND ABRAHAM RELENTED TO ALLOW SARAH TO SEND
THEM O INTO THE WILDERNESS. GOD SAVE HAGAR AND ISHMAEL AND PROMISED
ISHMAEL WOULD ALSO THE FATHER A GREAT NATION THROUGH 12 SON, ASSUMED
BY TRADITION THE TWELVE ARAB TRIBES. ACCORDING TO CHRISTIAN AND JEWISH
SCRIPTURE, GOS STIPULATED, THOUGH, THAT THE COVENANT WOULD FOLLOW
THROUGH ISAAC'S LINE. IN TALMUDIC TRADITION, ISHMAEL WAS LATER DOWN-
PLAYED, CAST AS A BULLY TO YOUNGER BROTHER ISAAC. ACCORDING TO THE
KORAN, HAGAR AND ISHMAEL MADE A JOURNEY TO MECA WHERE THEY BUILD A
HOME AND ABRAHAM OFTEN VISITED THEM.
THE OFFERING
ACCORDING TO THE JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY, ISAAC IS THE SON WHOM
THE OFFERING STORY IS ABOUT.
ACCORDING TO THE ISLAMIC INTERPRETATION, ISHMAEL IS THE SON IN THE
STORY.EITHER WAY, ABRAHAM WAS ASKED IN A TEST OF FAITH BY GOD TO TAKE ONE
OF HIS S ONTO MOUNT MORIAH AND SACRIFICE HIM AS A BURNT OFFERING. AT THE
TIME, CHILDREN WERE OFTEN SACRIFICED AS BURNT OFFERINGS TO VARIETY OF
DEITIES. ABRAHAM SUBMITTED, DESPITE THE FACT THAT “HE LOVE” HIS SON. HE
TOOK THE SON UP ON THE MOUNTAIN AND PREPARED TO SACRIFICE HIM. AT THE
LAST MOMEN. GOD TOLD HIM TO STAY HIS HAND AND A RAM APPEARED IN THE
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BUSHES.ABRAHAM AND HIS SON SLAYED THE RAM AS AN OFFERING, INSTEAD. GOD
REITERATED HIS PROMISES TO ABTRAM AGAIN;
AT THIS POINT, AND MADE THE COVENANT BINDING. BECAUSE ABRAHAM HAD
FAITH IN THE ONE GOD, GOD SHOWED HIMSELF DIFFERENT FROM OTHER GODS
WHO
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DESIRED HUMAN SACRIFICE AND STARTED HIS HISTORY WITH A PEOPLE. THE JEWS
OR THE MUSLIMS. CHRISTIANITY ALSO LAYS CLAIM TO HIS STORY AS THE FARER
SHADOWING OF THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST.
DEATH OF PATRIARCH
AFTER SARAH DIED, TWO THINGS HAPPENED.THE KORAN TELLS THE STORY OF
ABRAHAM AND ISHMAEL MAKING A JOURNEY TO RETRIEVE KAABA (THE ISLAM'S
GREAT SHRINE- FROM THE SAND). ALSO ABRAHM SENT A SERVANT TO FIND A
SUITABLE WIFE FOR ISAAC AMONG ABRAHAM'S RELATIVES. THE SERVANT RETURNED
WITH REBECCA. REBECCA MARRIED ISAAC AND HAD A SON ESAU AND JACOB. THE
JEWISH COVENANT WOULD PASS DOWN THROUGH JACOB, WHO WOULD HAVE 12
SONS WHO WOULD BECOME THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL. LIKEWISE, JACOB'S SONS
WOULD INCLUDE JOSEPH AND JUDAH, AND THE BIRTHRIGHT WOULD CONTIN
THROUGH JOSEPH AND THE SCEPTER THROUGH JUDAH, WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR
ESTABLISHING OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE LINE OF COVENANT.
ABRAHAM MARRIED KETURAH AND HAD SIX MORE SONS. ABRAHAM DIED AT
175 YEARS OLD AND WAS BURRIED IN CAVE IN HEBRON WITH SARAH BEFORE HE
COULD INHERIT THE LAND CANAAN. BOTH ISAAC AND ISHMAEL ATTENDED THE
FUNERAL.
THE STORY OF ISAAC
ISAAC OF THE OLD TESTAMENT LIVED FROM 1716 BC TO 1896 BC. BASED ON WHAT
WE KNOWN FROM THE BIBLE CHRONOLOGY. HE WAS THE PROMISED AND LONG
AWAITED SON BORN FROM ABRAHAM ANCD SARAH IN THEIR OLD AGE.
MANY YEARS LATER, ACCORDING TO ESTABLISHED BIBLE CHRONOLOGY THE
LORD SPOKEN TO ABRAHAM, CALLING UPON HIM TO SACRIFICE ISAAC ON MOUNT
MORIAH. ISAAC WENT WILLINLY, EVEN CARRYING THE WOODS FOR THE FIRE, NOT
REALIZING HE WAS TO BE THE OFFERING UNTO THE LORD. IT WOULD SEEMS,
HOWEVER, THAT WHEN THE TIME CAME FROM HIS DEATH, ISAAC, BEING A STRONG
YOUNG MAN. ANMD ABRAHAM, BEINFG ELDERLY, THAT ISAAC COULD HAVE
PROTESTED HIS IMPENDING DEATH, AND YET CHOOSE NOT. ABRAHAM VBOUND HIS
SON WITH A ROPE, PLACED HIM ON THE ALTAR THEY HAD BUILT TOGETHER, AND
RAISED THE KNIFE TO SLASH ISAAC'S THROAT JUST THEN, AN ANGEL INTERVENED
INSTRUCTING ABRAHAM TO SACRIFICE A RAM INSTEAD, ONE THAT THE LORD HAD
PROVIDED HIMSELF, THAT WAS CAUGHT IN A THICKET NEARBY.
WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR ISAAC TO CHOSE A WIFE, HIS FATHER ABRAHAM
DECIDED, PER CUSTOM, THAT HISSON WOULD MARY A COUSIN. THIS TRADITION
KEPT LND AND WEALTH IN THE CONTROL OF THE TRIBES RULING FAMILY. ABRAHAM
SENT A MESSENGER TO HIS BROTHER LABAN IN MESOPOTAMIA, WHO HD A GRAND
DAUGHTER NAMED REBECCA. THE MESSENGER DEVISED A PLAN TO LEARN IF
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REBECCA WAS TRULY TO BE ISAAC'S WIFE. WHEN REBECCA MET THE MESSENGER,
SHE OFFERED WATER NOT ONLY TO THE MAN BUT HIS THIRSTY CAMEL AS WELL,
FULLFILING WHAT THE MESSENGER HAD SET UP IN HIS MIND AS TEST OF SORTS.
THE MESSENGER
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THEN FORMALLY INTRODUCED HIMSELF AND TOLD THE FAMILY OF HIS MISSION.
BIBLE CHRONOLOGY TELL US THAT REBECCA AGREED TO THE MARRIAGE, AND SHE
AND ISAAC WERE HAPPILY MARRIED.
THEY WERE CERTAINLY INLOVE, ALTHOUGH, SCRIPTURE TELL US REBECCA
APPEARED FOR SOME TIME TO BE BARREN. BUT THEN ISAAAC CRIED OUT TO THE
LORD, AND SHE BECAME PREGNANT. IT WAS A DIFFICULT NINE MONTHS, AFTER
WHICH SHE BORE TWIN SONS, ESAU AND JACOB. ISAAC PREFFERED THE FIRST BORN
TRWIN, ESAU. HE WAS A MAN'S MAN AND AN EXCELLENT HUNTER. REVBECCA,
HOWEVER, FAVORED JACOB, THE QUIET ONE, THE ONE WHO SEEMED TO STAY ON
HER SIDE MORE.
ESAU, BEING THE FIRST BORN SON, WOULD, AS HIS BIRTHRIGHT, INHERIT A
GREAT PORTION OF HIS FATHER'S WEALTH THAN JACOB. ONE DAY ESAU CAME IN
TIRED AND REVENOUS FROM A DAY IN THE FIELDS. JACOB WAS COOKING AN LENTIL
STEW, AND ESAU INISITED HE BE SERVED SOME IMMEDIATELY. HE WAS CERTAIN HE
WAS STARVING. JACOB , HOWEVER, WITH HELD THE FOOD, AND FREQUIRED OF
ESAU SOMETHING IN EXCHANGE- HIS VDERY BIRTHRIGHT AS AN OLDER BROTHER.
ESAU SAW NO USE FOR A BIRTHRIGHT TO A MAN DYING OF STARVATION. JACOB
CONTINUED TO WITH HOLD THE FOOD. “SWEAR TO ME AS OF THIS DAY”, SAID
JACOB, AND FOOLISH ESAU SWORE AN OATH TRADING AWAY HIS BIRTHRIGHT TO
HIS YOUNGER BROTHER FOR A BOWL OF STEW.
EVENTUALLY ISAAC'S TIME ON EARTH WAS DRAWING TO A CLOSE, AND THE
ISSUE OF HIS RIGHTFUL SUCCESSOR RESURFACED. CUSTOM REQUIRED THAT THE
FATHER GIVE A BLESSING TO HIS HEIR, TO CONFIRM HIS POSITION AS LEADER OF
THE TRIBE. WHEN ISAAC WAS OLD AND BLIND, REBECCA COACHED JACOB ON HOW
TO TRICK HIS FATHER INTO MISTAKING HIM FOR ESAU. SHE DRESSED JACOB IN
ESAU'S FAVORITE CLOTHING AND COVERED HIS ARMS AND NECK WITH THE SKINS OF
A YOUNG GOAT. WHICH SHE PREPARED FOR JACOB TO FEED HIS FATHER, IN
PREPARATION FOR RECEIVING THE BLESSING, THAT WAS DUE ESAU. DISGUISED AS
HE WAS, HE DISCOVERED ISAAC AND RECEIVE THE FIRST BORN'S BLESSING. ESAU
WAS COMPLETELY INFURIATED WHEN HE LEARNED OF THIS, AND WAS GOING TO
MURDER HIS YOUNGER TWIN. REBECCA HOWEVER LEARNED OF THIS AND WAS ABLE
TO GET SAFELY JACOB OUT OF THE CAMP, AND AWAY TO HER RELATIVES IN
MESOPOTAMIA.
THE STORY OF JACOB
JACOB IS THE GRAND SON OF ABRAHAM. HE IS THE SON OF OF ISAAC AND REBECCA
AND THE TRADITIONAL ANCESTOR OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.
ACCORDING TO THE OLD TESTAMENT, JACOB WAS THE YOUNGER TWIN OF
ESAU, WHO WAS THE ANCESTOR OF EDOM AND THE EDOMITES. THE TWO ARE THE
REPRESENTATIVES OF TWO DIFFERENTGRADES OF SOCIAL ORDER, JACOB BEING A
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PASTORALIST AND ESAU A NOMADIC HUNTER. DURING HER PREGNANCY REBECCA
WAS TOLD BY GOD THAT SHE WOULD GIVE BIRTH TO TWINS: EACH OF THEM WOULD
FOUND A GREAT NATION. ESAU, THE ELDER, WOULD SERVE HIS YOUNGER BROTHER.
AS IT TURNED OUT, JACOB, BY MEANS OF AN ELABORATEDOUBLE DECEPTION,
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MANAGED TO OBTAIN HIS OLDER BROTHER'S BIRTHRIGHT FROM THEIR FATHER.
JACOB, THEN FEED HIS BROTHER'S WRATH AND WENT TO TAKE REFUGE WITH THE
ARAMAEAN TRIBE OF ANCESTORS AT HARAN IN MESOPOTAMIA.
ALONG HIS JOURNEY, JACOB RECEIVED A SPECIAL REVELATION FROM GOD;
GOD PROMISED JACOBS LAND AND NUMEROUS OFFSPRING THAT WOULD PROVE TO
BE THE BLESSING OF THE ENTIRE EARTH. JACOB NAMED THE PLACE WERE HE
RECEIVED HIS VISION “BETHEL” (HOUSE OF GOD). ARRIVING AT HIS UNCLE LABAN'S
HOME HARAN, JACOB FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS COUSINS RAQUEL. HE WORKED FOR
HER FATHER LABAN FOR SEVEN YEARS TO OBTAIN RAQUEL'S HAND IN MARRIAGE,
BUT THEN LABAN SUBSTITUTED HER OLDER DAUGHTER LEAH, FOR RAQUEL AT THE
WEDDING CEREMONY. UNWITTINGLY MARRIED TO LEAH, JACOB WAS THUS
COMPLETED TO SERVED LABAN FOR ANOTHER SEVEN YEARS, SO THAT HE COULD
TAKE HIS BELOVED RAQUEL AS WIFE. JACOB THEN SERVED LABAN FOR ANOTHER 6
YEARS, DURING WHICH HE AMASSED A LARGE AUNT OF PROPERTY: HE THEN SET
OUT WITH HIS WIVES AND CHILDREN TO RETURN TO PALESTINE.
ON THE WAY JACOB WRESTLED WITH A MYSTERIOUS STRANGER, A DIVINE BEING,
WHO CHANGED JACOB'S NAME TO ISRAEL. JACOB THEN MET AND WAS RECONCILED
WITH ESAU AND SETTLED IN CANAAN.
JACOB HAD 13 CHILDREN, 10 OF WHOM WERE FONDERS OF TRIBES OF ISRAEL.
LEAH BORE HIM HIS ONLY DAUGHTER, DINAH, AND SIX SONS: REUBEN, SIMEON, LEVI
(ANCESTORS OF LEVITES), JUDAH ( FROM WHOM A TRIBE AND DAVIDIC MONARCHY
WERE DESCENDED), ISSACHAR AND ZEBULUM. LEAH'S MAIDSERVANT, BILHAH, BORE
HIM DAN AND NAPTHALI. RAQUEL'S SON WAS BENJAMIN AND JOSEPH ( WHO DID NOT
FOUND A TRIBE , BUT WHOSE SONS FOUNDED THE TRIBES OF MANASSEH AND
EPHRAIM).
THE STORY OF JACOB'S LATER YEARS MORE PROPERLY BELONGS TO THE
STORY OF JOSEPH. LATE IN HIS LIFE, A FAMINE PROMPTED JACOB AND HIS SONS TO
MIGRATE TO EGYPT, WHERE HE WAS REUNITED WITH HIS SON JOSEPH, WHO HAD
DISAPPEARED SOME YEARS BEFORE. ISRAEL DIED IN EGYPT AT THE AGE OF 147
YEARS AND WAS BURRIED IN CANAAN AT HEBRON.
THE STORIES ABOUT JACOB'S BIRTH AND HIS ACQUSITION OF THE
BIRTHRIGHT PROVIDE A THINLY VEILED APOLOGY FOR THE RELATION BETWEEN
EDOM (EDOM) AND ISRAEL DAVIDIC TIMES. EDOM THE OLDER NATION, WAS MADE
SUBJECT TO ISRAEL BY DAVID. THE JACOB'S STORIES ASSUME AND EMPHASIZE
THAT ALL THINGS OCCUR BY DIVINE DESIGNED. THE DIVINE OBJECTIVE IS OF
OVERRIDING SIGNIFICANCE; IT IS GOD'S WILL THAT ESAU (EDOM) SHALL LIVE IN THE
DESSERT AND BE SUBJECT TO ISRAEL.
THE STORY OF MOSES
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ACCORDING TO THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT, MOSES PARENTS WERE FROM THE TRIBE
OF LEVI, ONE OF THE GROUP IN EGYPT CALLED HEBREWS. THE BIBLICAL HEBREWS
HAD BEEN IN EGYPT FOR GENERATIONS, BUT APPARENTLY THEY BECOME A THREAT,
SO ONE OF THE PHARAOHS ENSLAVED THEM.
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THE FORMATIVE YEARS
ONE OF THE MEASURE TAKEN BY THE EGYPTIANS TO RESTRICT THE GROWTH OF
THE HEBREWS WAS GO ORDER THE DEATH OF ALL NEW BORN HEBREW MALES.
ACCORDING TO THE TRADITION, MOSES PARENTS, AMRAM AND JOCHEBED (WHOSE
OTHER CHIDREN WERE AARON AND MIRIAM), HID HIM FOR THREE MONTHS AND
THEN SET HIM AFLOAT ON THE NILE IN FREED BASKET DAUBED WITH PITCH. THE
CHILD, FOUND BY THE PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER WHILE BATHING, WAS REARED IN THE
EGYPTIAN COURT. THE NAME MOSES IS DERIVED FROM EGYPTIAN MOSE ( IS BORN )
AIS FOUND IN SUCH NAMES AS THTMOSE ([THE GOD] THOT IS BORN ). ORIGINALLY, IT
IS NIFERRED, MOSES' NAME WAS LONGER, BUT THE DEITY'S NAME WAS DROPPED.
MOSES' YEARS IN THE COURT ARE PASSED OVER SILENCE, BUT IT IS EVIDENT
FROM HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS LATER THAT HE HAD INSTRUCTION IN RELIGIOUS,
CIVIL AND MILITARY MATTERS. OSES UNDOUBTEDLY HAD GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF
LIFE IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST. DURING HIS EDUCTION HE LEARNED SOMEHOW
THAT HE WAS A HEBREW, AND HIS SENSE OF CONCERN AND CURIOSITY IMPELLED
HIM TO VISIT HIS PEOPLE. MOSES LIVED 120 YEARS AND WAS 80 WHEN HE
CONFRONTED PHARAOH, BUT THERE IS NO INDICATION HOW OLD HE WAS WHEN HE
WENT TO SEE THE HEBREWS.
MOST LIKELY MOSES WAS ABOUT 25 WHEN HE TOOK THE INSPECTION TOUR
AMONG HIS PEOPLE. THERE HE SAW THE OPPRESIVE MEASURES UNDER WHICH
THEY LABOURED. WHEN HE FOUND AN EGYPTIAN TASKMASTER BEATING A HEBREW,
PROBABLY TO DEATH, HE COULD CONTROL HIS SENSE OF JUSTICE NO
LONGER.AFTER CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE WAS IN SIGHT, HE KILLED
THE TOUGH EGYPTIAN OVERLOAD. AS A PRINCE IN THE COURT, MOSES WAS
PROBABLY IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, AND APPAREN HE KNEW THE LATEST
METHODS OF COMBAT. THE FLUSH OF VICTORY PULLED MOSES BACK THE NEXT
DAY. HE HAD REMOVED ONE THREAT TO HIS PEOPLE AND WAS DETERMINED TO
ASSIST THEM AGAIN.THIS TIME, HOWEVER, HE FOUND TWO HEBREWS
FIGHTING. AFTER PARTING THEM, HE QUESTIONED THE OFFENDER IN AN ATTEMP TO

