Judeo-Christian Bible - A Reference Guide to the Books, the Authors, and the Dates of the Old Testament

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

- John 1:1

A Reference Guide to the Books, Authors, and Dates of the Old Testament

A Reference Guide to the Books, the Authors, and the Dates of the Old Testament

The Protestant Old Testament (39 Books)

1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, 5) Deuteronomy, 6) Joshua, 7) Judges, 8) Ruth, 9) 1 Samuel, 10) 2 Samuel, 11) 1 Kings, 12) 2 Kings, 13) 1 Chronicles, 14) 2 Chronicles, 15) Ezra, 16) Nehemiah, 17) Esther, 18) Job, 19) Psalms, 20) Proverbs, 21) Ecclesiastes, 22) Song of Songs, 23) Isaiah, 24) Jeremiah, 25) Lamentations, 26) Ezekiel, 27) Daniel, 28) Hosea, 29) Joel, 30) Amos, 31) Obadiah, 32) Jonah, 33) Micah, 34) Nahum, 35) Habakkuk, 36) Zephaniah, 37) Haggai, 38) Zechariah, 39) Malachi

The Catholic Old Testament (46 Books)

1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, 5) Deuteronomy, 6) Joshua, 7) Judges, 8) Ruth, 9) 1 Samuel, 10) 2 Samuel, 11) 1 Kings, 12) 2 Kings, 13) 1 Chronicles, 14) 2 Chronicles, 15) Ezra, 16) Nehemiah, 17) Tobit, 18) Judith, 19) Esther, 20) 1 Maccabees, 21) 2 Maccabees, 22) Job, 23) Psalms, 24) Proverbs, 25) Ecclesiastes, 26) Song of Songs, 27) Wisdom, 28) Sirach, 29) Isaiah, 30) Jeremiah, 31) Lamentations, 32) Baruch, 33) Ezekiel, 34) Daniel, 35) Hosea, 36) Joel, 37) Amos, 38) Obadiah, 39) Jonah, 40) Micah, 41) Nahum, 42) Habakkuk, 43) Zephaniah, 44) Haggai, 45) Zechariah, 46) Malachi

Basic Statistics of the Old Testament

The Number of Protestant Books = 39

The Number of Catholic Books = 46

The Number of Eastern Orthodox Books = 51

The Middle book = Book of Proverbs

The Largest Book = Book of Psalms

The Smallest Book = Book of Obadiah

The Oldest Book = Book of Job (~1,000 B.C.)

The Newest Book = Book of Malachi (400 BC)

