What is the Bible, where does it come from and what is its purpose? How are Catholics supposed to read the Bible and what story does it have to tell? These are the questions we take up in this “big picture” survey course.
Following an introduction to Catholic teaching about divine revelation and Bible, we jump right in and begin reading. We start with the creation story and Noah’s ark, and trace the history of salvation as it unfolds in the series of covenants that God makes with His chosen people - from Abraham and the twelve tribes of Israel to Moses and finally to King David. We see how this history reaches its climax and fulfillment in Jesus and the Church. The aim is to give you a solid outline and overview of the story that the Bible tells, from Genesis to Jesus.
“Remember, ‘testament’ is just another word for ‘covenant” (source)
“The Bible, entire and whole, is true and without error—not only in what it teaches about faith and morals, but also what it says about historical events and personages. It will never lead us astray. But we have to interpret it responsibly—we have to understand that it is giving us history and natural events from a ‘religious’ and divine perspective, and often uses symbolic language.” (source)
“Covenants involve, not an exchange of property, but an exchange of persons. You don’t give somebody your services or goods when you swear a covenant oath—you swear to give them yourself.” (source)
“‘I will live with them and move among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people.’ … ‘I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,’ says the Lord Almighty.’” (source)
“St. Paul cites the Greek translation of these exact words when He talks about the Crucifixion—‘He who did not spare His own Son but handed Him over for us all …’” (source)