The Promise and the Blessing: A Historical Survey of the Old and New Testaments

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Title Page......Page 2 Epigraph......Page 3 Contents......Page 4 List of Maps and Charts......Page 24 Preface......Page 27 Abbreviations......Page 30 Introduction......Page 33 HOW SHOULD I INTERPRET THE BIBLE?......Page 36 The Traditional View......Page 37 The Modern View......Page 39 THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN VIEW......Page 43 THE TRADITIONAL VIEW OF GOD......Page 47 OUR APPROACH......Page 48 THE VALUE AND LIMITATIONS OF ARCHAEOLOGY......Page 50 The Problem of Historical Losses......Page 52 The Problem of Limited Excavation......Page 56 The Problem of Nonwritten Sources......Page 58 The Problem of Dating......Page 59 The Problem of History......Page 61 The Development of Writing......Page 63 LOOKING AHEAD......Page 67 1 PART THE PROMISE......Page 71 1 CHAPTER The Origin of the Bible......Page 72 THE RECORDING OF GOD’S WORD......Page 74 THE IDEA OF CANON......Page 79 THE ACCURACY OF OUR MODERN BIBLE......Page 97 LOOKING AHEAD......Page 102 2 CHAPTER This Is the Way the World Was......Page 104 THE STRUCTURE OF GENESIS......Page 107 THE TWO CREATION ACCOUNTS......Page 112 THE ORDER AND STRUCTURE OF CREATION......Page 116 THE RELATIONSHIPS OF CREATION......Page 126 LOOKING AHEAD......Page 130 3 CHAPTER Why the World Is Such a Mess......Page 132 HUMANITY’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD......Page 135 HUMANITY’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HUMANKIND......Page 143 HUMANITY’S RELATIONSHIP WITH SELF......Page 147 HUMANITY’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORLD......Page 148 THE SERPENT......Page 151 GOD’S MERCY......Page 153 FAILURE UPON FAILURE......Page 155 Fratricide......Page 156 False Pride......Page 159 What Happened to Adam?......Page 160 The Flood......Page 163 Noah Falls off the Wagon, Followed by Ham’s Faux Pas......Page 169 The Befuddlement of Language Looking Ahead......Page 170 4 CHAPTER Abraham and Son(s)......Page 175 THE......Page 177 ABRAHAM......Page 182 The Abrahamic Covenant......Page 183 Abram’s Ups and Downs......Page 189 Reiteration of the Abrahamic Covenant......Page 195 The Demise of Sodom and Gomorrah......Page 196 The Birth of Isaac......Page 198 Abraham’s Test......Page 200 Final Events in the Life of Abraham......Page 202 Summary......Page 203 ISAAC......Page 204 Servant Sent to Haran to Get a Wife for Isaac......Page 205 Isaac Passes His Wife Off as His Sister......Page 207 Isaac and Rebekah Have Twins......Page 208 5 CHAPTER Jacob and His Tribes......Page 212 THE CASE OF THE BIRTHRIGHT......Page 216 THE CASE OF THE BLESSING......Page 217 JACOB MEETS HIS MATCH......Page 221 JACOB RETURNS HOME......Page 225 WHAT HAPPENED TO ESAU?......Page 230 JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS......Page 231 THE STRANGE CASE OF JUDAH......Page 234 JOSEPH IN EGYPT......Page 236 JOSEPH MEETS HIS BROTHERS......Page 239 INCUBATING A NATION......Page 243 INTERLUDE: JOB......Page 246 Why Job?......Page 252 Debating Pain......Page 253 God Intervenes......Page 254 Evaluation......Page 255 6 CHAPTER Let My People Go!......Page 257 THE BACKGROUND TO THE EXODUS......Page 259 THE CALL OF MOSES......Page 265 THE CONFRONTATIONS