MEDIATE THE DISAGREEMENT. TWO QUESTION JOLTED HIM:“WHO MADE YOU A
PRINCEAND JUDGE OVER US? DO YOU INTEND TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE
EGYPTIAN?” THE CONFIDENCE OF THE SELF APPOINTED DELIVERER TURNED INT
OFEAR. ONE OF HIS OWN KNEW HIS “SECRET” AND SOON PHARAOH WOULD, TOO.
REALIZING THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO FLEE, HE WENT TO MIDIAN(MAINLY IN THE
NORTHWEST ARABIA)
MOSES IN MIDIAN
IN NOTING THE FLIGHT TO MIDIAN THE NARRATIVE SAYS NOTHING OF THE
DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED. LIKE SINUHE, THE EGYPTIAN COURT OFFICIAL WHOSE
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FLIGHT IN ABOUT 1960 BCE WAS NARRATED IN A FAMOUS STORY, MOSES
UNDOUBTEDLY HAD TO FILTER THROUGH THE “WALL OF THE RULER”, A SERIES OF
FORTS AT THE EASTERN BORDER,APPROXIMATELY WHERE THE SUEZ CANAL IS NOW
LOCATED. FROM THERE HE MADE HIS WAY SOUTHEAST THROUGH VERY DESOLATE
COUNTRY. MIDIAN PROPER WAS EAST OF THE GULF OF AQABA, IN THE NORTHERN
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SECTION OF HEJAZ IN ARABIA, BUT THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT SOME OF TGHE
MIDIANITE CLANS CROSSED OVER THE ARABAH AND SETTLED IN THE EASTERN AND
SOUTHERN OF SINAI PENINSULA.
WHILE MOSES WAS RESTING AS WELL, SEVEN DAUGHTERS OF THE MIDIANITE
PRIEST JETHRO CAME TO WATER THEIR FATHER'S FLOCKS. OTHER SHEPERDS
ARRIVED AND DROVE THE GIRLS AWAY IN ORDER TO WATER THEIR OWN FLOCKS.
AGAIN MOSES SHOWED HIS COURAGE AND PROWESS AS A WARRIOR BECAUSE HE
TOOK ON THE SHEPERDS AND ROUTED THEM. MOSES STAYED ON WITH JETHRO
AND EVENTUALLY MARRIED ZIPPORAH, ONE OF THE DAUGHTERS. IN ASSUMING THE
RSPONSIBILITY OF JETHRO'S FLOCKS, MOSES ROAMED THE WILDERNESS LOOKING
FOR PASTURE.
ONE DAY AT THE BASE OF A MOUNTAIN, HIS ATTENTION WAS ATTRACTED BY A
FLAMING BUSH, BUT, ODDLY, IT WAS NOT CONSUMED. HE HAD SEEN BUSHES
BRILLIANT WITH FLAMELIKE BLOSSOMS, BUT THIS PHENOMENOM WAS DIFFERENT,
AND SO HE TURNED ASIDE TO INVESTIGATE IT. BEFORE HE COULD DO SO, HE WAS
WARNED TO COME NO CLOSER. THEN HE WAS ORDERED TO REMOVE HIS SANDALS
BECAUSE HE WAS STANDING ON HOLY GROUND.
REGARDLESS OF HOW ONE INTERPRETS THE BURNING BUSH, THE IMPORTANT
FACT IS THAT MOSES WAS CONCIOUS OF AN ENCOUNTER WITH DEITY. THIS GOD,
WHO CLAIMED TO BE THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB, WAS CALLING HIM
TO DELIVER THE HEBREW FROM EGYPT. ALTHOUGH ON HIS OWN HAND HE HAD
PREVIOUSLY BEEN ZEALOUS TO HELP HIS OWN PEOPLE, NOW THAT HE WAS BEING
COMMISSIONED TO DELIVER THEM TO EXPRESSED DOUBT CONCERNIN HIS
QUALIFICATIONS. THE UNDERLYING REASON WAS PROBABLY FEAR- HE HAD FLED
FOM SETI I, AND HE DID NOT RELISH CONFRONTATIONS WITH RAMSES II. GOD
REASSURED MOSES THAT IN THE FUTURE HE AND AND THE HEBREW WOULD
WORSHIP AT THIS MOUNTAIN. THEN MOSES ASKED TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE
DEITY COMMISSIONING HIM. THE GOD OF THE FATHERS HAD BEEN KNOWN MOSTLY
AS EL ELYON ( GOD MOST HIGH ) OR EL SHADDAI( GOD OF THE MOUNTAIN OR
ALMIGHTY GOD ), BUT HE IDENTIFIED HIMSELF TO MOSES AS YAHWEH AND GAVE
INSTRUCTIONS THAT HE WAS TO BE CALLED BY HIS NEW NAME FROM THEN ON.
YAHWEH MEANS HE WHO CREATES (BRING INTO BEING). THIS REVELATION ENABLED
MOSES TO UNDERSTAND THE GOD OF THE HEBREWS AS THE SOVEREIGN LORD
OVER NATURE AND THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD.
EVEN AFTER FURTHER ASSURANCES, MOSES WAS STILL RELUCTANT TO
ACCEPT YAHWEH YAHWEH'S CALL; THEREFORE, HE PLEADED FOR RELEASE
BECAUSE HE WAS STAMMERER. YAHWEH ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECT BUT
PROMISED TO HELP HIM EXPRESS HIMSELF. AWED BY HIS ASSIGNMENT, MOSES
MADE A FINAL DESPERATE PLEA, “OH MY LORD, SEND, I PRAY, SOME OTHER
PERSON.: ALTHOUGH ANGRY AT MOSES, YAHWEH WOULD NOT YIELD. MOSES WOULD
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STILL BE YAHWEH'S REPRESENTTIVE, BUT HIS GOLDEN TOUNGED BROTHER AARON
ULD BE THE SPOKESMAN. APPARENTLY MOSES WAS READY TO PLY THE ROLE OF
GOD TO PHARAOH PROVIDING AARON WOULD SERVE AS HIS PROPHET. HE
RETURNED TO JETHRO AND REQUESTED PERMISSION TO VISIT HIS PEOPLE IN
EGYPT, BUT HE DID NOT DISCLOSE THAT HE HAD BEEN COMMISSIONED BY YAHWEH.
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MOSES AND THE PHARAOH

