Information on the Bible.
- The testaments of the Bible.
The Bible is divided into two parts,
the Old Testament and the
New Testament. A testament is a covenant.
The Old Testament deals with the old
covenant between God and man, exemplified in the law of Moses.
The New Testament deals with the new
covenant between God and man, exemplified in the sacrifice of Jesus
Christ on the cross.
- The languages of the Bible.
The Old Testament, except for
Ezra 7.12-26 and Daniel 2.4-7.28, was written in Hebrew;
those two exceptions were written in Aramaic. The
was probably written in Greek, though some believe it was
written in Aramaic or Hebrew and translated into Greek.
- The manuscripts of the Bible.
The Old Testament has three principal
documentary sources, namely (in order of antiquity) the Dead
Sea scrolls in Hebrew, the Septuagint
(abbreviated LXX) in Greek, and the Masoretic in Hebrew. (New Testament quotations of the Old Testament are frequently taken from the LXX.)
The New Testament has many documentary
sources, ranging from hefty codices written in Greek, Latin, Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Ethiopic, and Slavonic (among other languages) to tiny papyrus
fragments, preserved principally in the sands of Egypt and written in
- The apocryphal books. The Septuagint
eventually included several Old Testament
books that the Hebrew scriptures did not: Esdras, Tobit, Judith, some additions
to Esther, the Wisdom of Solomon, the
Wisdom of Sirach (also called
Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, the epistle
of Jeremiah, some additions to Daniel, four books of the Maccabees, and
the prayer of Manasseh. The New Testament
alludes to some of these books in several places, but they were not usually
regarded as on the same level as the Hebrew scriptures.
- Bible versions. The King
James version is elegant, but based on what is known as the textus
receptus, a Greek version based on manuscripts that are now regarded
as suspect in various passages. The New International version is more
colloquial than literal. The Revised Standard version is a bit more
liberal than many evangelicals would like. The New American Standard
Bible is probably the best so far
as sticking to the original Greek and Hebrew is concerned, and it helpfully
discusses expressions and turns of speech in its marginal
- The method of the Bible.
Later books usually build upon the principles laid down in earlier books.
The biblical authors were absolutely soaked in the scriptures that
came before them. They read them, memorized them, meditated on them,
lived them. Scriptural citations, allusions, and echoes fill the pages
of the apostolic writings. Nearly every passage of the New Testament bears some intrinsic, nontrivial
connection to the Old Testament.
It behooves the modern Christian to approach the scriptures with the
same passion and reverence evinced by those who penned what we now
know as the Bible.
External and internal divisions.
1.1-11.32: The primeval history.
25.19-28.9 (and 35.28-29): Isaac.
36.1-43: The descendants of Esau.
1.1-15.21: The exodus from Egypt.
15.22-19.25: Wilderness journeys.
20.1-31.18: The (first) lawgiving.
32.1-34.35: Golden calf and aftermath.
35.1-40.38: Construction of the tabernacle.
1.1-27.34: Levitical laws.
1.1-4.49: The first census.
5.1-25.18: Miscellaneous wilderness happenings.
26.1-65: The second census.
27.1-36.13: Miscellaneous laws and wilderness happenings.
1.1-11.32: The speech of Moses in Moab.
12.1-26.15: The (second) lawgiving.
26.16-34.12: Blessings and curses.
1.1-12.24: The conquest.
13.1-22.34: The inheritance.
23.1-24.33: The farewell speech of Joshua.
1.1-2.10: The conquest.
2.11-16.31: The cycle of judges.
17.1-21.25: No king in Israel.
1.1-8.22: Samuel the judge and prophet.
9.1-15.35: Saul as king.
16.1-31.13: David on the run.
1.1-24.25: David as king.
1.1-11.43: Solomon as king.
12.1-22.53: The divided kingdom, Elijah.
1.1-16.20: The divided kingdom, Elisha.
17.1-41: The deportation of Israel.
18.1-23.37: The kings of Judah.
24.1-25.30: The exile of Judah.
1.1-12.6: Prophecies over Judah and Jerusalem.
13.1-23.18: Prophecies over various nations.
24.1-27.13: Prophecies over that day.
28.1-33.24: The six woes.
34.1-35.10: The redemption of Zion.
36.1-39.8: Isaiah and Hezekiah.
40.1-66.24: The restoration of Judah and Israel.
1.1-38.28: Warnings to Judah and Jerusalem.
39.1-45.5: The fall of Jerusalem.
46.1-51.64: Prophecies over various nations.
