Difference between revisions of "Old testament"
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− | An '''old testament''' is an assortment of | + | An '''old testament''' is an assortment of mostly [[Judaism|Jewish]] books compiled by [[Christianity|Christians]] and used as the first segment of their [[bible]], accounting for about three quarters or more of the total compilation. The specific books in an old testament, what they should be titled, and how they should be presented differ among every major denomination of the religion, but each branch seems to agree that all of the content considered canon by most Jews in their [[Tanakh]] should be included. |
− | Christians refer to the these books as the ''old'' testament because they believe that the covenant between Yahweh and humankind was ended through the torture and execution of [[Jesus]] | + | Christians refer to the these books as the ''old'' testament because they believe that the covenant between Yahweh and humankind was ended through the torture and execution of [[Jesus]]. They also believe, before he was killed, Jesus gave people a new covenant which is described in their [[New Testament]]. Jews, however, do not believe the original covenant between them and Yahweh has ended because, Yahweh says dozens of times in the Tanakh that the covenant will never end. Jews also don't believe Jesus was the messiah, and, even if he was, they don't believe the messiah could discontinue the covenant. Because of this, Jews tend to find the term "old" testament rather offensive. |
==Canon== | ==Canon== | ||
− | + | The table below shows which books each denomination considers canon and how they group the books, however, their order of presentation is not preserved.. | |
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
! Catholic (46) | ! Catholic (46) | ||
! Eastern Orthodox (50) | ! Eastern Orthodox (50) | ||
+ | ! Church of the East (50) | ||
! Oriental Orthodox (46) | ! Oriental Orthodox (46) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Book of Genesis|Bereishit]] | | [[Book of Genesis|Bereishit]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] | ||
| [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] | | [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] | ||
| [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] | | [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] | ||
Line 20: | Line 22: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Book of Exodus|Shemot]] | | [[Book of Exodus|Shemot]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Exodus|Exodus]] | ||
| [[Book of Exodus|Exodus]] | | [[Book of Exodus|Exodus]] | ||
| [[Book of Exodus|Exodus]] | | [[Book of Exodus|Exodus]] | ||
Line 26: | Line 29: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Book of Leviticus|Vayikra]] | | [[Book of Leviticus|Vayikra]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Leviticus|Leviticus]] | ||
| [[Book of Leviticus|Leviticus]] | | [[Book of Leviticus|Leviticus]] | ||
| [[Book of Leviticus|Leviticus]] | | [[Book of Leviticus|Leviticus]] | ||
Line 32: | Line 36: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Book of Numbers|Bamidbar]] | | [[Book of Numbers|Bamidbar]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] | ||
| [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] | | [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] | ||
| [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] | | [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] | ||
Line 38: | Line 43: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Book of Deuteronomy|Devarim]] | | [[Book of Deuteronomy|Devarim]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]] | ||
| [[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]] | | [[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]] | ||
| [[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]] | | [[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]] | ||
Line 47: | Line 53: | ||
| [[Book of Joshua|Josue]] | | [[Book of Joshua|Josue]] | ||
| [[Book of Joshua|Iesous]] | | [[Book of Joshua|Iesous]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Joshua|Joshua]] | ||
| [[Book of Joshua|Joshua]] | | [[Book of Joshua|Joshua]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Book of Judges|Shofetim]] | | [[Book of Judges|Shofetim]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Judges|Judges]] | ||
| [[Book of Judges|Judges]] | | [[Book of Judges|Judges]] | ||
| [[Book of Judges|Judges]] | | [[Book of Judges|Judges]] | ||
