Religion Exam

• Inspiration


  The belief that God was involved in the writing of the Bible
• Scripture


  Hebrew Bible
• Inspired by God


  Communication ordained by God
• Purpose of communication


  Good works
• Plenary Inspiration


  • Scripture is full of meaning from God, so a single text has multiple meanings
• Allegory


  A literary technique that uses an extended metaphor or story to draw parallels between elements in the story and nonfictional characters and events
• Allegory


  • Gal 4:21–31
  • 1 Cor 10:1–13
• Plenary Verbal Inspiration


  • The view that the word of the Bible come directly from God and so contain no scientific, historical, geographical, or any other sort of mistake
• Princetonians


  A.A. Hodge, Charles Hodge, B.B. Warfield of Princeton Seminary
• Harold Lindsell


  The Battle for the Bible (1976)
• By not recording the perspective of women

  Biblical stories may miss what was important to them in these stories
• A need to think through how biblical stories would be told differently from the perspective of women
• God


  REL 111 Bible and Ultimate Meaning
• The two creation accounts do not provide a scientific or a historically precise account of creation; they provide explanations of why life has meaning
• Genre of Genesis 1–11


  Symbolic Narrative
• Goal of Genesis 1–11

  To offer an account of how the authors understood the world
• Myth


  A story that explains a natural phenomenon, cultural practice, or belief
• Goal of Genesis 1–2

  To explain questions of ultimate meaning
• Priestly Account (Gen 1:1–2:4a)

  • Comes from the P Source, dates to 6th century BCE
  • An alternative account from the Enuma Elisha
  • One God NOT many
• Jahwisht Account (Gen 2:4b–25)


  • Comes from J Source, dates to 10th century BCE
  • Details the search for a mate for Adam
• Questions of Ultimate Meaning addressed by Priestly account


  • Who made the world?
  • How should humans think about the world?
  • How should humans live?
• Questions of Ultimate Meaning addressed by Jahwisht account


  • Why do humans partner up?
  • How should humans relate to each other?
• The Human Condition
• Covenant


  A formal and binding agreement between two or more parties
• Covenant


  March 21, 2024
• Covenants


  Includes promises, privileges, and expectations or stipulations
• Covenant with God


  Includes a relationship with God that includes God's commitment to do good for the other party
• 4 Main Voices in the Bible

  • Genesis 1 and 2
  • Song of Solomon
  • Jesus
  • Paul
• The Bible offers diverse views of sex and gender. It takes critical analysis and modern awareness to appropriate its contents responsibly.
• One must look outside the Bible for understanding what healthy sex is for today.
• Salvation in the Bible

  • 2 Samuel 22
  • Isaiah 51–52
  • Luke 1
  • Hebrews 2:1–10
  • 1 Peter 1:1–12
• 2 Samuel 22


  Deliverance for Those Who Live Righteously
• 2 Samuel 22 For Today

  • The Danger of Military Language
• Isaiah 51–52


  Salvation: Deliverance from Babylon. Peace, good news, God reigning.
• Isaiah 51–52 Today


  • Salvation has a collective component
  • Salvation means deliverance for minorities from their oppressors.
• Luke 1

  Salvation: Lowly receiving favor; judgment against powerful and rich; fulfilling covenant promises to Israel.
• Luke 1 Today


  • Salvation, for the impoverished.
• Hebrews 2:1–10


  Salvation: escaping penalty for sins; something one must obtain by paying attention; help in our human weakness.
• Hebrews 2 Today


  • Salvation for every kind of person, even those with disabilities.
• 1 Peter 1:1–12


  Salvation: Future salvation received at the end of time; the outcome of faith; a mystery to angels.