Insights on Old Testament Narratives and Questions

11 MIKE MAZZALONGO MIKE MAZZALONGO Garden of Eden and Garden of Eden and Noah's Flood Questions Noah's Flood Questions

OLD TESTAMENT QUESTIONS Why did God forbid eating from Why did God forbid eating from the tree of the knowledge of good the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? and evil?

16The Lord God commanded the man, saying, From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die. - - Genesis 2:16 Genesis 2:16- -17 17

Why? Why? 1. 1.Context for the exercise of Context for the exercise of free will free will

Why? Why? 1. Context for the exercise of free will 2. 2.To establish order To establish order

Why? Why? 1. Context for the exercise of free will 2. To establish order 3. 3.Moral authority comes Moral authority comes from God from God

OLD TESTAMENT QUESTIONS Why doesn t the Bible Why doesn t the Bible mention dinosaurs? mention dinosaurs?

Dinosaur{ Deinos Deinos Terrible Sauros Sauros Lizard Dinosaur

Tannin Tannin Group of Animals

OLD TESTAMENT QUESTIONS Where did Cain and Abel get Where did Cain and Abel get wives? Was this incest? wives? Was this incest?

Now the man called his wifes name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. - - Genesis 3:20 Genesis 3:20

OLD TESTAMENT QUESTIONS How do you answer those who say How do you answer those who say that because they didn t experience that because they didn t experience death, Enoch and Elijah are the death, Enoch and Elijah are the firstborn from the dead, not Jesus? firstborn from the dead, not Jesus?

21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. 22 Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. - - Genesis 5:21 Genesis 5:21- -24 24

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. - - Hebrews 11:5 Hebrews 11:5

As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. - - II Kings 2:11 II Kings 2:11

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things have been created through Him and for Him. - - Colossians 1:15 Colossians 1:15- -16 16

17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. - - Colossians 1:17 Colossians 1:17- -18 18

Firstborn Firstborn = Rank OR Position

Jesus was first to come from Jesus was first to come from heaven, go to earth and then heaven, go to earth and then return to heaven. return to heaven.

QUESTION Why aren t the Apocryphal books Why aren t the Apocryphal books included in the canon of the Bible? included in the canon of the Bible? ~ ~ How did they know which How did they know which books belonged? books belonged?

Apocrypha Apocrypha = Hidden

Qualifications for Inclusion into the Canon Qualifications for Inclusion into the Canon A. A.Written by a chosen Written by a chosen servant of God servant of God

Qualifications for Inclusion into the Canon Qualifications for Inclusion into the Canon A. Written by a chosen servant of God B. B.Recognized as inspired by the Recognized as inspired by the original audience original audience

Qualifications for Inclusion into the Canon Qualifications for Inclusion into the Canon A. Written by a chosen servant of God B. Recognized as inspired by the original audience C. C.Originally circulated Originally circulated

Qualifications for Inclusion into the Canon Qualifications for Inclusion into the Canon A. Written by a chosen servant of God B. Recognized as inspired by the original audience C. Originally circulated D. D.Had to withstand close scrutiny Had to withstand close scrutiny

Qualifications for Inclusion into the Canon Qualifications for Inclusion into the Canon A. Written by a chosen servant of God B. Recognized as inspired by the original audience C. Originally circulated D. Had to withstand close scrutiny E. E.Had to speak with Had to speak with Divine authority Divine authority

Misc. Facts Misc. Facts O.T. Canon O.T. Canon 1st century complete Jewish O.T. Jewish O.T. = 22 books Christian O.T. Christian O.T. = 29 books N.T. Canon N.T. Canon Complete 367 AD }SAME

QUESTION In the Living Bible In the Living Bible a good translation? a good translation?

Translations Translations Greek} Original Original Manuscripts Manuscripts Latin German English Etc. Hebrew

Versions Versions Versions are Bibles produced from the same language that have different styles of that language. - Old English - Modern English - Easy Reading - Conversational Style

18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. - - Revelation 22:18 Revelation 22:18- -19 19

Class Schedule Class Schedule Dec. to Jan. Dec. to Jan. Wed Dec 27 Area Wide Wed Jan 3rd Last Class of Bible Warfare Sun Jan 7th New Quarter Begins Wed Jan 10th Preach Like a Pro (Men s Class) * Ladies Class (April 4th) * No Video Training and Practice Class