OTHCC Chapter 48: items 941 - 960

The Old Testament in the Heart of the Catholic Church < > All Chapters

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The Catholic Church accepts as inspired Word of God several Old Testament books specifically rejected by the Jewish people, and called ''apocryphal'' (of doubtful inspiration) by Protestants. The books that only the Catholic Church accepts as definitively inspired by God are starred * in the following list. Also, there are parts of Esther and Daniel that are only accepted by Catholics.

The Catholic center of the Old Testament might be the Psalms: ''Prayed and fulfilled in Christ, the Psalms are an essential and permanent element of the prayer of the Church. They are suitable for men of every condition and time.'' [CCC 2597]

In any event, it is helpful to think of the Psalms as the centerpiece of the Old Testament - the Psalms are in fact fairly close to the middle of the Old Testament as Catholics arrange it. The Psalms are like a hinge near the middle:

               Psalms
Genesis                     Proverbs
Exodus                      Ecclesiastes
Leviticus                   Song of Songs
Numbers                     Wisdom*
Deuteronomy                 Sirach*

Joshua                      Isaiah
Judges                      Jeremiah
Ruth                        Lamentations
1 Samuel                    Baruch*
2 Samuel                    Ezekiel
1 Kings                     Daniel
2 Kings
                            Hosea
1 Chronicles                Joel
2 Chronicles                Amos
Ezra                        Obadiah
Nehemiah                    Jonah
                            Micah
Tobit*                      Nahum
Judith*                     Habakkuk
Esther                      Zephaniah
1 Maccabees*                Haggai
2 Maccabees*                Zechariah
Job                         Malachi

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Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy || Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings || 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah || Tobit* Judith* Esther 1 Maccabees* 2 Maccabees* Job

Psalms

>> Proverbs << Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Wisdom* Sirach* || Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Baruch* Ezekiel Daniel || Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

The Old Testament books with a star * are not any more or less important than the others. The star indicates that the Catholic Church definitively professes and knows these books to be part of the sacred writings, the inspired Word of God [cf. CCC 120], but that they are specifically rejected by the Jewish people, and called ''apocryphal'' (of doubtful inspiration) by Protestants.

For a hint before answering this question, read Proverbs, Prov 25:1 and Prov 30:1. According to most scholars, the book of Proverbs is largely

a.   a collection of proverbs.
b.   a collection of collections of proverbs.
c.   random proverbs.

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Read Prov 1:1-6. Many books in the Old Testament emphasize faith, worship, and obedience to the Law. Many scholars think that Proverbs, while not speaking against any of these, instead emphasizes

a.   following one's instincts and trusting in one's personal knowledge.
b.   intelligent mastery of life through understanding and good acts.
c.   taking a critical stance toward the teachings of previous generations.

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Many scholars say that the book of Proverbs contains both proverbs, and ''instruction.'' Both proverbs and instructions, these scholars say, were used widely throughout the ancient near East as methods of educating children. Instruction in Proverbs is similar to an ancient Egyptian wisdom form in which a father gives advice to his son. Read Prov 1:7-16. This is the beginning of

a.   an instruction.
b.   a proverb.
c.   a saying.

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In Proverbs, wisdom (the purpose of the book) is often personified as speaking. The ''simple'' are the uneducated. ''Fools'' are those who lack sense, which includes lacking self-control and motivation. Read Prov 1:20-33. What happens to those who don't pay attention to Wisdom?

a.   All kinds of calamities.
b.   Nothing too bad.
c.   They are often lucky.

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Note: Do NOT restate the incorrect answers to this question. Only the correct answer has meaningful content.

Read Prov 10:1-9 to get a sense of what proverbs are like. Read Prov 22:17. Scholars believes this marks the beginning of another collection, the ''words of the wise.'' So, Prov 10 - 22:16 is one single collection of proverbs, and dedicated scholars have actually counted how many proverbs there are just in this particular collection within the book of Proverbs. How many?

a.   375
b.   675
c.   975

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Read the one verse, Prov 26:4. Now read Prov 26:5, the very next verse. From these two verses we can conclude that the wise person should

a.   answer a fool according to his folly.
b.   carefully consider how to answer a fool.
c.   not answer a fool according to his folly.

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Prov 26:4-5 obviously shows that proverbs were practical wisdom. They crystallized and summarized actual experience, but no one re-wrote them to make them completely consistent with a grand, unified philosophical theory. By the way, this remains true of proverbs. For instance, do many hands make light work, or do too many cooks spoil the broth?

Read Prov 8:22-31, a famous passage in which Wisdom speaks. Prov 9 contrasts two banquets, one set by Wisdom, one by a foolish woman. ''Fear'' of the LORD means faithfulness to him. Read Prov 9:10. This is the heart of the teaching.

