History In and Of the Bible

PART 1 :THE HISTORY IN THE BIBLE

History In and Of the Bible

Some Bible Stats

Chapters There are 929 chapters in the Old Testament and 260

chapters in the New Testament. This gives a total of 1,189 chapters (on average, 18 per book).

Psalm 117 is the middle chapter of the Bible, being the 595th Chapter.

Psalm 117 is also the shortest chapter of the Bible. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter of the Bible.

Some Bible Stats

Verses There are 23,145 verses in the Old Testament and

7,957 verses in the New Testament. This gives a total of 31,102 verses, which is an average of a little more than 26 verses per chapter.

Some OT Stats

Number of books: 39 Chapters: 929 Verses: 23,145 Middle book: Proverbs Middle chapter: Job 20 Middle verses: 2 Chronicles 20:17,18 Smallest book: Obadiah Shortest verse: 1 Chronicles 1:25 Longest verse: Esther 8:9 Longest chapter: Psalms 119 Largest book: Psalms

Some NT Stats

Number of books: 27 Chapters: 260 Verses: 7,957 Middle book: 2 Thessalonians Middle chapters: Romans 8, 9 Middle verse: Acts 27:17 Smallest book: 3 John Shortest verse: John 11:35 Longest verse: Revelation 20:4 Longest chapter: Luke 1 Largest book: Luke

From where did we get all of this?

Why are we here this morning?

Where did the Bible come from?(Sunday School answer: God!)

Why did the Bible come to us?

When did the Bible come to us?It is difficult to fully-appreciate the pages of

Scripture without first understanding the history during which God gave it.

Where did the Bible come from?

2 Peter 1:21 (NIV, 1984)For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,


“Verbal Inspiration”Since every word of Scripture was inspired, we also call this process verbal inspiration, or word-for-word inspiration. This is not to be equated with mechanical dictation, since the Holy Spirit guided the writers as they used their individual vocabularies and writing styles.

Question: In how many languages was the Bible FIRST written?Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek


The Scripture is a unified whole, true and without error in everything it says, for the Savior said,

John 10:35 "The Scripture cannot be broken."

Therefore it is the infallible authority and guide for everything we believe and do.


The Bible is fully sufficient, clearly teaching people all they need to know to get to heaven. It makes us…

2 Timothy 3:15"wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus“

and it equips us for… 2 Timothy 3:17

"every good work.”


Since God's plan of salvation has been fully revealed in the canonical books of the Bible, we need and expect no other revelations

Hebrews 1:1, 2. In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and

through whom also he made the universe.


The church is built on the teachings of the apostles and prophets

Ephesians 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and

prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.


In summary!

John 20:31But these are written that

you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have

life in his name.

The History In and Of the Bible

The History In the Bible

History = “His story”

Daniel 2:20b-21“Praise be to the name of God for ever and

ever; wisdom and power are his.

21 He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.

He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”


Old Testament (OT) covers approximately 4000 years of earth’s history in general and of God’s people specifically 4000-400 BC (give or take) Remember: Time before Christ (BC) counts

backward! It didn’t take all these millennia to write the OT.

That was done over a period of about 1000 yearsNew Testament covers about one century

1-100 AD It was written over a period of about 50 years


Patriarchs3500 yrs

Exodus - Judges400 yrs

United Kingdom120 yrs

Judahdivided kingdom

silence New Testament Christians

1500 BC 1000 BC 930 BC

Israel

722 BC586 BC 4 BC Jesus’ return

Abraham~2000 BC Jesus

us2000 AD

period of Patriarchs period of

Wanderings

period of Conquest

The History In the BibleLesson Three: Old Testament History

God Selects a Nationality for

JesusABRAHAM

Founding Father of the Jews

Genesis 12:1-8Genesis 21:1-7

Genesis 22:1-182000 BC

God Relocates His NationMOSES

God gave him the rules for living.

