Essential Biblical History and Literature Summary
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Biblical Divisions
The Pentateuch (The Law)
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
Wisdom Literature
- Job
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon)
Major Prophets
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Lamentations
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
Key Biblical Concepts
- Prophecy
- Foretelling the future through words.
- Typology
- Foretelling the future through things or events.
The Six C's of Biblical History
- Creation
- Covenant
- Comeback
- Christ
- Church
- Consummation
The Book of Genesis
Creation
The six days of creation:
- Light
- Sea & Sky
- Dry Land & Plants
- Sun, Stars, & Moon
- Birds & Sea Creatures
- Land Animals & Man
Image of God: Holiness
The Flood Narrative
- Duration: 40 days and 40 nights (rain) / 1 year and 1 day (total duration in the ark).
- Reason: God saw the great evil that existed on earth.
- Covenant with Noah: God promised never again to flood the entire world.
- Typology: The Flood is a type of baptism and a foreshadowing of final judgment.
- People Saved: 8
The Tower of Babel
The people wanted to be like God, so they started to build a tower as high as possible. God confused the languages of all the earth, scattering the people.
The Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
The Abrahamic Covenant
Key promises:
- Many descendants.
- All nations blessed.
- Land (foreshadowing heaven).
- Received by faith.
- Fulfilled in Christ.
Questions about Isaac
- Who were Isaac's father and mother?
- Abraham and Sarah.
- Why did God tell Abraham to sacrifice his son?
- God tested his faith and obedience.
- How did the sacrifice story end?
- God provided a substitute sacrifice, and Isaac was saved.
- Who were the sons of Isaac?
- Esau and Jacob.
Questions about Jacob
- Which son was blessed, and how?
- Jacob. He tricked his father, Isaac, into believing he was Esau to receive the blessing.
- To what was Jacob’s name changed?
- Israel.
- How many sons did he have?
- 12.
Questions about Joseph
- Why did Joseph’s brothers hate him?
- He was his father's favorite, and he told them a dream about them worshiping him.
- What did they do to him?
- They planned to kill him, but ultimately sold him into slavery.
- What happened to Joseph in Egypt?
- He worked for Potiphar, was imprisoned, interpreted Pharaoh's dream, and became the second in command.
Post-Exilic Period and Biblical Poetry
Rebuilding the Temple
- What two reactions did the Israelites have to the rebuilding of the Temple?
- Happiness and sadness (those who remembered the glory of the first Temple wept).
Ezra and Nehemiah
- What did Ezra’s reform consist of?
- He tore his clothes and hair to make a covenant with the Lord regarding separation from foreign practices.
- What was Nehemiah’s great task?
- Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.
Biblical Poetry
- What is the chief characteristic of Biblical poetry?
- Parallelism.