An overview of the entire Bible with a focus on the structure of the Hebrew Scriptures. The guys discuss the structure of the Old Testament and how it helps interpret the way Jesus talked about Scripture. They also explore the structure of the New Testament and why it's important to understand it. The podcast delves into the division of the Hebrew Bible and highlights the intentional placement of every word. They also discuss different versions of the English Bible translation and the ordering of books in the Old and New Testaments.
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Quick takeaways
The Hebrew Bible, known as the Tanakh, is divided into three sections: the Torah, the Nevi'im, and the Ketuvim, collectively emphasizing the future hope of the Messiah and the coming kingdom of God.
The New Testament comprises 27 books written by Israelites who became disciples of Jesus, including the four Gospels and Paul's 13 letters. It focuses on Jesus' life, death, and resurrection as the fulfillment of the Messianic hope.
The structure and ordering of the biblical books were not based on chronological or length-based criteria; instead, they were shaped by factors such as popularity and influence within early Christian communities, leading to the recognition and inclusion of certain texts.
Deep dives
The Unity of the Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible, also known as the Tanakh, is composed of three main sections: the Torah, the Nevi'im (Prophets), and the Ketuvim (Writings). These sections are part of the editorial unity of the Hebrew Bible, highlighting the future hope of the Messiah and the coming kingdom of God. The ordering of the books in the Tanakh serves to emphasize this future orientation, with ski jumps of hope connecting them. This ordering is pre-Christian and messianic, and reading the Bible in the Tanakh order can help Christians engage with the Bible in a fresh and intentional way.
The Composition of the New Testament
The New Testament consists of 27 books that emerged from the events surrounding Jesus of Nazareth during the late second temple period. These books were written by Israelites, Jews, who became disciples of Jesus and were part of the apostolic circle. Four accounts of the life of Jesus, connected to Peter, Matthew, Luke, and John, form the Gospels. The book of Acts, also associated with Luke, documents the spread of the gospel, particularly through Paul's missionary journeys. Additionally, the New Testament includes a collection of Paul's 13 letters, addressed to seven churches.
The Unifying Themes
Both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament have unifying themes that highlight the future hope of the Messiah and the coming kingdom of God. The Hebrew Bible's three-part structure emphasizes this hope throughout its different sections, while the New Testament's focus is on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as the fulfillment of these hopes. Reading and studying these texts can provide Christians with a deeper understanding of their faith and the significance of Jesus in the greater biblical narrative.
The Three-Part Shape of the Bible
In this podcast episode, the speaker discusses the three-part shape of the Bible as understood by different Jewish authors and communities. Despite encountering the Bible in the form of individual scrolls, various Jewish individuals, such as Jesus in Galilee, the Dead Sea Scrolls community, and a Jewish philosopher in Egypt, all recognized a three-part structure to the Bible. This structure consisted of the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings. However, it is important to note that this sense of structure and collection was passed down through generations. The speaker explains how this understanding of the three-part shape of the Bible was not based on a table of contents or a written collection, but rather on the way the scrolls were read and understood within their communities.
Order and Editing of the Biblical Books
In this podcast episode, the speaker explores the ordering and editing of the biblical books. The speaker highlights that the formation of the biblical books did not follow a simple chronological or length-based order. Instead, the collection and ordering of the books were shaped by various factors, including the popularity and influence of certain texts within the early Christian communities. For example, the letters of Paul, such as Romans, were often preferred due to their accessibility and comprehensive presentation of Jesus' teachings. Additionally, the speaker discusses how Hebrews, despite not being directly authored by an apostle, was included because it passed on the teachings of the original apostles. Overall, the ordering of the biblical books was not a result of council decisions, but rather a reflection of the growth and recognition of certain texts within the early Christian movement.
In this episode, Tim and Jon give an overview of the entire Bible with a focus on the Hebrew Scriptures. They also spend some time going deep into the structure of the book from beginning to end. The Bible, like any other book, experienced human revision. The guys talk about what it means for the Bible to be a work of literary genius created by humans and also the divine word of God. There’s a lot to unpack here––let’s go.
In the first part of the episode (01:25-54:15), the guys talk about the structure of the Old Testament. In its earliest form, the Hebrew Bible is broken up into three sections called the Tanak. This is the structure that Jesus would’ve been familiar with, and understanding this helps us to better interpret the way Jesus talked about and referenced Scripture.
In the last part of the episode (54:45-1:10:51), the guys talk about the New Testament. The New Testament is structured much differently than the Old Testament. Some of the books were meant to be taught in a church setting, and some were targeted at a specific group of people. The guys will explain why it’s important to understand the New Testament in this light.
Video:
This episode is designed to accompany our video called "What is the Bible?" You can view it on our youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak06MSETeo4
Book References:
Complete Jewish Bible: An English Version of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and B'Rit Hadashah (New Testament) by David H. Stern
Scripture References:
Jeremiah 37
Show Music:
Defender Instrumental by Rosasharn Music
Blue Skies by Unwritten Stories
Flooded Meadows by Unwritten Stories
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