New Testament Introduction Sourcebook by Mark G. Bilby, Phd May 13, 2020
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New Testament Introduction Sourcebook by Mark G. Bilby, PhD May 13, 2020 The materials that follow are original creations developed as individual handouts for New Testament classes I have taught over the years. Here they are compiled into a brief sourcebook that can accompany my introductory video lectures for RLST 201 at CSU Fullerton. The related RLST 201 course syllabus for Spring 2018 is also available. All materials © 2020 by Mark G. Bilby and shared via a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 international license. TaNaKh vs. Old Testament: Comparison of Traditional Canonical Count, Order, and Groupings TaNaKh or Jewish/Hebrew Bible (24 books in traditional Jewish reckoning) Torah, Instruction, Law, Books Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy of Moses, Pentateuch (5) Deuteronomic History: Joshua, Judges, Samuel (1-2), Kings (1-2) Nevi’im, Prophets (8) Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel Minor Prophets ("The Twelve"): Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi Wisdom/Poetic Literature: Psalms, Proverbs, Job Megillot (Festival "Scrolls"): Song of Songs (Pesach), Ruth (Shavuot), Lamentations (9 th of Av), Ecclesiastes (Sukkot), Kethuvim, Writings (11) Esther (Purim) Historical Literature: Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles (1-2) Christian Old/First Testament/Covenant Pentateuch, Books of Moses, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy The Law (5) Historical Literature: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1- Former Prophets 2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther Wisdom/Poetic Literature: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon The Prophets (34) Isaiah, Jeremiah, Major Prophets: Lamentations, Ezekiel Daniel; “The Twelve”: Later Prophets Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Minor Prophets: Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi Historical/Hagiographical/Polemical: Tobit, Judith, Esther (Grk, w/ additions), Additions to Daniel (Prayer of Azariah, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon), 1-2 Maccabees, 3-4 Maccabees (eo), 3rd Ezra (eo), Letter of Jeremiah (eo) Deutero-Canonical Writings (“Apocrypha”) (eo – some Eastern churches only) Wisdom/Poetic Literature: Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (or Wisdom of Jesus Ben Sirach), Baruch, 4th Ezra (eo), Psalm 151 (eo), Odes (eo) TaNaKh Hebrew Names, Groupings and Order Grouping Sub -Grouping English Name Hebrew Name Literal Translation 1 Genesis B'resheet "In the beginning" Torah Exodus Sh'mot "The names" “Instruction” Leviticus Vayikra "And he called" or Pentateuch Numbers B'midbar "In the wilderness" Deuteronomy D'varim "The words" Joshua Y'hoshua Deuteronomic Judges Shof'tim History Samuel Sh'mu'el Kings M'lakhim Isaiah Yeshayah Major Prophets Jeremiah Yirmeyah Ezekiel Yechezk’el Hosea Hoshea Joel Yo’el Nevi'im Amos Amos “Prophets” Obadiah Ovadeyah Jonah Yonah Minor Prophets Micah Mikhah “The Twelve” Nahum Nachum Habbakuk Havakuk Zephaniah Tz’faneyah Haggai Hagai Zechariah Z’khareyah Malachi Mal’akhi Psalms Tehillim "Praises" Wisdom Proverbs Mishlei Literature Job Iyov Song of Songs Shir Ha -Shirim Ruth Ruth Megillot Kethuvim Lamentations Eikhah "How" “Scrolls” “Writings” Ecclesiastes Qoheleth "Teacher" Esther Esther Daniel Daniel Historical Ezra -Nehemiah Ezra -Nechamyah Literature Divrei Ha - Chronicles Yamim "The words of the days" 1 Entries in this column are only made for books for which the English name is itself not a literal translation from the Hebrew. 1 Thanks to my friend and supervising professor, Don Polaski, for pointing out these passages. Christian OT vs. Christian OT © 2010, Mark Bilby Orthodox/Catholic/Protestant (39) Orthodox/Catholic/Protestant Apocrypha (45) Orthodox (49) Genesis Proverbs 1 Maccabees 1 Esdras Exodus Ecclesiastes 2 Maccabees 3 Maccabees Leviticus Song of Songs Tobit Lament. Jeremiah Numbers Isaiah Judith Epistle of Jeremiah (sep) Deuteronomy Jeremiah Baruch & Epistle Jeremiah Joshua Lamentations Wisdom of Solomon Psalm 151 (w/ Psalms) Judges Ezekiel Ruth Daniel Bel & Dragon (w/ Daniel) Gk/Rus Appendix: 1 Samuel Hosea Prayer of Azariah (w/ Daniel) 4 Maccabees 2 Samuel Joel Susanna (w/ Daniel) Prayer of Manasseh 1 Kings Amos Esther additions 2 Kings Obadiah Slavonic Appendix: 1 Chronicles Jonah 3 Esdras 2 Chronicles Micah Ezra Nahum Nehemiah Habakkuk Esther Zephaniah Job Haggai Psalms Zechariah Malachi Muratorian Fragment 1 This fragment, self-named by the scholar who discovered the text and published it in 1740 (Lodovico Muratori), 2 offers one of the earliest attempts at defining a list of Christian Scripture, i.e., a New Testament canon. The extant, poorly transcribed Latin text is thought to be based on an earlier Greek text. Most scholars date the fragment to the late 2 nd century, though many push for a later provenance.3 These heated scholarly debates regarding its date suggest the document’s pivotal role in the reconstruction of the history of the development