Exodus 2:1-10Exodus 19:3-6Deut. 18:16-19

1500 BC

God picked a nation to keep alive the promise and family line that would one

day produce Jesus.God Made A Jewish

King Jesus’ AncestorDAVID

All-Too-Human King1 Samuel 16:1-13

1 Chronicles 17:10-14Luke 1:26-33

1000 BC

The Savior forAll Nationalities

Luke 24:27

Period of the Founding Fathers of

the JewsIsaac, Jacob

Joseph, Judah

Period of the JudgesNational HeroesJoshua, Samson,

Samuel, Ruth

Period of the Prophets

Messengers from GodIsaiah, Jeremiah,Daniel, Ezekiel

The History In the Bible: Abraham and the Patriarchs


JesusABRAHAM





God gave him the rules for living


1500 BC


day produce Jesus.God Makes a Jewish King Jesus’ Ancestor

DAVIDAll-Too-Human King1 Samuel 16:1-13


1000 BC


Luke 24:27



Joseph, Judah


Samuel, Ruth




Anything you notice about lifespans before and after the flood?

They were longerWhat do most of

these people have in common?

In the line of the Savior


Birth of Abraham: 2166 BCJacob’s migration to Egypt: 1876 BCHere’s a date to hang your hat on!

Abraham – 2000 BCCan you name any famous events

from Abraham’s life?Rescuing Lot, prayer for Sodom and

Gomorrah, sacrificing Isaac


God Selects A Nationality for

JesusABRAHAM







1500 BC


day produce Jesus. God Makes A Jewish King Jesus’ Ancestor



1000 BC


Luke 24:27



Joseph, Judah


Samuel, Ruth




Terah

of Rebekah

Haran Nahor Abraham

Iscah, Milcah, Lot Bethuel of Hagar of Sarah

Moab, Ammon Laban, Rebekah Ishmael Isaac

Leah, Rachel

Esau (Edom) Jacob (Israel)

of Leah of Zilpah of Bilhah of Rachel

Reuben, Simeon,

Levi, Judah,

Issachar, Zebulun

Gad, Asher

Dan, Naphtali

Benjamin, Joseph

The History In the Bible: Moses, the Exodus, and the Journey


JesusABRAHAM





God gave him His rules for living


1500 BC


day produce Jesus. God Makes a Jewish King Jesus’ Ancestor



1000 BC

The Savior forAll Nationality

Luke 24:27



Joseph, Judah


Samuel, Ruth




Significant DatesBirth of Moses: 1527 BCThe Exodus: 1446 BC

Three months to SinaiA year at SinaiFirst foray into Canaan…back into the

wildernessConquest of Jericho: 1406 BC


Here’s another date to hang your hat on!

Moses – 1500 BCHow long did Moses and the Israelites wander in the wilderness between Egypt and the promised land Canaan?

Why?What special thing occurred at Mt. Sinai?


How long did Moses and the Israelites wander in the wilderness between Egypt and the promised land Canaan?

40 yearsWhy?They disobeyed God! (they didn’t go and

conquer Canaan when God wanted them too and tried to after God told them not too.)

What special thing occurred at Mt. Sinai?Giving of the Ten Commandments

The History In the Bible: The Era of the Judges


JesusABRAHAM







1500 BC


day produce Jesus.God Makes A Jewish King Jesus’ Ancestor



1000 BC


Luke 24:27



Joseph, Judah


Samuel, Ruth



The History In the Bible: The Era of the Judges

Period of the Judges: 1389–1050 BCThis era is best summarized in

Judges 21:25“In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.”

A period of frequent unfaithfulness to the LORD

Who were the more significant Judges?Ehud, Gideon, Samson, Samuel

The History In the Bible: The Age of the Kings


JesusABRAHAM







1500 BC


day produce Jesus. God Makes A Jewish King Jesus’ Ancestor



1000 BC


Luke 24:27



Joseph, Judah


Samuel, Ruth




United Monarchy – One NationSaul 1050–1010 BCDavid 1010–970 BCSolomon 970–931 BCTemple begun ca. 966 BC


Yet another hook to hang your memory hat on!

David – 1000BCWhat are some significant events from

David’s life?Saul, Goliath, Bathsheba, Absalom Why would God be so transparent with the

openness of problems that people like David had?