The Chapters = 929

The Middle chapter = Job 20

The Longest chapter = Psalms 119

The Verses = 23,114

The Middle verses = 2 Chronicles 20:17,18

The Shortest verse = 1 Chronicles 1:25

The Longest verse = Esther 8:9

The Words = 602,585

The Letters = 2,278,100

The Books, Authors, and Dates of the Old Testament

1. The Book of Genesis was written by the Prophet Moses in the year 1,400 B.C.

2. The Book of Exodus was written by Prophet Moses in the year 1,400 B.C.

3. The Book of Leviticus was written by Prophet Moses in 1,400 B.C.

4. The Book of Numbers was written by the Prophet Moses in 1,400 B.C.

5. The Book of Deuteronomy was written by Moses in 1,400 B.C.

6. The Book of Joshua was written by Joshua in the year 1,350 B.C.

7. The Book of Judges was written by the Prophet Samuel in the year 1,000 B.C.

8. The Book of Ruth was written by the Prophet Samuel in the year 1,000 B.C.

9. The 1st Book of Samuel was written by the Prophet Samuel in the year 1,000 B.C.

10. The 2nd Book of Samuel was written by the Prophet Samuel in the year 1,000 B.C.

11. The 1st Book of Kings was written by the Prophet Jeremiah in the year 600 B.C.

12. The 2nd Book of Kingswas written by the Prophet Jeremiah in the year 600 B.C.

13. The 1st Book of Chronicles was written by the Prophet Ezra in the year 450 B.C.

14. The 2nd Book of Chronicles was written by the Prophet Ezra in the year 450 B.C.

15. The Book of Ezra was written by the Prophet Ezra in the year 450 B.C.

16. The Book of Nehemiah was written by the Prophet Ezra in the year 450 B.C.

17. The Book of Esther was written by an unknown author in the year 400 B.C.

18. The Book of Job was written by Prophet Moses in 1,400 B.C.

19. The Book of Psalms was written by King David in the year 1,000 B.C.

20. The Book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon in the year 1,000 B.C.

21. The Book of Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon in the year 1,000 B.C.

22. The Song of Solomon was written by King Solomon in the year 1,000 B.C,

23. The Book of Isaiah was written by the Prophet Isaiah in the year 700 B.C.

24. The Book of Jeremiah was written by the Prophet Jeremiah in the year 600 B.C.

25. The Book of Lamentations was written by the Prophet Jeremiah in the year 600 B.C.

26. The Book of Ezekiel was written by the Prophet Ezekiel in the year 550 B.C.

27. The Book of Daniel was written by the Prophet Daniel in the year 550 B.C.

28. The Book of Hosea, was written by the Prophet Hosea in the year 750 B.C.

29. The Book of Joel, by was written by the Prophet Joel in the year 850 B.C.

30. The Book of Amos was written by the Prophet Amos in the year 750 B.C.

31. The Book of Obadiah was written by the Prophet Obadiah in the year 600 B.C.,

32. The Book of Jonah was written by the Prophet Jonah in the year 700 B.C.

33. The Book of Micah was written by the Prophet Micah in the year 700 B.C.

34. The Book of Nahum was written by the Prophet Nahum in the year 700 B.C.

35. The Book of Habakkuk was written by the Prophet Habakkuk in the year 600 B.C.

36. The Book of Zephaniah was written by the Prophet Zephaniah in the year 650 B.C.

37. The Book of Haggai was written by the Prophet Haggai in the year 520 B.C.

38. The Book of Zechariah was written by the Prophet Zechariah in the year 500 B.C.

39. The Book of Malachi was written by the Prophet Malachi in the year 430 B.C.

40. The Book of Tobit was written by Tobit in the year 200 B.C.

41. The Book of Judith was written by an unknown author in the year 150 B.C.

42. The Book of Wisdom was written by Solomon in the year 100 B.C.

43. The Book of Sirach was written by Jesus ben Sirach in the year 200 B.C.

44. The Book of Baruch was written by Baruch in the year 150 B.C.

45. The 1st Book of the Maccabees was written by an unknown author in the year 100 B.C.

46. The 2nd Book of the Maccabees was written by an unknown author in the year 100 B.C.

The Ten Commandments of Judaism and Christianity

Official Church Lists of the 46 Books of the Old Testament

(It has been decided) that besides the canonical Scriptures nothing be read in church under the name of divine Scripture. But the canonical Scriptures are as follows: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua the Son of Nun, Judges, Ruth, the Kings, four books, the Chronicles, two books, Job, the Psalter, the five books of Solomon, the twelve books of the Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Tobit, Judith, Esther, Ezra, two books, Maccabees, two books.

- Council of Hippo, canon 36 (A.D. 393)

(It has been decided) that nothing except the canonical Scriptures should be read in the Church under the name of the divine Scriptures. But the canonical Scriptures are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, four books of Kings, Paralipomenon, two books, Job, the Psalter of David, five books of Solomon [Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom, Sirach], twelve books of the Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Tobit, Judith, Esther, two books of Esdras, two books of the Maccabees.

- Council of Carthage III, canon 47 (A.D. 397)

The whole canon of the Scriptures, however, in which we say that consideration is to be applied, is contained in these books: the five of Moses...and one book of Joshua (Son of) Nave, one of Judges; one little book which is called Ruth...then the four of Kingdoms, and the two of Paralipomenon...(T)here are also others too, of a different order...such as Job and Tobit and Esther and Judith and the two books of Maccabees, and the two of Esdras...Then there are the Prophets, in which there is one book of the Psalms of David, and three of Solomon...But as to those two books, one of which is entitled Wisdom and the other of which is entitled Ecclesiasticus and which are called of Solomon' because of a certain similarity to his books, it is held most certainly that they were written by Jesus Sirach. They must, however, be accounted among the prophetic books, because of the authority which is deservedly accredited to them.

