IV. What’s in the Bible?

The Old Testament:

Genesis Books of the Law: called

Exodus the Pentateuch (“five books”),

Leviticus record the early history and laws

Numbers of Israel from creation to the

Deuteronomy arrival at the promised land.

Joshua Books of History:

Judges record the history of Israel

Ruth from the conquest

1 Samuel of the promised land

2 Samuel to the return of Israel

1 Kings from exile in Babylon.

2 Kings

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

Job Books of Poetry:

Psalms called “wisdom literature,”

Proverbs include an epic on suffering,

Ecclesiastes devotional songs, practical

Song of Songs advice, and sensual allegory.

Isaiah Major Prophets:

Jeremiah writings of most important

Lamentations and prolific of prophets

Ezekiel recognized in Israel.

Daniel

Hosea Minor Prophets:

Joel writings of less important

Amos and prolific of prophets

Obadiah recognized in Israel.

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi


The New Testament:

Matthew Gospels: accounts

Mark of Jesus’ life and teachings.

Luke

John

Acts History: life and work of first

Christians, especially Paul.

Romans Pauline Epistles: letters

1 Corinthians of Paul to congregations

2 Corinthians and individuals.

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews General Epistles: letters

James by other early Christian

1 Peter leaders (or “apostles”).

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Revelation Apocalyptic Literature:

“unveiling” or symbolic vision

of final victory over Satan.
Two Thousand Year Timeline:

1900bc The Patriarchs

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob

1800bc receive blessings, descendants

Joseph taken to Egypt

1700bc Hebrews prosper in Egypt

1600bc Hebrews enslaved in Egypt

1500bc

1400bc

1300bc Moses leads Exodus, gets Law Joshua leads conquest of land

1200bc Judges rescue Israel from

chaos, moral, military defeats

1100bc

1000bc Kings Saul, David, Solomon

lead united Kingdom of Israel

900bc Divided Kingdoms of Israel

(north) and Judah (south)

800bc turn from the true God

and gradually decline

700bc Israel exiled in 721bc by

Assyria; ’10 Lost Tribes’

600bc Judah exiled in 586bc to

Babylon, conquered by Persia

500bc Return to Judah begins 537bc

2nd Temple dedicated 516bc

400bc Nehemiah governor 444bc

300bc Greek Empire conquers 333bc

200bc

Maccabean Revolt in 167bc

100bc Old Testament complete

Roman Empire conquers 63bc

0 ~4bc Christ born ~30ad crucified

Temple destroyed 70ad

100ad New Testament complete


How the Bible Came To Be:

·  39 Old Testament books accepted by Jewish authorities by 100 BC

·  27 New Testament books written within 65 years of Jesus, 50-95 AD

·  Most of New Testament is accepted as Scripture (2 Peter 3:16) immediately!

·  Gnostic and other counterfeits written and dismissed 150-300 AD

·  Muratorian Fragment lists 21 of 27 NT books accepted by 175 AD

·  Iranaeus reports four Gospels as pillars of the church by 180 AD

·  A few books are debated for years, but 27 are soon accepted based on:

Authorship—writer is a known and

trusted apostolic eyewitness

Accuracy—content matches message

proclaimed from the start

Application—majority of congregations

use and appreciate it

·  Translations to other languages from Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek spread the Word

·  Emperor Diocletian orders accepted list of Christian books destroyed in 303 AD

·  Canon of Scripture, long settled, is not discussed at Council of Nicea in 325 AD

·  Emperor Constantine orders Eusebius to copy 50 Bibles in 330 AD

·  27 NT books we know today are listed by Athanasius in a letter 367 AD

·  List is affirmed by all church councils at Hippo (393 AD), Carthage (397 AD)

What Supports Its Accuracy:

·  Scribal: 5,000 manuscripts as early as 250ad affirm scribal accuracy

·  Archaeology consistently affirms

geographic and political accuracy

·  Extra-biblical historians of the time

affirm historical accuracy

·  Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1947

affirm prophetic accuracy

·  Early dating and witness martyrdom

affirm testimonial accuracy

·  Logical implausibility of fabrication

affirms theological accuracy