Line 56: | Line 64: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Book of Ruth|Rut]] | | [[Book of Ruth|Rut]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Ruth|Ruth]] | ||
| [[Book of Ruth|Ruth]] | | [[Book of Ruth|Ruth]] | ||
| [[Book of Ruth|Ruth]] | | [[Book of Ruth|Ruth]] | ||
Line 65: | Line 74: | ||
| [[Books of Samuel|1 Kings]] | | [[Books of Samuel|1 Kings]] | ||
| [[Books of Samuel|1 Kingdoms]] | | [[Books of Samuel|1 Kingdoms]] | ||
+ | | [[Books of Samuel|1 Samuel]] | ||
| rowspan="2" | [[Books of Samuel|Samuel]] | | rowspan="2" | [[Books of Samuel|Samuel]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 71: | Line 81: | ||
| [[Books of Samuel|2 Kings]] | | [[Books of Samuel|2 Kings]] | ||
| [[Books of Samuel|2 Kingdoms]] | | [[Books of Samuel|2 Kingdoms]] | ||
+ | | [[Books of Samuel|2 Samuel]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 77: | Line 88: | ||
| [[Books of Kings|3 Kings]] | | [[Books of Kings|3 Kings]] | ||
| [[Books of Kings|3 Kingdoms]] | | [[Books of Kings|3 Kingdoms]] | ||
+ | | [[Books of Kings|1 Kings]] | ||
| rowspan="2" | [[Books of Kings|Kings]] | | rowspan="2" | [[Books of Kings|Kings]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 83: | Line 95: | ||
| [[Books of Kings|4 Kings]] | | [[Books of Kings|4 Kings]] | ||
| [[Books of Kings|4 Kingdoms]] | | [[Books of Kings|4 Kingdoms]] | ||
+ | | [[Books of Kings|2 Kings]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 89: | Line 102: | ||
| [[Books of Chronicles|1 Paralipomenon]] | | [[Books of Chronicles|1 Paralipomenon]] | ||
| [[Books of Chronicles|1 Paralipomenon]] | | [[Books of Chronicles|1 Paralipomenon]] | ||
+ | | [[Books of Chronicles|1 Chronicles]] | ||
| [[Books of Chronicles|1 Chronicles]] | | [[Books of Chronicles|1 Chronicles]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
+ | |||
| [[Books of Chronicles|2 Chronicles]] | | [[Books of Chronicles|2 Chronicles]] | ||
| [[Books of Chronicles|2 Paraleipomenon]] | | [[Books of Chronicles|2 Paraleipomenon]] | ||
| [[Books of Chronicles|2 Paraleipomenon]] | | [[Books of Chronicles|2 Paraleipomenon]] | ||
+ | | [[Books of Chronicles|2 Chronicles]] | ||
| [[Books of Chronicles|2 Chronicles]]<br />(with [[Prayer of Manasseh]]) | | [[Books of Chronicles|2 Chronicles]]<br />(with [[Prayer of Manasseh]]) | ||
|- | |- | ||
+ | | | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
Line 102: | Line 119: | ||
| [[Book of Jubilees|Jubilees]] | | [[Book of Jubilees|Jubilees]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
+ | | | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
Line 112: | Line 130: | ||
| | | | ||
| [[Greek Esdras|1 Esdras]] | | [[Greek Esdras|1 Esdras]] | ||
+ | | | ||
| [[Greek Esdras|2 Izra]] | | [[Greek Esdras|2 Izra]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 118: | Line 137: | ||
| [[Book of Ezra|1 Esdras]] | | [[Book of Ezra|1 Esdras]] | ||
| rowspan="2" | [[Book of Nehemiah|2 Esdras]] | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Nehemiah|2 Esdras]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Ezra|Ezra]] | ||
| rowspan="2" | [[Book of Ezra|1 Izra]] | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Ezra|1 Izra]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 124: | Line 144: | ||
| [[Book of Nehemiah|2 Esdras]] | | [[Book of Nehemiah|2 Esdras]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Nehemiah|Nehemiah]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
+ | | | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
Line 135: | Line 157: | ||
| | | | ||
| [[Book of Tobit|Tobias]] | | [[Book of Tobit|Tobias]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Tobit|Tobit]] | ||
| [[Book of Tobit|Tobit]] | | [[Book of Tobit|Tobit]] | ||
| [[Book of Tobit|Tobit]] | | [[Book of Tobit|Tobit]] | ||
Line 140: | Line 163: | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
+ | | [[Book of Judith|Judith]] | ||
| [[Book of Judith|Judith]] | | [[Book of Judith|Judith]] | ||
| [[Book of Judith|Judith]] | | [[Book of Judith|Judith]] | ||
| [[Book of Judith|Judith]] | | [[Book of Judith|Judith]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
+ | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Esther|Esther]] | ||
+ | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Esther|Esther]] | ||
+ | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Esther|Esther]] | ||
+ | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Esther|Esther]] | ||
| [[Book of Esther|Esther]] | | [[Book of Esther|Esther]] | ||
− | | [[Book of Esther|Esther]] | + | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Esther|Esther]] |
− | | | + | |- |
− | | [[Book of Esther|Esther]] | + | |
− | + | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | | [[Book of Esther|Additions to Esther]] | ||
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
| [[Books of Maccabees|1 Machabees]] | | [[Books of Maccabees|1 Machabees]] | ||
+ | | [[Books of Maccabees|1 Maccabees]] | ||
| [[Books of Maccabees|1 Maccabees]] | | [[Books of Maccabees|1 Maccabees]] | ||
| | | | ||
Line 159: | Line 192: | ||
| | | | ||
| [[Books of Maccabees|2 Machabees]] | | [[Books of Maccabees|2 Machabees]] | ||
+ | | [[Books of Maccabees|2 Maccabees]] | ||
| [[Books of Maccabees|2 Maccabees]] | | [[Books of Maccabees|2 Maccabees]] | ||
| | | | ||
Line 166: | Line 200: | ||
| | | | ||
| [[Books of Maccabees|3 Maccabees]] | | [[Books of Maccabees|3 Maccabees]] | ||
+ | | | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
+ | | | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
Line 174: | Line 210: | ||
| [[Books of Meqabyan|Meqabyan]] | | [[Books of Meqabyan|Meqabyan]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | | | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
| [[Latin Esdras|3 Esdras]] | | [[Latin Esdras|3 Esdras]] | ||
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Line 184: | Line 221: | ||
| | | | ||
| [[Books of Maccabees|4 Maccabees]] | | [[Books of Maccabees|4 Maccabees]] | ||
+ | | | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Book of Job|Iyov]] | | [[Book of Job|Iyov]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Job|Job]] | ||
| [[Book of Job|Job]] | | [[Book of Job|Job]] | ||
| [[Book of Job|Job]] | | [[Book of Job|Job]] | ||
Line 193: | Line 232: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Book of Psalms|Tehillim]] | | [[Book of Psalms|Tehillim]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Psalms|Psalms]] | ||
| [[Book of Psalms|Psalms]] | | [[Book of Psalms|Psalms]] | ||
| [[Book of Psalms|Psalms]] | | [[Book of Psalms|Psalms]] | ||
Line 202: | Line 242: | ||
| | | | ||
| [[Prayer of Manasseh]] | | [[Prayer of Manasseh]] | ||
+ | | | ||
| (included with 2 Chronicles) | | (included with 2 Chronicles) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan="2" | [[Book of Proverbs|Mishlei]] | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Proverbs|Mishlei]] | ||
+ | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Proverbs|Proverbs]] | ||
| rowspan="2" | [[Book of Proverbs|Proverbs]] | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Proverbs|Proverbs]] | ||
| rowspan="2" | [[Book of Proverbs|Proverbs]] | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Proverbs|Proverbs]] | ||
Line 210: | Line 252: | ||
| [[Book of Proverbs|Messalë]] | | [[Book of Proverbs|Messalë]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
+ | |||
Line 217: | Line 260: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Book of Ecclesiastes|Qoheleth]] | | [[Book of Ecclesiastes|Qoheleth]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Ecclesiastes|Ecclesiastes]] | ||
| [[Book of Ecclesiastes|Ecclesiastes]] | | [[Book of Ecclesiastes|Ecclesiastes]] | ||
| [[Book of Ecclesiastes|Ecclesiastes]] | | [[Book of Ecclesiastes|Ecclesiastes]] | ||
Line 226: | Line 270: | ||
| [[Song of Solomon|Canticle of Canticles]] | | [[Song of Solomon|Canticle of Canticles]] | ||
| [[Song of Solomon|Aisma Aismaton]] | | [[Song of Solomon|Aisma Aismaton]] | ||
+ | | [[Song of Solomon|Song of Songs]] | ||
| [[Song of Solomon|Song of Songs]] | | [[Song of Solomon|Song of Songs]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
+ | | [[Book of Wisdom|Wisdom]] | ||
| [[Book of Wisdom|Wisdom]] | | [[Book of Wisdom|Wisdom]] | ||
| [[Book of Wisdom|Wisdom]] | | [[Book of Wisdom|Wisdom]] | ||
Line 237: | Line 283: | ||
| | | | ||
| [[Sirach|Ecclesiasticus]] | | [[Sirach|Ecclesiasticus]] | ||
+ | | [[Sirach]] | ||
| [[Sirach]] | | [[Sirach]] | ||
| [[Sirach]] | | [[Sirach]] | ||
Line 243: | Line 290: | ||
| [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]] | | [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]] | ||
| [[Book of Isaiah|Isaias]] | | [[Book of Isaiah|Isaias]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]] | ||
| [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]] | | [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]] | ||
| [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]] | | [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]] | ||
Line 249: | Line 297: | ||
| [[Book of Jeremiah|Jeremiah]] | | [[Book of Jeremiah|Jeremiah]] | ||
| [[Book of Jeremiah|Jeremias]] | | [[Book of Jeremiah|Jeremias]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Jeremiah|Jeremiah]] | ||
