Introduction to the Book of Daniel

Introduction

Why the book of Daniel?

“Son of man” - In your reading of the gospels you may recall the phrase “son of man” referred to Jesus. In the gospels, the phrase “son of man” is used 82 times. Jesus refers to himself often as the “son of man”. This phrase comes from Daniel chapter 7. As one of the teachers on the Sunday evening series I kept coming across this reference and I really wanted to study the book of Daniel. A few conversations with Gunny and boom, a Sunday morning series on the book of Daniel was born.

I am a fan of the prophets and the exile and post exilic study.

Before we start our study today we’re going to do an introduction to the book and look at the author, setting, literary style, timeline, and key themes.

Goals for our study of Daniel

Expand our knowledge of Daniel from the fiery furnace and the lions den to the kingdom of God.

Introduce concept of biblical theology from the book of Daniel.

Explore key themes in Daniel throughout the bible.

We’ll ask often: Where have I heard that before?

To make this introductory but give a taste for more advanced bible study. I’m not going to assume you know a lot of history or biblical knowledge. As such, I’m not going to give you a range of interpretations but give you what I think the best interpretation or answer. As such, if you disagree let’s interact during discussion time or after class.

How does the New Testament

Schedule

1/5 - Introduction

1/12 - Daniel 1

1/19 - Daniel 2

1/26 - Daniel 3

2/2 - Daniel 4

2/9 - Daniel 5

2/16 - Daniel 6

2/23 -

3/1 -

3/8 - Daniel 9

3/15 -

3/22 -

3/29 -

4/5 - The book of Daniel and the intertestamental timeline (Dave Goodgame)

4/12 - The book of Daniel and the Resurrection (???)

4/19 - The book of Daniel and the Son of Man Theme (Cody Dixon)

4/26 - The book of Daniel and Revelation (Dave Goodgame)

Author

Author

Author

Date

Author

The book of Daniel was written by Daniel.

Some or all could have been written by some of Daniel’s contemporaries but the overwhelming evidence points to Daniel.

Audience

Internal evidence

Daniel refer’s to himself in the first person often in the book.

Daniel

Audience

The book of Daniel is written to the exiled and post-exilic community of the kingdom of Judah.

Literary Style

Date

The book of Daniel was written between 536 BC and 515 BC .

Issues with later dates

Undercuts the prophetic tone of the book.

Undercuts the sovereignty of God over kings and nations.

Little value to the exilic and post exilic community.

Literary Style

Daniel is a mixture of historical narrative and apocalyptic genres.

Historical Narrative

Apocalyptic

Apocalyptic

Chaistic Structure of the Book of Daniel (from Hamilton)

Outline

Exile to the unclean realm of the dead ()

Four kingdoms followed by the kingdom of God ()

Deliverance of the trusting from the fiery furnace ()

Humbling of proud King Nebuchadnezzar ()

Humbling of proud King Belshazzar ()

Deliverance of the trusting from the lions’ den ()

Four kingdoms followed by the kingdom of God (-9)

Return from exile and the resurrection from the dead ()

With the Clouds of Heaven: The Book of Daniel in Biblical Theology The Literary Structure of the Book of Daniel

1, Exile to the unclean realm of the dead

2, Four kingdoms followed by the kingdom of God

3, Deliverance of the trusting from the fiery furnace

4, Humbling of proud King Nebuchadnezzar

5, Humbling of proud King Belshazzar

6, Deliverance of the trusting from the lions’ den

7–9, Four kingdoms followed by the kingdom of God

10–12, Return from exile and resurrection from the dead

With the Clouds of Heaven: The Book of Daniel in Biblical Theology The Literary Structure of the Book of Daniel

1, Exile to the unclean realm of the dead

2, Four kingdoms followed by the kingdom of God

3, Deliverance of the trusting from the fiery furnace

4, Humbling of proud King Nebuchadnezzar

5, Humbling of proud King Belshazzar

6, Deliverance of the trusting from the lions’ den

7–9, Four kingdoms followed by the kingdom of God

10–12, Return from exile and resurrection from the dead

The book of Daniel was written in a combination of Hebrew and Aramaic.

Hebrew

a

Aramaic

- 7:28

Key Themes of the book of Daniel

Key Themes

The primary theme of the book of Daniel is God’s sovereignty over kings and nations.

Earthly kingdoms and everlasting kingdom of God.

The primary theme of the book of Daniel is God’s sovereignty over kings and nations.

The numbers 7 and 10

Creation Account

Starting with creation

7

10

10

Daniel

70 Weeks

70 Weeks in Years

Visions and Interpretations

Biblical Theology Overview

Definition: Biblical theology is the attempt to understand and embrace the interpretative perspective of the biblical authors.

Biblical Theology

With the Clouds of Heaven: The Book of Daniel in Biblical Theology Biblical Theology

Biblical theology is the attempt to understand and embrace the interpretative perspective of the biblical authors.

Intent

Hamilton, J. M., Jr. (2015). With the Clouds of Heaven: The Book of Daniel in Biblical Theology. (D. A. Carson, Ed.) (Vol. 32, p. 21). Downers Grove, IL; England: Apollos; InterVarsity Press.

Definition: Biblical theology is the attempt to understand and embrace the interpretative perspective of the biblical authors.

New Testament usage of the Old Testament

What earlier biblical authors wrote and what later biblical authors interpreted them.

New Testament usage of the Old Testament

Old Testament usage of the Old Testament

Hamilton, J. M., Jr. (2015). With the Clouds of Heaven: The Book of Daniel in Biblical Theology. (D. A. Carson, Ed.) (Vol. 32, p. 21). Downers Grove, IL; England: Apollos; InterVarsity Press.

Hamilton, J. M., Jr. (2015). With the Clouds of Heaven: The Book of Daniel in Biblical Theology. (D. A. Carson, Ed.) (Vol. 32, p. 21). Downers Grove, IL; England: Apollos; InterVarsity Press.

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