Genesis (Creation - 1800 BC)
Historical Age: Beginning of Time, Ancient Near East
Creation of the world, Adam and Eve, Noah's flood, Abraham's covenant with God, and the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
Knowing Your Bible
What Does "Bible" Mean?
The word “Bible” originates from the Greek word “biblia,” which means “books” or “scrolls.” This term reflects the Bible’s nature as a collection of sacred writings, rather than a single book. The Bible spans thousands of years, composed by numerous authors across different times and places, all inspired by God. It serves as the foundational text for Christians and Jews, recording divine revelations, wisdom, prophecies, laws, and moral guidance.
The Bible is divided into two primary sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is shared with the Jewish faith and chronicles God’s creation, His covenant with the people of Israel, and His guidance through prophets, kings, and leaders. It contains stories from the beginning of humanity (Creation), key figures like Abraham, Moses, and David, and prophetic visions pointing towards a Messiah.
The New Testament focuses on the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus Christ, believed to be the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. It includes the Gospels, which tell of Jesus’ life, and the Acts of the Apostles, which document the early church’s growth. The epistles, or letters, offer guidance to early Christian communities, and Revelation presents a prophetic vision of the end times. Together, the Bible is a divine narrative that has shaped religious belief, culture, and history for millennia.
Parts of a Bible Book
The Bible is divided into two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament, each with distinct purposes and content:
The Old Testament
The Old Testament contains 39 books (in the Protestant Bible) and forms the foundation of the Bible’s story. It chronicles the creation of the world, the history of the Israelites, and God’s covenant with them. It includes the Law (Torah), which contains the first five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), the Historical Books (like Joshua, Judges, and Kings), Wisdom Literature (such as Psalms and Proverbs), and the Prophetic Books (Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others). The Old Testament establishes key themes like God’s holiness, justice, and the promise of a Messiah.
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Old Testament
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Book Classification
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Genesis
Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy |
Law
The Beginning, Patriarchs, The Exodus |
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Joshua
Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther |
Historic Books
Promised Land Conquest, Saul, King David, Exiles and Return |
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Job
Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon |
Poetry Books
Birth of Judaism and Jewish Folklore |
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Isaiah
Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Revelation Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi |
Prophecy Books
Physical Restotarion, The Messiah and the Kingdom of God |
The New Testament
The New Testament has 27 books and focuses on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is seen as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. It includes the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), which narrate the life of Jesus, the Acts of the Apostles, which tells of the early church’s growth, the Epistles (letters by Paul and other apostles), which offer guidance to believers, and Revelation, a prophetic book about the end times. The New Testament emphasizes grace, salvation, and the new covenant through faith in Jesus Christ.
Together, both testaments form a unified story of God’s relationship with humanity, from creation to the promise of eternal life through Christ.
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New Testament
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Book Classification
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|---|---|
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Matthew
Mark Luke John |
The Gospel
Birth, Life, Ministry, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus |
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Acts of Apostles
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The Begining of the Church
Chronicles of the aposles and the first century church |
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Romans
1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude |
Epistles
Letters from Apostle Paul, Peter, James, John, and Jude |
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Revelations (Apocalipsis)
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Prophecy
Written by Apostle John about the final victory of God over evil |
Chapter-Verse Structure
Navigating the Bible’s book-chapter-verse structure may seem daunting at first, but it becomes manageable once you understand how it works. Each of the 66 books in the Bible is divided into chapters, and these chapters are further subdivided into verses. For instance, when you see a reference like John 3:16, it means the book of John, chapter 3, verse 16. This structure allows readers to locate specific passages quickly, making study and reference much easier.
The Bible, however, wasn’t originally written in this way. Its earliest manuscripts had no chapters or verses—just continuous text. The division into chapters was introduced by Stephen Langton, an English clergyman, in the early 13th century. He created this system to organize the Bible in a more user-friendly format. Later, Robert Estienne, a French printer, introduced the division of chapters into verses in the mid-16th century. He wanted to make it even easier to refer to specific sections, especially for study and cross-referencing. This chapter-verse system has since become standard in virtually all modern Bible translations, helping believers and scholars navigate and explore the Scriptures with greater ease and precision.
Credits: Stephen Langdon statue photo by Ealdgyth – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11042409.
Robert Estienne photo by Rijksmuseum – http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.124508, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=84395075
The Bible in History
Understanding the Bible within its historical context greatly enhances comprehension and brings clarity to its messages. The Bible spans thousands of years, covering different eras, cultures, and political environments. Knowing the historical setting in which a particular book or passage was written helps us grasp the nuances and intent behind the text.
For example, the Old Testament reflects the experiences of the Israelites in various periods—ranging from slavery in Egypt, life under monarchy, to exile in Babylon. Knowing these historical events gives deeper meaning to the laws, prophecies, and promises in the text. Similarly, when we read the New Testament, understanding the Roman occupation of Judea and the Jewish expectations for a Messiah at the time of Jesus’ ministry helps us interpret the Gospels and the spread of Christianity in Acts.
Historical context also helps clarify the significance of certain practices, customs, and language that may seem unfamiliar today. Without it, we might miss important aspects of the story. By placing the Bible within the broader framework of history, we can appreciate its narrative flow, recognize the relevance of its teachings for its original audience, and apply its timeless principles to our lives today with greater insight.
Bible's Historic Timeline
Patriarchs (2000 - 1800 BC)
Historical Age: Bronze Age
The lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, establishing the Israelite people and God's covenant with them.
Exodus (1500 - 1400 BC)
Historical Age: Late Bronze Age
Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt, the giving of the Ten Commandments, and the wandering in the desert.
Judges (1370 - 1050 BC)
Historical Age: Iron Age I
Israel is ruled by judges such as Deborah, Gideon, and Samson in a time of cyclical rebellion and deliverance.
Kings (1050 - 586 BC)
Historical Age: Iron Age II
The united monarchy under Saul, David, and Solomon, followed by the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, ending in exile.
Poetic Books (Job, Psalms, Proverbs) (1000 - 600 BC)
Historical Age: Iron Age to Babylonian Captivity
Wisdom literature including Psalms, Proverbs, and Job, reflecting on life, worship, and suffering.
Prophets (750 - 400 BC)
Historical Age: Late Iron Age to Post-Exilic Period
Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel speak God's words of warning, judgment, and hope to Israel and Judah.
Gospels (4 BC - 30 AD)
Historical Age: Early Roman Empire
The life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Acts (30 - 60 AD)
Historical Age: Roman Empire
The spread of Christianity after Jesus’ ascension, led by the apostles, including Paul's missionary journeys.
Epistles (50 - 100 AD)
Historical Age: Early Christian Church
Letters written by apostles like Paul, Peter, and John to early Christian communities, offering guidance and teachings on faith.
Revelation (95 - 100 AD)
Historical Age: End of the Apostolic Age
John’s vision of the end times, the return of Christ, and the ultimate victory of God over evil.
This timeline illustrates the Historical Books of the Bible, covering the key events, processes, and main characters of each period.
Navigating The Bible:
Introduction
Introduction of the course about understanding the Bible.
Navigating The Bible:
Biblical Geography
An explanation of the geography of the Bible.