RAMSES II BECAME KING AS A TENNAGER AND REIGNED FOR 67 YEARS. HE
ASPIRED TO DEFEAT THE HITTITES AND CONTROL OF ALL SYRIA, BUT IN THE FIFTH
YEAR OF HIS REIGN RAMSES WALKED INTO A HITTITE TRAP LAID FOR HIM AT
KADESH, ON THE ORONTES RIVER IN SYRIA. BY SHEER DETERMINATION HE FOUGHT
HIS WAY OUT, BUT IN THE LIGHT OF HIS PURPOSE THE BATTLE WAS AN UTTER
FAILURE. YET RAMSES, LIKE THE PHARAOHS, CLAIMED TO BE DIVINE; THEREFORE,
THE DEFEAT HAD TO BE INTERPRETED AS A MARVELLOUS VICTORY IN WHICH
ALONESUBDUED THE HITTITES. HIS WOUNDED EGO EXPRESSED ITSELF IN MASSIVE
BUILDING OPERATION THROUGHOUT EGYPT, AND BEFORE HIS REIGN ENDED, THE
BOAST OF HIS SUCCESS LTERALLY FILLED ACRES OF WALL SPACE.
IT WAS PROBABLY ONLY FEW YEARS AFTER THE KADESH INCIDENT THAT
MOSES AND AARON VOMFRONTED REMSES WITH THEIR DEMAND, “THUS SAYS THE
LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, LET MY PEOPLE GO”. AS A GOT IN HUMAN FORM RAMSES
WAS NOT ACCOSTUMED TO TAKING ORDERS FROM LESSER GODS, LET UNKNOWN
LIKE YAHWEH. “WHO IS THE LORD,” HE INQUIRED, “THAT I SHOULD HEED HIS VOICE
AND LET ISRAEL GO? I DO NOT KNOW THE LORD, ND MOREOVER I WILL NOT LET
ISRAEL GO”. THUS THE STAGE WAS SET FOR A LONG STRUGGLE BETWEEN A
DISTRUSTFUL RULER WITH AN OUTSIZE EGO AND A PROPHET WITH A NEW
UNDERSTANDING OF YAHWEH AND HIS POWER.
RAMSES INCREASED THE OPPRESION OF THE HEBREWS BY THE FIENH PLAN OF
REQUIRING THEM TO GATHER THE STRAW BINDER FOR THE BRICKS AND PRODUCE
THE SAME QUOTA EACH DAY. SOME OF THE HEBREWS REBUFFED MOSES, AND IN
FRUSTRATION HE ASKED YAHWEH, “WHY DIDST THOU EVER SEND ME?” MOSES'
DOUBT WAS ALLAYED BY YAHWEH'S PROMISE TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST PHARAOH.
SCHOLARS DIFFER WIDELY CONCERNING THE NARRATIVE ABOUT PLAGUES.
DURING THESE MONTHS MOSES USED THE PLAGUES OF THE FROGS, GNANTS,
MOSQUITOES, CATTLE MURRAIN, BOILS, HAIL, LOCUSTS, AND THICK DARKNESS TO
INCREASE THE PRESSURE ON RAMSES.AT THE FIRST THE KING WAS ADAMANT. THE
HEBREWS WERE NOT THE ONLY DISGRUNTLED SLAVES, AS IF HE AGREED TO LET
THEM GO, THEN OTHER GROUPS WOULD WANT THE SAME PRIVILEGE. TO PROTECT
HIS BUILDING PROGRAM, HE HAD TO SUPPRESS THE SLAVE REBELLION AT ITS
OUTSET YET HE COULD NOT DISCOUNT THE EFFECT OF THE PLAGUES, GRUDGINGLY
HE BEGAN TO ACKNOWLEDGE YAHWEH'S POWER . AS AN EXPEDIENT ATTEMPT TO
RESTORE ORDER, HE OFFERED TO LET THE HEBREW SACRIFICE IN GOSHEN. WHEN
HE FAILED, HE SUGGESTED THAT THEY MAKE OFFERING YAHWEH AT THE EDGE OF
THE EGYPTIAN BOARDER.MSES HOWEVER INSISTED ON A THREE -DAY JOURNEY
INTO THE WILDERNES .PHARAOH COUNTERED BY ALLOWING THE HEBFREW MEN TO
MAKE THE JOURNEY, BUT THIS,TOO, WAS REJECTED . AS HIS FINAL OFFER PAHRAOH
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AGREED TO LET THE PEIOPLE GO,. HE WOULD KEEP THE LIVESTOCK, HOWEVER , AS
THE GUARANTEE OF THEIR RETURN. MOSES SPURED THE CONDITION,AND IN ANGER
PAHRAOH DROVE HIM OUT. AFTER NINE ROUNDS WITH PAHRAOH IT APPEARED THAT
THE DELIVERANCE OF THE HEBREW WAS NO NEARER , BUT IN CONTRAST TO HIS
EARLIER PERIOD OF BOUBT AND FRUSTRATION, MOSES SHOWED NO DESPAIR.
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APPARENTLYHE HAD AN INNER ASSURANCE THAT PAHRAOH WOULD NOT HAVE THE
LAST WORD.
FROM GOSHEN TO SINAI
CHAPTER 11-14 F EXODUS COMPRISE AN EXCEEDINGLY COMPLEX SECTION,ND
AT TIME THE TRADITION HAVE CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS. THE DRAMA IS MORE
BLURED THAN USUAL, AND SCHOLARS VARY TREMENDOUSLY IN THEIR
INTERPRETATION OF THE MATERIAL. ONETRADITION NOTES THAT PAHRAOH WAS
SHAKEN WHEN DEATH TOOK HIS SON AND THAT HE ORDERED THE HEBREW TO
LEAVE. ANOTHER SOURCE INDICATETHAT MOSES USED THE PERIOD OF MOURNING
FOR THE FIRST-BORN SON AS THE OCCASION FOR FLEEDING SECRETLY FROM
COYNTRY. IN THEIR CASE , IT IS CLEAR THAT PAHRAOH FINALLY HAD HIS FORCES
PURSUE THE HEBREW . ALTHOUGH TRADITION INTERPRETED THE HEBREW TEXT TO
CLAIM THAT ABOUT 2,000,000 PEOPLE LEFT EGYPT,INTERPRETATION BY CRITICAL
METHODS DUCES THE NUMBER TO 15,000 OR SO.
THE EGYPTIAN ARMY CORNERED THEM AT THE SEA OF REEDS (PAPYRUS),
WHICH BARRED THEIR EXIT TO THE EST. LATER JEWISH TRADITION UNDERSTOOD
THE BODY OF WATER TO BE THE RED SEA, AND THIS ERRONEOUS INTERPRETATION
PERSISTS TODAY , EVEN IN SOME OF THE MOST RECENT ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF
THE BIBLE.SCHOLARS DISAGREE AS TO E PRECISE LOCATION OF THE RED SEA, BUT
SINCE PAPYRUS GROWS ONLY IN FRESHWATER, IT WAS MOST PROBOBLY A SHSLLOW
LAKE IN THE FAR NORTHEASTERN CORNER OF EGYPT.
HEMMED IN BY THE EGYPTIANS, THE PEOPLE VENTED THEIR COMPLAINTS ON
MOSES. ACCORDINGLY TO ONE TRADITION, MOSES HEARD THEIR UNEASINESS, AND
HE CALLED TO YAHWEH FOR HELP. ANOTHER ACCOUNT CLAIMS THAT MOSES
CONFIDENTLY CHALLENGED THEM TO BE CALM AND WATCH FOR YAHWEH'S
DELIVERANCE. A STRONG EST WIND BLEW ALL NIGHT, CREATING DRY CORRIDOR
THROUGH THE LAKE AND PERMITTING THE HEBREW TO CROSS. TE PURSUING
EGYPTIANS WERE DESTROYED WHEN THE WATERS RETURED. THE TIMING OF THIS
NATURAL EVE NTS GAVE THE FINAL ANSWER TO PHRAOH'S ARROGANTS
QUESTION,”WHO IS YAHWEH “ SAFELY ON THE OTHER SIDE , MOSES AND HIS SISTER
MIRIAM LED THE PEOPLE IN A VICTORY SONG OF PRAISE TO YAHWEH ( EX.15:1-21).
THE STYLE OF THE POETRY IS SMILAR TO THAT OF 14TH- CENTURY CANAANITES
LITERATURE AND THERE IS A VERY REASON TBELIEVE THAT THE POEM VITUALLY
PRESERVES THE ORIGINAL FORM OF THE SONG, WITH ITS REFRAIN, “ SING TO THE
LORD , FOR HE HAS TRIUMPHED GLORIOUSLY, THE HIRSE AND IN HIS RIDERS HE
HAS THROWN INTO THE SEA”.
THE COVENANT AT SINAI
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DURING THE 14TH CENTURY BCE THE HITTITES OF ASIA MINOR MADE A
NUMBER OF TREATIES NEIGHBOURING RULERS WHO COME UNDER THEIR CONTROL.
THE AGREEMENT WAS NOT BETWEEN EQUALS, BUT BETWEEN THE HETTITE KING
( THE SUZERAIN ) AND A SUBORDINTE RULER ( THE VASSAL ). IN THE PROLOGUE
THE HETTITES RULER DESCRIBEED HIMSELF AS “ THE GREAT KING “, THE ONE
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GRANTING THE TREATY . THEN FOLLOWED A HISTORICAL SURVEY OF RELTIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE HETTITES SU WAS AN OATH OF LOYALTY. SINCE SUZERAIN AND HIS
VASSAL. SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE KINDNESS SHOWN THE UNDERLING BY THE
OVERLORD WAS INTENDED TO REMIND THE VASSAL OF HIS OBLIGATION TO ABIDE
BY THE TREATY STIPULTIONS. THE BASIC REQUIREMENT WAS AN OATH OF LOYALTY.
SINCE EGYPTY WAS INVOLVED WITH THE HETTITES IN THE INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
OF THE TIME, MOSES PROBOBLY LEARNED ABOUT THE HITTITES TREATRY FORM
DURING HIS YEARS IN THE EGYPTIAN COURT.
THE APPEARRANCE OF YAHWEH IN A TERRIFIC STORM AT MT. SINAI, NARRATED
IN CHAPTER 19 AND 20 OF EXODUS, WAS A REVELATORY EXPERIENCE FOR MOSES,
JUST AS THE BURNING BUSH HAD BEEN. SOMEHOW HE REALIZED THAT THE
HITTITES TREATY WAS AN ACCURATE ANALOGY OF THE RATLATIONSHIP BETWEEN
YAHWEH AND THE HEBREWS. YAHWEH HAD A CLAIM UPON THEM BECAUSE HE HAD
DELIVERED THEM. THE ONLY PROPER RESPONSE TO HIS LOVE AND CARE WOULD
BE A PLEDGE OF BEDIENCE TO HIS WILL . SCHOLARS HAVE TENDED TO HIS WILL.
SCHIOLARS HAVE TENDED TO DATE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ,OR DECALOGUES
( CONTAINED IN THE REVELATION AT SINAI), AFTER THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN,
BUT THERE THE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN ESE GUIDELINES TO INDICATE THEIR
ORIGINIAL IN AN AGRICULTURAL CONTEXT. MORE LIKELY THEY WERE THE
STIPULATIONS IN THE COVENANT CEREMONY AT MT. SINAI. BECAUSE YAHEH WS
PROCLAIM THE ONLKY TRUE GOD , ONE OF THE FIRST COMMAS WAS APPROPRIATELY
A BAN AGAINST ALL OTHER GOGS. AUTHORITIES HAVE DEBATED WHETHER OR NOT
THIS UNDERSTANDING WAS INTERPRETRED AS MONOTHEUSM. MOST CERTAINLY IT
WAS NOT THE OHILISIOHICAL MONOTHEISM OF LATER OERIODS, BUT IT WAS A
PRACRICAL MONOTHEISM IN THAT ANY GODSRECOGNIZED BY OTHER NATIONS WERE
UNDER YAHWEH'S CONTROL. INASMUCH AS HE HAD BROUGH THEIR PRESENCE IN
HIS COUNCIL, HE WAS LORD OVER ALL GODS AND NATIONS.
ANOTHER EARLY COMMAND HAS BEEN TAKEN TO MEAN ABAN MAKING IMAGES
OF OTHER GODS, BUT ORIGINALLY THE PROBITION APPLIED TO REPRESENTATIONS
OF YAHWEH HIMSELF. WORSHIP IN THE ANCIENT WORLD WAS UNTHINKABLE
WITHOUT SOME IDOLS OR IMAGE; THEREFORE , THE UNIQUNESS OF MOSES'
RESTRICTION IS ALL THE MORE EVIDENT. YAHWEH IS THE UNIMAGEABLE DIETY
WHO CANNOT BE REPRESENTED IN MATERIAL FORMS. SINCE YAHWEH HAD
REVEALED THE MEANING OF HISNAME TO MOSES, IT WAS FITTING THAT THE
DECALOGUE SHOULD ALSO PROHIBIT ANY MAGICAL OR UNETHICAL USE OF HIS
NAME. UNDOUBTEDLY THE IDEAS UNDERLYING THE OTHER CAMMANDS CAME FROM
THE RELIGIOUS CULTURE OF HIS DAYS, BUT THEY WERE RAISED TO A SIGNIFICANTLY
HIGHER LEVEL BECAUSE OF THE HOLY, RIGHTEOUS CHARECTER OF YAHWEH.
MOSES REALIZED THAT, IF T COVENANT PEOPLE WERE TO HAVE A STABLE, JUST
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SOCIETY, THEY WOULD HAVE TO EMULATRE THEIR GOD . CONCERN FOR HIS
CREATURES WOULD MEAN RESPT FOR THEM AS PERSON. MURDER, ADULTERY,
THEFT, LYING, AND CEVETEOUSNESS WOULD NEVER BE LEGITIMATE BECAUSE THEY
LEAD TO CHAOS AND BREAKDOWN OF THE COMMUNITY. MOREOVER, INASMUCH AS
YAHWEY HAD BEEN CONCERNED TO PROTECT THE POWERLESS HEBREWS IN
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EGYPT, THEY IN TURN WOULD HAVE TO GUARANTEE JUSTICE FOR THE ORPHANS,
WIDOWS, RESIDENT ALIENS,AND OTHER DISADVANTAGED.
THE STORY OF DAVID
DAVID IS THE SECOND KING OF ANCIENT ISRAEL. HE WAS THE FATHER OF
SOLOMON, WHO EXPANDED THE EMPIRE THAT DAVID BUILT . HE IS AN IMPORTANT
FIGURE IN JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM.
EARLY LIFE
THE YOUNGEST SON OF JESSE , DAVID BEGAN HIS CAREER AS AN AIDE AT THE
COURT OF SAUL, ISRAEL'S FIRST KING . HE SO DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AS A
WARRIOR AGAINST THE PHILISTINES THAT HIS RESULTANT POULARITY AROUSED
SAUL'S JEALOUSLY, AND A PLOT WAS MADE TO KILL HIM. HE FLED INTO SOUTHERN
JUDAH AND PHILISTIA , ON THE COATL PLAIN OF PALESTINE, WHERE, WITH RGREAT
SAGACITY AND FORESIGHT, HE TO LAY THE FOUNDATION OF HIS CAREER.
AS AN OUTLAW WITH A PRICE ON HIS HEAD, DAVID LED THE LIFE OF A R0BIN
HOOD ON THE DESERT FRONTIER OF HIS TRIBAL DOMAIN IN JUDAH ( IN THE SOUTH
OF THE LEVANT). HE BECAME LEADER AND ORGANIZER OF A GROUP OF OTHER
OUTLAWS AND REFUGEES, WHO PROGRESSIVELY INGRATIATED THEMSELVES WITH
THE LOCAL POPULATION BY PROTECTING THEM FROM OTHER BANDITS OR , IN CASE
THEY HAD BEEN RAIDED, BY PURSUING THE RAIDERS AND RESTORING THE
POSSESSIONS THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN. THOSE ACTIONS EVENTUALLY ENSURED THAT
HE WOULD BE “ INVITED” TO BECOME KING S THE TRUE SUCCESSOR OF SAUL AFTER
THE LATTER WAS SLAIN IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THE PHILITINES ON MT. GILBOA.
KINGSHIP
ACCORDING TO THE BIBLICAL ACCOYUNT, DAVID WAS PROCLAIMED KING IN
HEBRON. HE STRGUGGLED FOR A FEW YEAERS AGAINST THECOINTENDING CLAIM
AND FORCES OF ISHBAL, SAUL'S SURVIVING SON., WHO HAD ALSO BE CROWNED
KING, BUT THE CIVIL WAR ENDED WITH THE NUMBER OF ISHBAAL BY HIS OWN
COURTIERS AND THE ANNOINTING OF DAVID AS KING OVER ALL OF ISRAEL. HE
CONQUERED THE JEBUSITE-HELD TOWN OF JERUSALEM, WHICH HE MADE THE
CAPITAL OF THE NEW KINGDOM AND TO WHICH HE MOVED THE SACRED ARK OF
THE COVENANT, THE SUPREME SYMBOL OF ISRAELITES RELIGION . HE DEFEATED
THE PHILISTINE SO THOROUGHLY THAT THEY WERE NEVER AGAIN A SERIOUS
THREAT TO THE ISRAELITE 'S SECURITY, AND HE ANNEXED THE COASTAL REGION .
HE WENT ON TO ESTABLISH AN EMPIRE BY BECOMING THE OVERLORD OF MANY
SMALL KINGDOMS BORDERING ON ISRAEL, INCLUDING EDOM, MOAB AND AMMON.
DAVID GREAT SUCCESS AS A WARRIOR AND EMPIRE BUILDER WAS MARRED BY
INTERCONNECTED FAMILY DESSENSIONS AND POLITICAL REVOLTS. TOTIE TOGETHER
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WITH VARIOUS KINGDOM, DAVID TOOK WIVES FROM THEM AND CREATED HAREM.
THE RESULTANT FAMILY WAS N EXTREME DEPARTURE FROM THE FAMILY IN THE
CONSANGUINEAL CONTEXT, THE TRADITIONAL CLAN STRUCTURE. DAVID'S WIVES
WERE MOSTLY COMPLETELY ALIEN TO ONE ONOTHER, AND HIS CHILDREN WERE
WITHOUT THE DIRECTING SUPPORT OF ESTABLISED SOCIAL PATTERNS
THATPROVIDES PRECDENTS FOR THE RESOLUTION OF CONFLICT OR
FORESTABLISHING THE RIGHTS OF SUCCESSION.
ACTIVITY
Name:
1. Who are the forefathers of our faith?
2. Choose among the forefathers of our faith and explain why you chose him.
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LESSON 5: THE PROPHETS AND JUDGES
Objective:
To give you the insight of being prophets and Judges. And also to know how the
difference in works between Judges and Prophets.
Introduction:
God for the purpose of having good governance, appointed His most trusted servants to
the incomparable plans of God. God appointed leaders with a pure heart and truly devoted
to serve the people of God.
Motivation:
Someday, somehow, you will be motivated to be an agent of transformation for the
fulfillment of the University vision to comply on what God said, “ Go ye into the whole world
and preach to the word of God to the unsaved.”
LEARN AND IDENTIFY THE LEADERS OF THE OLD