- Augustine, Christian Instruction 2:8:13 (A.D. 397)

A brief addition shows what books really are received in the canon. These are the things of which you desired to be informed verbally: of Moses, five books, that is, of Genesis, of Exodus, of Leviticus, of Numbers, of Deuteronomy, and Joshua, of Judges, one book, of Kings, four books, and also Ruth, of the Prophets, sixteen books, of Solomon, five books, the Psalms. Likewise of the histories, Job, one book, of Tobit, one book, Esther, one, Judith, one, of the Maccabees, two, of Esdras, two, Paralipomenon, two books.

- Pope Innocent I, Letters 7 (A.D. 408)

(It has been decided) that besides the canonical Scriptures nothing be read in church under the name of divine Scripture. But the canonical Scriptures are as follows: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua the Son of Nun, Judges, Ruth, the Kings, four books, the Chronicles, two books, Job, the Psalter, the five books of Solomon, the twelve books of the Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Tobit, Judith, Esther, Ezra, two books, Maccabees, two books . . . Let this be sent to our brother and fellow bishop, [Pope] Boniface, and to the other bishops of those parts, that they may confirm this canon, of these are the things which we have received from our fathers to be read in church.

- The African Code, canon 24 (A.D. 419)

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The Traditional Names of the Books of the Old Testament

The 39 Traditional Names of the Protestant Old Testament

1) The Book of Genesis, 2) The Book of Exodus, 3) The Book of Leviticus, 4) Book of Numbers, 5) The Book of Deuteronomy, 6)The Book of Joshua, 7) The Book of Judges 8) The Book of Ruth, 9) The 1st Book of Samuel, 10) The 2nd Book of Samuel, 11) The 1st Book of Kings, 12) The 2nd Book of Kings, 13) The 1st Book of Chronicles, 14) The 2nd Book of Chronicles, 15) The Book of Ezra, 16) The Book of Nehemiah, 17) The Book of Esther, 18) The Book of Job, 19) The Book of Psalms, 20) The Book of Proverbs, 21) The Book of Ecclesiastes, 22) The Song of Solomon, 23) The Book of Isaiah, 24) The Book of Jeremiah, 25) The Book of Lamentations, 26) The Book of Ezekiel, 27) The Book of Daniel, 28) The Book of Hosea, 29) The Book of Joel, 30) The Book of Amos, 31) The Book of Obadiah, 32) The Book of Jonah, 33) The Book of Micah, 34) The Book of Nahum, 35) The Book of Habakkuk, 36) The Book of Zephaniah, 37) The Book of Haggai, 38) The Book of Zechariah, 39) The Book of Malachi

The 46 Traditional Names of the Catholic Old Testament

1) The Book of Genesis, 2) The Book of Exodus, 3) The Book of Leviticus, 4) Book of Numbers, 5) The Book of Deuteronomy, 6)The Book of Joshua, 7) The Book of Judges 8) The Book of Ruth, 9) The 1st Book of Samuel, 10) The 2nd Book of Samuel, 11) The 1st Book of Kings, 12) The 2nd Book of Kings, 13) The 1st Book of Chronicles, 14) The 2nd Book of Chronicles, 15) The Book of Ezra, 16) The Book of Nehemiah, 17) The Book of Tobit, 18) The Book of Esther, 20) The 1st Book of the Maccabees, 21) The 2nd Book of the Maccabees, 22) The Book of Job, 23) The Book of Psalms, 24) The Book of Proverbs, 25) The Book of Ecclesiastes, 26) The Song of Solomon, 27) The Book of Wisdom, 28) The Book of Sirach, 29) The Book of Isaiah, 30) The Book of Jeremiah, 31) The Book of Lamentations, 32) The Book of Baruch, 33) The Book of Ezekiel, 34) The Book of Daniel, 35) The Book of Hosea, 36) The Book of Joel, 37) The Book of Amos, 38) The Book of Obadiah, 39) The Book of Jonah, 40) The Book of Micah, 41) The Book of Nahum, 42) The Book of Habakkuk, 43) The Book of Zephaniah, 44) The Book of Haggai, 45) The Book of Zechariah, 46) The Book of Malachi, by Malachi