WITH PHARAOH......Page 273 THE PASSOVER EVENT......Page 278 PASSAGE OUT......Page 282 LOOKING AHEAD......Page 288 THE DATE OF THE EXODUS......Page 290 7 CHAPTER Making a Nation Out of a Mob......Page 299 GOD VISITS THE NATION AT SINAI......Page 303 GOD’S COVENANT......Page 306 The Law as Covenant......Page 307 The Law as Teaching......Page 309 The Law Based on What God Had Done......Page 311 THE LAW AS A SOCIOECONOMIC-JUDICIAL-POLITICAL-RELIGIOUS SYSTEM......Page 313 The Law as a Socioeconomic System......Page 314 The Law as a Judicial-Political System......Page 318 The Law as a Religious System......Page 321 THE PEOPLE GROW IMPATIENT......Page 322 GOD’S TABERNACLE......Page 324 THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM......Page 327 Consecratory Offerings......Page 328 Expiatory Offerings......Page 330 Communal Offerings......Page 332 GUIDELINES FOR PRIESTHOOD......Page 335 TIME TO CELEBRATE......Page 339 The Sabbath......Page 340 The Passover......Page 342 Pentecost......Page 345 Tabernacles......Page 346 LOOKING AHEAD......Page 348 8 CHAPTER Just a-Lookin’ for a Home......Page 350 TAKING STOCK OF THE PEOPLE......Page 356 MOVE ‘EM OUT......Page 361 MOVING TO THE TRANSJORDAN......Page 371 Bypassing Edom......Page 372 The Death of Aaron......Page 374 The Bronze Serpent......Page 375 Sihon and og......Page 376 Balak and Balaam......Page 377 REDEDICATION BEFORE CONQUEST......Page 382 TREATY RENEWAL......Page 388 A Perpetual Trust......Page 391 The Succession of the Mediator......Page 394 LOOKING AHEAD......Page 397 9 CHAPTER Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho—and Hazor Too......Page 399 WHAT IS A “BAN”?......Page 402 CANAANITE RELIGION......Page 408 JOSHUA ASSUMES COMMAND......Page 414 ENTERING THE LAND......Page 419 The Battle of Jericho......Page 426 The Battles of Ai......Page 428 The Southern Campaign......Page 431 The Northern Campaign......Page 434 DIVISION OF THE LAND......Page 436 JOSHUA’S FAREWELL......Page 439 10 CHAPTER The Best of Times, the Worst of Times......Page 443 A NEW GENERATION......Page 445 THE PROCESS BEGINS......Page 450 DEBORAH......Page 454 GIDEON......Page 459 SEVERAL MINOR JUDGES......Page 466 SAMSON......Page 468 TWO APPENDIXES......Page 472 INTERLUDE: RUTH......Page 476 LOOKING AHEAD......Page 481 11 CHAPTER Give Us a King Like the Rest of the Nations......Page 483 THE LAST OF THE JUDGES......Page 485 THE FIRST KING......Page 495 SAUL’S CHARACTER FLAWS......Page 500 PREPARING A NEW KING......Page 506 ROYAL RIVALRY......Page 511 SAUL’S FINAL FAILURE......Page 516 12 CHAPTER A Kingdom United......Page 520 DAVID’S LONG MARCH TO THE THRONE......Page 522 DAVID AS POET......Page 525 WHAT IS HEBREW POETRY?......Page 526 Laments......Page 529 Praise Psalms......Page 531 Psalms as a Guide to Worship......Page 535 KING OF JUDAH......Page 536 KING OF ISRAEL......Page 540 A HERO WITH FEET OF CLAY......Page 545 SOLOMON AS KING......Page 552 SOLOMON AS A WISE MAN......Page 554 Proverbs......Page 555 Ecclesiastes......Page 558 Song of Songs......Page 559 SOLOMON AS A SUCCESS......Page 561 SOLOMON’S TEMPLE......Page 563 SOLOMON AS A FAILURE......Page 564 GOD’S JUDGMENT......Page 566 13 CHAPTER The Failure of the North......Page 568 THE TWO KINGDOMS......Page 573 THE KINGDOM SPLITS......Page 574 THE DYNASTY OF