The Bible

The world is full of many books but only one is from heaven. It is the Bible, the inspired word of God. The Bible is really not just one book. Rather, it is a collection of 66 books—39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. They were written by approximately 40 writers over a period of some 1600 years. The men who penned the Bible wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). They did not write in words of human wisdom but words divinely taught (1 Corinthians 2:13).

The Old Testament Books and Their Divisions

Five Books of Law

• Genesis. The word means “beginning.” It relates the account of creation (chs. 1-2); the fall of man and its consequences (chs. 3-5); the flood, God’s judgment on man and man’s new beginning (chs. 6-11); and the beginning of the Jewish nation: Abraham (chs. 12-25), Isaac and Jacob (chs. 25-36), and Joseph (chs. 37-50).
• Exodus. The word means “departure” or “an ” It is so named because of the principal event recorded in it—the departure of the Israelites from Egypt. It relates the conditions of the Israelites’ slavery (ch. 1); the birth, education and call of Moses (chs. 2-4); the ten plagues upon the Egyptians (chs. 5-11); the Passover and the miraculous deliverance of the Israelites (chs. 12-15); the establishment of the Law at Mt. Sinai (chs. 16-34); and the building of the Tabernacle (chs. 35-40).

• Leviticus. It is so named because it contains the laws that pertain to the Levitical priests.  It gives the priest’s qualifications and duties and relates the laws of the sacrifices and offerings, feast days, morals, cleanliness, foods, vows, etc.

• Numbers. This book’s name reflects the two censuses which were taken of Israel (chs. 1- 4 and ch.26), one at the beginning of the wilderness wanderings and the other at the end of the forty years of wandering. It reveals the organization of Israel (chs. 1-10); the wanderings in the wilderness (chs. 10-21); and instructions and preparations for entering the land of Canaan (chs. 22-36).

• Deuteronomy. The name of the book means “second law” (cf. 5:1-3; 12:32). Moses reviews the history of the past generation of Israel (chs. 1-3); admonishes the current generation to obey (ch. 4); repeats the law (chs. 5-11); gives some new regulations for living in Canaan (chs. 12-28); and commissions Joshua to take his place for the book records the death of Moses and his burial by God (chs. 29-34).

Twelve Books of History

• Joshua. This book bears the name of its leading character. Under Joshua the Israelites crossed the Jordan River (chs. 1-4); defeated the Canaanite nations (chs. 5-12); and divided the land among the tribes of Israel (chs. 13-22). The last two chapters contain the farewell address and death of Joshua (chs. 23-24).
• Judges. This book relates the history of Israel under God’s government by persons known as Beginning with Joshua and ending with Samuel, there were sixteen judges in all. This book reveals the history of thirteen of them: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah (with the help of Barak), Gideon, Abimelech, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, and Samson. The book tells how that on six occasions during the period of the judges Israel fell away, was oppressed, repented and was delivered.
• Ruth. This book is a beautiful love story of life among the Naomi and her husband and two sons journey to Moab where the two sons marry. After the three men die, Naomi returns to Bethlehem bring Ruth, one of her daughters-in-law, with her (cf. 1:16-18) where Ruth marries Boaz which causes her to become the grandmother of David through whose lineage Jesus was born.

• 1 and 2 Samuel. These two books tell of the change in Israel’s government from judges to kings. Eli and Samuel were the last two judges. The people wanted a king (cf. 1 Samuel 8). The reigns of the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David, are contained in these books.

• 1 and 2 Kings. These two books take up where 2 Samuel ends. They give the history of the reign of Solomon, the folly of Rehoboam and how it divided Israel, and the history of the divided kingdoms up to their captivities.

• 1 and 2 Chronicles. These books parallel 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 The first nine chapters of I Chronicles give genealogies from Adam to the end of the Babylonian captivity. The remainder of the books sets forth a panoramic view of history as it pertains to the tribe of Judah.

• Ezra. Ezra was a priest and This book is a record of the return of the Jews to Jerusalem from their Babylonian captivity, the rebuilding of the Temple, and the restoration of worship to God (cf. Ezra 7:10; Nehemiah 8:1-3).

• Nehemiah. The contents of Nehemiah and Ezra overlap but this book more specifically relates the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, a task which was accomplished in 52 days (cf. 6:15). The secret of their success is found in 4:6 and 16:23.

• Esther. This book bears the name of a Jewish She became queen of the Persian empire and Mordecai, her uncle, became prime minister which probably paved the way for the work of Nehemiah and Ezra. Although the name of God does not appear in this book, it, more than any other book in the Bible, demonstrates the providence of God.