TESTAMENT
THE JUDGES
THE BOOK OF JUDGES IS THE SECOND OF THE BOOK OF THE FORMER
PROPHETS IN HEBREW SCRIPTURE, AND SERVES AS PART OF THE HISTORICAL BOOK
OF THE GREEK SEPTUAGINT OLD TESTAMENT, IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER: JOSHUA,
JUDGES, RUTH, SAMUEL AND KINGS, AS WELL S THE BOOK OF THE RESTORATION.
THE BOOK OF JUDGESRELATES THE DIFFICULT PERIOD AFTER THE CONQUEST
OF CANAAN BY JOSHUA, WHEN THE TWELVE TRIBES BEGAN TO SETTLE IN THE
TERRITORIES ASSIGNED TO THEM. THE PRIMARY MESSAGE IS THAT THE TWELVE
TRIBES THRIVE IN THE LAND WHEN THEY ARE FAITHFUL TO THE LORD, BUT WHEN
THEY FALL AWAY FROM COVENANT, THEY ARE BESIEGED BY THEIR ENEMIES.
HOWEVWER, THE LORD GOD REMAINS FAITHFUL IN SPITE OF THEIR BEHAVIOR, AND
WHEN BESEECHED BY THE PEOPLE, SENDS A JUDGE TO SAVE THEM IN TIMES OF
CRISIS. THE CYCLE OF SIN, SERVITUDE, SUPPLICATION, AND SALVATION RECURS
THROUGHOUT THE BOOK OF JUDGES.
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THERE ARE TWELVE JUDGES : OTHNIEL, EHUD, SHAMGAR, DEBORAH,
GIDEON, TOLA, JAIR, JEPHTHAH, IBZAN, ELON, ABDON, AND SAMSON. SIX RECEIVE
SIGNIFICANT TREATMENT: OTHNIEL, EHUD, DEBORAH, GIDEON, JEPHTHAH AND
SAMSON.
ACTIVITY
Name:
Enumerate the 12 Judges in the Old Testament.
Enumerate the 6 Judges who received significant treatment.
In your own words and understanding, what is the book of Judges all about.
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THE PROPHETS
NAME MEANING PLACE OF UNDER KING

