General
Introduction
This
is one of a series of pages on the Bible and this particular one explains
just what you will find in the Bible.
In
the first part of this page we will repeat, for the sake of clarity,
what you will find on the "Why We Can Trust the Bible"
page in this series, but will then go on to outline the books you find
in the Bible today.
What
is the Bible : A Basic Introduction
The
Bible comprises 66 books
written over a 1600 year span by over 40 authors from every walk of
life. Originally it was written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.
It
comprises historical narrative, teaching, poetry and prophecy. It is
divided into two main sections, the Old and the New Testaments.
The
Old Testament covers the
period from the beginning of the world up to several hundred years before
Christ, and recounts the origin and history of the nation of Israel
during that time period.
The New Testament was
written probably between AD50 and AD100 and comprises
the four Gospels (accounts
of the life of Christ), the Acts of the
Apostles (account of the early years of the Christian
church), the letters
(written by early leaders to various churches and individuals),
and the Revelation (a
prophecy about the last times).
How
did it come to be written?
The earliest parts of the
Old Testament appear to have been written by Moses (one
of Israel's earliest and greatest leaders), often at the instigation
of God as an account of God's dealings with Israel.
Subsequently,
scribes obviously wrote down things that were happening and these were
formed into the historical books.
Other
key writers were king David and king Solomon, and then a variety of
prophets.
In the New Testament,
the Gospel writers collected together all the information they could
about the life of Christ, and thus we have four books recounting the
same history from differing viewpoints.
The
letters came to be written as the travelling church leaders communicated
with friends and with churches they had been to.
The
Revelation was written by the apostle John recording a vision he had
received.
The
Books in More Detail
If you turn to the Contents page of any Bible you
will find a full list of the books in the Old Testament. The following
is just a simple overview of the content of those books:
Old
Testament
The
first five books are often referred to as the Pentateuch 
Genesis
(history)
The
creation story, the story of Adam and Eve and the Fall, growth of civilisation
and sin of mankind, the stories of the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,
and Joseph.
Exodus
(history & Law)
The
story of the rescue of God's chosen people from captivity in Egypt and
the making of the great covenant, or agreement with God, at Mount Sinai.
Leviticus
(Law)
The
book about the Levites who were God’s priests in Israel, and the laws
that God gave for worship and for holy living in Israel.
Numbers
(Law & history)
The
first census of Israel, several chapters containing laws, then a narrative
section that follows the people of Israel from Sinai to Moab, east of
Palestine, over a period of 38 years.
Deuteronomy
(history & Law)
Before
Moses’ death he reminds Israel of all that had happened and the laws
God had given them as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.
Joshua
(history)
The
conquest of the Promised Land (Palestine or Israel).
Judges
(history)
Judges
tells of the gradual conquest of much of the land and the ongoing rises
and falls of the nation depending on the depth of their relationship
with God.
Ruth
(history)
Ruth
tells of how Ruth, a Moabitess, comes to be part of a Jewish family
and brings her widowed mother-in-law back to enjoying life. On return
to Israel she is eventually courted by Boaz who she marries. Ruth bears
a son who becomes David's grandfather.
1
& 2 Samuel (history)
1
Samuel begins with the story of the prophet Samuel, who has to anoint
Israel’s first king, Saul. Saul fails as a godly king and we then follow
David's early days before becoming king.
2
Samuel tells the story of David's rule, as king of both Judah and Israel
(the north.)
1
& 2 Kings (history)
‘Kings’
continue the story of the monarchy begun in 1&2 Samuel.
1
Kings begins with Solomon becoming king, and David’s death. It then
recounts the reign of Solomon, the break up of Israel into Israel in
the north and Judah in the south.
2
Kings continues the story of the monarchies of Israel and Judah. It
covers the period from about 850 BC to about 585 BC. During this period,
Israel fell to the Assyrians (in 721 BC), and Judah to the Babylonians
(586 BC).
1
& 2 Chronicles (history)
Written
for the returning exiles as a reminder of what God had done for them,
Chronicles are a restatement of the reign of David (1 Chron) and then
the reign of Solomon and building of the temple, followed the history
of the southern kingdom to the exile.
Ezra
and Nehemiah (history)
An
account of events after the Jewish exiles returned from Babylon, specifically
the rebuilding of the Temple and the walls of the city of Jerusalem.
Esther
(history)
A
short account of the escape of Jews from annihilation in Persia about
450BC. Esther, a Jewess, becomes queen, and has to risk
her life to reverse the royal edict to have the Jews killed.
Job
Possibly
one of the oldest writings in the Bible, Job is about suffering and
seeks to answer the question: why does God allow us to suffer? The first
two chapters give the historical background and these are then followed
by dialogues with Job's so-called "friends". In
the closing chapters we learn that wisdom is God-given.
Psalms
Psalms
is a collection songs or poems.
Proverbs
A
book of teaching, probably from Solomon, in the form of general teaching
in chapters 1-9, and then through short sayings for the rest of the
book.
Ecclesiastes
A
discourse, probably by Solomon at the end of his life, that shows that
human endeavour without God is pointless.
Song
of Solomon
A
love song, probably by Solomon.
Isaiah
(Prophecy & some history)
Isaiah
prophesied long before the exile but warned of it’s possibility. A book
of strong warnings, but also of great hope of what God would yet do.
