Old Testament

Before the world, only God existed: one God in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, living happily forever. There was nothing else: no stars, no planets, no animals, not even angels. Nothing else. What did the three divine Persons do? We can say that their eternal activity was to know and love one another, exchanging knowledge and affection.

In the beginning God created heaven and earth. The Bible tells of creation in six periods called days, a way of explaining it that is not opposed to the big bang. On the seventh day God ceased creating, and later the Lord intended this day to be consecrated and dedicated to Him.

God probably first created the angels, who are spiritual beings with very perfect intelligence and will. With their powerful understanding, they know the truth with agility and precision. With their strong will, they make decisions and carry them out without fail.

- In His goodness, God was not satisfied with the gifts already given. He wanted the angels to share in divine life and find a place in the divine family. And the Lord decided that this great treasure would not be imposed, but in part won by merit through a test. Then:

• Many of these spirits remained faithful to God and were rewarded with the eternal happiness of heaven. They are the angels.
• But many others rejected God. They despised divine love, preferring their own pride, the pride of being independent of the Lord. Consequently they were separated from God and fell into hell. They are demons.

God created man in His image and likeness, infusing an immortal soul. The first man was called Adam, and God placed him in a delightful place: the earthly paradise. Then He created woman, Eve. Moreover, the Lord gave them a share in divine life and grace. Man did not suffer, become ill, or die. He was in harmony with himself, with the Creator, with woman, and with creation.

- As in the case of the angels, the Lord also wanted man to accept God's love freely and earn Heaven. The devil, envious of their happiness, tempted them, and man became suspicious of his Creator, wanted to be independent of Him, and disobeyed the Lord. So Adam and Eve lost, for themselves and for their descendants, grace, holiness, and other gifts. Human nature, without being corrupted, was wounded in its powers, subject to ignorance, suffering, and death, and inclined to sin. So to do good, one must work to overcome the evil inclination. This situation in which everyone is born is called original sin.

- Adam and Eve were separated from God and expelled from paradise, but God did not forsake men; He promised a Savior (Messiah), who would reopen the gates of heaven. Then the Lord repeated this promise to the patriarchs and prophets.

They were leading figures of their families, outstanding for their faithfulness to God, for transmitting His promise, and for fulfilling the divine will. Abraham and his grandson Jacob, later called Israel, stand out. Their descendants are the people of Jacob, the people of Israel. God promised Abraham that He would make him the head of a great people, and that from his offspring the Messiah would be born.

- Jacob and his family moved to Egypt, where they multiplied into a large people. Among his descendants was Moses, chosen by the Lord to bring Israel out of Egypt and take them to the land of Canaan, as God had promised Abraham. The Lord led His people through the desert with several miracles, such as the passage through the Red Sea and the manna. He revealed Himself to Moses on Mount Sinai and gave him the Ten Commandments, establishing a covenant with the Israelites. They would be His people and He would be their God. With Moses, the Israelites became conscious of themselves as a people.

B. AFTER MOSES

- The people of Israel were not always faithful to the Lord. Then they were dominated by their enemies, until they returned repentant to God, who helped them through good leaders called judges, such as Samuel. Later they were ruled by kings: first Saul, then David and Solomon. David was beloved by the Lord.

- Later, the kingdom was divided in two: Israel (ten tribes) and Judah (two tribes). There were ups and downs in faithfulness to God, but bad behavior and idolatry spread widely. Then the Lord allowed them to be defeated and deported.

- In those years, the Lord chose some prophets from time to time and sent them to speak in His name to the people and remind them of their duties. For example, Elijah and Elisha performed many miracles. Among the prophecies, those that allude to the future Messiah stand out, such as some of Isaiah and the Psalms of David.

- They returned to Jerusalem, rebuilt the Temple, and tried to be faithful to God while waiting for the Savior. Some foreign kings tried to impose idolatry, and there were episodes of fidelity to the Lord. The Maccabee brothers managed to defend the people from these interferences.

- Then the Romans came and took control of the area, respecting religious customs. Then came the time when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. (Continued in: Life of Christ).