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ISAIAH
“YAHWEH IS JUDAH UZZIAH, JOTHAM, AHAZ,
SALVATION” HEZEKIAH, MANASSEH
JEREMIAH
“YAHWEH JUDAH JOSIAH,JEHOAHAZ,JEHOIAKIM
IS EXALT” JEHOIACHIN, ZEDEKIAH
EZEKIEL
“YAHWEH BABYLON JEHOIACHIN
STREGTHENS”
DANIEL
“YAHWEH IS MY BABYLON AND NEBUCHADNEZZAR,
JUDGE” PERSIA BEISHAZZAR, DARIUS, CYRUS
HOSEA
“SALVATION” ISRAEL JEROBOAM II,ZECHARIAH,
SHALLUM, MENAHEM,
PEKAHIAH, PEKAH, HOSHEA
JOEL
“YAHWEH IS JUDAH AHAZIAH, JOASH
GOD”
AMOS
“BURDEN ISRAEL JEROBOAM II
BEARER”
OBADIAH
“SERVANT OF JUDAH
YAHWEH”
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JONAH
“DOVE” ISRAEL, JEROBOAM II
NINEVEH
MICAH
“WHO IS LIKE JUDAH JOTHAM, AHAZ, HEZEKIAH
YAHWEH”
NAHUM “COMFORT/ JUDAH MANASSEH, JOSIAH

