Chapter 3: The Bible’s Big

Picture

The big picture of God’s plan

for us as revealed in the Bible is called salvation history.

Salvation history shows how God has worked within the people and events of history to achieve restoring our relationship with Him.

We all play an active role in God’s plan – the question is will we work with His plan or against it?

The Big Picture

Refers to first 11 chapters of the

Book of Genesis “primeval” because the events

recorded happened before recorded history

It the beginning, all of God’s creations were in harmony with one another and with Him.

Because of their sin, Adam and Even destroyed their relationship with God and one another.

This condition of Original Sin was inherited by all human beings and made it difficult to choose God and avoid evil.

Primeval History

The story of Cain and Abel, Noah

and the Flood, and the Tower of Babel teach us that without God’s help sin spreads, which results in death and destruction.

God begins the process of restoring our relationship with Him:

First when He scolded the serpent and after the flood. Second

He made a covenant with Noah and the whole human race to never destroy the world again by flood.

Primeval History con’t

God begins to form a special

relationship with a chosen race of people – Hebrews.

God enters a covenant with Abraham and promised him descendants who will be “as numerous as the stars in the sky.”

God remains consistently faithful to the Hebrews even in the midst of crisis (Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s sons)

The Patriarchs

The Israelites (descendant’s of Jacob’s

children) are in slavery in Egypt. God calls Moses to deliver the Israelites

from slavery; God reveals His name as Yahweh.

The Israelites journey towards the Promise Land (Exodus).

They stopped at Mt. Sinai were God establishes a new covenant with the Israelites, marked by the Law summed up in the Ten Commandments.

They wandered 40 years in the desert because of their lack of trust in God and complaining.

Egypt and Exodus

Joshua leads the Israelites to

the Promise Land, in which with they conquered the Land of Canaan.

The land was divided amongst the 12 Tribes of Israel.

The Israelites were often unfaithful to God, but God always remained faithful and sent them special leaders and warriors to defend and rescue them.

Settling the Promised Land

The Israelites wanted to have a king like

other kingdoms. God reluctantly grants their request.

Samuel anoints Saul as the first King. After Saul was killed, David becomes king

and unites the 12 tribes into one kingdom. Solomon succeeded David and he became

well known for expanding the kingdom and building the Temple in Jerusalem.

Even though both accomplished great things, they were guilty of giving-in to violence, adultery, and idolatry.

The Kingdoms of Judah and Israel

After Solomon dies

the kingdom splits into the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah).

After Solomon

During this period the prophets

Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah called on the kings and people to stop worshipping false gods.

Despite the warnings and reforms, God allowed the two kingdoms to be overthrown.

Israel fell to the Assyrians in 721 BC and Judah fell to the Babylonians in 587 BC.

Jerusalem and the Temple was completely destroyed by the Babylonians.

After Solomon

The Israelites/Jews were exiled into Babylon for 50

years. They were eventually allowed to go back to Israel to rebuild Israel and the Temple.

After Alexander the Great conquers the known world, many Greeks settled throughout the empire, including Israel.

The spread of Greek culture led to the placing of Greek gods in the Temple.

The Maccabean family led a successful revolt against the Greeks and gained their independence (c.a. 150 AD).

The Exile and Return

Israel hoped for a Messiah to make them great

again. New Jewish groups developed – the Essenes,

Pharisees, and Sadducees.

Brief Independence

After a period of

independence, the Romans conquered Israel and was ruled by Roman puppet-kings such as King Herod (Galilee) and Pontius Pilate (Judea).

“Roman Peace” was finally brought into the world and it was during this time that the Jesus was born.

It was also during this time that the Gospel was spread.

Pax Romana

Jesus instructs the

Apostles to spread the Good News of salvation.

After His Ascension, the Holy Spirit was sent down to the Apostles, with Mary to give them courage to spread the Good News (Pentecost).

The Early Church

St. Paul, who persecuted Christians and

then converted to Christianity, had a vision of the resurrected Christ – who told him that he would be His Apostle to the Gentiles.

Paul began to preach the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire – all the way to Rome.

He was accompanied and assisted by other missionaries. Both Paul and these missionaries wrote letters (epistles) of instruction, correction, and encouragement. Some of them became part of the New Testament.

St. Paul and his Missions

Chapter 2 Notes Quiz #3 Quiz #4 Chapter 1 and 2 Study Guide Chapter 3 Notes The Bible Scavenger Hunt worksheet The Old Testament and the Gospel of Matthew

worksheet Start Your Journey Today article Test #1

Notebook Test Checklist

Monday, October 20– Notebook Test #2 Monday, October 20 – Scripture passage Wednesday, October 29 -- Test on Chapter 3

and 4

Homework

Jesus talked about the time of

tribulation (time of trial) prior to the end of time.

Until then, Christians have the obligation to spread the Gospel through words and actions.

Whenever we live out our Christian life, we make God’s Kingdom present among us.

Jesus tells us that at the end of time, the dead will be resurrected, and Jesus will come again where there will be a Final Judgment and the righteous will join Him in heaven and the unrighteous will be condemned to eternal separation from God (Hell) -- Paraousia

The Last Things

Also known as the Book of the

Apocalypse, it is written in symbolic language filled with disasters, terrible beasts, creatures, visions of heaven.

They reflect the experience/persecutions of the early Christians, but also they are also a reminder of what Christians will continue experience in history.

The Book of Revelation is a book of hope – reminding us that ultimately God will triumph over evil and Satan will be banished. There will be a New Heaven and a New Earth/

The Book of Revelation

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Organization of the Bible