Study Guide
Hebrew Scriptures Final Exam in
Freshman Theology Class

*Mr. Geger's handout on three ways man can come to know God.

* "Introduction to Salvation History: Hebrew Scriptures" A summary of major periods with review questions for each period.

* Timeline Quiz

3. Describe the stages in the formation of Scripture.


* Mr. Geger's "Stages in the Formation of the Gospels" This process in the formation of the Gospels is very similar to the stages in the formation of Hebrew Scriptures. This handout will help you review the stages and remind you of important information you need be aware of in reading scripture.



4. Be able to retell the story of God's revelation though the Jewish people. You can do this relating major periods, showing how the message is handed down through major characters, or summarizing the first ten books of the Old Testament. You will not be asked to do this on the exam; this task alone would constitute an exam. But it is a good way to review for the exam, and you should be able to do it!

5. A theme is a recurring idea throughout a some work. You should be able to take any of these major themes from Hebrew Scriptures and show how they recur in every major period of Old Testament salvation history:

* covenant * unlikely hero * biblical faith * social justice * vocation or call � religious formalism * sin * holiness * repentance

6. Three important questions that have been emphazsized throughouth this semester


• Why should a Christian spend time reading and knowing Hebrew Scriptures? Explain reasons, and back these up by specific and concrete examples and applications.
  
• Is the God the Old Testament the same or different than the God proclaimed by Jesus. If you say the same, then why is Jesus needed? If you say different, then explain your reasons well.
• In the Gospels, Jesus is explained by images and idea from Hebrew Scriptures. Where do these key titles of Jesus come from and what do they reveal about the early disciples belief about Jesus?
  � Son of Man � Suffering Servant �Messiah



7. You have read "biblical prehistory" in Genesis 1-11. (A) What is the problem with taking this literally? (B) If we can't take it literally, then how are we supposed to read it?


Mr. Geger's worksheet for reading Genesis 1-11
Here are links to some very important teachings of the Magisterium on this challenging question. These are pretty sophisticated writings. They are "primary sources." I don't expect you to read these, but you can try. I wanted you to be able to have access to what informs much of our teaching about reading Scripture.
* Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation:
Dei Verbum The Word of God

* Pius XII Divino Afflante Spiritu
Promotion of Biblical Studies, September 30, 1943

*Vatican Condemns Literal Interpretation of the Bible

* Message of John Paul II to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences
concerning the relationship between Revelation and theories of evolution



The most important and specific Church document on the interpeting Scripture is "The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church," Pontifical Biblical Commission, 1993. This is available in our library or from Catholic Supply Bookstores.

A good site with links to important Catholic teachings concerning Bible and its interpretation is Fr. Felix Just, S.J. website Catholic Documents Related to Biblical Studies

9. From the handout Seven Most Asked Questions About the Bible
* How is God the author of the Bible?
* Were Adam and Eve real?
* What was the original sin?
Study the first three questions from the handout "Seven Most Asked Questions About the Bible," Catholic Update, February 1979

10. From Rabbi Kushner's To Life! A Celebration of Jewish Being and Thinking
* Why study Judaism?
* What is the hinge on which all Judaism turns?
* What is the point of the Ten Commandments? Covenant? The Torah?
* What are the four fundamental ideas of the Exodus?
*"The rest of the Bible and virtually all of what has been written about Judaism since biblical times is an attempt to answer the question 'How do you hold on to the feeling of standing before God at Sinai? How do you hold on to the sense of standing before God?'"
What is Exodus answer, Judaism's answer, about how to do this?
* What two lessons do we learn about ourselves from the stories in the Bible?
* What is the goal of Judaism?
* Explain the Jewish idea of sin.

11. From the video of Harold Kushner's When Bad Things Happen to Good People
* List three key ideas of Harold Kushner1s When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Write these in a clear and complete manner.
* How did he answer the question "Why do bad things happen to good people?"
* He said that "why do bad things happen to good people?" is the wrong question. The better question is "what do you do when bad things happen to good peple?" What was his advice here?
* What did he say his best line in his book was?
* Rabbi Kushner offered some practical advice about how to deal with someone close to you who has just gone through a very difficult loss. What did he recommend?

12. Some key ideas from the Link's Path through Scriptures
� What two truths does God reveal through the story of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac? Relate the second point in detail (i.e. listand describe the characterisitcs of biblical faith)
� What is sin? What effect does it have on us and our wrold? If God created al the world good, how did evil enter? What two important conclusions do we draw from the chain of sin stories?
� What is the major event in the history of Judaism? What new identity and what new destiny did this event give the Jews?
� There are two basic ways to interpret Scripture. List and describe each.
� In the Bible, God reveals his name to his people. When did this happen? What did God say his name was? What does this strange name mean?




Vocabulary=important ideas you need to know to better understand how to read and understand Hebrew Scripture

�contextual interpretation �conversion/metanoia � covenant �Hanukkah�Law �faith �free will �incipient � judges � literal interpretation � midrash � Passover � prophets �revelation �ritual �Sabbath � Septuagint �Shema � sin � son of man �symbol � imminence � vocation � Tradition � transcendence � vocation � wisdom �Yahweh




Glossary for the course

You better study! MAJOR SKILLS AND MAJOR IDEAS OF THE FIRST SEMESTER These are skills you should have acquired during the first semester. You should not only be able to explain how to do these; you should be able to do these! List and describe the suggested practice of "Reading Scripture on Three Levels." Make sure you include Mike Carotta's How to Apply the Bible to Your Life. Give and describe Fr. Tetlow's method of contemplation from the "Three Manners of Praying With Scripture" Describe five different forms of prayer. Be able to really get an assigned reading. Be able to describe the recommended five step process of really getting an assigned reading. Know how to use a spiral notebook for organization and assignments. People you have studied a bit in this class: 1st semester: John Paul II, Deion Sanders, Craig Kielberger, Ignatius Loyola, Ruby Bridges 2nd semester: Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, Saul, David, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Vernon Johns, Rabbi Harold Kushner

Please send any comments, suggestions or corrections to Matthew Sciuto

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