The Bible is God’s Word, made up of 66 books written over many centuries, telling the story of God’s relationship with humanity and His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is divided into two main parts: the Old Testament (39 books), which focuses on creation, Israel’s history, the Law, wisdom, and the prophets, and the New Testament (27 books), which reveals the life of Jesus, the growth of the early Church, and the hope of God’s eternal kingdom.
Old Testament
Genesis | Exodus | Leviticus | Numbers | Deuteronomy | Joshua | Judges | Ruth | 1 Samuel | 2 Samuel | 1 Kings | 2 Kings | 1 Chronicles | 2 Chronicles | Ezra | Nehemiah | Esther | Job | Psalms | Proverbs | Ecclesiastes | Song of Songs | Isaiah | Jeremiah | Lamentations | Ezekiel | Daniel | Hosea | Joel | Amos | Obadiah | Jonah | Micah | Nahum | Habakkuk | Zephaniah | Haggai | Zechariah | Malachi
New Testament
Matthew | Mark | Luke | John | Acts | 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 | Revelation
I. Structure and Divisions
The Christian Bible is divided into two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament.
1. The Old Testament
Based on the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), this section chronicles the history of the ancient Israelites, their laws, and their covenant with God.
- The Pentateuch (Torah): The first five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). These cover creation, the patriarchs, and the giving of the Law.
- The Historical Books: Books like Joshua, Judges, and Kings, detailing the conquest of Canaan, the era of judges, and the rise and fall of the Kingdom of Israel.
- The Wisdom Literature: Poetic and philosophical works, including Psalms, Proverbs, and Job.
- The Prophets: Divided into Major Prophets (e.g., Isaiah, Jeremiah) and Minor Prophets (e.g., Hosea, Micah), focusing on moral teachings and future restoration.
Note on Canon: The number of books in the Old Testament varies by tradition. The Protestant canon has 39 books, while the Catholic canon includes 46, and Orthodox canons may contain more.
2. The New Testament
Written after the life of Jesus, this section focuses on his teachings, death, resurrection, and the early Christian church. It contains 27 books universally accepted by most Christian denominations.
- The Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These provide four different perspectives on the life and ministry of Jesus.
- Acts of the Apostles: A historical account of the early church and the spread of Christianity.
- The Epistles (Letters): Letters written by apostles (primarily Paul) to early church communities to provide theological guidance. Examples include Romans and 1 Corinthians.
- Revelation: An apocalyptic text describing prophetic visions of the end times.
II. Original Languages
The Bible was written over a span of approximately 1,500 years in three primary languages:
| Language | Primary Usage | Context |
| Hebrew | Most of the Old Testament | The language of ancient Israel. |
| Aramaic | Portions of Daniel & Ezra | A common language of the Near East; also spoken by Jesus. |
| Koine Greek | The New Testament | The common trade language of the Eastern Mediterranean during the Roman Empire. |
III. Key Historical Translations
The translation of the Bible has profoundly shaped Western culture and language.
- The Septuagint (LXX): A Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible produced in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE. This was the primary Bible of the early Christian church.
- The Vulgate: A Latin translation by St. Jerome in the late 4th century. It became the standard Bible of the Western Church for over a millennium.
- The King James Version (KJV): Published in 1611, this English translation is renowned for its poetic style and significant influence on the English language.
- Dead Sea Scrolls: Discovered in the mid-20th century, these manuscripts provided texts 1,000 years older than previous Hebrew manuscripts, confirming the accuracy of transmission over centuries.
IV. Literary Genres
The Bible is not a single genre but a library including:
- Narrative/History: Stories of individuals and nations (e.g., Genesis, Acts).
- Law: Commandments and regulations (e.g., Leviticus).
- Poetry: Songs and prayers (e.g., Psalms).
- Prophecy: Divine messages and warnings (e.g., Isaiah).
- Apocalyptic: Symbolic literature about the end of history (e.g., Daniel, Revelation).