Now read all of Prov 9. Some scholars think that the ''foolish woman'' is the temple, worship, and practices of the surrounding peoples (which included ''religious'' sexual practices with temple prostitutes). >>

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The teachings and sayings in Proverbs are meant to help the young learn how to live a good life. Proverbs also warns against practices and ideas that would lead the young toward an evil life. In real life, both good and evil proverbs exist. In real life, there really are ideas, existing right alongside good ideas, that would lead you toward an evil life, if you follow their advice.

Here are some evil proverbs: ''Anything done by two consenting adults is OK.'' ''It doesn't matter whether you receive the sacraments, as long as you're a nice person.'' ''Abortion gives a woman control over her own body.'' ''Marriage is just a piece of paper.'' ''Everybody does it.''

These are some of the ''proverbs'' of the ''surrounding peoples'' of our own day. So don't think that modern man doesn't have his own proverbs. He does - lots and lots of them. By and large, people are probably built to live their lives mostly according to ''proverbs'' - little sayings that are not necessarily consistent with each other, but that encapsulate part of how we act and think.

This is probably why advertising works: successful advertisements are all built on a hidden proverb. Usually, this is ''If you buy this product, you will get what you secretly want.''

The book of Proverbs is correct:

(a) living by evil proverbs will take you farther from Christ.

(b) You have to pay attention and use self-discipline.

(c) It will not be easy!

Evil proverbs are just as prevalent in our day, and you can easily be just as much of a fool as any ancient Israelite.

Try to live by good proverbs, ones that lead you closer to Christ and the sacraments of his Catholic Church. <<

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Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy || Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings || 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah || Tobit* Judith* Esther 1 Maccabees* 2 Maccabees* Job

Psalms

Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Wisdom* Sirach* || Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Baruch* Ezekiel Daniel || Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah >> Haggai << Zechariah Malachi

The Old Testament books with a star * are not any more or less important than the others. The star indicates that the Catholic Church definitively professes and knows these books to be part of the sacred writings, the inspired Word of God [cf. CCC 120], but that they are specifically rejected by the Jewish people, and called ''apocryphal'' (of doubtful inspiration) by Protestants.

The prophet Haggai prophesied after the Exile was ended and some Jews were returning to Jerusalem. The Old Testament tells us that times were very difficult for the returnees, and that both the Temple and Jerusalem were slow to be rebuilt.

Read Haggai, Hag 2:1-9. The LORD promises that the restored Temple would be even more splendid than the first. Actually, this never came to pass. The Temple was restored, but probably not in Haggai's lifetime, and it seems to have been nowhere near as impressive as the former Temple.

Read Hag 2:20-23. The LORD promises that the line of kings descended from David will be restored. This never happened at all.

Haggai is a good example of ''failed'' prophecy. In retrospect, his prophecies were not completely accurate. However, another realistic aspect to Haggai's prophecies is that they did encourage the Jewish people to rebuild in very difficult times. Also, Haggai's prophecies were so significant that they were preserved and revered as the Word of God.

Further, beyond the 'literal sense' of Haggai (the meaning the sacred author intended) the Catholic Church sees in Haggai's prophecy of the renewal of the Davidic kingship the renewal of the promise of the coming Messiah, Jesus.

Finally, because the book of Haggai is the inspired Word of God, we know with certainty that there will always be more meaning to find in the prophecies of Haggai. We know with certainty that Haggai's prophecies can draw men of any and all ages closer to Christ. <<

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Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy || Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings || 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah || Tobit* >> Judith* << Esther 1 Maccabees* 2 Maccabees* Job

Psalms

Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Wisdom* Sirach* || Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Baruch* Ezekiel Daniel || Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

The Old Testament books with a star * are not any more or less important than the others. The star indicates that the Catholic Church definitively professes and knows these books to be part of the sacred writings, the inspired Word of God [cf. CCC 120], but that they are specifically rejected by the Jewish people, and called ''apocryphal'' (of doubtful inspiration) by Protestants.

Read Judith, Jdt 16:25, the very end of the book of Judith. Scholars note that similar words end the accounts of many of the judges in the book of Judges. Most scholars think that the book of Judith is a story, rather than a historical account, and seems to cast Judith in a role similar to that of a judge in ancient Israel. There is a crisis in Israel and Judith is called by God to respond and defeat Israel's enemies. What is the awesome weapon the faithful and courageous Judith possesses that God uses to defeat Nebuchadnezzar's general Holofernes and his whole army? Her

a.   beauty.
b.   cunning.
c.   strength.

