God’s Library

What Is In the Bible?

The Bible

• Bible reading and study is a basic requirement of all Christians.

• One common excuse for not reading the Bible is that we do not understand it.

• God wants us to read, understand and apply His Word in order to be saved (Jn. 8:32; 12:48; Rom. 1:16; 2;16; Eph. 3:4; 5:17; 2 Pet. 1:5; 3:18)

The Bible• Where do I begin? What is in the Bible?

• It is as easy as “one, two, three…”

ONE major theme (Jesus the Savior of All Mankind)

TWO major divisions (Old Testament and New Testament)

THREE major periods (Patriarchal, Mosaical,

Christian)

God’s LibrarySixty-Six Books in One Theme

39 Old Testament Books“Jesus Is Coming”

Genesis (3:15)to

Malachi (3:1; 4;5)Note

Lk. 24:44; Jn. 5:39

27 New Testament Books“Jesus Is Come”

Matthew (1:23)to

John (20:30-31; 21:25)“Jesus is Coming Again”

Acts (1:9-11)to

Revelation (22:12,22)

“Jesus the Savior of All Mankind”The Unfolding of God’s Plan to Save

Mankind

The Old Testament is the New Testament ConcealedThe New Testament is the Old Testament Revealed

The Bible• It is as easy as “one, two, three…”

ONE major theme (Jesus the Savior of All Mankind)

TWO major divisions (Old Testament and New Testament)

God’s LibrarySixty-Six Books in Two Major Divisions

39 Books of the“Old Covenant”

Genesis to Malachi(2 Cor. 3:14; Heb. 9:16)

27 Books of the“New Covenant”

Matthew to Revelation(Lk. 22:20; 2 Cor. 3:6)

Jeremiah 31:31Hebrews 8:7,13

New Covenant Promised

Old Covenant PassedEph. 2:14; Col. 2:14

Old Testament( 39 Books )

1. Law …. 5 books2. History …. 12 books3. Poetry …. 5 books4. Prophecy …. 17 books

(5 Major and 12 Minor)

New Testament( 27 Books )

1. Gospels …. 4 Books2. History …. 1 Book3. Epistles …. 21 books

(13–Paul , 8–General)4. Prophecy …. 1 Book

God’s LibrarySixty-Six Books in Two Major Divisions

Two Major Divisions, But Still One Theme:“Jesus the Savior of All Mankind”

God’s LibraryFour Sub-Divisions of the Old Testament

1. Law 2. History 3. Poetry 4. Maj. Pro. 4. Min. Pro.Genesis Joshua Job Isaiah HoseaExodus Judges Psalms Jeremiah JoelLeviticus Ruth Proverbs Lamentations Amos Numbers 1 Samuel Ecclesiastes Ezekiel ObadiahDeuteronomy 2 Samuel Song of Sol. Daniel Jonah

1 Kings Micah2 Kings Nahum1 Chronicles Habakkuk2 Chronicles ZephaniahEzra HaggaiNehemiah ZechariahEsther Malachi

God’s LibraryFour Sub-Divisions of the New Testament

1. Gospel 2. History 3. Paul’s Ep. 3.Gen. Ep. 4. ProphecyMatthew Acts Romans Hebrews RevelationMark 1 Corinthians JamesLuke 2 Corinthians 1 PeterJohn Galatians 2 Peter

Ephesians 1 JohnPhilippians 2 JohnColossians 2 John1 Thess. Jude2. Thess.1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemon

God’s LibraryEight Minor Divisions of the Bible

Law (5) Foundation Salvation Needed Gen. 3:15

History (12) Preparation Savior Prepared 2 Sam. 7:12ff

Poetry (5) Aspiration Salvation Desired Eccl. 12:13-14

Prophecy (17) Expectation Savior Foretold Isa. 7:14; 9:6

Gospels (4) Manifestation Savior Revealed John 20:30-31

History (1) Propagation Salvation Spread Acts 1:8

Letters (21) Application Salvation Applied Rom. 13:14

Prophecy (1) Consummation Salvation Completed

Rev. 21-22

Redemption of Mankind

The Bible• It is as easy as “one, two, three…”

