1. What is historical-critical biblical interpretation?

2. In the dynamics of revelation discussed in class, describe the relationship

between the oral proclamation of an event of revelation and the historical
event itself. In other words, does the oral proclamation simply repeat or
rehearse the details of the event?

3. What does the word canon mean? What is its origin? Why is it significant
for understanding how the Bible came to be?

4. List the three parts (or mini-canons) that comprise the Hebrew
Bible, list four books found within each group, and identify the approximate
dates these parts of the canon emerged. (Whenever the term list is used, you
do not have to use complete sentences).

5. What is the Septuagint? When was it created? Who used it?

6. Why is the Septuagint important for understanding why Christians disagree

about the Old Testament canon?

7. List and describe the three criteria articulated by Irenaeus to help

identify books appropriate and normative for the Christian community.

8. What was the unique contribution of Julius Wellhausen’s Documentary

Hypothesis? What did he do that his predecessors failed to do?
9. Describe the historical context of the J tradition. What are some of its
distinctive characteristics?

10. Describe the historical context of the E tradition. What are some of its
distinctive characteristics?

11. Describe the historical context of the D tradition. What are some of its
distinctive characteristics?

12. Describe the historical context of the P tradition. What are some of its
distinctive characteristics?

13. What is the Enuma Elish, and why is it important for studying Genesis 1?

14. Contrast the worldviews offered in the Enuma Elish and Genesis 1.

15. What does it mean to say that Genesis 1 is a counter-myth?

16. **Describe the difference between text criticism and source criticism.
(RG 17-18)

17. **How does the presence of various literary forms complicate the historical
value of the Bible? (RG 5)
18. **Describe the significance of Divino Afflante Spiritu for the development
of historical criticism in the Catholic Church. (RG 15)

19. **Describe the significance of Dei Verbum for the development of historical
criticism in the Catholic Church. (RG 15-16)

20. Compare and contrast the creation stories in Genesis 1 and 2. How does each
story represent the distinctive characteristics of their respective
Pentateuchal traditions (P and J)?

21. Why is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil a theological
necessity in Genesis 3? Explain.

22. Does the story of the creation of woman in Genesis 2 indicate the
subordination of women to men? Explain.

23.List and describe the two options for understanding the origin and function of the serpent
Essay
Background: Christians believe that creation is an act of love on God’s part
and that human beings stand at the head of creation as the most perfect
expression of that love. In fact, Christians believe that human beings are
created for fellowship with God they are created to know and love God, to share
in God’s life. Christians also believe that through sin, human beings have
compromised their relationship with God and their relationships with one
another so that love does not always describe how human being relate to one
another. Even under the best circumstances, human beings experience the drive
to know and love God and one another while at the same time experiencing a
certain amount of fear and anxiety in those relationships.

Prompt: Drawing on material presented in class, your initial visit to your

service-learning site, and the film Brothers, respond to the following
prompt: How do you understand the co-existence of a drive to create
relationships and a fear-anxiety about those relationships.