Introduction to the Bible (Full Series)

The video begins with Matt Baker introducing his series on the Bible, focusing on its academic perspective. He corrects common misconceptions about the Bible being exclusively Christian, highlighting that Jews also have a Bible, known as the Tanakh. He explains the division of the Christian Bible into the Old Testament and New Testament, and how the Old Testament corresponds to the Jewish Bible or Tanakh. Matt also discusses the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, and how they are considered the same across both religions. The video sets the stage for a deep dive into the historical and literary analysis of the Bible, emphasizing the importance of understanding its development in relation to the history of the Ancient Near East.

Matt Baker delves into the Documentary Hypothesis, a theory suggesting that the Torah was compiled from four distinct sources: the Jahwist, Elohist, Deuteronomist, and Priestly, or J, E, D, and P respectively. He explains that these sources were combined to form the Torah during the Second Temple Period, with each source having its own historical context and authorship. Matt also discusses the Supplementary Hypothesis, an updated version of the Documentary Hypothesis, which posits that Deuteronomy was the original version of the Torah and was written during King Josiah's reign. He further explores the idea of supplementary material being added to the Torah over time, resulting in its current form.

Matt Baker introduces the Dual Origins Theory, which posits that the Ancient Israelites had two separate origin myths, one involving the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the other Moses and the Exodus story. According to this theory, these two literary traditions developed independently and were only combined during the Second Temple Period by priests in Jerusalem. Matt suggests that the Moses tradition may have originated in the Northern Kingdom and the Abraham/Isaac/Jacob tradition in the Southern Kingdom. He also discusses the historical unification of the Israelites, challenging the traditional view and suggesting that the unification happened not during the reigns of David and Solomon, but later, after the fall of the Northern Kingdom and the Babylonian Exile.

Matt Baker continues his exploration of the Bible by discussing the structure of the Old Testament, highlighting its division into the Torah, Prophets, and Writings in the Jewish tradition, and the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Poetry, and Prophecy in the Christian tradition. He explains the slight differences between the Jewish and Christian Old Testaments, including the inclusion of additional books in Catholic Bibles. Matt also discusses the authorship of the historical books, suggesting that they were likely written by the Deuteronomist school during the reign of King Josiah and later, after the fall of Jerusalem.

In this section, Matt Baker examines the Prophetic Books, distinguishing between the 'Major Prophets' and the 'Minor Prophets'. He discusses the authorship and historical context of the Book of Isaiah, suggesting that it was likely written by multiple authors over time. Matt also addresses common Christian interpretations of certain verses in Isaiah as prophecies about Jesus, offering alternative Jewish perspectives. He then moves on to discuss the other Major Prophets, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and their connections to the Deuteronomist school and the Priestly Source, respectively. Matt also provides a brief overview of the Minor Prophets, highlighting their diverse authorship and the periods in which they were likely written.

Matt Baker discusses the Book of Psalms, noting its unique composition as a collection of songs meant to be accompanied by music. He explains that many psalms are attributed to King David, but also highlights the contributions of other figures like Asaph, the sons of Korah, and Solomon. Matt also touches on the Book of Proverbs, explaining its structure as a collection of wise sayings and poems from various authors and time periods. He points out the influence of Egyptian literature on some sections of Proverbs and the later additions attributed to Solomon during the reign of King Hezekiah.

Matt Baker explores the Book of Job, a text that raises questions about suffering and the nature of God. He notes the book's unique Hebrew and vocabulary, suggesting that it was likely written during the Persian Period. Matt also discusses the Song of Solomon, which is often associated with erotic poetry and King Solomon, although the authorship is uncertain. He mentions the influence of Aramaic and Greek love poetry on the text, indicating a possible composition date during the Greek Period.

Matt Baker examines the Books of Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, discussing their historical contexts and literary characteristics. He suggests that Ruth was likely written during the Persian Period, addressing the issue of intermarriage between Israelites and non-Israelites. Lamentations, he explains, is a series of poems grieving the destruction of Jerusalem, possibly written by multiple authors. Ecclesiastes, traditionally attributed to Solomon, is a philosophical work likely written during the Persian Period, while Esther is a comedic historical fiction set during the Persian Period. Matt also touches on the Deuterocanonical Books, explaining their inclusion in different Christian Bibles and their historical contexts.

Matt Baker discusses the process of the formation of the biblical canon, emphasizing that there was no single point at which the contents of the Bible were decided. He outlines the various religious authorities and their decisions regarding the inclusion or exclusion of certain books. Matt highlights the differences in the Old Testaments of various Christian denominations, including the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Ethiopian churches, and their inclusion of additional books considered apocryphal by Protestants. He provides a historical overview of these books and their significance within different religious traditions.

Matt Baker explores the Book of Enoch, an apocryphal text attributed to Enoch and referenced in the New Testament. He explains that the book likely predates the Book of Daniel and discusses its significance within Second Temple Judaism. Matt also delves into the development of the New Testament, focusing on the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. He discusses the unique characteristics of each Gospel and the theological implications of their narratives. Matt introduces the Synoptic Problem and outlines various hypotheses regarding the authorship and interrelationships of the Synoptic Gospels.

Matt Baker continues his discussion on the Gospels, delving into the differences between the Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John. He highlights the theological nature of John's Gospel, which is more focused on complex speeches by Jesus compared to the straightforward narratives of the Synoptics. Matt also discusses the potential use of a 'Signs Gospel' as a source for John's Gospel. He then transitions to discuss the Book of Acts, which chronicles the events following Jesus' death and the formation of the early Christian Church, traditionally attributed to Luke, the author of the Gospel of Luke.

Matt Baker discusses the New Testament Epistles, focusing on the letters written by Paul to various churches and individuals. He explains the scholarly consensus on the authenticity of the Pauline Epistles, with most scholars agreeing that Paul wrote the majority of these letters. Matt also addresses the Pastoral Epistles, noting the scholarly debate over their authenticity. He then discusses the General Epistles, suggesting that most scholars consider them as pseudepigrapha. Matt concludes by mentioning the New Testament Apocrypha, including the Gospel of Thomas and the Epistle of Barnabas, providing insights into their historical context and significance.

Matt Baker concludes the series by discussing the concepts of prophecy and apocalypse in the context of the Books of Daniel and Revelation. He clarifies that prophecy in ancient Judaism was a warning rather than a prediction, and that apocalyptic literature aimed to reveal hidden realities rather than provide a blueprint for the future. Matt reinterprets key passages from Daniel and Revelation, emphasizing their relevance to the historical contexts in which they were written. He challenges common interpretations, offering alternative perspectives that highlight the texts' messages about contemporary issues and the enduring presence of God.