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