1.6 The origins and structure of the Bible

Question 1

Sections of the Old Testament

Answer 1

Law(Torah)- The first five books describe how the Jews became the people of God and the laws God wanted the Jews to follow(including the ten commandments)
History-
Stories on how Jews refused to listen to God’s guidance for later generations to not make the same mistakes.
Wisdom-
A mixture of prayers, psalms, poems and books of advice for people to understand their faith and live in a way that pleases God.
Prophecy - The books of the prophets whose words challenged the people to remain faithful to God, who is active in the world.

Question 2

New Testament sections

Answer 2

The Gospels - Cover the actions + teachings of Jesus
The Acts of the Apostles - Describes events in the early Church
The Epistles-
Letters written by the apostles on how to follow Jesus’s teachings in everyday life
The Book of Revelation- Includes mystical visions describing the end of the world by the apostle John.

Question 3

Old Testament purpose

Answer 3

Tells of God’s relationship with the Jews in the years before Jesus was born.

Question 4

New Testament purpose

Answer 4

Written by followers of Jesus in the century after his death, tells of his life and teachings

Question 5

What criteria did books in the New Testament have

Answer 5

They were backed by the authority of one of the apostles/someone close to the apostles.
They were written early on.
They agreed with other teachings and accounts of Christian beliefs.
They were accepted by all Christian churches.

Question 6

Bible

Answer 6

The sacred book of Christianity, containing the Old and New Testaments

Question 7

Church

Answer 7

The Body of Christ/holy people of God among whom Christ is present and active, a building in which Christians worship

Question 8

Apostles

Answer 8

The name given to those disciples who became leaders of the early Church

Question 9

When did Jewish leaders accept these books as part of their scriptures

Answer 9

Somewhere between the middle of the second century BCE and the end of the first century CE

Question 10

What religion was Jesus?

Answer 10

A Jew

Question 11

What were the four gospels?

Answer 11

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Question 12

What were the Acts of the Apostles?

Answer 12

A continuation of Luke’s gospel