BAASHA......Page 584 ZIMRI, TIBNI, AND OMRI......Page 586 AHAB AND JEZEBEL MEET THE PROPHETS OF YHWH......Page 589 Ahab (874–853 BCE)......Page 590 Jezebel......Page 594 THE PROPHETS......Page 596 Elijah......Page 602 Elisha......Page 604 Micaiah......Page 606 Obadiah......Page 609 THE REST OF OMRI’S DYNASTY......Page 610 THE DYNASTY OF JEHU......Page 612 Jehoahaz (814–798 BCE)......Page 613 Jehoash (798–782 BCE)......Page 614 Jeroboam II (794–753 BCE)......Page 615 Jonah the Prophet......Page 616 Amos the Prophet......Page 621 Zechariah (753 BCE)......Page 622 THE DYNASTY OF SHALLUM......Page 623 THE DYNASTY OF MENAHEM......Page 624 THE DYNASTY OF PEKAH......Page 625 THE DYNASTY OF HOSHEA......Page 626 Hosea the Prophet......Page 628 Hoshea the King......Page 630 EPITAPH OF A NATION......Page 631 14 CHAPTER The Roller-Coaster South......Page 634 THE AFTERMATH OF SOLOMON......Page 636 Rehoboam (931–913 BCE)......Page 637 Abijah (913–911 BCE)......Page 640 Asa (911–870 BCE)......Page 642 INTERTWININGS WITH THE NORTH......Page 645 Jehoshaphat (873–848 BCE)......Page 646 Jehoram (848–841 BCE)......Page 649 Ahaziah (841 BCE)......Page 651 Athaliah (841–835 BCE)......Page 652 Joel the Prophet (941–835 BCE)......Page 653 A TIME OF HOPE......Page 656 Joash (835–796 BCE)......Page 657 Amaziah (796–767 BCE)......Page 659 Uzziah (792–740 BCE)......Page 662 Jotham (750–731 BCE)......Page 664 A TIME OF EXTREMES......Page 665 Ahaz (731–715 BCE)......Page 666 Hezekiah (715–686 BCE)......Page 670 Isaiah the Prophet......Page 680 Micah the Prophet......Page 687 Manasseh (695–642 BCE)......Page 689 Nahum the Prophet......Page 692 Amon (642–640 BCE)......Page 693 Josiah (640–609 BCE)......Page 694 Zephaniah the Prophet......Page 700 THE END IS NIGH......Page 701 Jehoahaz (609 BCE)......Page 702 Jehoiakim (609–597 BCE)......Page 703 Habakkuk the Prophet......Page 710 Jeremiah the Prophet......Page 712 Jehoiachin (597 BCE)......Page 716 Zedekiah (597–586 BCE)......Page 718 CRY FOR THE CITY......Page 719 15 CHAPTER The Nation in Exile......Page 724 DANIEL, PRINCE AND PROPHET......Page 729 APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE......Page 738 JEHOIACHIN, KING IN EXILE......Page 745 EZEKIEL, PRIEST AND PROPHET......Page 746 ESTHER, QUEEN AND SERVANT......Page 752 LOOKING AHEAD......Page 757 16 CHAPTER Home Again......Page 759 THE FIRST WAVE OF RETURNEES......Page 761 THE PROPHET HAGGAI......Page 772 FINISHING THE JOB......Page 773 THE PROPHET ZECHARIAH......Page 775 EZRA AND THE LAW......Page 780 NEHEMIAH AND THE WALLS......Page 784 REDEDICATION AND BACKSLIDING......Page 787 MALACHI: THE CLOSING OF THE BOOK......Page 791 Introduction......Page 796 17 CHAPTER Bridges to the New Testament......Page 798 THE LITERARY BRIDGE......Page 802 The Apocrypha......Page 803 The Mishnah and Talmud......Page 807 The Pseudepigrapha and Other Works......Page 811 Summary......Page 813 THE RELIGIOUS BRIDGE......Page 815 Sadducees......Page 818 Pharisees......Page 820 Essenes......Page 823 Scribes......Page 825 Zealots......Page 826 Summary......Page 827 THE POLITICAL BRIDGE......Page 828 Alexander the Great......Page 829 Rulers of Egypt (Kings of the South)......Page 835 Rulers of Syria (Kings of the North)......Page 840 The Maccabees......Page 842 Rulers of Rome......Page 850 