Encountering

the Older Testament

© John Stevenson, 2016
Maps by David P. Barrett, used by permission
What is the “Bible?”
How do we know the right
books are in the Bible?
 The Greek Kanon
KANWN
• It had to be unbendable
• It had to be dependable
as to its straightness
Canonicity refers to the church’s
recognition of the authority of
the inspired writings.
 Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Pentateuch Numbers, Deuteronomy
Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2
Historical
Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles,
Books Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
Poetic Job, Psalms, Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
Books
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations,
Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel,
Prophetic Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah,
Books Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah,
Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
 Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Torah Numbers, Deuteronomy
Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings,
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, The
Prophets Twelve (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah,
(Nabi’im) Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk,
Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)

Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of

Writings Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations,
Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-
(Kethuvim)
Nehemiah, Chronicles,
How was the Bible Written?
All Scripture is inspired by God
and profitable for teaching, for
reproof, for correction, for
training in righteousness; that
the man of God may be
adequate, equipped for every
good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
 Theopneustos

All Scripture is inspired by God…

• The Fact of Inspiration

All Scripture is inspired by God…

• The Fact of Inspiration

• The Extent of Inspiration
All Scripture is inspired by God…

• The Fact of Inspiration

• The Extent of Inspiration
• The Object of Inspiration
 • Neo-Orthodoxy Theory: God is
seen as transcendent so that we
cannot receive an accurate
revelation of Him.

Neo-Orthodoxy:
Orthodoxy:
The Bible gives
The Bible is the
witness to the
Word of God
Word of God
• Neo-Orthodoxy Theory
• Mechanical Dictation Theory
• Limited Inspiration
• Verbal Plenary Inspiration
Can our copies of the Bible be
trusted?
 Original Manuscript

Copy Copy Copy

Copy Copy Copy Copy

Copy Copy

Copy
Copy
Copy Copy Copy
Copy Copy Copy
The Science of Interpretation
Fundamental Questions in
Hermeneutics
• What did it mean to the original
characters of the narrative?
• What did it mean to the author?
• What did it mean to the original
recipients?
Moses Israelites

Bible Readers Today

Fundamental Questions in
Hermeneutics
• What did it mean to the original
characters of the narrative?
• What did it mean to the author?
• What did it mean to the original
recipients?
• What does it mean in light of New
Testament revelation?
 Hatti

Mesopotamia

Egypt
 Hatti

Mesopotamia
Land
Bridge
DESERT

Egypt
 Hittites

Assyria

Israel
 Babylon

Egypt
 Hittites

Assyria

Phoenicia Aram

Israel
 Babylon

Egypt
• The Coastal Plain
• Central Mountain
Range
• Jordan Rift Valley
• The Coastal Plain
• Central Mountain
Range
• Jordan Rift Valley
• The Coastal Plain
• Central Mountain
Range
• Jordan Rift Valley
• The Coastal Plain
• Central Mountain
Range
• Jordan Rift Valley
• Trans Jordan
• The Valley of
Jezreel
• The Valley of
Jezreel
• The Yarmuk River

Gilead
• The Valley of
Jezreel
• The Yarmuk River

• The Jabbok River

Gilead
• The Valley of
Jezreel
• The Yarmuk River

• The Jabbok River

Gilead
• The Arnon River

Moab
• The King’s
 Megiddo
Highway
• The Way of
the Sea (the
Jericho
Way of the 
Philistines)
Climate of Canaan
• Mediterranean Climate
• Dependent upon winter rains
– Early Rains: October
– Later Rains: April
 Winter

Latter Early
Rains Rains
Spring Fall

January

Summer
 Western Eastern
Thinking Thinking
Individualism Collectivism

Time Oriented Timeliness Oriented

Rules Relationship

Right / Wrong Honor / Shame

Blessing Father Strong Heir
Free Home
King Pleased
Son Kingdom
Power Right hand
Holy
Fruitful

Unclean Left hand

Barren
Gentile
Naked
Defiled Slave
Weak
Crucified
Childless
Sick
Cursing Humiliation Impure
 Western Eastern
Thinking Thinking
Expresses truth in Expresses truth in
propositional terms concrete terms

What is God?
The LORD is my rock
and my fortress and my
deliverer,
My God, my rock, in
whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn
of my salvation, my
stronghold. (Psalm
18:2).

What is God?
The LORD is
your keeper;
The LORD is
your shade on
your right hand.
6 The sun will not

smite you by day,

Nor the moon by
night. (Psalm
121:5-6).
The LORD is my
shepherd, I shall
not want (Psalm
23:1).
He leads me beside quiet
waters (Psalm 23:2).
 Western Eastern
Thinking Thinking
Expresses truth in Expresses truth in
propositional terms concrete terms

Expresses truth in Expresses truth in

absolute categories generalities
But I do not allow a woman to teach or
exercise authority over a man, but to
remain quiet (1 Timothy 2:12).

Woman praying & prophesying

(1 Corinthians 11).

Old Testament examples of

Deborah & Huldah
 What are the Overarching
themes of the Pentateuch?
What is the Big Idea of the Old
Testament?

What is the Big Idea of the New

Testament?
 Genesis 1 - 11
Tower of
Creation Fall Flood
Babel
2000 - 1500 1500 - 1000 1000 - 500
Period of the Exodus Judges Kings of Israel

Return
Patriarchs and and Judah
Sinai
Torah Historical Books
Poetic Books
Prophetic
Books
Creation But like Adam they have
Covenant transgressed the
covenant;
There they have dealt
treacherously against Me.
God gives (Hosea 6:7)
a land
Creation Adamic Noahic Abrahamic
Covenant Covenant Covenant Covenant

God gives
a land

Salvation Renewal Promise

promise of the of a land
land
 Removal
Mosaic Davidic New
from the
Covenant Covenant Land Covenant

Return to
to the
Land

Blessings King over King dies for

& cursings the land His kingdom
in the land
 Indeed, as I live, all the earth
will be filled with the glory of the
Lord (Numbers 14:21).

If I be lifted
up from the
• A People earth • All People
• A Land • The World
• A Nation • All Nations
• A King I will draw • The King
all men to
myself
John 12:32

• The Temple
• The Vine
• The Servant
• The Seed
T.J. Campo