March 7. 2013: Adult Confirmation
“The Bible, how to use it and the Jewish Roots of Christianity”
Question for Group Discussion to Start: “What is Revelation (capital R) and what does it
have to do with the Bible?
(Follow up with a brief discussion of what Revelation of God is … connect to the Bible)
How do we start to use the Bible???
 What is the simple answer to the question: “How do we use the Bible?”
Literally…
o You open it up and start reading!
 Then WHY do Catechists, Priests, other religious leaders know that your
“average” Catholics generally are not Bible readers? If it’s so simple to just start
reading?
o Again, the answer is somewhat simple … b/c we weren’t really taught how
to read it? And yes, there is a “right” way!
Or maybe a better way to ask this is “What do we need to know before we start to use
the Bible?
+ Most Important To Know: The Bible is not one single book but rather a
collection of books and it is more appropriate to refer to the Bible as a 1.Library.
It is not a novel but rather a collection of many different styles of writing.
o Short stories
o Poems
o Historical writing
o Songs
o Parables (stories that teach)
o Great joy
o Great sadness
o Legal writing
o Fantasy (The Book of Revelation)
March 7. 2013: Adult Confirmation
+ Catholicism does not teach Biblical Literalism: What does that mean? That we
2.aren’t to read the Bible as if it is literally true. But, we are to read the Bible in
the light of Religious Truth – Truth that is meant to teach us (Reveal) something
about God and our relationship to God!
o Probably the greatest way to demonstrate this is in the first story of Creation
Gn. 1.
 As God creates different living organisms he declares them to be good.
The word good has its origin in the word God. Therefore, everything
that God creates is good because it is of God. The writer of the story
uses the word “day” to describe a period of time. This is so that we
(the reader) understand the story better. Time is not necessarily
something that matters to God in the way it matters to humans. Was
the world really created in seven 24 hour periods? Who knows? And
really, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that God is Creator and puts
all things into being! That’s the Religious Truth of the story.
The Bible is filled with 3.Figurative Language: This is language that expresses truth
although it may not be FACT. And there is a big difference between truth and fact. The
Biblical authors were concerned with teaching truth. They were not historians,
geographers and their use of language is often symbolic. Keep in my mind scientific
proof (the way our modern society thinks of it) was not available in the ancient world.
Truth was not based on literal interpretation and facts were often considered of
secondary importance.
An Example of something being truth although NOT fact: My daughter is driving me up
the wall with her constant whining about her cell phone. Are you literally being driven
up a wall? NO! But is there truth in the statement? Do we all understand that this parent
is frustrated with the daughter? YES!
Another Example: Age in the Bible = In ancient Jewish culture to live a long life is
considered a blessing from God. So to say that Adam lives 930 years is not necessarily a
literal age but an age that indicates how much he is loved by God. Interestingly
enough, in the Bible the ages decrease as the sinfulness of humanity increases.
March 7. 2013: Adult Confirmation
+ Very Important to Understand: 4.The Bible is not Science nor is it a History Text
Book. Yes, it may contain some historical information. Reading the Bible as if it is
a science or history text book in a way devalues what it is meant to be. Religious
groups who look for mathematical ways from the Bible to decipher the “End
Times” are not honoring God or the Bible.
Once you have an understanding of these 4 things: The Bible isn’t a Single Book, Don’t
expect the stories to be literal, the Bible is filled with figurative speech and the Bible is
not science or necessarily 100% historically accurate then start reading!
Some Ideas On How to Start:
Maybe start with the Gospel readings for a particular season. You can use a misselette
for this.
Maybe start with an entire Gospel. I suggest Matthew or Luke because they are more
“story-like” than John or Mark.
Maybe start with the psalms. 150 Psalms. Read 1 or 2 a day as prayer.
How about this … place your Bible in front of you. Close your eyes, breath in and out
in a relaxing manner. Try to empty your mind of distracting thoughts (grocery
shopping, dentist appts, etc etc) and just breath for a few minutes. Then just open your
Bible. Read whatever, wherever you have opened to…the words might seem strange
and maybe you don’t quite understand what is happening but that’s okay… perhaps a
phrase or even just one word will stick out to you and you can concentrate on just that.
A Question for Group Discussion : “Think of a time when you came to know someone
better because of something they wrote to you … either in a card, letter, email etc).
How is this a good example of how we can come to know God much better by what is
written in the Bible?
March 7. 2013: Adult Confirmation
The Old Testament … this is a Christian term for the collection of religious
writings of ancient Israel.
Jews call the OT = The Bible
Divisions within the Old Testament:
1. Pentatech(Gk)/ Torah (Hb) – the First 5 books of the Bible:
 Genesis
 Exodus
 Leviticus
 Deuteronomy
 Numbers
2. History Books
3. Wisdom Books
4. Prophetical Books
For Your Information:
 The Jewish Bible (OT) = 24 books
 The Protestant Bible (King James Bible) = 39 books
 The Roman Catholic OT (New American Bible) = 46 books
 Eastern Orthodox Bible OT = 51 books
So even among the various scholars of various religions; what should be
considered canonical is debated.
The New Testament among Christians is does not have variations. There are 27
books in the New Testament.
