Historical Criticism

OLD TESTAMENT

“You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.” (Exodus 20:5)

What: Exodus 20, The Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:5, the second commandment, prohibits idolatry and reveals one of God’s characteristics: jealous, and that He will punish the children of those who hate Him down to their third and fourth generation.

To Whom: As it would seem, the recipients of the text would have been the “Exodus generation of Iraelites” (DeCanio) and all future generations whom enter the covenant with God.

Who: The authorship of Exodus is directly ascribed to Moses. In Exodus 17:14, Moses was told to record on a scroll the episode of Israel’s victory over Amalek. It was also Moses who was instructed by God to write down the Ten Commandments.

Where: Moses was instructed to write down the Ten Commandments during his meeting with God on Mt. Sinai.

When: Moses lead Israel at his age of 80. Exodus must have composed between that time and before he died, prior to the Israelites arrival at the Land of Milk and Honey or the Promised Land. The book of Exodus could have been written in 1445 B.C to 1446 B.C. During this time, the Israelites were free from Egyptian captivity and are living in a ‘sedentary way in houses and villages, they are now living in tents and are wandering in the wilderness and then encamped at Mount Sinai.” (DeCanio)

Why: The commandments, were written to establish a “system of worship” (DeCanio) and for the Israelites, God’s people, to abide by moral codes as the Israelites promised obedience to God and so does God promise compassion to His people.

NEW TESTAMENT

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Who: Paul the Apostle and "Sosthenes our brother" wrote this epistle to "the church...