Summary......Page 853 18 CHAPTER Who Is Jesus the Messiah?......Page 856 THE GOSPEL OF JESUS THE MESSIAH......Page 863 THE ORIGIN OF THE GOSPEL ACCOUNTS......Page 874 THE MESSIAH ARRIVES......Page 881 The Birth of the Forerunner......Page 882 The Birth of the Messiah......Page 884 THE MESSAGE OF THE MESSIAH......Page 887 The Ministry of John......Page 890 The Temptation......Page 892 An Expanding Ministry......Page 893 The Peak of Popularity......Page 915 19 CHAPTER An Empty Tomb......Page 919 A SUMMER OF HIDE-AND-SEEK......Page 922 AUTUMN IN JERUSALEM......Page 933 WINTER IN JUDEA AND GALILEE......Page 946 PREPARING FOR CRUCIFIXION......Page 949 The Day of the Week of the Crucifixion......Page 950 The Day of the Month of the Crucifixion......Page 953 The Year of the Crucifixion......Page 955 THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY......Page 956 THE REST OF THE WEEK......Page 960 A NIGHT OF BETRAYAL......Page 965 A MOCKERY OF TRIALS......Page 972 THE CRUCIFIXION......Page 975 THE RESURRECTION......Page 981 20 CHAPTER The First Church Was Jewish......Page 987 EXPECTING THE KINGDOM......Page 989 LUKE’S TESTIMONY IN ACTS......Page 994 WAITING FOR THE SPIRIT......Page 997 THE FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH......Page 999 THE CHURCH GROWS......Page 1005 PROBLEMS IN THE CHURCH......Page 1009 Ananias and Sapphira......Page 1010 The Apostles in Jail......Page 1011 Overlooking the Widows......Page 1014 Challenging the Priests......Page 1017 THE CHURCH IS SCATTERED......Page 1019 THE CONVERSION OF SAUL......Page 1023 21 CHAPTER Reaching Out to Gentiles......Page 1029 PETER AND THE GENTILES......Page 1032 REPORTING IN JERUSALEM......Page 1035 THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH......Page 1036 THE ARREST OF PETER AND JAMES......Page 1040 THE CHURCH HAS MAIL......Page 1042 WISDOM IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION......Page 1047 FAMINE AND RELIEF......Page 1052 PAUL’S FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY......Page 1054 Journey to Cyprus......Page 1055 Journey to Galatia......Page 1057 Return to Antioch......Page 1065 22 CHAPTER What about the Gentiles?......Page 1068 THE LETTER TO THE GALATIANS......Page 1072 THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL......Page 1079 PAUL’S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY......Page 1091 23 CHAPTER Moving into Europe......Page 1100 FIRST CONVERTS IN PHILIPPI......Page 1102 CONFLICT WITH PAGANS IN PHILIPPI......Page 1106 CONFLICT WITH JEWS IN THESSALONICA......Page 1112 THE JEWS IN BEREA CHECK PAUL’S STORY......Page 1114 THE GREEKS IN ATHENS CHALLENGE PAUL......Page 1116 A NEW MINISTRY IN CORINTH......Page 1120 PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS......Page 1123 PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS......Page 1127 A CHURCH GROWS IN CORINTH......Page 1130 RETURN TO ANTIOCH......Page 1132 24 CHAPTER Tentmaker and Troubleshooter......Page 1136 RETURN TO EPHESUS......Page 1138 PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS......Page 1147 The Problem of Church Divisions......Page 1152 The Problem of Tolerating Immorality......Page 1156 Questions about Marriage......Page 1159 Rights and Responsibilities......Page 1160 Issues of Worship......Page 1162 The Question of the