<> Ask the Pastor The Rev. Walter P. Snyder After a week of school in St. Louis, I'm back. The studies went well. Most of what I learned at the symposium concerned the art of preaching. Following the symposium on preaching was an evangelism workshop. As of my writing this week's column (Thursday morning), I still haven't completed my deliberations on the call to the church in Austin, Texas. Perhaps by this Sunday, as you read this, that will have changed. I appreciate the kind words of various residents---many who've never set foot in a Lutheran church---who appreciate the work that goes into this column and who read it although we sometimes disagree. Q: Pastor, could you give me a very short description of how the Bible became what we have today? If I'm looking at this book for the first time, what's my general frame of reference? A: In brief, the Bible's record extends from the beginning of time (Genesis 1 and 2) to approximately AD 90 or 100 (Revelation). Until the time of Moses, othing was brought together in written form. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he recorded both the early history of the world and story of God's calling of Abraham and the Covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel). The remaining four Mosaic books deal with Israel leaving captivity and being led by the Lord to the Promised Land. The other historical books follow this time, with overlap in Samuel/Kings and the Chronicles. Concurrent with the histories, the Psalms were written and compiled. The prophetic books begin after the deaths of David and Solomon and the division of Israel. Malachi was written probably about 400 years BC and is the last Scripture inspired and recorded before the New Testament begins. For some sixty years following the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit used various apostles and others to record the events of Jesus' life (the Gospels), the history of the early Church (Acts) and to spread the news of the Savior through the Epistles. The Revelation is a final warning and inspiration for the Church to remain faithful, even in times of persecution, until Jesus returns. Regarding inspiration, the traditional confession of the church is that God (the ultimate Author) moved the earthly authors to say what he wanted, albeit in their own words and grammar (2 Peter 1:21). God "breathed" the words of Scripture into the authors. In this, we can see a parallel between 2 Timothy 3:16, where the Scriptures are "God-breathed," and Genesis 2:7, where God first puts his breath into man. Of more than coincidence in understanding and appreciating inspiration is knowing that the same word may be translated as "breath" or as "spirit" or "wind." Thus, we see the fullness of what God does in breathing the breath of life into Adam. We also have a greater appreciation why Jesus "breathed" on his disciples when saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit." Pentecost, the fiftieth day of Easter, is likewise the great day of the Christian Church's honoring of the Holy Spirit, who came upon the apostles with the sound of a great wind. Q: Why is the order of the books in the Jewish Bible is different from the Protestant Bible? A: Besides reading the Bible "backward," since Hebrew is written from right to left, one also must remember an order based upon a different grouping of the books. The five books of Moses are first, followed by the prophets, then all the rest of the books. Among Jewish and Christian Bible scholars, this grouping is often called the "Tanak." This acronym is from the Hebrew words for the three groups. T is for ~Torah~, often translated as "Law" but having a much wider meaning than a list of regulations. Indeed, the Torah includes ample accounts of God's graciousness to sinners, from Adam and Eve through various events in the Wilderness such as the bronze serpent. The Torah has the honor of beginning the Scriptures not only because it includes the Creation account in Genesis 1 and 2, but especially because Moses was the greatest prophet and most honored man in Scripture (until the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the subsequent writing of the New Testament). The N comes from ~nabi'~ (pronounced nah-VEE), Hebrew for prophet. However, when you compare the prophetic grouping in Christian Bibles with the Hebrew, you'll find that a few books have been moved from the Prophets to the third category. The Prophets have this position because they not only record oracles of the Lord as direct discourse with his people but because they also point to the coming Messiah in so many places. Finally are the Writings, ~kethubim~ (keh-thoo-VEEM) in Hebrew, from whence comes the K in Tanak. These Writings include history, wisdom literature, and the songs and poetry of the Psalms and Lamentations. That's it for now. You can submit questions by mail to "Ask the Pastor," PO Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; E-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or just stop me on the street. Walter Snyder is the pastor of St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches in Jasper and Woodville, Texas and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1999 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.