Introduction to the Torah Essay Example For Students

Introduction to the Torah Essay ScriptureIntroduction to Scriptures in general and Hebrew Scriptures in particularThe TorahA. Introduction to the TorahB. Begin exploring the Torahs themes and contentThe Torah in the New Testament and the Book of Common PrayerPart IIntroduction Scripture In GeneralDoctrine of InspirationThe Bible is: A single Divine revelation, with two Testaments, better called covenants or agreements between God and his people. Three necessary theological constituents of inspiration:Gods causality: The prime mover in inspiration is God. The Bible tells us that no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (II Peter 1:21). In other words, God revealed and people repeated the revelation orally or in written form. See BCP, p. 236. The Human agency: People play an important role in the overall process of inspiration; they were the means through which God spoke. God used people to convey his propositions. In inspiration, then, God is the original cause, and the human agent is the instrumental cause. Scriptural authority: This is the third and final product of Gods causality and the human agency. God not only spoke to the writers of Holy Scripture, but he continues to speak through their God-inspired writing. See BCP, p. 853. A working definition of the doctrine of inspiration might be this: A process whereby God causes his Word to work through the mind and pen of a human being, without overriding their personality and style, to produce divinely authoritative writings.The Bible has a unifying theme Redemption: There is a two-fold meaning of the word redemption. it infers deliverance; and it implies a price paid for that deliverance, the ransom. Redemption ultimately is from: the penalty of sin: from the power of Satan and evil, cf, BCP, p. 302; by the price Jesus paid on the cross. How the Books of the Hebrew Bible are Organized(Chart) Part IIIntroducing The TorahThe books of the Bible have not always been numbered or grouped as they are today. The earliest division of the Old Testament was a simple twofold division of Law and Prophets. The first five books were called the Law of Moses and all the other books were called the Prophets. (C.f., the Summary of the Law, BCP, p. 324)The names given to the first five books of the Bible are several: They are called:The LawThe TorahThe Books of Mosesor the Pentateuch. The time covered in the Books of Moses or Torah:Genesis from the creation to the bondage of Israel in Egypt, about 1860 BC. Exodus from the sojourn of Israel in Egypt to Mt. Sinai (c. 1860-1447 BC.)Leviticus one month between Exodus and NumbersNumbers from Mount Sinai to the end of the forty-years wandering (c. 1447-1407 BC)Deuteronomy from the end of the wandering to after Moses funeral (about two months). The heart of the Pentateuch is found in the book of Exodus, which deals with the exodus from Egypt and the sojourn at Mount Sinai. All Jewish tradition reaches back to these root experiences. They constitute the basic understanding of Jewish identity and of the identity and character of God. Covenant and Law Two themes fundamental to the Old Testament: covenant and Law, are closely related. Covenant signifies many things, including an agreement between nations or individuals, but above all it refers to the pact between Yahweh and Israel sealed at Mount Sinai. The language concerning that covenant has much in common with that of ancient Near Eastern treaties; both are sworn agreements sealed by oaths. Yahweh is seen to have taken the initiative in granting the covenant by electing a people. Perhaps the simplest formulation of the covenant is the sentence: I will take you for my people, and I will be your God (Exodus 6:7). The law was understood to have been given as a part of the cove nant, the means by which Israel became and remained the people of God. The law contains regulations for behavior in relation to other human beings as well as rules concerning religious practices, but by no means does it give a full set of instructions for life. Rather, it seems to set forth the limits beyond which the people could not go without breaking the covenant. Biographical Sketch: Kasturba Gandhi EssayKey Verses: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27). I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you (Genesis 12:2, 3). Themes: 1. BeginningsGenesis explains the beginning of many important realities: the universe, earth, people, sin, and Gods plan of salvation. Genesis teaches us that the earth is well made and good. Mankind is special to God and unique. God creates and sustains all life. 2. DisobediencePeople are always facing great choices. Disobedience occurs when people choose not to follow Gods revealed plan for living. Genesis explains why men are evil: they choose to do wrong. Even great Bible heroes failed God and disobeyed. 3. SinSin ruins peoples lives. It happe ns when we disobey God. 4. PromisesGod makes promises to help and protect mankind. This kind of promise is called a covenant. God kept his promises then, and he keeps them now. 5. ObedienceThe opposite of sin is obedience. Obeying God restores our relationship to him. 6. IsraelGod started the nation of Israel in order to have a dedicated people who would (1) keep his ways alive in the world, (2) proclaim to the world wha