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Ikons of the Judeo-Christian Bible

Ikons of Judaism and the Judeo-Christian tradition

May the LORD God bless you in the name of St. Judas Maccabaeus.

The Tradition of Christianity - The Future of a Circumcised Christianity

No son of a man may be forcibly circumcised.

- Yebamoth 48a

The Future of a Circumcised Christianity

Christian circumcision is meant to please neither Jews nor Muslims, but to please God and Jesus and to finally become a physical member of the House of Abraham. All Christians are composed of a mind, a body and a soul. While God creates all souls circumcised from the start, it is now time for all Christians to circumcise their proud minds and to circumcise their male children from now and unto eternity. This is the final law of the Hebrews. Christian Gentiles should never forget that their ancestors once considered the Jews to be a ‘barbaric’ tribe with ‘barbaric’ customs such as circumcision.

Jesus never Preached against Circumcision

I. The Theory: In spite of later compromises, Jesus wanted all of his male followers to be circumcised, including Gentiles.

II. The Gospels: For I say unto you, until Heaven and earth pass away, not one word or one letter will pass from the law, until everything has been fulfilled. (Matthew 5:18, Luke 16:17)

III. The Conclusion: Heaven and earth have not passed away, therefore circumcision is still required for all male Hebrews

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Jesus Expected a Gradual, Incremental Increase in Circumcision

I. The Theory: Jesus never wanted to change the old law, but to have all men learn and obey them

II. The Gospels: Think not that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets. I have not come to destroy them, but to fulfill them. (Matthew 5:17)

III. The Conclusion: According to the law and prophets, all Christian males must fulfill them by being circumcised.

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A Circumcised Christianity is a Fulfillment of the Gospels

I. The Theory: Circumcision is God's law which all male Christians should teach and obey to the reach the highest seats in Heaven.

II. The Gospels: Whoever breaks the least of the commandments, and teaches others to do so, will be the least in Heaven, but whoever obeys and teaches others to obey all of the law will be greatest in Heaven. (Matthew 5:19)

III. The Conclusion: Even if circumcision is the least of the commandments, all male Christians should still obey and teach it.

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Christian Grace would be Strengthened by Circumcision

I. The Theory: Christians must be as righteous as the most righteous of circumcised Jews to enter Heaven.

II. The Gospels: Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-20)

III. The Conclusion: No Christian, no matter how righteous, can enter Heaven until they are circumcised.

By Christian tradition, the Gospels have always been considered the final authority when it comes to deciding the laws and customs of Christianity. It has never been illegal for Christians to circumcise their male children. In fact, there is ample historical evidence that, even before Christianity, Gentile believers in the God of Israel would have their male children circumcised. They were known as God-fearers. During the early centuries of Christianity, numerous Jewish-Christian families continued circumcising their male children while numerous Gentile Christians would also practice circumcision. It is only later that the Book of Acts, where circumcision was declared unnecessary, mainly through Paul’s influence, was included as an official part of the New Testament. All things being equal, the words of Jesus Christ carry for more weight and are more authoritative than the Book of Acts.