CONSOLATION”
HABAKKUK
“EMBRACER” JUDAH JEHOIAKIM
ZEPHANIAH
“YAHWEH HIDES/ JUDAH JOSIAH
TREASURES/
PROTECTS”
HAGGAI
“MY FEAST/ JUDAH ZERUBBABEL
FESTIVAL”
ZECHARIAH
“YAHWEH JUDAH ZERUBBABEL
REMEMBERS”
MALACHI
“MY JUDAH ARTAXERXES I
MESSENGER/
ANGEL”
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ACTIVITY
NAME:
COURSE/BLOCK/YEAR:
WRITE T IF THE STATEMENT IS TRUE AND F IF THE STATEMENT IS FALSE AND

EXPLAIN WHY IT IS FALSE AFTER THE STATEMENT.
____1. EZEKIEL MEANS “YAHWEH STREGTHENS”
____2. MICAH MEANS “WHO IS LIKE YAHWEH”
____3. OBADIAH MEANS “EMBRACER”
____4. ISAIAH PALCE OF ACTIVITY IS BABYLON.
____5. THE UNDER KING IN THE TIME OF PROPHET MALACHI IS ZERUBBABEL.
ENUMERATE THE 16 PROPHETS AND THE MEANING OF THEIR NAMES.
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FINALS
Objective:
To introduce Jesus.
To Introduce Jesus about His earthly ministry.
To let them know that Jesus is the manifestation of God the Father.
Introduction:
Like a normal human being Jesus Christ lived in this world full of struggles. He lived
and grew responsible human being. He is very generous and compassionate specially to the
oppressed.
Motivation:
You should appreciate the life , teaching and ministry of Jesus. To challenge you to
open your heart and have Jesus in your life accepting Him as your Lord and Saviour.
LESSON 6: THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS
(TEACHING, PREACHING, HEALING)
The story of Jesus, as Christians know and tell it, comes from that part of the Bible called
the “New Testament.” The first four books—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are known as
the “gospels,” meaning “good news.” They were all written between approximately 70 and
100 CE, about two generations after the death of Jesus, and are based on stories of Jesus
told and retold by his followers. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the “synoptic” gospels,
because they present a “common view” of Jesus through many common sayings, parables,
and events. Both Matthew and Luke seem to have used Mark’s gospel in writing their own
accounts. John’s gospel has a distinctive voice, focusing more on the divinity of Christ in
the context of a cosmic worldview. The gospels come out of early communities still
struggling with their identity in a Jewish context. The Gospel of Matthew, for instance, is
most conscious of the debates within Judaism after the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE,
while the Gospel of John shows signs of Christians being expelled from synagogues.
Although the gospels differ in their accounts of Jesus' life and ministry, sometimes in
significant ways, the early church did not blend them into one account but preserved these
four distinct gospels with their differences. Together they provide four views of the life and
teachings of Jesus.
According to the traditions of Luke and Matthew, Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judaea
in the lineage of King David. Theirs is a story in which the ordinary and the miraculous
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intertwine. The mother of Jesus is said to be Mary, who conceived Jesus by the power of
the Holy Spirit (an act of the divine) while she was still a young unmarried virgin; Joseph,
her betrothed, was a carpenter from Nazareth. Luke’s story is familiar to Christians
throughout the world: The couple traveled to Bethlehem to be counted in the census and,
finding no room at the inn, they had to stay in a stable. Jesus was born that night, his first
bed a manger filled with hay. Nearby shepherds with their flocks heard angels singing and
hurried to see the
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newborn child. Matthew says nothing of the stable or the shepherds, but tells of wise men
or astrologers, who saw the light of a star and came from the East bringing gifts to honor
the
child. Mark and John omit the birth story altogether, Mark beginning his account with the
baptism of Jesus and John with the creation of the cosmos.
There is little recorded of the childhood of Jesus, except Luke’s story of how, at the age of
twelve, Jesus' parents found him teaching the rabbis in the temple in Jerusalem. All four
gospels, however, speak of the critical event of Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist. The
gospels do not mention his age, but historians say that Jesus was about thirty. John’s
message was one of radical repentance and transformation. It was a time of political
turmoil and religious expectation; there were many Jewish movements that looked forward
to a new age, the coming of the Kingdom of God and the long-promised Messiah, the
“anointed one.”
John the Baptist looked to the new age, announcing that the Kingdom of God was
near and baptizing people by the thousands in the River Jordan as an initiation into the
kingdom to come. One of those he baptized was Jesus of Nazareth. Mark’s gospel begins
with this account of Jesus' baptism: When Jesus came up out of the water, the skies were
torn open and the Spirit, like a dove from heaven, descended upon Jesus with the words,
“You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.”
Jesus’ baptism marks the beginning of his public ministry of preaching, teaching,
and healing. He was accompanied by a group of followers, some of them fishermen who left
their nets and their families, and some of them women whose presence can be seen
throughout the period of Jesus'
ministry. Jesus attracted large crowds as he began to teach in Galilee. His message of
repentance and turning to God was coupled with a message of God’s generosity,
forgiveness, love and justice.
The gospels describe miracles performed by Jesus: healing the sick, casting out the
demons of mental illness from the tormented, and even bringing the dead back to life. They
also portray a powerful teacher whose parables made their point in surprising ways. Yes,
one should love one’s neighbor, but who is the neighbor? In one parable, a man is robbed,
beaten, and left on the road. Many pass him by without giving him help, including
respected members of his own community. The one who stops to help him is a Samaritan, a
person from Samaria considered a foreigner and an outsider. Jesus insists that the “great
commandment” to love one’s neighbor as oneself crosses all ethnic and religious barriers.
In his ministry, Jesus crossed many social barriers as well, mingling with the tax
collector, the adulterer, and the prostitute. He warned critics to remember their own
imperfections before condemning others and invited those who were wholly without sin to
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cast the first stone of condemnation. The great commandment is not to judge one’s
neighbor but rather to love one’s neighbor, for judgment is God’s alone.
Jesus taught that the expected Kingdom of God was close at hand. It would not be an
earthly political kingdom, but rather a new reign of justice for the poor and liberation for
the oppressed. Those who would be included first in the Kingdom were not the elites and
the powerful, but the poor, the rejected, the outcasts. Jesus likened the coming of the
Kingdom of
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God to the growth of a tiny mustard seed, growing from within to create a new reality. His
disciples and many who heard him began to speak of Jesus as the long-awaited redeemer,
the Messiah, who would make the Kingdom of God a reality. When the term “Messiah” was
translated into Greek, the word they used was Christos, the Christ.
As Jesus traveled and preached, he angered the Roman rulers, who feared that he
was provoking unrest among the people and planning a revolution. He was also feared by
Jewish leaders because of his challenges to traditional authority and teachings. Jesus
named hypocrisy where he saw it and urged his community to claim a new prophetic
vision. Those who opposed him saw him as a dangerous upstart who wanted to form a cult
around himself. Jesus was well aware of these charges against him by political and
religious authorities, and he predicted that he would be attacked and persecuted.
After a teaching ministry of perhaps three years, Jesus went to Jerusalem to observe
the Jewish season of Passover. There he warned those closest to him of his coming death
and gathered them together for a meal that would be their last supper together. He was
then betrayed to the Roman authorities by Judas, one of his own followers, and captured.
He was denounced by the Jewish high priest as a blasphemer who claimed to be the
Messiah. Taken before the Roman authorities, Jesus was charged with sedition and
executed by the Roman practice of crucifixion, being nailed to a cross. It was Friday and
burial rites would have to wait until the Sabbath was over.
Early Sunday morning, according to all the gospel accounts, some of the women who
had followed and loved Jesus went to his tomb to prepare his body for a proper burial.
When they arrived, they discovered that the stone at the entry to the tomb had been rolled
away and the tomb was empty. According to the synoptic gospels, a figure in dazzling white
appeared and told the women that Jesus had been raised from the dead. In John’s account,
a man who seemed to be the gardener appeared to Mary Magdalene (a follower of Jesus)
and spoke to her by name. It was Jesus. Although their accounts differ, the gospels report
that in the following days, many of the disciples saw Jesus and experienced his presence.
This experience of the living Christ is at the heart of the Christian faith.
Those who have adopted the Christian faith through the centuries have understood
the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as a profound affirmation of God’s presence in the
midst of humanity. The “Christ event,” according to many Christians, cannot be understood
in the context of the first century alone: It is as much a twenty-first century event, repeated
and renewed daily in the lives of those who take this as the story of their own faith.
LESSON 7 : CONVERTION OF PAUL

