Biblical Information

Posted on 18. Sep, 2009 by admin in Spring 2009

1. LANGUAGES OF THE BIBLE
The Bible was written in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Most of the Old Testament (Jewish Scriptures) was written in Hebrew, which has an alphabet of 22 letters (all capitals) and no vowels. The New Testament was written in Greek. Christians wrote their Scriptures in Greek because it was the most widely spoken language in the Mediterranean world.

2. THE MENORAH
Once the Temple was built in King Solomon’s time, a seven branched menorah burned continually in the sanctuary. It was the task of the Temple’s high priests to light the menorah. When the Jews reclaimed the Temple after returning from the Babylonian Exile, they introduced an eight branched menorah which is used today to celebrate Hanukkah. Over the centuries the menorah has become a main symbol of the Jewish faith.

3. THE LETTERS – INRI
Pilate ordered the Latin phrase (Jesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaearum, meaning Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews) put at the top of the cross of Jesus, who was crucified.

4. THE GOSPELS
The word gospel means “good news.” The word gospel appears 75 times in the New Testament. Not until more than 100 years after Jesus’ resurrection did Christians begin applying the word gospel to the first four books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

5. THE NUMBER 7
In the Bible, the number seven often has a special meaning. Because God completed the Creation in seven days, seven became a symbol for completion or perfection. Seven and multiples of seven were important in Jewish Law. The seventh day of the week was kept holy as the Sabbath, and every seventh year was designated a Sabbath year, when people weren’t allowed to farm their lands. In the book of Exodus God tells Moses to worship with seventy of the elders of Israel. In the New Testament Jesus sends out 70 disciples to travel ahead of him. He also tells Peter to forgive sinners “not seven times, but I tell you, seventy seven times.” The Book of Revelation is filled with references to the number seven. Jesus tells John, “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp stands are the seven churches.”

6. THE CITY OF JERUSALEM
Jerusalem is at least 4,500 years old. When King David captured it from the Jebusites around 1000 B.C., it was a small village. David chose it as his capital and expanded with new defensive walls, a grand palace and other stately buildings. He also brought the Sacred Ark of the Covenant to his new capital. Later, his son Solomon built a Temple to house the Ark of the Covenant. In many Bible passages the names City of David and Jerusalem are used interchangeably.

7. THE FISH: CHRISTIAN SYMBOL
Although the cross is the most famous symbol of Christianity, the fish was probably the first widely recognized symbol of early Christianity. Why? Christians apparently used the image of a fish as a secret code to identify themselves to one another while the Romans were persecuting them. Archeologists have found fish symbols in Christian tombs, on doorposts, and in Christian meeting places in the catacombs, the underground burial chambers beneath Rome.

8. ABRAHAM’S ROCK
According to biblical tradition, Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac on a rock. Later, it was believed that the Altar of the Temple in Jerusalem was placed above this rock. Today, the site of the Temple is occupied by a beautiful Muslim shrine, the Dome of the Rock. Muslims, who trace their descent from Abraham through his son Ishmael, believe that this is Abraham’s Rock. They also believe that their prophet, Muhammad, ascended into heaven from this spot.

Tags: Bible