In short, the decisions reached by Peter, Paul, and others were in direct contradiction to the words of Christ and should not be considered the last standards of Christian tradition. The decision to allow the Gentiles to remain uncircumcised may well have been a hasty, perhaps even a temporary, measure in order to gain more Gentile adherents who would otherwise have been turned away because of their refusal to circumcise themselves. The Gospels carries far more authority than any other books of the New Testament. It is obvious that Jesus wanted all the old laws to continue as a basic part of his new religious movement. That is why the early Church fathers retained all of the Jewish Bible and called it the Old Testament. The Gospels message is quite clear, ‘Jesus came to fulfill the law. One of the oldest and most important of those laws is that of circumcision.’ With that in mind, it is now time for all Christians throughout to world to renew the covenant of Abraham by circumcising all their male children and to eventually make it a standard Christian practice. Unlike Judaism, Christian may utilize modern medical techniques to circumcise their foreskins. The Age of Hebrew Christianity has only just begun. Be not afraid of preaching the importance of male circumcision to all other Christians and even non-believers. From the beginning, circumcision was meant to be a Christian tradition. The Gospels have spoken and let no man claim that either Peter or Paul should take precedence over the words and commandments of Jesus Christ Himself.

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I. Reason for Circumcision: The Covenant of Abraham

II. Biblical Proof: This is my covenant, which you shall keep…Every man child among you shall be circumcised. (Genesis 17:10)

III. Inevitable Conclusion: Though many Christians are not blood-related to Abraham, they are a part of his House and subject to the same law. Most, if not all, followers of Abraham practiced circumcision.

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I. Reason for Circumcision: The Gospels of Jesus Christ

II. Biblical Proof: It is easier for Heaven and earth to pass away, than one part of the law to become invalid. (Luke 16:17)

III. Inevitable Conclusion: Circumcision is one of the oldest Hebrew laws and was commanded by God Himself. Regardless of past Christian tradition circumcision is still the law.

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I. Reason for Circumcision: St. Paul’s Obvious Approval

II. Biblical Proof: What value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God. (Romans 3:1-2)

III. Inevitable Conclusion: Although St. Paul appears to disapprove of circumcision in some passages, this is because he was fighting against those Christians who still believed it should be required. Paul himself was circumcised.

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I. Reason for Circumcision: To Be Like Christ - Christian

II. Biblical Proof: When eight days had passed for the circumcising of the child, His name was called Jesus. (Luke 2:21)

III. Inevitable Conclusion: Jesus Christ was circumcised on the eighth day. To be like Christ is to be circumcised. To be a Christian mother is to be like Mary’s and to circumcise their sons.

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I. Reason for Circumcision: To Be Like the Apostles

II. Biblical Proof: And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child…His mother answered…he shall be called John. (Luke 1:59-60)

III. Inevitable Conclusion: All of the Apostles and all the Disciples were circumcised. Jesus Christ Himself was circumcised along with His father, his brothers and all his ancestors and early followers.

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I. Reason for Circumcision: To Honor the Christian Martyrs

II. Biblical Proof: They put to death certain women, that had caused their children to be circumcised. (I Maccabees 1:60)

III. Inevitable Conclusion: St. Peter, St. Jason, St. James, St. Stephen, St. Thomas, , St. John & many other Christian Martyrs were circumcised.

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I. Reason for Circumcision: To Renew the Hebrew Tradition

II. Biblical Proof: Abraham took…every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin. (Genesis 17:23)

III. Inevitable Conclusion: To truly become a member of the House of Abraham, to distinguish oneself from the Pagans, and in order to fulfill the laws of God as commanded by Jesus, all Christians should now circumcise all their male sons by the age of 18.

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I. Reason for Circumcision: To Remove all Pagan Customs

II. Biblical Proof: They…leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation. (I Maccabees 1:48)

III. Inevitable Conclusion: Today, a growing number of Jewish and Christian mothers leave their sons uncircumcised. In the years to come, more and more Pagans will become hostile to Christianity and to the practice of circumcision. Oppose the Pagans.