Objective:
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To know the truth about Paul. And to know that from the great prosecutor of christian,
Paul become a faithful apostle of Jesus.
Introduction:
Paul, from being a worse leader, tyrant and having no God, one day was called by God
and was delivered from the bandage of darkness and was given changed to live in a sacred
life. Paul’s life challenge us, the unsaved and sinners to leaved the miserable life and have
a better life.
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Motivation:
Today, be challenge by the life and works of Paul. That nothing is impossible to God. For
God can turn down darkness into everlasting and ever enjoying light of life.
THE LIFE AND WORKS OF PAUL
The birth name of Paul is actually Saul. He was born into a Jewish family in the city of
Tarsus. His birth in a Roman "free city" grants him Roman citizenship, a privilege he will
exercise later in life. The early religious training Paul receives comes from the best
Rabbinical school in Jerusalem. It is led by the well-known and respected Pharisee
Gamaliel.
Paul is thirty years old when he is an official witness at the stoning of Stephen. His
Pharisaic zeal for God's law and dedication to stopping the early spread of Christianity
knew no bounds. After seeing Stephen's life taken, he leads the first great wave of
persecution against the early church. On reflecting on his pre-conversion days Paul says
the following.
"For you heard of my (Paul is speaking) former conduct when I was in Judaism, how I
was excessively persecuting the church of God and was destroying it; And I was advancing
in Judaism far beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more
abundantly zealous for the traditions of my fathers." (Galatians 1:13 - 14, HBFV)
How bad were the persecutions of Paul against the early New Testament church? His
dedication to eradicating those believing in the teachings of Jesus led him to take bold
actions, such as going from house to house in order to find believers (Acts 8:1, 3)!
After his efforts to stop the spread of early Christian beliefs in Jerusalem, he sets his
sights on achieving the even more audacious goal of removing any Christian influence in
the synagogues of Damascus. He receives written permission from the temple's High Priest
to rid the city's synagogues of any who believe in "the way." His intention is to arrest those
who believe Jesus is the Messiah and escort them back to Jerusalem for punishment.
It is during his trip to Damascus that the pivotal event in the life of Paul occurs. A spotlight
from heaven shines on him (Saul) during his travel and the voice of Jesus asks "Saul, Saul,
why do you persecute Me?" (Acts 9:4) God strikes him blind and his traveling companions
must lead him to the city. These events lead to his total repentance and receiving the gift of
the Holy Spirit. God also heals him of his blindness.
After his conversion, the same zeal and single-minded dedication Paul had against
Christianity transforms into a hyperactive-like quest to spread the gospel worldwide. His
amazing ministry lasts thirty-five years until his death at the age of sixty-six. His
accomplishments are astonishing given the rudimentary (by today's standard) level of
transportation and other difficulties that exist in the first century.
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Important events and accomplishments in the life of Paul include his witnessing of
the stoning of Stephen. He is personally taught by Jesus, for three years, while living in
Arabia. During his ministry he resurrects at least one person from the dead and is
resurrected himself after being stoned to death. Paul carries out at least five evangelistic
journeys, visits more than 50 cities in his travels and preaches the gospel to Emperor
Caesar and his entire household.
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He also writes no less than fourteen books (epistles) of the Bible (the most of any author),
trains other evangelists and gospel preachers like John Mark and Timothy, and endures a
total of more than five years in prison.
The apostle Paul, whose life was cut short by the Romans in 68 A.D., is easily the most
influential Christian in the New Testament short of Jesus himself.
The conversion of Paul was a great intellectual and moral revolution, yet without
destroying his identity. His noble gifts and attainments remained, but were purged of
Selfish motives, inspired by a new principle, and consecrated to a divine end. The love of
Christ who saved him, was now his all-absorbing passion, and no sacrifice was too great to
manifest his gratitude to Him. The architect of ruin became an architect of the temple of
God. The same vigor, depth and acuteness of mind, but illuminated by the Holy Spirit; the
same strong temper and burning zeal, but cleansed, subdued and controlled by wisdom
and moderation; the same energy and boldness, but coupled with gentleness and
meekness; and, added to all this, as crowning gifts of grace, a love and humility, a
tenderness and delicacy of feeling such as are rarely, if ever, found in a character so proud,
manly and heroic. The little Epistle to Philemon reveals a perfect Christian gentleman, a
nobleman of nature, doubly ennobled by grace. The thirteenth chapter of the first Epistle to
the Corinthians could only be conceived by a mind that had ascended on the mystic ladder
of faith to the throbbing heart of the God of love; yet without inspiration even Paul could
not have penned that seraphic description of the virtue which beareth all things, believeth
all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things, which never faileth, but will last for ever
the greatest in the triad of celestial graces: faith, hope, love.
Saul converted became at once Paul the missionary. Being saved himself, he made it his
life-work to save others. "Straight way" he proclaimed Christ in the synagogues, and
confounded the Jews of Damascus, proving that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the Son
of God. [401] But this was only a preparatory testimony in the fervor of the first love. The
appearance of Christ, and the travails of his soul during the three days and nights of prayer
and fasting, when he experienced nothing less than a spiritual death and a spiritual
resurrection, had so shaken his physical and mental frame that he felt the need of
protracted repose away from the noise and turmoil of the world. Besides there must have
been great danger threatening his life as soon as the astounding news of his conversion
became known at Jerusalem. He therefore went to the desert of Arabia and spent there
three years, [402] not in missionary labor (as Chrysostom thought), but chiefly in prayer,
meditation and the study of the Hebrew Scriptures in the light of their fulfilment through
the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth. This retreat took the place of the three years'
preparation of the Twelve in the school of Christ. Possibly he may have gone as far as
Mount Sinai, among the wild children of Hagar and Ishmael. [403] On that pulpit of the
great lawgiver of Israel, and in view of the surrounding panorama of death and desolation
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which reflects the terrible majesty of Jehovah, as no other spot on earth, he could listen
with Elijah to the thunder and earthquake, and the still small voice, and could study the
contrast between the killing letter and the life-giving spirit, between the ministration of
death and the ministration of righteousness. [404] The desert, like the ocean, has its
grandeur and sublimity, and leaves the meditating mind alone with God and eternity. "Paul
was a unique man for a unique task." [405] His task was twofold: practical and theoretical.
He preached the gospel of free and universal grace from Damascus
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to Rome, and secured its triumph in the Roman empire, which means the civilized world of
that age.
At the same time he built up the church from within by the exposition and defence of
the gospel in his Epistles. He descended to the humblest details of ecclesiastical
administration and discipline, and mounted to the sublimest heights of theological
speculation. Here we have only to do with his missionary activity; leaving his theoretical
work to be considered in another chapter.
Let us first glance at his missionary spirit and policy.
His inspiring motive was love to Christ and to his fellow-men. "The love of Christ," he
says, "constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died: and
He died for all that they who live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who
for their sakes died and rose again." He regarded himself as a bondman and ambassador of
Christ, entreating men to be reconciled to God. Animated by this spirit, he became "as a
Jew to the Jews, as a Gentile to the Gentiles, all things to all men that by all means he
might save some."
He made Antioch, the capital of Syria and the mother church of Gentile Christendom,
his point of departure for, and return from, his missionary journeys, and at the same time
he kept up his connection with Jerusalem, the mother church of Jewish Christendom.
Although an independent apostle of Christ, he accepted a solemn commission from Antioch
for his first great missionary tour. He followed the current of history, commerce, and
civilization, from East to West, from Asia to Europe, from Syria to Asia Minor, Greece, Italy,
and perhaps as far as Spain. [406] In the larger and more influential cities, Antioch,
Ephesus, Corinth, Rome, he resided a considerable time. From these salient points he sent
the gospel by his pupils and fellow-laborers into the surrounding towns and villages. But
he always avoided collision with other apostles, and sought new fields of labor where Christ
was not known before, that he might not build on any other man's foundation. This is true
independence and missionary courtesy, which is so often, alas! violated by missionary
societies inspired by sectarian rather than Christian zeal.
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Christia
LESSON 8 : PRAYER’S
Objective:
To teach everyone the importance of prayer.
Letting know everyone that prayer is the easy and only way of communicating God.
Introduction:
We all know that only thru prayers that we can communicate God.
Through prayers we received blessings form God, for God answers all our prayers. God
always hids our voices through prayer.
Motivation:
You should start praying for you to consider the prayer as a part of your daily lives. You
should be prayerful and be an agent of intercessors.
PRAYERS IN THE BIBLE
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Not to be confused with the American holiday this way of praying is an attitude of heart.
When we need something, God wants us to come to him instead of worrying or trying to
take care of it ourselves. He wants us to come with a grateful, thankful heart for all he’s
done. Philippians 4:6 says:
 Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always
asking him with a thankful heart (GNT).
 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need,
and thank him for all he has done (NLT).
 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God (NASV).
Prayer of Worship
This way of praying is similar to that of thanksgiving but focuses even more on who God is.
It’s recognizing his majesty and humbling ourselves in worship, sometimes with fasting. In
the book of Acts, the church was doing this when the Holy Spirit spoke to them.
55
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me
Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and
prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off (Acts 13:2-3).
Christia
Prayer of Intercession
This type of prayer is the way we pray for others. That is what the word intercede means —
on behalf of others. When we pray for others, we are doing two things. One is that we are
walking in love with who we are praying for. And two, we’re following biblical instruction.
 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made
for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet
lives in all godliness and holiness (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
 Jesus prayed, or interceded for, his disciples and all those the Father had given him in
John 17.
Prayer of Consecration
To consecrate something means to set it apart. This means, when we pray in this manner,
we are setting ourselves under the authority and will of God. This can be done when we
don’t know what God wants, but also when we do, but know it will be hard and need him to
empower us. Jesus prayed this way in the garden of Gethsemane.
…he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup
be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).
Jesus knew his father’s will because that is what he came to do, but that didn’t make it
easy. Consecrating himself empowered him to follow through.
Prayer of Faith
We pray in faith when we know what God’s will is. For example, we know that God’s will is
forgiveness because that’s what Jesus came to secure. And we know his will is healing
because Jesus “went about healing all” (Acts 10:38). In James 5:15, we find the term prayer
of faith when connected to healing and forgiveness.
Prayer of Agreement
In the Old Testament, it says two are better than one because they’re stronger together.
This is also true in the New Testament. When you have two believers join together in
prayer, God promises to answer.
"Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will
be done for them by my Father in heaven (Matthew 18:19).
Prayer of The Holy Spirit
There are times when we just don’t know how to pray. We want to, but either we don’t have
the words or the strength. This is where we can press into the help of our helper, the
comforter, the Holy Spirit.
…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the
Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts
56
knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance
with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27).
Prayer for All the Time
Praying to God is a joy once we’ve come to know his loving heart for us. In 1 Thessalonians
5:17, we’re told to “never stop praying.”
REFFERENCES:
Bible
Bible | Description, History, & Facts | Britannica