ONE major theme (Jesus the Savior of All Mankind)

TWO major divisions (Old Testament and New Testament)

THREE major periods (Patriarchal, Mosaical,

Christian)

God’s LibrarySixty-Six Books in Three Major Periods

Patriarchal Age“Star Light”

Mosaical Age“Moon Light”

Christian Age“Sun Light”

Acts 7:8-9; Heb. 7:4 Luke 22:44 1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2Creation to Mt. Sinai (Genesis, Job)

Mt. Sinai to Cross(Exodus – Malachi)

Cross to Present(Matthew – Rev.)

God speaks to all mankind (Gentiles)

God speaks to Israel alone (Jews)

God speaks to all mankind (J. and G.)

God’s law revealed orally

God’s law revealed in the OT writings

God’s law revealed in the NT writings

Family worship Tabernacle and Temple worship

Christian church worship

Beginning of time to 1445 B.C.

1445 B.C. to 33 A.D.

33 A.D. to Present

Old Testament New Testament

God’s LibrarySixty-Six Books in Three Major Periods

Patriarchal Age“Star Light”

Mosaical Age“Moon Light”

Christian Age“Sun Light”

Genesis 3:15Genesis 49:10

Isaiah 53Micah 5:2

John 1:29Acts 2:36

The Savior is Introduced

The Savior is Foretold

The Savior is Identified as Jesus

Old Testament New Testament

Three Major Periods, But Still One Theme:“Jesus the Savior of All Mankind”

God’s LibrarySixty-Six Books in Three Major Periods

Patriarchal Age“Star Light”

Mosaical Age“Moon Light”

Christian Age“Sun Light”

Genesis Exodus - Malachi Matthew – Rev.

The Messianic Line in Infancy

The Messianic Line in Development

The Messianic Line in Completion

Needed (1-3)Promised (3:15)

Traced (4-5)Preserved (6-9)Blessed (12-50)

A NationA LawA Land

A Kingdom of God and Man

Kingdom At Hand(Matt. – John)

Kingdom Established(Acts)

Kingdom Citizens(Rom. – Jude)

Kingdom (Revelation)

Old Testament New Testament

Fifteen Minor Periods of Biblical HistoryAntediluvian - - 2556 B.C. Gen. 1-8 Gen. 3:1ff; 6:1ffPost-diluvian 2556 - 2166 B.C. Gen. 9-11 Gen. 9:1,7Patriarchs 2166 - 1805 B.C. Gen. 12-50 Gen. 12:3; 17:7Bond. - Exodus 1845 - 1445 B.C. Ex.1 – Num.14 Ex. 12-15Wandering 1445 - 1405 B.C. Num. 14 – Josh. 2 Deut. 8:1-3Conquest 1405 - 1385 B.C. Joshua 3 - 24 Josh. 21:43-45Judges 1385 - 1050 B.C. Judg. 1 – 1 Sam.9 Ruth 4:18-22Un. Kingdom 1050 - 931 B.C. 1 Sam.10 – 1 K.11 2 Sam. 7:12ffDiv. Kingdom 931 – 722 B.C. 1 K. 12 – 2 K.17 Joel 2:28-32Judah Alone 722 – 586 B.C. 2 Kings 18-25 Jer. 31:31Captivity 605 – 536 B.C. Ezek. – Dan.6 Daniel 2:44Return/Restore 536 – 445 B.C. Ezra - Esther Mal. 3:1ff; 4:5Intertestamental 445 – 4 B.C. Dan. 7-12 Dan. 11:32Life of Christ 4 B.C. - 33 A.D. Matt. 1 – Acts 1 Mt. 16:18Church 33 – End of time Acts 2 – Rev. 22 Rom. 16:16

• Read regularly (Acts 17:11)

• Read systematically (Luke 24:27,44)

• Read schematically (Gen. 2 to Rev. 22) = God and Man in Paradise Together; Paradise Lost and Regained

Reading God’s Library