| [[Book of Jeremiah|Jeremiah]] | | [[Book of Jeremiah|Jeremiah]] | ||
| rowspan="4" | [[Book of Jeremiah|Jeremiah]]<br />(with [[4 Baruch]]) | | rowspan="4" | [[Book of Jeremiah|Jeremiah]]<br />(with [[4 Baruch]]) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Book of Lamentations|Eikhah]] | | [[Book of Lamentations|Eikhah]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Lamentations|Lamentations]] | ||
| [[Book of Lamentations|Lamentations]] | | [[Book of Lamentations|Lamentations]] | ||
| [[Book of Lamentations|Lamentations]] | | [[Book of Lamentations|Lamentations]] | ||
Line 261: | Line 311: | ||
| | | | ||
| rowspan="2" | [[Book of Baruch|Baruch]] | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Baruch|Baruch]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Baruch|Baruch]] | ||
| [[Book of Baruch|Baruch]] | | [[Book of Baruch|Baruch]] | ||
Line 266: | Line 317: | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
+ | | [[Letter of Jeremiah|Letter of Jeremiah]] | ||
| [[Letter of Jeremiah|Letter of Jeremiah]] | | [[Letter of Jeremiah|Letter of Jeremiah]] | ||
− | + | |- | |
+ | | | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | | [[Second Book of Baruch|2 Baruch]] | ||
+ | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Book of Ezekiel|Yekhezqel]] | | [[Book of Ezekiel|Yekhezqel]] | ||
| [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezekiel]] | | [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezekiel]] | ||
| [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezechiel]] | | [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezechiel]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezekiel]] | ||
| [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezekiel]] | | [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezekiel]] | ||
| [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezekiel]] | | [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezekiel]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
+ | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] | ||
+ | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] | ||
+ | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] | ||
+ | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] | ||
| [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] | | [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] | ||
− | | [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] | + | | rowspan="2" | [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] |
− | | | + | |- |
− | | [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] | + | |
− | + | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | | [[Book of Daniel|Additions to Daniel]] | ||
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan="12" | [[Trei Asar]] | | rowspan="12" | [[Trei Asar]] | ||
| [[Book of Hosea|Hosea]] | | [[Book of Hosea|Hosea]] | ||
| [[Book of Hosea|Osee]] | | [[Book of Hosea|Osee]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Hosea|Hosea]] | ||
| [[Book of Hosea|Hosea]] | | [[Book of Hosea|Hosea]] | ||
| [[Book of Hosea|Hosea]] | | [[Book of Hosea|Hosea]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
+ | | [[Book of Amos|Amos]] | ||
| [[Book of Amos|Amos]] | | [[Book of Amos|Amos]] | ||
| [[Book of Amos|Amos]] | | [[Book of Amos|Amos]] | ||
Line 295: | Line 364: | ||
|- | |- | ||
+ | | [[Book of Joel|Joel]] | ||
| [[Book of Joel|Joel]] | | [[Book of Joel|Joel]] | ||
| [[Book of Joel|Joel]] | | [[Book of Joel|Joel]] | ||
Line 303: | Line 373: | ||
| [[Book of Obadiah|Obadiah]] | | [[Book of Obadiah|Obadiah]] | ||
| [[Book of Obadiah|Abdias]] | | [[Book of Obadiah|Abdias]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Obadiah|Obadiah]] | ||
| [[Book of Obadiah|Obadiah]] | | [[Book of Obadiah|Obadiah]] | ||
| [[Book of Obadiah|Obadiah]] | | [[Book of Obadiah|Obadiah]] | ||
Line 309: | Line 380: | ||
| [[Book of Jonah|Jonah]] | | [[Book of Jonah|Jonah]] | ||
| [[Book of Jonah|Jonas]] | | [[Book of Jonah|Jonas]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Jonah|Jonah]] | ||
| [[Book of Jonah|Jonah]] | | [[Book of Jonah|Jonah]] | ||
| [[Book of Jonah|Jonah]] | | [[Book of Jonah|Jonah]] | ||
Line 315: | Line 387: | ||
| [[Book of Micah|Micah]] | | [[Book of Micah|Micah]] | ||
| [[Book of Micah|Michaeas]] | | [[Book of Micah|Michaeas]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Micah|Micah]] | ||
| [[Book of Micah|Micah]] | | [[Book of Micah|Micah]] | ||
| [[Book of Micah|Micah]] | | [[Book of Micah|Micah]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
+ | | [[Book of Nahum|Nahum]] | ||
| [[Book of Nahum|Nahum]] | | [[Book of Nahum|Nahum]] | ||