52.1-34: The fall of Jerusalem, continued.
1.1-24.27: Prophecies over Judah and
25.1-32.32: Prophecies over various nations.
33.1-39.29: The restoration of Judah and Israel.
40.1-48.35: The vision of temple and land.
1.1-3.5: Hosea and Gomer.
4.1-14.9: Warnings to Israel.
1.1-3.21: The latter days.
1.1-2.16: For three transgressions,
and for four.
3.1-6.14: Hear this word.
7.1-9.15: Thus the Lord showed me, and behold!
1.1-21: The day of the Lord.
1.1-4.11: Jonah and the conversion
1.1-7.20: Prophecies over Samaria
1.1-3.19: Prophecies against
1.1-3.19: Prophecies of exile.
1.1-3.20: The day of the Lord.
1.1-2.23: Prophecies over the rebuilding
of the temple.
1.1-8.23: Prophecies over the return
9.1-14.21: The day of the Lord.
1.1-4.6: The day of
1.1-41.13: Book 1.
42.1-72.20: Book 2.
73.1-89.52: Book 3.
90.1-106.48: Book 4.
107.1-150.6: Book 5.
1.1-29.27: The proverbs of Solomon.
30.1-33: The proverbs of Agur.
31.1-31: The proverbs of Lemuel.
1.1-2.10: The testing of Job.
2.11-37.24: Job and his three friends.
38.1-42.9: The speech from the whirlwind.
42.10-17: The restoration of Job.
Song of Songs.
1.1-8.14: The lover and
1.1-4.22: The story of Ruth
1.1-5.22: The lamentation
1.1-12.14: All is vanity.
1.1-10.3: The origins of Purim.
1.1-6.28: Stories about Daniel.
7.1-12.13: Dreams and visions.
1.1-10.44: The return from
1.1-13.31: The return from exile.
1.1-9.44: The genealogies.
10.1-29.30: David as king.
1.1-9.31: Solomon as king.
10.1-35.27: The kings of Judah.
36.1-23: The exile of Judah.
1.1-2.23: The infancy narrative.
3.1-18.35: The Galilean ministry.
19.1-26.56: The Judean ministry.
26.57-28.20: The passion narrative and resurrection.
1.1-9.50: The Galilean ministry.
10.1-14.52: The Judean ministry.
14.53-16.20: The passion narrative and resurrection.
1.1-2.52: The infancy narrative.
3.1-9.50: The Galilean ministry.
9.51-22.53: The journey to Jerusalem and Judean ministry.
22.54-24.53: The passion narrative and resurrection.
1.1-14: The word.
1.15-12.50: The Galilean and Judean ministry.
13.1-18.11: The last supper and arrest.
18.12-21.25: The passion narrative and resurrection.
1.1-7.60: The church in Jerusalem.
8.1-12.25: The churches in Judea, Samaria, Damascus, Antioch.
13.1-28.31: The journeys of Paul.
1.1-8.39: The righteousness of God.
9.1-11.36: The nation of Israel.
12.1-16.27: Exhortations based on the righteousness
1.1-6.20: The wisdom of God.
7.1-16.24: Problems in the church.
1.1-7.16: The Pauline ministry.
8.1-9.15: The collection.
10.1-13.14: Paul and the super-apostles.
1.1-4.31: Law and grace.
5.1-6.18: Exhortations based on law and grace.
1.1-3.21: The position of Christ.
4.1-6.24: Exhortations based on the position of Christ.
1.1-4.23: Rejoice in the Lord.
1.1-2.23: Christ and the rudiments of
3.1-4.18: Exhortations based on Christ and the rudiments.
1.1-4.12: The faith and love of the church.
4.13-5.28: The hope of the church, and exhortations.
1.1-3.18: The day of the Lord.
1.1-6.21: Keeping the faith, pastoral instructions.
1.1-4.22: Keeping the faith, pastoral instructions.
1.1-3.15: Keeping the faith, pastoral instructions.
1.1-25: Appeal for Onesimus the
1.1-10.34: Endure to the end.
10.35-13.25: Receive the promise.
1.1-5.20: Exhortations to
1.1-5.14: Suffering persecution.
1.1-3.18: False prophets and scoffers.
1.1-5.21: Exhortations based on the gospel
1.1-13: Refusing hospitality
to false teachers.
1.1-14: Extending hospitality
to true brethren.
1.1-25: The way
1.1-3.22: The letters to the seven churches
of Asia Minor.
4.1-19.21: Seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls.
20.1-22.21: Last things.
Know your text!