I. Reason for Circumcision: To Convert the Jews & Muslims

II. Biblical Proof: Ishmael…was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised.- (Genesis 17:25), Abraham circumcised his son Isaac at eight days old, as God had commanded him. (Genesis 21:4)

III. Inevitable Conclusion: Devout Jews and Muslim will never convert to an uncircumcised Christianity.

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I. Reason for Circumcision: In Tribute to the Early Saints

II. Biblical Proof: Mattathias and his allies…forcibly circumcised any uncircumcised boys whom they found in the territory of Israel…They save the law from the hands of the Gentiles. (I Maccabees 2:45)

III. Inevitable Conclusion: The first 5 Saints of Christianity, St. Judas, Jonathan, John, Simon, and Eleazar were all circumcised Jews who fought against the Greeks who butchered anyone that practiced or opposed the new law that banned circumcision.

In those days there appeared in Israel men who were breakers of the law, and they seduced many people…They covered over the mark of their circumcision and abandoned the holy covenant; they allied themselves with the Gentiles and sold themselves into wrongdoing.

- I Maccabees 1:11-15

Women who had their babies circumcised were put to death, in keeping with the decree, with the babies hung from their necks; their families also and those who had circumcised them were killed.

- I Maccabees 1:60-61

The King sent messengers with letter to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah, ordering them to follow customs foreign to the land…to leave their sons uncircumcised, and to let themselves be defiled with every kind of impurity and abomination.

- I Maccabees 1:44-48

May the LORD God bless you in the name of St. Judas Maccabaeus.

The Judeo-Christian, Part VI. Neoliteralism, the Cornerstone of Judeo-Christian Theology

Fear God and keep His Commandments for this is the whole duty of man.

- Ecclesiastes 12:13

Part VI. Neoliteralism, the Cornerstone of Judeo-Christian Theology

Today, there are a countless number of methods along with differing schools of thought when it comes to Bible Studies and Theology. At least some astute observers might say there are already far too many, with each ‘method’ or ‘school’ contradicting another so that these traditionally Christian fields of study have become nothing more than a ‘Mystery Babylon’ intellectual enterprise. Obviously, adding yet another catchy term to the list would seem to be compounding the problem, rather than providing a solution. Nevertheless, the project of Neoliteralism, a new term for a new scholarly outlook, has only one intent and that is simplification. Neoliteralism, as the word implies, presumes to take the Bible literally, but it also includes a basic understanding of what the Bible represents. This understanding is simple, not complex, and general, rather than specific. Thus, a perfect example of Neoliteralism can be seen in the following comments and remarks:

I. The Holy Bible is the most published, read, studied, documented, analyzed, interpreted and discussed book ever known in the history of the world.
II. The Holy Bible is currently available in more alphabets, languages, and versions which are spoken and written by more ethnicities and cultures than any other book on earth today.
III. The Holy Bible is the the single most influential book underlying the development of nearly all the written languages still used on earth today.
IV. The Holy Bible is the official text of Christianity, the largest religion with the most followers in the entire world.
V. The Holy Bible is the cornerstone of monotheism, represented by the three great religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
VI. The Holy Bible is the chronological story of a single family’s relationship with a specific supernatural entity that began in 3760 B.C. with Adam and ended with Joshua ben Joseph (Jesus) in 33 A.D.
VII. The Holy Bible is the most powerful piece of literature in the modern world that has inspired, motivated, and influenced more individuals to think and act in more ways than any other written document in the history of the world.

Even if the simple generalizations just mentioned may appear controversial to some readers, each one of them is not only true, but a scientific fact that cannot be denied or dis-proven. In other words, Neoliteralism is willing to make ample use of the Statistical Sciences in order to further its primary agenda, simplicity. Is simplicity an objective goal? Is simplicity biased or politically motivated? The answers to both of those questions depend on the assumptions of what simplicity will do to the fields of Theology and Religious Studies. Put bluntly, there is an infinite number of ways of interpreting Neoliteralism‘s emphasis on simplicity. The non-believer might suspect that it is simply a code word for fundamentalist Christianity intent on quashing complex, sophisticated dissent of traditional Biblical belief systems. On the other hand, the believer may mistake simplicity as either an attempt to water down or dilute Christian truth or an absurd strategy to tear down the Church which has been built upon a continuing accumulation of scholarship compiled and studied throughout the centuries.