March 7. 2013: Adult Confirmation
Main Theme of the OT: God created the world and continues to guide it.
There is a special relationship between God and His Chosen People
Covenants (contracts) are established between God and His People.
Most Famous is the Mosaic Covenant (The Covenant of Moses)
Israel (God’s people) swear faithfulness to Yahweh (I Am) and God
swears to be Israel’s special protector and supporter.
***Important to Note: The people constantly break the covenant; God
NEVER breaks his end of the deal.
Finally, let us connect a very significant event of the New
Testament with its Old Testament Origins:
Eucharist as the New Passover
What is Passover in the Jewish Religion? (ask for answers)
Exodus Story:
After many plagues sent by God upon the Egyptians for enslaving the Israelites (Jews)
the final and worst plague is to happen. All first born sons are to die. God instructs the
Israelites to kill a lamb (and eat the meat) and wipe the blood of the lamb on their
doorposts. Therefore, the Angel of Death will know which homes to Pass Over while he
takes the first born sons. The Israelites need to prepare for immediate travel. Pack
lightly and quickly only that which they can carry. They bake bread but do not even
have time for it to rise. Therefore, the bread is flat (unleavened) like a cracker. As they
escape from Egypt in the middle of the night they are setting out on a journey that will
take 40 years. They are to go to the Promised Land/Canna/The Land flowing with Milk
and Honey.
Fast forward 3000 yrs or so….
Jesus the Christ/Messiah/Savior is the New Lamb whose blood will be used to
mark/stain the Wood of the Cross (not a door post).
March 7. 2013: Adult Confirmation
Jesus is the Sacrificial Lamb of God
In Hebrew the word Todah means Thanksgiving Sacrifice; when Jews celebrate the
Passover Feast they believe that the Todah is a collective sacrifice for the sins of all of
the Chosen People of God. They continue to celebrate a symbolic meal with lamb and
other foods to represent the incidents of the Exodus.
In Greek the word Eucharistia is where we get the word Eucharist which also means
“Thanksgiving”
As Christians we believe that the Old Convenants of the Old Testament are replaced by
Jesus who is the Living Covenant … the Greatest of all of God’s Covenants! And also,
the Last Covenant.
In Mark 14:24 “This is the blood of the covenant” Jesus’ words at the Last Supper
This echoes the Mosaic Covenant in Exodus 24:8 – when Moses does and says:
Then he took the blood and splashed it on the people, saying,
“This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with
you according to all these words.”
The blood of the sacrificial victim (lamb) that is poured out to initiate the
covenant. It is the blood that is offered in a sacrifice and it is the blood that seals
the contract!
The Classic Todah Psalm is Ps 22 (Which we sing/say on Palm Sunday)
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
March 7. 2013: Adult Confirmation
This will be our prayer for tonight. You may remain seated.
As you listen to this psalm keep in mind that it was sung/recited/written 1000’s of
years before Jesus. The Psalm goes from lament (extreme saddness) to praise. It
figuratively follows the Passion, death and resurrection of the Messiah.
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why so far from my call for help, from
my cries of anguish?a My God, I call by day, but you do not answer by night, but I have
no relief.b Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the glory of Israel.c In you our
fathers trusted; they trusted and you rescued them. To you they cried out and they
escaped; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.d*But I am a worm, not a man,
scorned by men, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they curl their lips
and jeer; they shake their heads at me:f “He relied on the LORD—let him deliver him; if
he loves him, let him rescue him.”g For you drew me forth from the womb, made me
safe at my mother’s breasts. Upon you I was thrust from the womb; since my mother
bore me you are my God.h Do not stay far from me, for trouble is near, and there is no
one to help.i
Many bulls* surround me; fierce bulls of Bashan* encircle me. They open their mouths
against me, lions that rend and roar. Like water my life drains away; all my bones are
disjointed. My heart has become like wax, it melts away within me. As dry as a potsherd
is my throat; my tongue cleaves to my palate; you lay me in the dust of death.* Dogs
surround me; a pack of evildoers closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and my
feet I can count all my bones. They stare at me and gloat; they divide my garments
among them; for my clothing they cast lots. But you, LORD, do not stay far off; my
strength, come quickly to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword, my life from the grip
of the dog. Save me from the lion’s mouth, my poor life from the horns of wild bulls.
Then I will proclaim your name to my brethren, in the assembly I will praise you:*n “You
who fear the LORD, give praise! All descendants of Jacob, give honor; show reverence,
all descendants of Israel! For he has not spurned or disdained the misery of this poor
wretch, Did not turn away* from me, but heard me when I cried out. I will offer praise in
the great assembly, my vows I will fulfill before those who fear him. The poor* will eat
their fill; those who seek the LORD will offer praise. May your hearts enjoy life forever!”
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD; All the families of nations
will bow low before him.p For kingship belongs to the LORD, the ruler over the nations.
All who sleep in the earth will bow low before God; All who have gone down into the
dust will kneel in homage. And I will live for the LORD; my descendants will serve you.
The generation to come will be told of the Lord that they may proclaim to a people yet
unborn the deliverance you have brought.
March 7. 2013: Adult Confirmation