It shows they are sinful too and need a Savior


Rehoboam 931–913Abijam 913–910Asa 910–869Jehoshaphat 872–848Jehoram 848–841Ahaziah 841Athaliah 841–835Joash 835-796Amaziah 796–767Uzziah 790–739

Jotham 751–736Ahaz 742–728Hezekiah 728–697Manasseh 697–642Amon 642–640Josiah 640–609Jehoahaz 609–608Jehoiakim 608–597Jehoiachin 597 Zedekiah 597–587

Kings of Judah, the southern kingdom, loyal to the house of David


Hat hook!Fall of Jerusalem – 586 BC

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon70 year captivityBy the way. What ever happened to the

northern kingdom which abandoned the royal house of David?

Taken in to exile by Assyrian Empire in 722 BC, “10 lost tribes of Israel”

The History In the Bible: The Period of the Prophets

God Selected A Nationality for

JesusABRAHAM







1500 BC


day produce Jesus. God Made A Jewish King Jesus’ Ancestor



1000 BC


Luke 24:27



Joseph, Judah


Samuel, Ruth



The History In the Bible: The Period of the Prophets

Inter-Testamental Period

400 year period between the last of the Old Testament Prophets, Malachi and the birth of Christ

Silent because there was no divinely-inspired prophecy

Loud because of what was going on in world history!


Under Alexander the Great 333-323 BC Spread of Greek language and culture Unifying of great portions of Europe and Asia

Under the Ptolemies - Egypt 319-198 BC Writing of the “Septuagint” – the Greek translation of the OT Formation of the Sanhedrin – Jewish Supreme Court

Under the Seleucids 198-167 BC Restructuring of the Holy Land into “Counties”

Galilee, Samaria, Judea, Perea, Trachonitis Maccabean revolts (Matthaias and Judas “The Hammer”)

Alexander’s Empire

(Hellenistic Empire)

Writing of Septuagint

Greek translation of Hebrew Old TestamentThe Legend (via Letter of Aristeas – 2nd cent

BC) Commissioned by King Ptolemy II Philadelphus (3rd

cent BC) High priest in Jerusalem picked 6 men from each of

the 12 tribes 72 translators translated first five books of Moses

separately Each finished in 72 days Each translation was identical

Writing of Septuagint

Greek translation of Hebrew Old TestamentThe Facts

Translated between 3rd to 1st Cent BC There is not one Septuagint text All books of Hebrew OT are in there Order is the same as our English Bibles Includes some books from Apocrypha (1+2

Maccabees, Tobit) Includes some books in no other collection (3+4

Maccabees, Psalm 151)


An Independent Jewish State 167-63 BC Hannukah “dedicate” (December 164 B.C.) Struggle between Maccabeans, Hasidim and Hellenists Division of Jewish denominations (Pharisees, Sadducees,

Essenes, Zealots)Under the Romans 63 BC - 70 AD The rise of the Herods (half-blood Jews) Construction of empire-wide highway system Ending of rampant piracy on the Mediterranean Sea

Roman Empire Before and After Christ

(Roman Empire)


Put it all together!Jews were migrating all over the EmpireUnified language…“Quick” and safe travel routes…Hometown taxation of the empire…What do you have??God arranging world history for

salvation history

When the time had fully come…


JesusABRAHAM







1500 BC

God chose a nation to keep alive the promise and

family line that would one day produce Jesus.

God Made A Jewish King Jesus’ Ancestor



1000 BC


Luke 24:27

Period of the Founding Father of


Joseph, Judah


Samuel, Ruth



When the time had fully come…

Galatians 4:4“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law,

that we might receive the full rights of sons.”

The History In the Bible: The New Testament Era

The announcement of the birth of Christ to Mary of Nazareth (Luke 1:26-38) by the angel Gabriel to the return of Christ in all glory on the Last Day. (2000+ years and counting!)One could divide the NT era into 4 major

divisions: The Gospel Era (Matthew – John) The Church Era (Acts) The Mission Era (Acts) The Epistles


One could also divide the life and ministry of Jesus into 4 basic, major divisions: Early life – birth and infancy, 12 years old Early ministry – initial acceptance Later ministry – growing rejection Death and resurrection – final rejection

Palestine at the time of Jesus

Note the “counties”


Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, Judea in 5/6 BC Visit of the shepherds Magi

Killing of all boys in Bethlehem 2 years old and younger by Herod the “Great” (died ca. 4 BC)

Joseph, Mary, & Jesus flee to EgyptReturn to Nazareth, Galilee probably a year-

and-a-half after Herod’s deathNo record of Jesus’ life until his trip to

Jerusalem for the Passover with his parents as a 12 year-old


Flash forward 18 years…Jesus’ inauguration into his public ministry at

the age of 30 in late summer 26 AD Jordan River in Judea, east and down from Jerusalem John the “Baptizer”

Begins working his way north into Galilee in early winter 27 AD Wedding at Cana Other miracles

Begins calling followers (fishermen from Galilee)Year of popularity


First and Second years ministry In Galilee and Decapolis

Headquartered in Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee

Chooses 12 from among the followers to be hand-picked, specially-trained missionaries (“Apostles”)

Continues preaching again throughout Galilee 28 AD

Calms the storm on Sea of GalileeJohn the Baptizer beheaded by Herod Antipas,

son of the “Great” in early 29 AD


Third year of ministry – in Perea and JudeaJesus feeds 5000 on the northeast coast of

Sea of GalileeOpposition against Jesus begins to grow TransfigurationTime to head south to Judea, Fall of 29 ADHeadquartered in Bethany, Judea, 8 miles east

of Jerusalem (Mary, Martha, and Lazarus)Spends time across the Jordan in Perea

Palestine at the time of Jesus


Passover in Jerusalem in Spring of 30 AD Palm Sunday Holy Week

Spent final week of earthly ministry at the Temple teaching and preaching

Maundy Thursday – Holy Communion and “Love” Arrested in Gethsemane Tried twice before Sanhedrin Before Pilate and Herod Agrippa

Good Friday – death and burial


After three days (part of Friday, all day Saturday, part of Sunday) – Easter Sunday

How did Easter change a significant Christian church practice and tradition?

Worship moved from Saturday (in OT worship) to Sunday


Various appearances to believers for the next 40 days

Ascended into heaven from a mountain back in Galilee

For a complete history of Jesus’ life, read his inspired biographies in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John


Jesus’ mission commission to the Christian Church then:Acts 1:8

“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”

And to the Christian Church now:Matthew 28:19-21

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always,

to the very end of the age.”


The Age of the Early Christian ChurchFounding and upbuilding of the Christian

church in Jerusalem among believing Jews Acts 2-12 (“2 Luke”) Activities among believers Martyrdom of Stephen

The spreading of the Kingdom of Christ among the Gentiles Acts 13-28 Conversion of Rabbi Saul (Paul), missionary to

Asia and Europe


(mission journeys of Paul)


Where are we today?33% of the world's population is considered to

be Christian.

Top 3 Largest National Christian Populations:USA - 224,457,000 (85%) Brazil - 139,000,000 (93%)Mexico - 86,120,000 (99%)

There are approximately 38,000 Christian denominations in the world.


The Major Denominations: Roman Catholic - The largest Christian

group in the world today with more than a billion followers constituting about half of the world's Christian population.

Eastern Orthodox - approximately 225 million

Protestant - approximately 500 million


Today in America, about 75% of adults identify themselves as Christian. In comparison, the next largest religions in

America are Islam and Judaism. Combined they represent only about one to

two percent of the United States population.


Where are we going?Only God knows for the here and now, but…

…Where are we REALLY going?1 John 2:25

“And this is what he promised us--even eternal life.”

John 6:40“For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life,

and I will raise him up at the last day."

Next Time: The History of the Book Itself

When were the pages of Scripture written?

How was the Old Testament “canon” gathered?

How was the New Testament “canon” gathered?

Homework??

CreationFloodAbrahamMosesDavidDivided KingdomCaptivity in BabylonReturn & RebuildInter-Testamental Era

Jesus’ Birth & YouthBaptismGalilean MinistryTime of PopularityGrowing RejectionJudean & Perean

MinistryDeath & ResurrectionChurch in JerusalemWorld Mission Work

Try to remember this basic outline of Old &

New Testament History

History In and Of the Bible

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