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Courses Reconquest > Understanding Old Testament History > Module 1

Module presentation 1 - Creation

God made the world to reflect His perfections, which are infinite. He could not have reflected Himself in just one being, however perfect, since every creature is limited. So, he created manifold creatures. His creatures are not only many, but also exceedingly varied, because, if they were identical, they could only represent a single perfection of God, as St. Thomas Aquinas teaches us (Summa Theologica I – q. 47. a. 1).

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (n. 319) tells us that “God created the world to show forth and communicate His glory. That His creatures should share in His truth, goodness, and beauty.”

To understand Old Testament History (the account of the main events that occurred with mankind, from its creation to the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ, based on Scripture), we will first consider the Work of Creation.

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Module presentation

Module lessons

Bibliographic references

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Module lessons 1

1. Old Testament History… or “my own history”?

What is Old Testament History? A succession of disconnected events? How can I become acquainted with it? What relation does it bear with my life? This and many other questions will be addressed in this first lesson, in an architectonic overview.  

2. Humanity’s millenary Wellspring

The Bible is a wellspring of light and blessings that satiates humanity. It is the source from which Old Testament history flows. Here we will form a synopsis of Sacred Scripture and discover how it was inspired and evolved.  

3. God: Principle, Sustainer and Centre of History

In this lesson we will encounter the supreme Protagonist of history and eternity and of all things: God. In the light of Catholic doctrine and Theology, we will study the life of the Creator, who is the Creator of all life.  

4. The Angels

Journeying back to the dawn of Creation, we will pause to marvel at the world of the Angels. We will strive to understand their superiority, magnificence and hierarchy and their role in the order of the universe, as we learn to turn to them in daily life.  

5. “Now war arose in Heaven”

In Heaven, before the ages, a great revelation put the Angels’ love for God to the test and divided their number. To the sound of St. Michael’s battle cry “Who is like unto God!” war broke out between the obedient and the rebellious Angels. As we contemplate that great battle, we will discover the true force behind the triumph of the Angels of light.  

6. Creation

The separation of the waters, the appearance of the dry land, the growth of the vegetable kingdom, the emergence of the heavenly bodies, of the animals, and of mankind will be dealt with in this lesson. Here we will behold the Divine Artist creating His masterpiece.  

Bibliographic References

ASENSIO, Félix; BARTINA, Sebastián; MORIARTY, Frederick L.; CRIADO, Rafael. La Sagrada Escritura: Pentateuco. [The Sacred Scriptures: Text and Commentary] Madrid: BAC, 1967.

BERTHE, Augustin. Jesus-Christ: Sa vie, sa passion, son triomphe. Dublin: Omnia Veritas, 2015.

BOULENGER, Auguste. La Doctrine Catholique: Manuel d’instruction religieuse. Paris: Librairie Catholique Emmanuel Vitte, 1933.

BROWN, S. S. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Hoboken: Prentice Hall, 1990.

CLÁ DIAS, João Scognamiglio. Maria Santíssima! O Paraíso de Deus revelado aos homens. [Mary Most Holy: God’s Paradise Revealed to Men] São Paulo: Arautos do Evangelho, 2020, vol. III.

______. Sermons. São Paulo: Arquivo ITTA-IFAT.

COLUNGA, Alberto; GARCÍA CORDERO, Maximiliano. Biblia Comentada. [Commentaries on the Bible] Madrid: BAC, 1960, vol. I.

FILLION, L. C. The Life of Christ. New York: Herder, 1948.

______. La Sainte Bible. Paris: Letouzey et Ané, 1923, vol. I.

JOSEPHUS, Flavius. Antiquities of the Jews. Delhi: Alpha Editions, 2021.

LAWRENCE, Paul; MILLARD, A. R. The IVP Atlas of Bible History. Westmont: InterVarsity Press, 2006.

LOUTH, Andrew; CONTI, Marco. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Genesis 1–11. London: Fitzroy Dearborn, 2001, vol. I.

MONLOUBOU, L.; BUIT, F. M. du. Universal Biblical Dictionary. Paris: Desclée, 1984.

OLIVEIRA, Plinio Corrêa de. Conferences. São Paulo: Arquivo ITTA-IFAT.

ROPS, Daniel. The Story of the Old Testament. London: Burns and Oates, 1956.

BÍBLIA SAGRADA. Pentateuco. [Holy Bible: Pentateuch] Pamplona: EUNSA, 2006, vol. I.

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