1. IN THE BEGINNING….
CLASS ONE OF THREE
Our Lady of the Presentation Parish
Mary Pat Storms
June 18, 2013

2. Today’s Overview
1
• What is the Torah?
2
• How Catholics read
Scripture
3
• The Book of Genesis

3. WHAT IS THE TORAH?

4. The First Five Books
of the Old Testament
•
•
•
•
•
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Collectively
known as:
The Torah
The Pentateuch

5. The Torah in the Jewish Tradition
• The Torah or “teaching” is the foundation of the
Jewish faith.
• The rest of the Hebrew Scriptures flow from the
Torah.
• Without the Torah, without the laws, there
would be no story to tell of God’s chosen
people.
• Jewish scholars and rabbis study the Torah wordby-word; their interpretations and insights are
recorded in the Talmud.

6. Genesis
Creation and stories of
primeval times.
Ancestors in faith.

7. Exodus
Stories of Moses, deliverance
of the Hebrew People and the
Law (10 Commandments.)

8. Leviticus
Be holy as God is holy.
Laws related to
sacrifice, priests and
religious feasts.

9. Numbers
More laws; wanderings in
the desert on the way to
Promised Land. Repeated
unfaithfulness increases
period of wandering.

10. Deuteronomy
The “second law.” Moses
farewell at the borders of
the Promised Land.

11. The Torah/Pentateuch
is the foundation for all
of Scripture: these five
books are meant to be
read as a whole. They
tell the story of God’s
plan for all humans.

12. HOW DO CATHOLICS
READ SCRIPTURE?

13. Studying Scripture
 Historical Approach
 Theological Approach
 Inspirational Approach

14. Studying Scripture
 Historical Approach
The Scriptures were not
intended to be an
historical record, but do
have historical value.

15. Studying Scripture
Theological Approach:
What does the Bible say
about a specific issue of
doctrine or theology?
Importance of reading
as a whole.

16. Studying Scripture
Inspirational Approach:
How can the Scriptures help me
see the face of God and know his
will for my life?
Baptism empowers us to study
Scripture in this way.

17. Dei Verbum
How Catholics read and interpret Scripture:
•
For meaning
•
In context of entire Canon and Tradition of
the Church
•
In view of the universe
Exegesis: critical, scholarly examination of a
passage of the Bible to explain meaning.
Hermeneutics: using exegesis to ask what the text
means for us today.

18. Catholics and Fundamentalists
Catholic Interpretation
• The Bible is God’s word
written by humans.
• Scripture and Tradition
• Historical perspective is
necessary for interpretation.
• Accepts scientific-critical
methods of interpretation
• Read in context of Church and
community of faith in all
centuries
Fundamentalist Interpretation
• The Bible is God’s word.
• Scripture alone (Sola
Scriptura)
• Historical perspective is
unnecessary.
• Rejects scientific-critical
methods of interpretation
• Read individually and
personally.

19. GENESIS

20. Oral and written tradition
J: Yahwist
POET
Storyteller
E: Elohist
PROPHET
Challenger
P: Priestly
PRIEST
Legislator
D: Deuteronomist
PARENTS
Exhorter
10 or 9 century BC
Love stories: God
and his people
Earthy language
after 900 BC
Stresses the role
of the prophet
Stress on morality
Covenant is more
important than
kings
8 and 7 century BC
Strong on ritual
God is distant
Permanence of
God’s covenant
Formal style of
writing
Arranged stories
around 500 BC
8 and 7 century BC
Role of family,
very moralistic
eloquent

21. 10 Themes of Genesis
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
God created a world that is GOOD
God has blessed humans; they are GOOD
Humans tend to sin
But, God loves them anyway and shows mercy
God keeps his promises
The covenant binds humans and God
The Law is an expression of this covenant
Worship is praise; praise is thanksgiving.
We live in community because God wants us to do so.
God directs all of history.

22. Lessons from Genesis
• All of our lives are part of God’s plan; we can know and
live this plan.
• Prayer and daily life are guided by the same vision.
• God is God; we are not.
• Humans should try to be holy like God.
• If we are holy, we must forgive and show compassion.
• Life is a journey.
• This journey requires trust in God.
• We are from the earth. The Promised Land is our
heritage.
• Our faith begins in our homes.
• Fill your life with prayer.

23. An Outline of Genesis
• Preamble. The Creation of the World (1:1–2:3)
• I. The Story of the Nations (2:4–11:26)
– The Creation of the Man and the Woman, Their Offspring, and
the Spread of Civilization (2:4–4:26)
– The Pre-flood Generations (5:1–6:8)
– The Flood and the Renewed Blessing (6:9–9:29)
– The Populating of the World and Babel (10:1–11:9)
– The Genealogy from Shem to Terah (11:10–26)
• II. The Story of the Ancestors of Israel (11:27–50:26)
– The Story of Abraham and Sarah (11:27–25:18)
– The Story of Isaac and Jacob (25:19–36:43)
– The Story of Joseph (37:1–50:26)

24. Genesis Part I: Primeval History
• Creation
• Sin
• Evil overwhelms the world; God begins again

25. Genesis Part 2: Family History
The Patriarchs
– Abraham
– Isaac
– Jacob
– Joseph
The Matriarchs
– Sarah
– Rebekah
– Rachel, Leah
, Bilhah, Zilp
ah

26. Creation
And God saw it was good…
• Heavens: light and darkness
are separated
• Waters above and below
are separated
• Land and water are
separated; vegetation
• Sun, moon and stars
• Birds and fish
• Animals and humans
Adam and Eve
• Garden is a place for humans
to work
• Man names animals
• Woman is created as a
helpmate, a partner
• Cultivate and care for creation
• Blessing of relationship
between male and female that
leads to creation of more
humans.

27. Sin
Adam and Eve
• Tree of good and evil
• Free will
• Sin of disobedience
• Cast out of “garden.”
Cain and Abel
• Farmer and herder
• Nomads v. settlers
• fratricide
God continues to bless the people: Genesis 4 and 5 list the 10 patriarchs
before Noah.

28. Sin and Blessing
• Noah and the flood
• Tower of Babel
God continues to bless the people: Genesis 9 and 10 list all the nations
of ancient Israel.

29. Abram
• Nomad
– Concubine Hagar – son Ishmael
– Wife, Sarai – childless
– After Sarah’s death, remarries and has six sons.
Covenant
Land of your own
Descendants that number as the stars

30. Abraham’s Journeys

31. Abraham and Sarah
Abraham is a descendant of Noah.
Lot is his nephew.
Hagar is banished with her son, Ishmael, after
Sarah gives birth to Isaac
Isaac is wed to Rebekah (at the well)

32. Isaac and Rebekah
• Isaac is “red-headed.”
– Twin sons: Esau (hunter) and Jacob (herder)
– Jacob steals his brother’s birthright
• Rebekah sends him to her brother, Laban.

33. Jacob/Israel
• Jacob works for Laban
– Seven years for bride • Leah
• Rachel
- Twelve sons, one daughter
- Wrestles an angel – becomes Israel

34. Jacob’s Journeys

35. Children of Jacob

36. Some lessons from Genesis
• God works through women, the lowly, the
imperfect.
• Because of their relationship with
God, people become better people and are
able to achieve great things in God’s name.
• Working through ordinary people, God’s plan
is revealed.

37. QUESTIONS?

38. Class Two Overview:Exodus
1
• Moses, Pharoah, Aaron and
Miriam
2
• Liberation and Freedom
3
• The Law at Sinai