JESUS CHRIST:
GOD’S REVELATION TO
THE WORLD
CHAPTER 4
THE PENTATEUCH, CREATION,
COVENANT, AND THE EXODUS
The Writing of the Pentateuch
Traditionally, Moses has been named the
author of the Pentateuch.
However, scholarship shows that the
Pentateuch reached its final form after
centuries of retelling, adapting, and
reinterpreting oral tradition.
Sources of the
Pentateuch
NOT A SCIENTIFIC
EXPLANATION OF THE
UNIVERSE
YAHWIST—vivid, earthy
style of writing with an
anthropomorphic view of
God
ELOHIST—emphasis on
prophesies; Abraham is
central figure
DEUTERONOMIST—
emphasis on morality and
the Law; highlights Moses’
speeches
PRIESTLY—census lists,
genealogies, numbers,
dates, proper ways to
worship
USED POPULAR IMAGES
TO CONVEY RELIGIOUS
TRUTH
The Creation Stories
1st—forceful,
stately, grand;
awesome dramatic
act by glorious,
majestic God
2nd—lighter in tone,
down-to-earth;
paints picture of
anthropomorphic
God
BOTH REVEAL IMPORTANT TRUTHS ABOUT
GOD, CREATION, AND HUMAN BEINGS
The First
Creation Story
There is only one
God.
God planned
creation.
Everything that
God made is
good.
The Sabbath is a
special day of rest
and worship.
The Second
Creation Story
Portray God as a potter
who molds Adam’s body
Very intimate
Creation of Eve from
Adam’s rib shows the
equal dignity of women
and men
YHWH wants the couple
“to become one,” to
enter into a close
relationship that mirrors
God’s own relationship
with them
Why include two Creation
Stories in the Bible?
Goodness,
love,
intimate
God
Aweinspiring,
great,
mysterious,
powerful
Sin Enters the World
The story of Fall explains
why human beings are not
always happy and do not
live forever.
The Serpent became the
symbol of evil.
Sin comes from the free will
of human beings
“Adam and Eve committed a
personal sin, but this affected
the human nature that they
would then transmit in a fallen
state.”
The Protoevangelium
“I will put enmity between you and the
woman, and between your offspring and hers;
He will strike at your head, while you strike at
his heel.” (Gn 3:15)
Covenant with Abraham
Relied solely on God’s fidelity
This covenant was tested when God asked Abraham
to sacrifice his son, Isaac, but the Lord’s messenger
stopped the sacrifice.
Abraham is a model of faith.
The Patriarch
Israel
Jacob secured his father’s
inheritance over his twin
brother Esau.
God repeated the
covenant to Jacob in a
dream on the road at
Bethel; years later, Jacob
wrestled a stranger who
gave Jacob a new name,
Israel— “one who
contends with God.”
Included in Jacob’s family
were his twelve sons from
whom came the Twelve
Tribes of Israel.
Joseph, the Favored Son
JOSEPH

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Beloved son who had
jealous brothers
Ended up in Egypt because
of his brothers’ treachery
Judah convinced the others
to sell Joseph for twenty
pieces of silver
Faithful to his master,
falsely accused, and
imprisoned
Forgave his brothers and
saved them from famine
JESUS



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
Beloved Son of God of
whom Herod was jealous
Holy Family ended up in
Egypt to flee King Herod
Judas betrayed Jesus for
thirty pieces of silver
Faithful to his Father, falsely
accused, and underwent his
Passion, Death, and
Resurrection
Forgave his executioners
and saved all humanity
The Exodus and the
Giving of the Law
Foundational event in the history of the Chosen People
The Prophet
Moses
Central figure in
the Old Testament
God appeared to
Moses in a burning
bush that was not
consumed by the
fire.
God instructed
Moses to lead the
Chosen People to
freedom.
The Passover
YHWH instructed the
Chosen People to
celebrate a sacred meal
to remind of God’s
deliverance.
Each Mass
commemorates Jesus’
sacrifice and saving
actions on the cross and
makes it present.
CENTRAL TO BOTH THE
JEWISH AND
CHRISTIAN FAITHS
The Sinai Covenant
Bound God and the
Chosen People in a
personal loving union
Revealed God’s special
love and mercy for them
Stipulated how God’s
People were to respond
to his love
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
SUMMARIZE THE LAW
“You shall be my
people, and I will be
your God”
The Exodus and the
Giving of the Law
Challenges in the Desert
The people grew frustrated
with Moses and made a golden
calf to worship.
Numbers records the
“murmuring” of the People
against Moses.
It took forty years before the
Chosen People could enter the
Promised Land.
Other Themes from
Leviticus and Deuteronomy
Leviticus stresses the theme of
God’s holiness and our need to
worship him with love.
Deuteronomy centers on God’s
love of Israel and exhorts the
nation to choose between
obedience to God and the Law.