The Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures)

1
The Old Testament(Hebrew Scriptures)

• Scripture in the Age of Hellenism
• Historical Background
• 336-323 BC Alexander the
  Great
• The Seleucids and the Ptolemys
• 175-164 BC Antiochus IV Epiphanes
• Judas Maccabeus
• The Hasmonean Dynasty

2
The Old Testament(Hebrew Scriptures)

• Scripture in the Age of Hellenism
• Culture
• Babylonian Mythology Gilgamesh and
  Enkidu
• Religious skepticism
• Greek Philosophy Aristotle, Plato and Socrates
• Transcendant theology, dualism

3
The Old Testament(Hebrew Scriptures)

• Scripture in the Age of Hellenism
• Vocabulary
• 3 themes covenant, creation, revelation
• Hellenization
• Polis
• Theodicy
• Abomination of desolation
• Septuagint
• Haggadah and Halakah
• Midrash
• Pesharim
• Talmud
• Apocalyptic

4
The Old Testament(Hebrew Scriptures)

• Skeptical Wisdom Job and Qoheleth
• Job
• Cycle 1
• 1.1-12, 2.1-8 Satan's challenges
• 2.9 Job's wife curse God and die!
• 4.17-21 Eliphaz
• 6.21-25 Job replies
• 8.3-8 Bildad
• 9.1-4 Job's response
• 11.4-5, 14-15 Zophar
• 13.2-5, 10-12 Job replies

5
The Old Testament(Hebrew Scriptures)

• Skeptical Wisdom Job and Qoheleth
• Job
• Cycle 2
• 15.17-20 Eliphaz
• 17.9-16 Job defends himself
• 18.5, 17-19 Bildad
• 19.4-6, 25-26 Job stands firm
• 20.4-5 Zophar
• 21.7, 23-26 Job's central question

6
The Old Testament(Hebrew Scriptures)

• Skeptical Wisdom Job and Qoheleth
• Job
• Cycle 3
• 22.1-3 Eliphaz
• 23.8-14 Job's defense
• 25.4 Bildad
• 26.1-12 Job remains firm
• 28 only God knows the way to wisdom

7
The Old Testament(Hebrew Scriptures)

• Skeptical Wisdom Job and Qoheleth
• Job
• Final Cycle
• Elihu's Discourse
• 32.6-9, 12-14 34.10-15 34.22-28 36.22-25
  31.19-24
• God Speaks
• 38.2-4 40.7-8, 15, 25
• Job Repents
• 42.2-6
• Conclusion
• 42.7-10

8
The Old Testament(Hebrew Scriptures)

• Skeptical Wisdom Job and Qoheleth
• Qoheleth/Ecclesiastes
• 1.2-4 all is vanity
• 1.16-17 the pursuit of wisdom is 'a chase after
  the wind'
• 2.1, 4, 11-12 the pursuit of wealth is vanity
• 2.13 wisdom is better than folly
• 2.17 life is worthless for all is vanity
• 2.24 enjoy the good life, it is a gift from God

9
The Old Testament(Hebrew Scriptures)

• Skeptical Wisdom Job and Qoheleth
• Qoheleth/Ecclesiastes
• 3.14 what God does endures forever
• 3.20 all men return to the dust
• 4.1-16 on injustice
• 4.17 obedience is better than sacrifice
• 5.1-6 keep vows simple, fulfill them fear God
• 7.13-14 God is inscrutable
• 7.18 he who fears God will win through
• 7.23-25 wisdom is unattainable but worth pursuit
• 8.12-13 fear the Lord
• 8.16 wisdom is unattainable, God is inscrutable
• 11.5 God gives life, God is inscrutable

10
The Old Testament(Hebrew Scriptures)

• Skeptical Wisdom Job and Qoheleth
• Qoheleth/Ecclesiastes
• 12.1 remember your Creator
• 12.7 dust to dust, life breath returns to God
• 12.13 Fear God