| [[Book of Nahum|Nahum]] | | [[Book of Nahum|Nahum]] | ||
Line 327: | Line 401: | ||
| [[Book of Habakkuk|Habakkuk]] | | [[Book of Habakkuk|Habakkuk]] | ||
| [[Book of Habakkuk|Sophonias]] | | [[Book of Habakkuk|Sophonias]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Habakkuk|Habakkuk]] | ||
| [[Book of Habakkuk|Habakkuk]] | | [[Book of Habakkuk|Habakkuk]] | ||
| [[Book of Habakkuk|Habakkuk]] | | [[Book of Habakkuk|Habakkuk]] | ||
Line 333: | Line 408: | ||
| [[Book of Zephaniah|Zephaniah]] | | [[Book of Zephaniah|Zephaniah]] | ||
| [[Book of Zephaniah|Sophonias]] | | [[Book of Zephaniah|Sophonias]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Zephaniah|Zephaniah]] | ||
| [[Book of Zephaniah|Zephaniah]] | | [[Book of Zephaniah|Zephaniah]] | ||
| [[Book of Zephaniah|Zephaniah]] | | [[Book of Zephaniah|Zephaniah]] | ||
Line 339: | Line 415: | ||
| [[Book of Haggai|Haggai]] | | [[Book of Haggai|Haggai]] | ||
| [[Book of Haggai|Aggaeus]] | | [[Book of Haggai|Aggaeus]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Haggai|Haggai]] | ||
| [[Book of Haggai|Haggai]] | | [[Book of Haggai|Haggai]] | ||
| [[Book of Haggai|Haggai]] | | [[Book of Haggai|Haggai]] | ||
Line 345: | Line 422: | ||
| [[Book of Zechariah|Zechariah]] | | [[Book of Zechariah|Zechariah]] | ||
| [[Book of Zechariah|Zacharias]] | | [[Book of Zechariah|Zacharias]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Zechariah|Zechariah]] | ||
| [[Book of Zechariah|Zechariah]] | | [[Book of Zechariah|Zechariah]] | ||
| [[Book of Zechariah|Zechariah]] | | [[Book of Zechariah|Zechariah]] | ||
Line 351: | Line 429: | ||
| [[Book of Malachi|Malachi]] | | [[Book of Malachi|Malachi]] | ||
| [[Book of Malachi|Malachias]] | | [[Book of Malachi|Malachias]] | ||
+ | | [[Book of Malachi|Malachi]] | ||
| [[Book of Malachi|Malachi]] | | [[Book of Malachi|Malachi]] | ||
| [[Book of Malachi|Malachi]] | | [[Book of Malachi|Malachi]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
+ | | | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
Line 364: | Line 444: | ||
The following books are considered apocryphal or pseudographical by all major denominations of Christianity and Judaism. | The following books are considered apocryphal or pseudographical by all major denominations of Christianity and Judaism. | ||
− | |||
* [[Apocalypse of Abraham]] | * [[Apocalypse of Abraham]] | ||
* [[Ascension of Isaiah]] | * [[Ascension of Isaiah]] | ||
− | |||
* [[3 Baruch]] | * [[3 Baruch]] | ||
* [[Bel and the Dragon]] | * [[Bel and the Dragon]] | ||
* [[Eldad and Modad]] | * [[Eldad and Modad]] | ||
− | |||
* [[Second Book of Enoch]] | * [[Second Book of Enoch]] | ||
* [[Greek Apocalypse of Moses]] | * [[Greek Apocalypse of Moses]] | ||
Line 396: | Line 473: | ||
==Capitalization== | ==Capitalization== | ||
− | I do not capitalize "old testament" unless I'm referring to a specific version like the Codex Alexandrinus Old Testament. I do this, not out of disrespect, but in accordance with the conventions of English usage. | + | I do not capitalize "old testament" unless I'm referring to a specific version like the Codex Alexandrinus Old Testament. I do this, not out of disrespect, but in accordance with the conventions of English usage. Since every major Christian denomination has their own old testament, you're not reading ''the'' Old Testament, but rather ''an'' old testament. In much the same way, "encyclopedia" is not capitalized because it is a category of book, but "Encyclopedia Britannica" is capitalized because it is a specific book in the category of encyclopedias. |
− | For the same reason, I do not capitalize "bible," however, I do capitalize "New Testament" since there is effectively only one across Christianity. I also capitalize the individual books included in the compilations; there is variation, but not enough to warrant calling them a category rather than a specific book. | + | For the same reason, I do not capitalize "bible," however, I do capitalize "New Testament" since there is effectively only one across Christianity. I also capitalize the individual books included in the compilations; there is variation in all of them, but not enough to warrant calling them a category rather than a specific book. |
==Criticisms== | ==Criticisms== | ||
===Canon=== | ===Canon=== | ||
