S A CRED SCR IP T U RE S
A ND SA C RE D
TRA D ITI ONS
JENNY – BAB D. DECCA
Sacred Scriptures – also known as the Christian Bible
Sacred Traditions- it is a living reality
Bible – derived from Greek biblia, which means
books. This term is a diminutive form for “papyrus”
or paper, which was exported from the ancient
Phoenician City of Biblos.
• Two Parts
–Old Testament
–New Testament
THE OLD TESTAMENT
• According to its literature perspectives, the
Old Testament is an anthology.
• The composition of the Old Testament may
be identified as narrative, poetic, prophetic,
law, or apocalypse.
A. Narrative - - an account of a sequence of events in the order in
which they happened.
–Ruth
–Jonah
–Esther
B. Poetry- a literary work written in verse, great beauty, emotional
sincerity or intensity, or profound insight.
–Psalms
–Job
–Ecclesiastes
–Proverbs
–Song of Songs
• Prophecy – prediction that something will
occur in the future that reveals the will of
God. Most Hebrew prophetic books
contain three kinds of literature: narrative,
prayer, and prophetic speeches.
– Jonah
– Isaiah
– Jeremiah
Law – the divine principles set out in the scriptures
- Exodus,
- Leviticus
- Numbers
Apocalypse – the description of the end of the world
written in the last book of the New Testament.
THE HEBREW CANON
The term canon is derived from a Hebrew – Greek word
meaning a cane or measuring rod, passed into the Christian
usage as a norm or a rule of faith.
TaNaKh is an acronym for the Hebrew bible derived from
the three divisions TORAH, NEVI-IM, and KETUVIM.
TORAH
• It is the Jewish Pentateuch or collective body of
parchment of scroll embodied in the Hebrew
bible and Talmud written for use in services in
synagogues.
• The law of Moses
• Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy.
Nevi’im
• The Nevi’im consists of four historical accounts,
such as Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings; the
oracular discourse of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel; and
the twelve minor prophets: Hosea, Amos, Joel,
Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk,
Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Each of
them wrote a single scroll and consolidated into one
book.
Ketuvim
• The Ketuvim comprises religious poetry and wisdom
literature ( Psalms, Proverbs and Ruth) ; and the five
scrolls of Ruth , Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Song of
Songs and Ruth.
Three essential themes in the Old Testament
• The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
• The role of man
• The covenant or alliance
NEW TESTAMENT
• It consists of twenty – seven books written between 50-
150 AD. Regarding the belief, traditions, and practices of
early Christian communities in the Mediterranean areas.
• The term gospel is derived from Old English Godspel,
which literally means good news. Later, the term refers to
the life and teachings of Jesus Christ through the creative
writing of the evangelists.
FOUR LITERARY TYPES
• Gospel - Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
• History - Acts of the Apostles
• Epistles - Romans, I Corinthians, 2 Corinthians,
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2
Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrew,
James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John and Jude.
• Apocalypse (Prophecy) - Revelation
THEOLOGICAL THEMES
• God the Father
• Jesus Christ
• Holy Spirit
• Kingdom of God
• Ethics
• Salvation
Jesus
• The promised Savior
• The Second Adam
Holy Spirit – sanctifies and stimulates the faithful in
times of crisis and difficulties. This is the Spirit of the
Father that proceeds to the Son to be with men
through all ages
Great reverence and surpassing honor are
bestowed to the sacred scriptures as the
Word of God, through the words of men,
who wrote the sacred deposits under the
divine inspiration and creativity.
And further, my son, be admonished by these, of making
books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to
the flesh.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God
and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty
of man.
For God will bring every work into judgment, including
every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil.
Ecclesiastes 12: 12-14
