Catholic Doctrine Bible Study

Sessions 222-224 Isaiah -“ Quoted Over 80 Times In The New Testament” and “11 Isaiah Prophecies Fulfilled By Jesus” and “The Keys-A Forerunner to NT Apostolic Succession In The Church"   Thought to be 3 different books spanning over 200 years of history:   Book 1 (Chapters 1-39) comments on the events of 742-687BC, which saw Judah’s civil war with the alliance of Syria and the Northern Kingdom of Israel. (Ephraemites”)  It discusses the lack of trust that the Judah leadership had in God, who chose two terrible military alliances (Assyria and later Egypt) instead of trusting God.  These alliances , and their sins of pride, haughtiness, and corruption would cost Judah dearly.  Yet, there was hope of a coming “Immanuel”......(Also note the “key of the House of David” in 22:20-22 in light of the Keys to the Kingdom of Mt16:17-19.)   Book 2 (Chapters 40-55) comments on the events leading up to, and after, the Babylonian Exile (587-537BC).  It also looks to the future Messiah.  See 40:31 for an excellent life verse!!! References to Cyrus of Persia, specifically in 45:1 but indirectly (“The Lord’s friend”, etc) throughout Chapters 44-49.  (Cyrus defeated the Babylonians in 539BC and allowed Jews to begin to return to their homeland.  We see 4 references to the Suffering Servant Messiah in Chapter 53 alone which point ultimately to Jesus.   Book 3 (Chapters 56-66) comments on the return of the first captives to Jerusalem (538- approx. 500BC), and also looks forward to the Messiah.   See the over 80 quotations from Isaiah in the New Testament in the 2 pages below! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UMvQSv49DL8DQFBHK4J0fLnsMUU298cM/view?usp=sharing

Sessions 222-224 Isaiah -“ Quoted Over 80 Times In The New Testament” and “11 Isaiah Prophecies Fulfilled By Jesus” and “The Keys-A Forerunner to NT Apostolic Succession In The Church" Thought to be 3 different books spanning over 200 years of history: Book 1 (Chapters 1-39) comments on the events of 742-687BC, which saw Judah’s civil war with the alliance of Syria and the Northern Kingdom of Israel. (Ephraemites”)  It discusses the lack of trust that the Judah leadership had in God, who chose two terrible military alliances (Assyria and later Egypt) instead of trusting God.  These alliances , and their sins of pride, haughtiness, and corruption would cost Judah dearly.  Yet, there was hope of a coming “Immanuel”......(Also note the “key of the House of David” in 22:20-22 in light of the Keys to the Kingdom of Mt16:17-19.) Book 2 (Chapters 40-55) comments on the events leading up to, and after, the Babylonian Exile (587-537BC).  It also looks to the future Messiah.  See 40:31 for an excellent life verse!!! References to Cyrus of Persia, specifically in 45:1 but indirectly (“The Lord’s friend”, etc) throughout Chapters 44-49.  (Cyrus defeated the Babylonians in 539BC and allowed Jews to begin to return to their homeland. We see 4 references to the Suffering Servant Messiah in Chapter 53 alone which point ultimately to Jesus. Book 3 (Chapters 56-66) comments on the return of the first captives to Jerusalem (538- approx. 500BC), and also looks forward to the Messiah.  See the over 80 quotations from Isaiah in the New Testament in the 2 pages below! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UMvQSv49DL8DQFBHK4J0fLnsMUU298cM/view?usp=sharing

Written in Hebrew 200-175 BC by “Jesus, son of Eleazar, son of Sirach” (51:27). Translated into Greek after 132 BC by “Jesus’ Grandson”. Written before “Wisdom”, did not envision afterlife as other than the “netherworld”. Deuterocanonical, because it extolled temple worship and did not show belief in the Resurrection of the Body. (By 90 A.D., the temple had been destroyed and the pharisees, who believed in the resurrection, were in control). It is a “Handbook of Practical Living”.  Duties toward God (Ch 2)  Duties toward Parents (Ch 3)  Humility (Ch 3)  Discipline (Mentioned 11 times)  Almsgiving  Choosing friendship (Ch 6, 11, 13)  Conduct in public life (Ch 7)  Dealing with economic circumstances  Self-Control  Speech (22, 23)  Chastity (26,23)  Forgiveness (28)  Training Children (30)  Table Etiquette (!!) (31) Chapters 42- 43: Praise of God’s creation (sun, moon, stars etc.) Chapters 44-50: Praise of Israel’s great ancestors (Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, David, Samuel, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Simon – the high priest at the time Sirach was written) Chapter 51 – A beautiful “Thank you” to God.

Written in Hebrew 200-175 BC by “Jesus, son of Eleazar, son of Sirach” (51:27). Translated into Greek after 132 BC by “Jesus’ Grandson”. Written before “Wisdom”, did not envision afterlife as other than the “netherworld”. Deuterocanonical, because it extolled temple worship and did not show belief in the Resurrection of the Body. (By 90 A.D., the temple had been destroyed and the pharisees, who believed in the resurrection, were in control). It is a “Handbook of Practical Living”.  Duties toward God (Ch 2)  Duties toward Parents (Ch 3)  Humility (Ch 3)  Discipline (Mentioned 11 times)  Almsgiving  Choosing friendship (Ch 6, 11, 13)  Conduct in public life (Ch 7)  Dealing with economic circumstances  Self-Control  Speech (22, 23)  Chastity (26,23)  Forgiveness (28)  Training Children (30)  Table Etiquette (!!) (31) Chapters 42- 43: Praise of God’s creation (sun, moon, stars etc.) Chapters 44-50: Praise of Israel’s great ancestors (Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, David, Samuel, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Simon – the high priest at the time Sirach was written) Chapter 51 – A beautiful “Thank you” to God.

