The Top 10 Areas of Biblical Study

Originally Submitted on 8/9/97.

A lot of people dismiss the Bible without having an adequate grasp or appreciation of its contents. They may be reacting to a poor experience within a church or their own religious training. The Bible is a vast treasury of resources - some 66 different books in all (39 in the Hebrew Scripture and 27 in the Christian Scripture). Here are the ten areas that can rekindle your own appreciation of the Biblical texts and/or assist you in recognizing what others continue to see of value about them!

1. The Exodus Event

The Exodus event (circa 1260 B.C.) is far more than the Hebrew people crossing the Red Sea (or Sea of Reeds) while fleeing Pharoah's army! It is the defining event in the life of the Hebrew people, and coincides with the life and death of Moses (see Exodus 2-40; Deuteronomy 34:1-12; and Joshua 1:1-6). The Exodus Event still rests as the foundation of Jusaism in the annual observance of the Passover. The 40 years of Wilderness wanderings served as the basis of taking a group of loosely organized nomadic tribes whose only previous link was a common Semitic language, and forging them into a nation with a common identity, mission and purpose. Only then did it become relevant to ask questions about God, their status as a chosen people, the creation of the world, etc. Prior to the Exodud Event there was virtually no reason for such questioning among them. Survival under the harshness of slavery in Egypt was a sufficient agenda.

2. The Covenants with God (Yahweh worship)

The 3-Fold Covenantal relationship that was established between God and Abram and Sarai (who later become Abraham and Sarah - see Genesis 12:1-3)forms the theological foundation of the Judeo-Christian covenants that follow (with Noah, Moses, the Judges, David, Jesus, etc.). It is a covenant between Un-equal parties (with God always being the stronger party in the relationship), thereby forming the foundation of Ancient Israel's sense of being a Theocratic State. Even much later on, when the people express their desire for an earthly king, it is understood that their monarchs will merely serve as human stand-ins for Yahweh among God's people (see 1 Samuel 11). Theologically, the Creation stories in Genesis 1 and 2 are most significant in the context of the Covenant between God and the creation they represent. Again, such issues only become significant after the Exodus from Egypt -- and so it is only then that these stories begin to take shape as part of Israel's oral tradition; and appear in written form much later on.

3. The Judges

The history of Ancient Israel after the period of the Patriarchs (ending with the death of Moses and the people entering the Promised Land) and prior to the establishment of the monarchy is the period of the Judges, beginning with Joshua and ending with Samson (see Judges 1-17). The so-called Cycle of the Judges was as follows: The people of God sin (e.g. they worship other gods, etc.); God punishes them (e.g. battles and freedom lost, etc.); the people repent and cry out to God for deliverance; God hears their cries and raises up a Judge in their midst to rescue them; and the people are delivered. Then the cycle repeats itself many times over! It is significant to note that woman as well as men served as Judges in Ancient Israel (e.g. Deborah).

4. The Prophets

The Prophetic period truly begins with the figure of Samuel (who annoints Saul the first king), and extends until Malachi at the end of the Hebrew canon; or John the Babptist in the Christian Gospel tradition. There are two classifications of prophets, i.e. Major and Minor (based solely on the length of the books that bear their names, and having nothing to do with the content). The 12 so-called Minor Prophets appear in a single book (The Book of the Twelve) in the Hebrew Bible. No biblical prophet is on record as having asked for the job! On the contrary, most attempted to get out of it when called by God! The prophetic role (in the Biblical context) is one of proclamation and declaration of God's Word to a people in need of repentance - and is not one of prediction. In short, it is one of forthtelling the Word of God to a people rather than foretelling the future (although some future elements do appear; usually in the context of stating what will occur if the people fail to heed God's Word as declared by the prophet). A rather eccentric and surly lot, no one is one record as having ever invited a prophet home to dinner more than once!

5. The Wisdom Literature

The specific books that comprise the Wisdom Literature of the Bible is forever in dispute - but the 3 books agreed upon include Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes (to these you made add the Apocryphal books of Sirach - or Ecclesiasticus - and the Wisdom of Solomon). Other scholars wish to include the Psalms, 1 & 2 Kings, and others. But the first 3 books mentioned all represent the ancients' quest for knowledge and wisdom.

6. The Intertestamental Literature: Apocrypha & Pseudopigrapha

The Apocrypha refers to a group of Hebrew and/or Christian books that were not included in the Hebrew or Christian canon of Scripture, although many particular religious bodies regard them as such. There are arguments that continue to rage - but let it suffice to say that decisions regarding the Hebrew canon were made by the Council at Jamnia in AD 70; while similar decisions were made by the Christian Councils of Nicaea and Trent in the 4th Century AD. The politics of deciding which books to include in either testament makes for some fascinating further study! The Hebrew Apocryphal writings may number as many as 14 books; and the Christian Apocryphal writings add many more. Indeed, there were as many as two dozen Gospels and only 4 selected for inclusion in the New Testamant canon. The Pseudopigrapha refers to another entire diverse collection of Jewish-Christian writings that are not included in either canon, the apocrypha, or rabbinic literature.

7. The Christian Epistles

The Christian Epistles (or letters)comprise 21 of the 27 books in the New Testament cannon. The majority of these are attributed to the Apostle Paul (13), but modern biblical scholars note that he is in all liklihood not personally responsible for writing all of these. While the debates continue, it is important to note that many of the Epistles predate the four Gospels in the New Testament cannon, and collectively serve to provide the earliest look we have at the first century Christian communities whose people practiced their faith under penalty of death if discovered.

8. The Christian Gospels

Of the four Christian Gospels we find in the New Testamant canon, Mark is the earliest (circa 65 AD) and most narrative version. Much of Mark's content is contained in Matthew and Luke (whose authors used Mark's Gospel plus a now lost collection of Jesus-sayings refered to by scholars as "Q" to form the basis of their respective works, between 70 and 85 AD). John's Gospel is the latest, probably dating between 90 and 110 AD, and contains the most sophisticated theology and Greek language, and was addressed to a Greek audience. Matthew's is the most Hebrew of the four, and Luke contains the most healing stories. The Gospel authors each served as editors and evangelists of the materials they represent. Their major aim was to show how it is that Jesus of Nazareth personally fit the various criteria and expectation of the Hebrew people in the first century regarding the arrival of God's Messiah.

9. The Acts of the Apostles

The Book of Acts was written by the author of Luke's Gospel (see Acts 1:1) and serves as an historical record of life and practices in the Early Church of the first century.

10. The Hebrew/Christian Apocalyptic Literature and Tradition

The term Apocalyptic means "unveiling" and refers to a biblical genre of literature that is written in code to Hebrew and/or Christian disciples who are living out their faith under persecution and threat of imminent death if discovered. Examples of Apocalyptic literature include portions of 14 Jewish books (including Daniel and Ezekiel) and some Christian books, e.g. The Revelation to John and Mark 13. It's important to note that we lack the code necessary to decipher these works with definitive clarity. However, it is clear that the literature is meant to bolter the faith of the recipients in time of tremendous persecution, and proclaim the ultimate victory of God over their enemies at the end of the present tribulation or age.

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