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The eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign is the year he took Jerusalem. However, the twenty-second day of the first month is the day after Passover. Thus the sacred author of Judith gives a reminder of both defeat and victory in the one date. Read Jdt 2:1-13. In the book of Judith, the situation seems hopeless, and yet God does work to save his people, but not in any expected way. It was not likely then and it is not likely now that an entire army could be defeated by one courageous woman's beauty, yet that is what happens. Judith, seemingly powerless, cuts off Holofernes's head with his own sword, and scatters his army.

The Catholic Church reads the Old Testament in the light of Christ, and sees God gradually revealing that his ideas of power and man's ideas are not the same. The book of Judith is one example of this. The Church sees the Old Testament as gradually preparing man for the coming of Jesus, who defeats life's strongest enemy, death, out of what seems to be complete weakness, by dying on the Cross.

However, the Church never forgets that in her Magnificat, her great hymn of praise, Mary also shows that she too belongs to the poor. Read Judith, Jdt 15:8-10. This passage has been heard by the Church to refer to Mary, the Mother of God and the New Eve, who is in worldly terms even more insignificant than Judith.

Finally, read Judith's canticle, Jdt 16:1-17. <<

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Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy || Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings || 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah || Tobit* Judith* Esther 1 Maccabees* 2 Maccabees* Job

Psalms

Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs >> Wisdom* << Sirach* || Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Baruch* Ezekiel Daniel || Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

The Old Testament books with a star * are not any more or less important than the others. The star indicates that the Catholic Church definitively professes and knows these books to be part of the sacred writings, the inspired Word of God [cf. CCC 120], but that they are specifically rejected by the Jewish people, and called ''apocryphal'' (of doubtful inspiration) by Protestants.

The first meaning of Wisdom 2 is that some men come to the conclusion that life is essentially pointless, so they try to lose themselves in pleasures. However, they also become enraged by the man faithful to God, whose every breath is an affront to their chosen philosophy and way of living. Read Wis 2:1-20 now. Now re-read Wis 2:12-20. The Catholic Church has also heard this passage as referring to

a.   David.
b.   Israel.
c.   Jesus.

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The literal sense of a scripture passage is the meaning intended by the original author, as discovered by scholarship and as clarified and corrected in the light provided by the Holy Spirit working in and through the sacraments. Read Wis 2:21-3:9. According to many scholars, part of the literal sense of this passage is a teaching about

a.   evolution.
b.   immortality.
c.   transubstantiation.

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Many scholars believe that righteousness or justice in the context of the book of Wisdom means God's loving ordering of the world. Read Wis 1:12-15. This passage has been heard by the Catholic Church to mean that

a.   God created all things good and that everything that happens is for the best.
b.   God created all things good and that man's sin brought death to the world.
c.   The world is totally ruled by God and that man has no choices to make.

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Many scholars agree that the book of Wisdom was written within 100 years of Christ's birth, with the purpose of encouraging faithful Jews during a time when Greek power, science, and ideas made Jewish thought and traditions seem childish and irrelevant to some. These scholars say that the author of Wisdom is highly educated and is very familiar with Greek ideas. He just doesn't think that they are as important as faithfulness to the LORD.

Books in the Old Testament like the book of Wisdom are usually not that interested in subjects like proper worship, the Temple, the history of the Jewish people, the covenants the LORD made with his people, or even the Law, though when these are mentioned, it is with approval.

However, Wisdom is unusual in this regard. For example, read Wis 19:6-9. Here Wisdom explicitly links the traditional subject matter of ''wisdom books'' with the great saving events of Israel. >>

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Now re-read Wis 1:12-15 and Wis 2:21-24. Many scholars note that passages like these have often been cited by saints and scholars as the Catholic Church has reflected on mysteries such as creation, immortality, and the Fall. The book of Wisdom has been an important resource for the Church since very early times.

Many passages in Wisdom, particularly in the first nine chapters, are read by the Catholic Church in her liturgies. <<

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It is a historical fact that Catholics and other Christians have

a.   persecuted and killed Jewish people, and have been doing so, on and off, for many centuries.
b.   never actively participated in the persecution of Jewish people, but have sometimes failed to stop it.
c.   occasionally persecuted or killed some Jewish people, but almost always have treated Jews well.

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During the period 1933-1945 about six million Jews were murdered by the Nazis and their helpers, and millions more were persecuted and imprisoned. Although the Nazis were not officially religious, the leader of the Nazis, Adolph Hitler,

a.   came from a Jewish family himself.
b.   had been baptized a Catholic.
c.   was the son of a Lutheran pastor.

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Over the centuries, Catholic church officials, and other Christians, have

a.   always condemned the persecution of Jews by Christians.
b.   often ignored, or even justified, the persecution of Jews.
c.   said little or nothing about how Christians should treat Jews.

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