Five Books of Poetry

• Job. The central theme of this book is the problem of suffering. Job was a “perfect and upright man” (1:8; 2:3) whom God allowed Satan to tempt by taking away all he had and afflicting him with extreme physical suffering (1:9-19; 2:4-8). In all of this, Job did not sin (1:22; 2:10). Following an exchange of speeches between Job and his three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—which takes up most of the book (chs. 4-31) and the dissertation of Elihu, a young man who had been listening (chs. 32-37), God answers Job and vindicates him (chs. 38- 41). Job’s possessions, family and health was restored (ch. 42).
• Psalms. This book is a collection of 150 poems and songs by David, the sons of Korah, Asaph, Solomon and others which were used in the worship to God. David wrote about half of them.

• Proverbs. “A proverb is a short, pithy, axiomatic saying, the life of which is antithesis or comparison” (Halley’s Bible Handbook, p. 269). This book is a collection of about 900 proverbs on such topics as temperance, righteousness, justice, purity, wisdom, prudence, industry, sin, etc. Most of them were written by Solomon.

• Ecclesiastes. The name of this book means “preacher” or “teacher.” Although the author is not named, the internal evidence points rather definitely to Solomon (1:1,12). He tried everything seeking happiness but all was “vanity.” The word “vanity” occurs 37 times. His conclusion: “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole of man” (12:13).
• Song of Solomon. This book is a love song between a man and a woman, highly figurative in its language.

Five Major Prophets

• Isaiah. He is known as the Messianic prophet. God has a remnant and it has a glorious
• Jeremiah. He is known as the weeping Jerusalem’s sin, doom and future glory.
• Lamentations. Jeremiah is It is a funeral dirge over the desolation of Jerusalem.
• Ezekiel. This book tells of the fall of Jerusalem, its restoration, and a glorious
• Daniel. Written while the Jews were in Babylonian captivity, this book tells of the four worldwide empires and God’s everlasting kingdom.

Twelve Minor Prophets

• Hosea. The prophecy of this book states that apostate Israel is to be cast off and other nations to be called in.
• Joel. This book is a vision of the gospel age and the ingathering of the
• Amos. This book announces the apostacy and wickedness of Israel and its certain doom but reveals the future glory of David’s kingdom.
• Obadiah. This book prophecies that the nation of Edom shall utterly perish.
• Jonah. This book chronicles an errand of mercy to Nineveh by its title character.
• Micah. In this book, the impending fall of Israel and Judah is It also speaks of the Messiah to be born at Bethlehem and His universal reign.
• Nahum. This book declares the doom of Nineveh, the capital of the nation of Assyria.
• Habakkuk. This book gives assurance of the ultimate triumph for the children of God.
• Zephaniah. This book declares the great day of God is The people of God are to then be called by a new name.
• Haggai. This book encourages the rebuilding of the Temple after the Babylonian captivity. It forecasts the more glorious Temple in the future.
• Zechariah. Also encouraging the rebuilding of the Temple, this book contains visions of the coming Messiah and His universal kingdom.
• Malachi. The book is the final Old Testament message to a disobedient

The New Testament Books and Their Divisions

Four Gospels

• Matthew. This book on the life of Christ quotes from the Old Testament frequently and seemed to have Jewish readers in mind. It focuses on the “kingdom of heaven.”
• Mark. This book seems to have been written primarily for Gentile It presents Jesus as the tireless servant of God and man. It records more what Jesus did rather than what He said.
• Luke. Written to Theophilus, most likely a high Roman official, this book presents Jesus as the Son of Man whose heart was full of compassion for the sick, sinful and poor.
• John. The last of the gospels written, this book emphasizes the deity of Jesus. Its purposes is stated in 20:30-31.

One Book of History

• Acts. Written by Luke, this book seems to be a continuation of his gospel. It records the early history of the church, especially the work of both Peter and Paul. It serves as a “blueprint” for conversion to Christ