− | Christians have been arguing for 2,000 years (and Jews for centuries earlier) over which writings should be considered canon, and they continue to disagree to this day. If Yahweh wanted a specific canon, why didn't he reveal it to everyone everywhere? Why allow for ambiguity or debate to decide which writings are endorsed by Yahweh? Do any of them have | + | Christians have been arguing for 2,000 years (and Jews for centuries earlier) over which writings should be considered canon, and they continue to disagree to this day. If Yahweh wanted a specific canon, why didn't he reveal it to everyone everywhere? Why allow for ambiguity or debate to decide which writings are endorsed by Yahweh? How can we know what the correct canon should be? Do any of them have it right? Are those who have it wrong guilty of blasphemy, and will Yahweh punish them? |
===Authorship=== | ===Authorship=== | ||
− | There is much conjecture and debate about the authors of the books in the old testament canon. In most of the books, the author doesn't identify himself, and historians believe that the majority of the books are not written by either the traditionally accepted authors or the the authors named in the books. | + | There is much conjecture and debate about the authors of the books in the old testament canon. In most of the books, the author doesn't identify himself, and expert historians believe that the majority of the books are not written by either the traditionally accepted authors or the the authors named in the books. Without accurate authorship, how can we tell the difference between a books written by a notable historical figure and just some random crazy person? |
===Content=== | ===Content=== | ||
− | We should expect books inspired by a god to be rife with deep philosophical wisdom, full of inexplicable insight on the very foundations of the universe, and written in the most interesting way possible, but the actual content of the books of the old testament is unimpressive. Large sections of the book are dedicated to pointless lineages, | + | We should expect books inspired by a god to be rife with deep philosophical wisdom, full of inexplicable insight on the very foundations of the universe, and written in the most interesting way possible, but the actual content of the books of the old testament is unimpressive. Large sections of the book are dedicated to pointless lineages, gruesome animal sacrifice rituals, and long lists of strange taboos. Many stories are written multiple times in contradicting ways. Rather than provide deep wisdom, science, or enlightened morality, the authors speak in the conventional wisdom of the time, describe science in primitive and often flawed ways, promote slavery, encourage rape, and a host of other forms of barbarism. Rather than be written in an exciting manner, the book is so poorly written that most Christians who claim to believe it is the most important book ever written still quickly lose interest and stop reading it. |
===Redaction=== | ===Redaction=== | ||
− | Most of the books of the old testament show signs of redaction, some to a staggering degree. The Torah is so disjointed that historians have proposed various solutions like the [[Documentary Hypothesis]] to account for it. None of the earliest surviving manuscripts match each other perfectly, so there are a large number of sentences where we | + | Most of the books of the old testament show signs of redaction, some to a staggering degree. The Torah is so disjointed that historians have proposed various solutions like the [[Documentary Hypothesis]] to account for it. None of the earliest surviving manuscripts match each other perfectly, so there are a large number of sentences where we don't know what was written in the original. |
+ | |||
+ | ===Comprehension=== | ||
+ | Most Christians believe their god uses the bible to convey his message to all people in a timeless manner, but much of the language is so old that nobody alive understands what it means. There is nobody left alive to [[List of biblical words with uncertain meanings|translate the words]]. | ||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
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[[Category: Religion]] | [[Category: Religion]] | ||
[[Category: Christianity]] | [[Category: Christianity]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Public Domain]] |
Revision as of 16:48, 31 August 2020
An old testament is an assortment of mostly Jewish books compiled by Christians and used as the first segment of their bible, accounting for about three quarters or more of the total compilation. The specific books in an old testament, what they should be titled, and how they should be presented differ among every major denomination of the religion, but each branch seems to agree that all of the content considered canon by most Jews in their Tanakh should be included.