Written about 100 B.C in Greek by an Alexandrian (Egypt) “Deuterocanonical” ... Attributed to Solomon (Pseudepigrapha) Written to counteract the Hellenistic ideas (False Gods, etc) that were popular in Egypt at the time. Written to show that Jewish traditions had superior wisdom. “New” idea for Jews – Divine Retribution is not always on THIS earth, suffering on this earth does not presuppose a sin. The soul lives on, though still uncertain as to how. Childlessness not a punishment (3:13) Ch 2:12-20 Some see as a prophecy of Christ’s passion. (Mt 27:41-44) Ch 5: Judgement, heaven, hell Ch’s 10-19: The author shows the superiority of the Hebrew God over other gods by giving examples of how God delivered His people throughout history, especially the exodus experience, God has always stood by those who trust Him and they will be rewarded. (at least in the life to come!) We receive wisdom by praying for it. (Ch 7:7) Much is said about idolatry (Ch’s 13:10 – 15:17). The idols will pass, as will our own material possessions today. The wisdom of following God is all that will remain. Developing a daily discipline is a gift of wisdom: to pray, study, perform acts of service.

Written about 100 B.C in Greek by an Alexandrian (Egypt) “Deuterocanonical” ... Attributed to Solomon (Pseudepigrapha) Written to counteract the Hellenistic ideas (False Gods, etc) that were popular in Egypt at the time. Written to show that Jewish traditions had superior wisdom. “New” idea for Jews – Divine Retribution is not always on THIS earth, suffering on this earth does not presuppose a sin. The soul lives on, though still uncertain as to how. Childlessness not a punishment (3:13) Ch 2:12-20 Some see as a prophecy of Christ’s passion. (Mt 27:41-44) Ch 5: Judgement, heaven, hell Ch’s 10-19: The author shows the superiority of the Hebrew God over other gods by giving examples of how God delivered His people throughout history, especially the exodus experience, God has always stood by those who trust Him and they will be rewarded. (at least in the life to come!) We receive wisdom by praying for it. (Ch 7:7) Much is said about idolatry (Ch’s 13:10 – 15:17). The idols will pass, as will our own material possessions today. The wisdom of following God is all that will remain. Developing a daily discipline is a gift of wisdom: to pray, study, perform acts of service.

Key Points: A song of PASSION, on many levels. On the literal level, it is about passionate love between a man and a woman. But on a much deeper level, it stands for: The Passion of God for Israel The Passion of Christ for His Church The Passion of God for each individual Note that the passion is two-way:  Each seems consumed with desire for the other.  (How passionate are you toward God?  Is God constantly on your mind, as might be the case during courtship with someone you love?) Though written hundreds of years before Christ, references to “myrrh. Frankincense” (3:6) remind us of Christ. Some Marian references seen by the Church: 2:2 “beloved among women” 3:11 “King...in the crown which his mother has crowned him.”  (Remember, in the southern kingdom, the queen was the King’s MOTHER, not his wife!) 6:10” “as beautiful as the moon, as resplendent as the sun.”  (See Mary in Revelation 12:1) 6:12 “blessed one of my kinswomen” (See Luke 1:48 “All call me blessed.”) 5:6-8 Sometimes (as in “Job”) it seems that God is nowhere to be found, but continue to seek God, knowing his passion for us is eternal.

Solomon had it all: wealth, power, knowledge, relationships,  fun.  Yet near the end of his life, reflecting back, he realized that none of those things, not even his life on this earth, will last.  “All is vanity.”  He urges us to enjoy these things that God has provided (9:7-9), but to be aware that they, in and of themselves, are not what gives meaning to life. All that lasts is God, and in some way not yet understood fully until Jesus’ Resurrection hundreds of years later, Man’s relationship with God. His conclusion: “Fear (awe, reverence”) God and keep his commandments...” (12:13-14)

Key Points: Solomon had it all: wealth, power, knowledge, relationships,  fun.  Yet near the end of his life, reflecting back, he realized that none of those things, not even his life on this earth, will last.  “All is vanity.”  He urges us to enjoy these things that God has provided (9:7-9), but to be aware that they, in and of themselves, are not what gives meaning to life. All that lasts is God, and in some way not yet understood fully until Jesus’ Resurrection hundreds of years later, Man’s relationship with God. His conclusion: “Fear (awe, reverence”) God and keep his commandments...” (12:13-14)

Key Points: 1)3:5 “Trust in the Lord, and lean not...” 2)22:6 “Train up a child ...not depart..” 3)1:7 “Fear of the Lord is the ...” 4) 31:10 “A wife of noble character....” 5)14:12”...a way that seems right, but..” 6)4:23 “....guard your heart...” 7)30:5 ..every word of God is flawless..” 8)27:17 “As iron sharpens iron...” 9)29:18 “Blessed..those who heed instr 10)17:22 “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but...” You will develop your OWN list of favorites as you read through the 31 chapters of proverbs. Topics (among others): Dealing with children Dealing with and choosing spouses Business dealings(fairness, success) Anger Pride Priorities Laziness Many, many more.