Twenty-One Epistles

• Romans. Written by the apostle Paul from Corinth during the winter of 57-58, the general theme of this book is salvation by the gospel of Christ (1:16).
• 1 Corinthians. Written from Ephesus in the spring of 57, this letter by Paul was sent to the church at Corinth to correct several problems and sins including factions, immorality, lawsuits, eating meat sacrificed to idols, abusing the Lord’s Supper, marriage, and disorderly conduct in worship assemblies.
• 2 Corinthians. Paul wrote this epistle from somewhere in Macedonia during the summer or fall of 57 to defend his apostleship, set forth the glory of his ministry and the long martyrdom of his life.
• Galatians. Paul wrote to Galatia in 57 because Judaizing teachers had come there teaching that a Christian must also be circumcised and keep the Old Law.
• Ephesians. Sometimes called “The Church Epistle,” written by Paul from Rome in 62, this letter sets forth the grandeur and glory of the church, the body of Christ.
• Philippians. This epistle, written from Rome in 62, is Paul’s letter of thanksgiving to a church that had supported his work for 11 years everywhere he went.
• Colossians. Written from Rome in 62, as Ephesians had exalted the church, this letter by Paul exalts Christ setting forth His deity and all-sufficiency.
• 1 Thessalonians. This epistle was written by Paul most likely from Corinth in 52 just a few months after the establishment of the church in Thessalonica in order to correct a false idea concerning the second coming of Christ.
• 2 Thessalonians. Paul wrote this letter just a few weeks after 1 Thessalonians. Its chief subject is also the second coming of Christ.
• 1 Timothy. Written by Paul from Macedonia about 64, this letter instructs a young preacher how to “conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living ” It contains the qualifications of elders and deacons and several warnings against false teachers.
• 2 Timothy. This letter, written by Paul from Rome probably about 67, is his farewell to this young man who had been his “son” in the faith and coworker in the gospel for many years. It was written just before Paul’s death.
• Titus. Paul wrote this letter to another young preacher who was a coworker in the gospel with him. This epistle is very similar to 1 Timothy and was probably written about the same time.
• Philemon. Written from Rome in 62, this is the only purely personal letter of the apostle Paul. It was written to a brother in Christ who was the owner of a runaway slave whom Paul had converted and was returning to his master. Paul intercedes for the slave and asks Philemon to receive him as a brother.
• Hebrews. Though authorship of this epistle is questioned, it was most likely written by This book has two central themes: the lack of faith of the Jewish people and the change of the Law and the priesthood.
• James. Of the four men named “James” who were prominent in the New Testament, most scholars believe this book was written by the eldest brother of Jesus who was an elder in the church at Jerusalem. Written from Jerusalem in 61, it addressed Jewish Christians who were scattered abroad. It contrasts practical religion with mere profession.
• 1 Peter. Written by the apostle Peter from Babylon about 64 to the churches in Asia Minor, this book is a letter of encouragement to Christians about to face great persecution.
• 2 Peter. From Babylon about 65, this was Peter’s second epistle to the same people. It warns against apostasy and false teachers and describes the destruction of the universe at the second coming of Jesus Christ
• 1 John. This is the first of the epistles of the apostle All of them were probably written from Ephesus about 90. This epistle emphasizes the deity of Christ. It instructs Christians to walk in the light, not love the world, love one another and beware of the antichrist and false prophets.
• 2 John. This book is a letter to the elect lady warning against false teachers and instructing her and her children to abide in the teaching of Christ.
• 3 John. This epistle is a personal letter to Gaius commending him for his hospitality and rebuking Diotrophes for his love of pre-eminence.
• Jude. This book, from beginning to end, is a warning against false Jude identifies himself as a brother of James who was a brother of Jesus, therefore, Jude was a brother of Jesus.

One Book of Prophecy

• Revelation. Written by the apostle John from Ephesus about 95, it is the message of victory to those saints who faithfully

The Inspiration of the Bible

All the writers of the Bible were men of different circumstances. Often, they never knew one another. Yet, writing on the same general theme, the salvation of man, they wrote with no contradictions or errors. How was this possible? 2 Peter 1:21 says, “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit, according to 1 Corinthians 2:9-13, searched out the deep things in the mind of God and, in turn, revealed them to those men who wrote them down. According to Matthew 10:20, it was the Spirit of the Father who spoke through the apostles and other inspired writers. In Galatians 1:11-12, the apostle Paul said he received the things that he taught from heaven: “But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Therefore, he could affirm, as he did in 1 Corinthians 14:37, that the things that he wrote were not his own ideas but “the commandments of the Lord.”

The Bible’s Promises to Man

• Psalm 119:130. “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the ”
• Psalm 119:105. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
• Psalm 19:7-10. “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.”
• James 1:21. “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
• John 17:17. “Sanctify them by Your Your word is truth.”
• 1 Peter 1:25. “But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”
• John 12:48. “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”

What Makes the Bible Different

The Bible is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16), i.e., it is God’s message to us just as if He were standing before us and speaking to us face-to-face. Since it is from God, it is authoritative (1 Corinthians 14:37; John 10:35). It is the complete revelation from God to man. Its completeness is seen in that it was delivered for all men for all time (Jude 3), that it thoroughly supplies man with all he needs to accomplish those things God would have him to do (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and that it contains all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Since it was given to us by God to serve as our complete standard and guide, we must obey its commands and follow its precepts.