In other words, religious scholars may well be skeptical of this new contraption, this intellectual tool known as Neoliteralism. All things considered, they have every right to be. Indeed, for most readers this is the first mention of the word Neoliteralism. This original piece of jargon could end up being nothing more than another case of self-promotion. Theologians and Religious Scholars, just like nearly everybody in today’s world, crave attention. They crave readers, listeners, endowments, large offices, and higher salaries. For some, the spread of Christian intellectual truth is also a strong underlying motivation.

With that in mind, Neoliteralism must be honest with itself and with others about what the term really means. This includes the inventor of the word and author of this essay. In other words, who is the man behind the curtain pulling the strings of Neoliteralism? Well, for starters, Neoliteralism is obviously a self-interested attempt to be different. Are not all ‘methods’ and ‘outlooks’ found in Theology the same way? Of course they are. Theologians, like all intellectuals, entered the field out of a desire to have their religious ideas read and listened to by others. Assuming the factor of self-interest remains, here are the basic, and specific, agendas underlying Neoliteralism.

I. Neoliteralism is Catholic: Catholic Christianity is emphasized because it is older and has more adherents than Protestantism. The reason is simple, St. Peter was specifically chosen to be the leader by Joshua (Jesus) (NOTE: the author of this essay is a practicing Roman/Ukrainian Catholic scholar.)
II. Neoliteralism is Judaic: Athens, Greco-Roman Philosophy, and Hellenism are ignored in favor of Jerusalem, Mysticism, and Judaism. The reason is simple, Joshua (Jesus) was and is a Jew.
III. Neoliteralism is Iconoclastic: Extreme anti-Christian sentiments and assumptions found in the visual arts proves their inherently Pagan and demonic tendencies. The reason is simple, God prohibited the graven image as one of the Ten Commandments
IV. Neoliteralism is Scientific: Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is losing ground due to scientific dissent among experts. Natural law is concurrent with biological behavior of other mammalian species.
V. Neoliteralism is Evangelical: The continued popularity of the Bible, of Christianity, and their combined historical influence clearly indicates supernatural forces that cannot be explained scientifically. The probability of Christianity’s success and the Bible’s best-selling status are statistically impossible. Judeo-Christian theology is a statistically significant reality.
VI. Neoliteralism is Judeo-Christian: Numerous sayings and parables found in the Gospels have exact parallels in the Talmud, the Apocrypha, and in modern Orthodox Judaism.

VII. Neoliteralism is Catholic, Judaic, Iconoclastic, Scientific, Evangelical, and Judeo-Christian.

Honesty should not condemn a new idea, theory, or paradigm. In short, these particular aspects of Neoliteralism cannot, and should not, disqualify it from being taken seriously. No type of Theology can ever be objective due to the pre-existing preferences of their creator or inventor. Most importantly, the above statements of subjectivity represent a key component in Neoliteralism. How so? By admitting the simple, unspoken truth of Theology and Biblical Studies. Rather than remain in denial, Neoliteralism simply accepts the reality of dualism embedded in the historical differences of Judeo-Christian thought.

Sometimes, like a coin with only two sides, objective study of these differences is impossible to achieve. Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, even nonbelievers and Pagan, are either Catholic or Protestant because, regardless of their personal faith, they will always prefer one over another. This understanding is also true concerning the traditional Christian stereotypes which have, at times, erupted into violent opposition. Historically speaking, the Glorious Revolution of England and the Iconoclasm Rebellion of the Byzantine Empire are perfect examples of ideas armed with swords. Everyone, including every theologian is, in the end, either a Judaizer or a Hellenizer, an Iconophil or an Iconoclast, an Artist or a Scientist, who is Private or Evangelical about being Christian or Judeo-Christian. To summarize, Neoliteralism is brutally honest about its intentions of being barbarically simple about Theology and Biblical Studies. Complexity and sophistication are both acceptable, but there must be balance instead of a one-sided journey into obscurity and obsolescence.

May the LORD God bless you in the name of the Judeo-Christian tradition..