Biblical prophecies and the ‘end times’ 1 study
History of the Bible 1 study
Contradictions 1 study
Historical notes 11 studies
- 4The land of Canaan
- 5The different Bible versions
- 6The Apocryphal Writings
- 7Examples of the Deuteronomist source
- 8The Catholic Bible
Biblical prophecies and the ‘end times’
-
DAN000
General introduction to the book of Daniel
General introduction to the book of Daniel, a major prophetic text of the Old Testament. This article lays the historical, literary and theological foundations needed to understand this apocalyptic book, addressing its structure, author, main themes and the exegetical debates over its date and reliability.
Daniel 5.31 (King James Version) :And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
History of the Bible
-
BIB002
The Writing and Compilation of the Texts of the Old Testament
This article examines the complex composition of the Old Testament, from oral transmission to written compilation. It covers various sections of the Hebrew Bible, such as the historical books recounting the history of Israel and the poetic books offering reflections on faith. The prophetic texts are also analyzed, highlighting the prophets' calls to repentance. The impact of these texts, at first limited to the Jewish people, is now worldwide.
Contradictions
-
CTD009
Was John the Baptist the Elijah who was to come?
Jesus regards John the Baptist as the prophesied Elijah, indicating a symbolic mission, but John denies this identity literally, according to John 1:19-21. This distinction between mission and personal identity clarifies an apparent biblical contradiction.
Isaiah 40.3 (King James Version) :The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.Notestraight: or, a straight placeNoteplain: or, a plain placeKing James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
Historical notes
-
INF011
The land of Canaan
The land of Canaan, corresponding to present-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and parts of Jordan and Syria, is described in the Bible as 'the most beautiful of all lands'. Inhabited by the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites and Philistines, it is the land promised to the Hebrew people. Two stages, separated by 470 years, mark its conquest: Abraham's arrival, followed by Joshua's conquest after captivity in Egypt and wandering in the wilderness.
Ezekiel 20.6 (King James Version) :In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
INF012
The different Bible versions
There are not several Bibles, but different translations of the same Greek and Hebrew source texts. Changes in language require regular revisions. Catholics include seven deuterocanonical books that are absent from the Protestant canon. The Jehovah's Witnesses' New World Translation is criticised for its theologically motivated choices.
-
INF029
The Apocryphal Writings
The apocryphal books are religious writings excluded from the official biblical canon. A distinction is made between the Old Testament apocrypha (Tobit, Judith, Maccabees, Sirach…), recognized as deuterocanonical by Catholics and Orthodox, and those of the New Testament (the Gospels of Thomas, Philip, Mary Magdalene…), often with a Gnostic coloring. Their study sheds light on the religious history and debates of the first Christian centuries, without placing them on the level of the canonical Scriptures.
-
INF036
Examples of the Deuteronomist source
This article examines the Deuteronomist source, highlighting its role and influence in the Hebrew Bible through Deuteronomy and other historical books such as Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings. Focusing on themes of law, covenant and centralized worship, it explores Deuteronomistic theology and its implications for Israel.
Judges 2.11-23 (King James Version) :And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.Notedelivered: Heb. savedNotecorrupted…: or, were corruptNoteceased…: Heb. let nothing fall of theirAnd yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;Noteleft: or, sufferedI also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
INF039
The Catholic Bible
This article explores the composition of the Catholic Bible, its books and its distinctive features, notably the deuterocanonical books and the canon fixed at the Council of Trent.
-
INF040
The Protestant Bible
This article analyzes the content and differences of the Protestant Bible, compared with the Catholic Bible, focusing on the Old and New Testaments.
Matthew 1.1 (King James Version) :The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
INF045
The Tanakh
The Tanakh is the canon of the sacred Scriptures of Judaism, corresponding to the Christian Old Testament. Its name is an acronym formed from its three sections: Torah (Pentateuch), Nevi'im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings). Written mainly in Hebrew with a few passages in Aramaic, it forms the theological, moral and liturgical foundation of Judaism and the common roots of the Jewish and Christian traditions.
Amos 1.1 (King James Version) :The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
INF051
The Codex Alexandrinus
The Codex Alexandrinus is a Greek biblical manuscript of the fifth century, made up of 773 leaves of vellum and containing most of the Old and New Testaments. Originating in Alexandria, it was presented to King Charles I of England in 1628 by Patriarch Cyril Lucaris. Today held in the British Library in London, it belongs to the Byzantine family of the text and is a major witness for textual criticism and the history of the transmission of the Scriptures.
-
INF052
The Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus
The Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus is a palimpsest manuscript of the 5th century (AD 400-440), discovered by Tischendorf in 1840 and held in the National Library of France. Written in Greek uncial script, it contains portions of the Old and New Testaments and belongs to the Alexandrian family of the biblical text, regarded as close to the originals. It is fundamental for textual criticism and the history of the transmission of the Scriptures.
-
INF068
The Vulgate
The Vulgate is a Latin translation of the Bible made by Saint Jerome at the end of the 4th century at the request of Pope Damasus I. Translated mainly from the Hebrew for the Old Testament and revised from the Greek for the New Testament, it became the standard version of the Roman Catholic Church for more than a thousand years. The Council of Trent officially made it the authentic edition in the 16th century. Its influence on Western culture, theology and liturgy is considerable.
-
INF069
The Peshitta
The Peshitta is one of the oldest translations of the Bible into the Syriac language (Aramaic). Its Old Testament was translated from Hebrew in the 2nd century, and its New Testament from Koine Greek in the 5th century. Meaning 'simple' or 'common', it is the standard Bible version of the Syriac Orthodox and Catholic Churches. It plays a major role in the transmission of the biblical texts and is a valuable source for textual criticism.
-
ANN044
The Nazirite vow
The Nazirite vow is a vow of consecration to God, derived from the Hebrew for 'to separate oneself', defined in Numbers 6. The Nazirite abstains from wine, from…
-
ANN054
The Jews
Article ANN054 clarifies the terms used to describe the people of Israel: Jew, Israelite, Israeli, Hebrew, and Semite. Each term has a distinct meaning depending on the…
-
ANN081
The fulfilment of the prophecies
The article examines how the prophecies of the Old Testament find their fulfillment in the life of Jesus, by identifying 24 points marked by events…