The Five Books of MosesThe Five Books of Moses

© John Stevenson, 2012

Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

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Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

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Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

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Cornerstone Cornerstone Biblical Biblical

CommentaryCommentary

Volumes 1-2Volumes 1-2

Genesis: The Genesis: The Book of Book of

Beginnings, Beginnings, Genesis 1-22Genesis 1-22

John Stevenson,John Stevenson,Redeemer 2009Redeemer 2009

• In Class ParticipationIn Class Participation

• Writing AssignmentsWriting Assignments

• Final ExamFinal Exam

10%10%

60%60%

30%30%

Group IntroductionsGroup Introductions

• Your name

• Your home church

• Where are you in the TIU process?

• What is your current ministry within the Kingdom?

Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives• Gain an appreciation for the books of the

Pentateuch and their relevance both to the rest of the Old Testament message as well as to Christian ministry today.

• Exhibit an understanding of the flow of thought and major turning points in the books that make up the Pentateuch.

• Demonstrate a familiarity with the historical, cultural, and theological background of the Pentateuch.

Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives• Gain an understanding of the key themes

introduced in the Pentateuch and how they relate to the rest of the Biblical message.

Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives• Develop a series of Bible studies and/or

sermons from the Pentateuch that demonstrate both an understanding of the issues faced by the original characters, understood by the original readers as well as applications relevant to the needs of a 21st Century congregation.

Christ of the Christ of the CovenantsCovenants

O. Palmer O. Palmer RobertsonRobertson

Cornerstone Cornerstone Biblical Biblical

CommentaryCommentaryVolumes 1 & 2Volumes 1 & 2General Editor General Editor Philip ComfortPhilip Comfort

Genesis: The Genesis: The Book of Book of

BeginningsBeginningsJohn StevensonJohn Stevenson

The Science of InterpretationThe Science of Interpretation

Fundamental Questions in Fundamental Questions in HermeneuticsHermeneutics

• What did it mean to the original What did it mean to the original characters of the narrative?characters of the narrative?

• What did it mean to the author?What did it mean to the author?

• What did it mean to the original What did it mean to the original recipients?recipients?

Readers TodayReaders Today

MosesMoses IsraelitesIsraelites

BibleBible

Fundamental Questions in Fundamental Questions in HermeneuticsHermeneutics

• What did it mean to the original What did it mean to the original characters of the narrative?characters of the narrative?

• What did it mean to the author?What did it mean to the author?

• What did it mean to the original What did it mean to the original recipients?recipients?

• What does it mean in light of New What does it mean in light of New Testament revelation?Testament revelation?

• What does it mean today?What does it mean today?

TorahTorahHebrew: “Law,

Instruction”

PentateuchPentateuchGreek: “Five-Part

Book”

Documentary HypothesisDocumentary Hypothesis

Jehovah Elohim

Jean Astruc:Jean Astruc: Moses utilized two different Moses utilized two different source documentssource documents

Wilhelm de Wette:Wilhelm de Wette: Deuteronomy penned by Deuteronomy penned by alternate authoralternate author

Deuteronomy

Documentary HypothesisDocumentary Hypothesis

Jehovah Elohim

Herman Hulfeld:Herman Hulfeld: E-1 E-2

Deuteronomy

Julius Wellhausen:Julius Wellhausen: J – Jehovah

E – Elohim

D – Deuteronomy

P – Priestly

The Unity of the TorahThe Unity of the Torah

• Genesis 50:24 - Exodus 1:7.Genesis 50:24 - Exodus 1:7.

• Exodus 40:34 - Leviticus1:2.Exodus 40:34 - Leviticus1:2.

• Leviticus 27:34 - Numbers 1:4.Leviticus 27:34 - Numbers 1:4.

• Numbers 36:13 - Deuteronomy 1:5.Numbers 36:13 - Deuteronomy 1:5.

Mosaic Authorship of GenesisMosaic Authorship of Genesis

• Moses was qualified to write the Moses was qualified to write the book of Genesis.book of Genesis.

• The Style of Genesis reflects an The Style of Genesis reflects an Egyptian influence.Egyptian influence.

• The unity of the book of Genesis The unity of the book of Genesis reflects a single author.reflects a single author.

The Pentateuch was not The Pentateuch was not written as modern books are. written as modern books are.

It is a collection and It is a collection and arrangement of ancient arrangement of ancient

written sources, many of written sources, many of which appear to have been which appear to have been fragmentary and already old fragmentary and already old

by the time of Moses. by the time of Moses. Indeed, Moses may have had Indeed, Moses may have had to translate some of them into to translate some of them into

Hebrew. (John Sailhamer, Hebrew. (John Sailhamer, The Meaning of the The Meaning of the PentateuchPentateuch, Pg 28)., Pg 28).

Mesopotamia

Egypt

Hatti

Mesopotamia

Egypt

Hatti

LandBridge

DESERT

Canaan

Hittites

Assyria

Egypt

Babylon

Assyria

Babylon

Egypt

Hittites

Canaan

• Central Mountain Range

• The Coastal Plain

• Jordan Rift Valley

• Central Mountain Range

• The Coastal Plain

• Jordan Rift Valley

• Central Mountain Range

• The Coastal Plain

• Jordan Rift Valley

• Central Mountain Range

• The Coastal Plain

• Jordan Rift Valley

• Trans Jordan

• The Valley of Jezreel

• The Valley of Jezreel

• The Yarmuk River

Gilead

• The Valley of Jezreel

• The Yarmuk River

• The Jabbok River

Gilead

• The Valley of Jezreel

• The Yarmuk River

• The Jabbok River

Gilead• The Arnon River

Moab

• The King’s Highway

• The Way of the Sea (the Way of the Philistines)

Jericho

Megiddo

Climate of CanaanClimate of Canaan

• Mediterranean ClimateMediterranean Climate

• Dependent upon winter rainsDependent upon winter rains–Early Rains: OctoberEarly Rains: October

–Later Rains: AprilLater Rains: April

What are the Overarching What are the Overarching themes of the Pentateuch?themes of the Pentateuch?

NumbersNumbersRelates the wilderness

wanderings

DeuteronomyDeuteronomy

Gives the Law to a new generation with special

emphasis to those entering the land

GenesisGenesisTraces the origins of God’s

people from creation to Egypt

ExodusExodusRelates God’s deliverance of

Israel from Egypt and establishing His covenant

LeviticusLeviticus Sets forth the Laws of worship

What is the Big Idea of the What is the Big Idea of the entire Pentateuch?entire Pentateuch?

What is the Big Idea of the What is the Big Idea of the entire Old Testament?entire Old Testament?

What is the Big Idea of the What is the Big Idea of the entire Pentateuch?entire Pentateuch?

What is the Big Idea of the What is the Big Idea of the New Testament?New Testament?