of the NT canon. [1]4 ...quibus tamen interfuit et ita posuit. ... among whom he was present and whom he thus quoted. [2] Tertium euangelii librum secundum Lucam The third book of the Gospel is according to Luke. [3] Lucas iste medicus, post a scensum xri Luke was that noted doctor, after Christ’s ascension, [4] cum eum Paulus quasi ut iuris 5 studiosum accompanying as a legal expert, Paul [5] secum adsumpsisset, nomine suo had taken along. In his own name, [6] ex opinione conscripset dnm tamen nec ipse based on report, he logged the Lord, though he did not [7] uidit in carne, et ideo prout assequi potuit see him in the flesh, and therefore, exactly as he was able to track down, [8] ita et ad natiuitate Iohannis incipet dicere. thus he began by speaking of the nativity of John. 1 Introduction, English translation and notes by Mark Bilby, © 2009. The translation aims to be as literal as possible, both in meaning and structure, which often forces cumbersome syntax, but allows for a quick comparison of equivalent terms. The heavily corrected Latin text is by Hans Lietzmann, Das Muratorische Fragment und Die Monarchianischen Prologe zu den Evangelien (Bonn: A. Marcus und E. Weber, 1902), 4-11. Superscribed lines denote the Latin scribe’s use of abbreviation for nomina sacra . 2 Antiquitates Italicae Medii Aevi , v. 3 (Milan: Societas Palatinae, 1740). 3 Among today’s notable advocates of the traditional position are Bruce Metzger, Everett Ferguson, and Charles E. Hill. These scholars stress the reference to the Shepherd of Hermas (c.110-140) as a recent text and set its anti-Marcionite features in the middle of the period of anti-Marcionite apologetics. As early at 1965, Albert Sundberg pioneered the case for a fourth century provenance; see his “Canon Muratori,” HTR (1971), 1-41. Several scholars today have taken his position, including Geoffrey Hahneman, Harry Gamble and Lee MacDonald. This group notes that the fragment’s mention of the Wisdom of Solomon as a canonical book places it in the company of 4 th century lists, that its title for Montanists (Cataphyrgians) only appears in and after the 4 th century, and that 4th and 5 th century, predominantly Eastern Christian materials surround the fragment in the codex. Jonathan Armstrong recently made a novel case for an early third century date, and a specific author; see “Victorinus of Pettau as the Author of the Canon Muratori,” Vigiliae Christianae 62 (2008), 1-34. 4 Fol. 10 a. 5 Not litteris (Lietzmann); see Samuel P. Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus: The Earliest Catalogue of the Books of the New Testament (Oxford: Clarendon, 1867), 17ff. [9] Quartum euangeliorum Iohannis ex discipulis. The fourth of the Gospels is of John, one of the disciples. [10] cohortantibus condiscipulis et eps suis When his fellow disciples and bishops encouraged him, [11] dixit «Conieiunate mihi hodie triduo, et quid he said, “Fast together with me three days, and what [12] cuique fuerit reuelatum alterutrum is revealed to each one, to each other [13] nobis enarremus» eadem nocte reue- let us describe among ourselves.” On that night it was rev- [14] latum Andreae ex apostolis, ut recognos- ealed to Andrew, one of the apostles, that, while being recoll- [15] centibus cunctis Iohannes suo nomine ected by the rest, John, in his own name, [16] cuncta describeret. et ideo, licet uaria sin- should transcribe everything. And therefore, while various [17] gulis euangeliorum libris principia beginnings by the individual books of the Gospels [18] doceantur, nihil tamen differt creden- are shown, yet there is no disagreement of faith for believ- [19] tium fidei, cum uno ac principali spu de- ers, since by the one and sovereign Spirit are decl- [20] clarata sint in omnibus omnia : de natiui- ared all in all: about the nativ- [21] tate, de passione, de resurrectione ity, about the passion, about the resurrection, [22] de conuersatione cum discipulis suis about his conduct with his disciples, [23] ac de gemino eius aduentu, and about his twin advent, [24] primo in humilitate despectus, quod fu- first in humility despised, which happ- [25] it, secundum potestate regali prae- ened, second in royal power illust- [26] claro, quod futurum est. quid ergo rious, which will happen. Now how [27] mirum, si Iohannes tam constanter wonderful that John so consistently [ 28] singula etiam in epistulis suis profert brings forth particulars in his epistles, [29] dicens in semetipsum «Quæ uidimus oculis as he speaks for himself, “What we saw with our eyes [30] nostris et auribus audiuimus et manus and heard with our ears and our hands [31] nostrae palpauerunt haec scripsimus vobis» 6. touched, these things we write to you.” [32]7 sic enim non solum uisurem sed et auditorem, So indeed that he was not only one who saw but also a hearer, [33] sed et scriptorem omnium mirabilium dni per ordi- and even a writer of all the Lord’s wonders in success- [34] nem profitetur. Acta autem omnium apostolorum ion, he professes. However, the Acts of all the Apostles 6 1 John 1:1,3,4. 7 Fol. 10 b. [35] sub uno libro scripta sunt. Lucas optimo Theophi- were written under one book.