Jeremiah
(History & Prophecy)
In
the closing years before the destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent
exile, Jeremiah was God’s witness in the capital city and with those
left in the land, who eventually fled to Egypt.
Lamentations
A
poem of lament after the destruction of Jerusalem.
Ezekiel
(Prophecy)
Ezekiel
was a prophet who was taken into exile in Babylon in one of the earlier
deportations. His message was first warning about Jerusalem’s destruction,
and then of hope for a return and rebuilding of the Temple of God. Ezekiel
was God’s witness in Babylon among the ordinary people there.
Daniel
(History & Prophecy)
Daniel
was taken in the exile to Babylon where he became a senior official
in that land. He became God’s witness to the court of Babylon. In the
latter chapters there are prophecies of the end times.
(At
the time of the exile, “God’s men on the spot” were Jeremiah in Jerusalem,
Daniel in Babylon, and Ezekiel with the common people exiles in Babylon.
They each speak God’s word into this amazing time of history)
Hosea
/ Joel / Amos / Jonah / Micah / Habakkuk / Zephaniah / Haggai / Malachi
So-called
“minor prophets” who brought God’s word to Judah and Israel at various
times prior to and after the exile.
New
Testament
The
Four Gospels:
Matthew (History)
The
ministry of Jesus seen with a strong Jewish slant.
Mark
(History)
The
ministry of Jesus seen with a strong slant for the Roman population
Luke
(History)
The
ministry of Jesus seen with a strong slant towards the Greek or generally
Gentile world
John
(History)
Written
quite a lot later than the three “Synoptic” gospels, John, more than
the others, seeks to speak to the whole world about the one who was
clearly God on earth.
The
Ongoing Church:
Acts
(History)
The
sequel to the Luke’s Gospel, Acts tells the story of the beginnings
of the church and the spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem as far as
Greece, under the power of the Holy Spirit.
The
Letters or Epistles (all teaching)
Romans
The
apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Rome, declares the basics of
the good news of Christ, salvation for all people.
1
& 2 Corinthians
Paul’s
letter to the church at Corinth. In the first one he deals with lack
of harmony and internal strife in the Corinthian church, a church he
had founded. In the second one he seeks to counter misunderstandings
about himself and his ministry.
Galatians
Paul’s
letter to the church in Galatia. In it he counters claims by some Jewish
Christians that a convert to Christianity must first embrace Judaism,
and must observe Mosaic law. He speaks about the freedom that comes
with Christianity.
Ephesians
Paul’s
letter to the church at Ephesus. This letter celebrates the life
of the church, a unique community established by God through the work
of Jesus Christ, who is its head.
Philippians
Paul’s
letter to the church at Philippi. In it he exhorts the church
to live the Christian life and to maintain good ethical conduct. He
also introduces Timothy and Epaphroditus as his representatives, and
warns against legalists and libertines.
Colossians
Paul’s
letter to the church at Colossae. In it he speaks against false
teachings which were being spread in the churches.
1
& 2 Thessalonians
Paul’s
letter to the church at Thessalonica. The first letter was written
to strengthen the new Christians in their faith. In the second one he
corrects wrong views about Jesus’ second coming.
1
& 2 Timothy
Paul’s
letters to his young friend and colleague, Timothy. In 1 Timothy
Paul encourages Timothy and gives him help and advice as to how the
church should be, and what kind of leaders it should have. He continues
this in the second letter and encourages Timothy to resist false teachers.
Titus
Paul’s
letter to his colleague Titus who he wants to teach to be a good leader,
and instructions how the church should behave.
Philemon
Paul’s
letter to his friend Philemon. With this letter he sends Onesimus, a
run-away slave and recent convert to Christianity, back to his master.
Paul pleads with Philemon, on the basis of love, to take Onesimus back
and treat him as a fellow Christian.
Hebrews
This
book, by an unknown writer, speaks to Jewish believers scattered around
the Middle East and shows how Jesus was the successor to Judaism.
James
The
apostle James wrote this very practical letter to encourage Christians
who were scattered around the Middle East, and covers a whole range
of very practical issues in living the Christian life.
1
& 2 Peter
The
apostle Peter again wrote (in his first letter) to scattered and persecuted
Christians in the early church to bring major encouragement in the face
of that persecution. In the second letter he speaks against false teachers.
1,2
& 3 John
The
first letter from John was against false teachers, and to encourage
Christians in their faith. In the second letter, a shorter one, he wrote
to a lady he knew, and to her church, about how important it is for
Christians to love one another. In the final very short letter he wrote
to thank his friend Gaius for supporting him against local opposition.
Jude
Jude
wrote to warn Christians against false teachers.
Revelation
Prophecy:
Revelation
An
amazing record of revelations that the apostle John received while in
exile on the island of Patmos, first of Jesus speaking to the seven
churches of Asia Minor, and then of the end times being rolled out under
the direction of Jesus, concluding with a picture of heaven.
Can
we help?
This page is one in a series and we therefore encourage
you to read the others, which we hope you may find helpful.
Perhaps you would like to talk further about these things or even have
someone pray with you. If that is so then the leaders of Rochford Community
Church are available to help you.
Remember,
if you want to e-mail Tony with any questions, it's tony.thomas@rochfordcc.co.uk
To
see the full range of resources on this site CLICK
HERE
Sunday Services
Back to Bible Pages (Contents)