Christians refer to the these books as the old testament because they believe that the covenant between Yahweh and humankind was ended through the torture and execution of Jesus. They also believe, before he was killed, Jesus gave people a new covenant which is described in their New Testament. Jews, however, do not believe the original covenant between them and Yahweh has ended because, Yahweh says dozens of times in the Tanakh that the covenant will never end. Jews also don't believe Jesus was the messiah, and, even if he was, they don't believe the messiah could discontinue the covenant. Because of this, Jews tend to find the term "old" testament rather offensive.
Contents
Canon
The table below shows which books each denomination considers canon and how they group the books, however, their order of presentation is not preserved..
Additional Writings
The following books are considered apocryphal or pseudographical by all major denominations of Christianity and Judaism.
- Apocalypse of Abraham
- Ascension of Isaiah
- 3 Baruch
- Bel and the Dragon
- Eldad and Modad
- Second Book of Enoch
- Greek Apocalypse of Moses
- History of Joseph
- History of the Captivity In Babylon
- History of the Rechabites
- Jannes and Jambres
- Joseph and Aseneth
- Ladder of Jacob
- Letter of Aristeas
- Life of Adam and Eve Collection
- Lives of the Prophets
- Martyrdom and Ascension of Isaiah
- Odes of Solomon
- Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Holy Children
- Prayer of Jacob
- Prayer of Joseph
- Psalm 151
- Psalms of Solomon
- Sibylline Oracles
- Susanna
- Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
- Vision of Ezra
Capitalization
I do not capitalize "old testament" unless I'm referring to a specific version like the Codex Alexandrinus Old Testament. I do this, not out of disrespect, but in accordance with the conventions of English usage. Since every major Christian denomination has their own old testament, you're not reading the Old Testament, but rather an old testament. In much the same way, "encyclopedia" is not capitalized because it is a category of book, but "Encyclopedia Britannica" is capitalized because it is a specific book in the category of encyclopedias.
For the same reason, I do not capitalize "bible," however, I do capitalize "New Testament" since there is effectively only one across Christianity. I also capitalize the individual books included in the compilations; there is variation in all of them, but not enough to warrant calling them a category rather than a specific book.
Criticisms
Canon
Christians have been arguing for 2,000 years (and Jews for centuries earlier) over which writings should be considered canon, and they continue to disagree to this day. If Yahweh wanted a specific canon, why didn't he reveal it to everyone everywhere? Why allow for ambiguity or debate to decide which writings are endorsed by Yahweh? How can we know what the correct canon should be? Do any of them have it right? Are those who have it wrong guilty of blasphemy, and will Yahweh punish them?
Authorship
There is much conjecture and debate about the authors of the books in the old testament canon. In most of the books, the author doesn't identify himself, and expert historians believe that the majority of the books are not written by either the traditionally accepted authors or the the authors named in the books. Without accurate authorship, how can we tell the difference between a books written by a notable historical figure and just some random crazy person?
Content
We should expect books inspired by a god to be rife with deep philosophical wisdom, full of inexplicable insight on the very foundations of the universe, and written in the most interesting way possible, but the actual content of the books of the old testament is unimpressive. Large sections of the book are dedicated to pointless lineages, gruesome animal sacrifice rituals, and long lists of strange taboos. Many stories are written multiple times in contradicting ways. Rather than provide deep wisdom, science, or enlightened morality, the authors speak in the conventional wisdom of the time, describe science in primitive and often flawed ways, promote slavery, encourage rape, and a host of other forms of barbarism. Rather than be written in an exciting manner, the book is so poorly written that most Christians who claim to believe it is the most important book ever written still quickly lose interest and stop reading it.
Redaction
Most of the books of the old testament show signs of redaction, some to a staggering degree. The Torah is so disjointed that historians have proposed various solutions like the Documentary Hypothesis to account for it. None of the earliest surviving manuscripts match each other perfectly, so there are a large number of sentences where we don't know what was written in the original.
Comprehension
Most Christians believe their god uses the bible to convey his message to all people in a timeless manner, but much of the language is so old that nobody alive understands what it means. There is nobody left alive to translate the words.