EXPLORE
The Old Testament and the Story of Salvation Many of the stories in the Old Testament tell about Abraham and his descendants, the Hebrews. The Old Testament recounts the story of Salvation. It reveals God’s plan for the human family and the covenant he made with the Hebrew people. The books in the Old Testament are important to Jews, Christians, and Muslims (followers of Islam). The fundamental belief that Christianity received from the Old Testament is that God is One. The principal prayer of Judaism is “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.” Christians believe that the promise of God’s covenant was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. They believe the Old Testament is God’s Revelation, or his communication of himself to us through words and deeds. This Revelation continues in the New Testament. The Old Testament tells the story of God’s people before the time of Jesus. It has 46 books. The New Testament tells the story of Jesus and the early Church. It covers a shorter period of time and has 27 books.
A Jewish boy wears a traditional yarmulke on his head and holds the Torah, a sacred book containing five books from the Old Testament.
Link to Liturgy The first reading during Sunday Mass is usually from the Old Testament. The second reading is from the New Testament. GO TO PAGE 171
SESSION 3 • God’s Revelation
1-21_3865_FGB_SE_G5_U1.indd
~ pg 11 ~
LoyolaPress.
I-Pass 9/6/13
11
9/6/13 10:36 AM