https://www.britannica.com
Batangan: How the Bible came to the Philippineshttp://www.geocities.
The Books of the Bible - Infopleasehttps://www.infoplease.com
Books of the Bible List Order - Complete New and Old ...https://www.biblestudytools.com
The 66 Books of the Bible - Study Resourceshttps://www.blueletterbible.org
Abraham is father of the faith for Jews, Chri

stians, Muslimshttps://www.gvsu.edu
57

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Wesleyan University- Philippines

Maria Aurora, Aurora

Lesson 1 : INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE

The Bible came to us

THERE ARE 66 INDIVIDUAL BOOK.

How the Bible was made

 PAPYRUS ( A PLANT BASED PAPER)

How the Bible came to the Philippines

ANOTHER STORY IS THAT PAULINO ZAMORA, NEPHEW OF FATHER JACINTO ZAMORA,

The Books of the Bible

ALSO KNOWN AS THE JEWISH TANAKH

IT IS ALSO THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS,

The Books of the Old Testaments and their Division

History is the story of men achievement although it is a failure or a success

The Book of the New Testament and their Division

GOSPEL HISTORY PAUL’S LETTER

GENERAL LETTERS PROPHECY

3. It is a plant based paper.

5. It I the first 39 books of the bible.and it includes the creation.

Enumerate the 2 major books of the Bible.

Enumerate the 5 division of the old testaments.

Lesson 2 : OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY

Overview of the Bible

 it is also a collection of writings from different authors, writing at different times.

THE OLD TESTAMENT

THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

FACTS:MOST OF THE FAMOUS BIBLE STORIES YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT ARE

AUTHOR: TRADITIONALLY MOSES.

IMPORTANT CHARACTERS IN EXODUS:

AUTHOR: TRADITIONALLY CREDITED MOSES

IMPORTANT CHARACTER IN THIS BOOK:

AARON- OLDER BROTHER OF MOSES AND HIGH PRIEST OF ISRAEL.

IMPORTANT CHARACTER IN THIS BOOK:

PRIMARILY THE RETELLING OF MOSAIC LAW.

AUTHOR: TRADITIONALLY MOSES.

THE BOOK OF JOSHUA MARKS GOD FULFILLING HIS PROMISED TO ABRAHAM:

THIS BOOK ALSO MARKS THE END OF AN AGE OF ISRAEL.

MAIN CHARCTER OF THE BOOK:

FUN FACT': YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD OF A FEW FANTASTIC STORIES

SAUL IS A FOOLISH, SELFISH, COWARDLY KING. HE IGNORES THE WORD OF THE

SECOND SAMUEL DOCUMENTS THE TRANSITION BACK TO GOD-HONORING

THE CHRONICLES WERE WRITTEN SOMETIME AFTER THE HEBREWS RETURNED TO

THE AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK TRADITIONALLY EZRA.

QUEEN ESTHER: THE HEROINE. SHE KEEPS HE JEWISH DECENT A SECRET.

KING AHASUER: HE BRINGS ESTHER AS A NEW QUEEN AFTER HE DEPOSES QUEEN

JOB IS THE FORST OLD TESTAMENTBOOK OF POETRY.

JOB IS CONSIDERED WISDOM LITERATURE: THE BOOK HEPS US TO UNDERSTAND

PSALMS HAS IT ALL HISTORY,POETRY, PRAYER,SONG, CHANT NG PROPHECY.

DAVID (73 PSALMS) ASAPH FAMILY (12 PSALMS)

PSALMS IS THE ONLY BOOK OF THE BIBLE THAT ISN'T

PROVERBS IS A WORK OF WISDOM LITERATURE, AND THE THIRD OF THE OLD

PROVERBS URGES THE READER TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON WISDOM, JUSTICE,

IT IS LONG FORM OF POETIC DISCOURSE: IT POSES ONE MAIN QUESTION AT THE

AUTHOR: TRADITIONALLY SOLOMON

ISAIAH LOOKS INTO THE FUTURE TO SEE JUDAH'S BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY.

JERIMAIH IS KNOWN AS THE “WEEPING PROPHET”

THE FALL OF JERUSALEM IS A SPIRITUAL EVENT,

LAMENTATIONS SITS IN THE MAJOR PROPHETS SECTION OF OUR ENGLISH BIBLE. IT

AUTHOR: TRADITIONALLY JEREMIAH

●GOD WILL JUDGE ALL THE NATIONS ON JUDAH'S BEHALF.

AMOS IS A SIMPLE SHEPHERD IN SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH. HE WASN'T A

THIS BOOK FOCUSES ON GOD'S SOVEREIGN JUSTICE:

THIS BOOK OBADIAH IS A BRIEF PROPHETIC WORDREGARDING THE NEARBY NATION