Resurrection......Page 1168 Collecting Money and Other Issues......Page 1169 PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS......Page 1171 Paul’s Change of Plans......Page 1172 Restoring the Repentant......Page 1173 Paul Explains the New Covenant......Page 1175 Preparing the Offering......Page 1178 Defending His Apostleship......Page 1179 Conclusion......Page 1180 PAUL RETURNS TO CORINTH......Page 1181 25 CHAPTER The Road to Rome......Page 1183 THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS......Page 1185 Who Was Jesus?......Page 1190 Sin Separates from God......Page 1191 Salvation Provides Access to God......Page 1194 What Does It Mean to Be Saved?......Page 1197 But What about Israel?......Page 1200 Then What about Lifestyles?......Page 1207 Conclusion......Page 1209 PAUL’S RETURN TO JERUSALEM......Page 1210 PAUL CAUSES A RIOT IN JERUSALEM......Page 1213 PAUL GOES TO CAESAREA......Page 1221 PAUL IS ARRAIGNED BEFORE FESTUS......Page 1224 PAUL SAILS TO ROME......Page 1227 PAUL’S FIRST STAY IN ROME......Page 1232 26 CHAPTER Rome and Beyond......Page 1234 PAUL’S LETTER TO PHILEMON......Page 1238 PAUL’S LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS......Page 1243 PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS......Page 1251 PAUL’S LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS......Page 1255 WHAT HAPPENED TO THE APOSTLES?......Page 1259 Peter......Page 1261 James Son of Zebedee......Page 1263 John Son of Zebedee......Page 1265 Andrew......Page 1267 Philip......Page 1269 Bartholomew (Nathanael)......Page 1270 Thomas (Didymus)......Page 1271 Matthew (Levi)......Page 1272 James Son of Alpheus (James the Less)......Page 1274 Judas Thaddaeus......Page 1275 Simon the Zealot......Page 1276 LOOKING AHEAD......Page 1277 27 CHAPTER The End of the Apostolic Age......Page 1279 THE “CATHOLIC” LETTERS AND THE PASTORAL LETTERS......Page 1281 PETER’S FIRST LETTER......Page 1283 PETER’S SECOND LETTER......Page 1289 PAUL’S FOURTH MISSIONARY JOURNEY......Page 1295 PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO TIMOTHY......Page 1297 PAUL’S LETTER TO TITUS......Page 1304 PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY......Page 1306 THE LETTER TO THE HEBREWS......Page 1308 THE END OF THE APOSTOLIC ERA......Page 1319 THE LETTER OF JUDE......Page 1321 LOOKING HEAD......Page 1324 28 CHAPTER But What about John?......Page 1326 JOHN’S GOSPEL......Page 1330 WHY JOHN WROTE TO THE CHURCHES......Page 1335 THE FIRST LETTER OF JOHN......Page 1337 THE SECOND LETTER OF JOHN......Page 1340 THE THIRD LETTER OF JOHN......Page 1341 THE APOCALYPSE (THE BOOK OF REVELATION)......Page 1343 WAYS OF INTERPRETING REVELATION......Page 1348 Idealist......Page 1354 Preterist......Page 1358 Historicist......Page 1359 Futurist......Page 1361 WHAT IS THE MILLENNIUM?......Page 1364 THE VISIONS OF REVELATION......Page 1367 A Guiding Outline......Page 1368 The Vision of the Resurrected Jesus......Page 1369 The Vision of the Seven Churches......Page 1370 Visions into the Spiritual Realm......Page 1373 Ever After......Page 1376 THE FINALE......Page 1377 Glossary......Page 1379 Bibliography......Page 1395 Credits and Permissions......Page 1413 Notes......Page 1421 Copyright......Page 1599 About the Publisher......Page 1601 Share Your Thoughts......Page 1602