This is the second in a Quick-Start Series for those who are either investigating the Christian Faith or for those who are looking for quick overview of basic, systematic teaching that will help connect the dots of all the sermons and lessons they have heard preached over the years.
In this article I want to answer the question: The Bible: Can I Understand it?
The short answer is Yes!!! So let's begin by starting at the most simple place - what does the word bible mean? I hope that you have a Bible near you as you study this article - you really need on to see some of the things I will be talking about.
Introduction To The Bible:
Here is Webster’s definition:
1) "a collection of writings." 2) the sacred book of Christianity; Old Testament and New Testament3) the sacred book of Judaism; Old Testament4) any book regarded as authoritative or official.We see then, that a bible is any collection of writings that are regarded as authoritative or official with regard to the subject that is being written about. This is why most Bibles will not just say “Bible” on the cover, but will say “Holy Bible” so as to distinguish it from any other types of bibles. In other words “Holy Bible” means that the Bible you hopefully holding in your hands is the sacred book of Christianity – both Old and New Testaments.
Notice that Webster also says that a bible is a collection of writings. As you browse through your Bible you will see that it really is a book of books. The Bible is divided into many smaller books, 66 to be exact.
The next thing you will notice is that each book has smaller divisions in them called chapters and verses. These are man made divisions to assist us in finding exact passages quickly and easily – such as John 3:16 – which means the book of John, chapter 3, verse 16.
Many Bibles have small headings at the beginning of chapters and additional sub-headings else where in the chapter which allows one to see the thought or subject that is covered and is about to change. One is better served by watching those instead of chapter and verse breaks. These are man made references which are convenient for reference, to be sure, but sometimes unfortunate in that they break off a narrative at the wrong place. The value of reading with continuity is that we discern the central line of thought, the pivotal idea, which is so essential to the understanding of others related to it.
As I said, there are 66 books in all, but even more interesting is that they were written by over 40 authors, covering a period of 1,500 years, over 40 generations.
The original languages:
The Old Testament was written primarily in the Hebrew language while the New Testament was written primarily in the Greek language. When the Greek language had gained much acceptance, the Old Testament was translated from the Hebrew to Greek and was called the Septuagint. This translation was made at Alexandria for Greek-speaking Jews. This version was finished about the beginning of the Christian era and became the Bible of the early Christian Church and is the oldest of all translations. It was made by seventy translators, hence the name, Septuagint which means 70.
Major view of the books of the Bible
1. The Holy Bible is first broken down into two main categories:
The Old Testament - which covers the period of time from the beginning of mankind to the birth of Jesus.The New Testament - which covers roughly the first 90 years after the birth of Jesus.2. The Old Testament is broken down into several smaller categories as follows: (If you would like, you could take your Bible and go to the Table of Contents, as I have done in my Bible and make a notation such as drawing a line between Deuteronomy and Joshua and in the margin write the words, "The Law". Here is the breakdown.
The Law - Or The Books of Moses, or the Pentateuch and were considered one book in the original Hebrew.
(Book Name:)(Abbreviation:)Genesis Gen.Exodus Ex.Leviticus Lev.Numbers Num.Deuteronomy Deut.History or the Historical BooksJoshua Josh.Judges Jud.RuthRuth1 Samuel1 Sam.2 Samuel2 Sam.1 Kings 1 Ki.2 Kings 2 Ki.1 Chronicles 1 Chron.2 Chronicles 2 Chron.EzraEzraNehemiahNeh.Esther EstherBooks of PoetryJob (pronounced Joe - b) JobPsalms Ps.Proverbs Prov.Ecclesiastes Eccl.Song of Songs (or of Solomon)S. S.Major Prophets (Major, because of the size of the books, not because of their importance.)Isaiah Is.JeremiahJer.Lamentations Lam.Ezekiel Ez. or Ezk.Daniel Dan.Minor Prophets (because these books are smaller, not because they are less important.)Hosea Hos.Joel JoelAmos Am.Obadiah Obad.Jonah Jon.Micah Mi.Nahum Na.Habakkuk Hab.ZephaniahZep.Haggai Hag.ZechariahZech.Malachi Mal.3. The New Testament Books are also divided into smaller categories as follows:
The Gospels(Book Name)(Abbreviation)Matthew Matt. or Mt.MarkMk.LukeLu.JohnJoh.HistoryActsActsEpistles: (means writings by means of letters sent)Romans Rom.1 Corinthians 1 Cor.2 Corinthians 2 Cor.GalatiansGal.Ephesians Eph.Philippians Phil.Colossians Col.1 Thessalonians 1 Thess.2 Thessalonians 2 Thess.1 Timothy 1 Tim.2 Timothy2 Tim.TitusTitusPhilemon PhileHebrews Heb.James Ja. or Jm1 Peter 1 Pet.2 Peter 2 Pet.1 John 1 Jn2 John 2 Jn3 John 3 Jn.JudeJudeProphecyRevelationRev.4. Not necessarily in chronological order
Because the books of the Bible have been grouped together by category, they do not necessarily follow a tight chronological order. A good example is the book of Job. The man Job actually lived in a period of time that would have probably placed the book bearing his name between Genesis and Exodus (most accurately, after Genesis chapter 12). You will also find that some books like Matthew are not in complete chronological order either. Matthew was not trying to accomplish the same goal as Luke, whose writings are very orderly. Matthew instead grouped his writings by the "discourses," or sermons of Jesus etc. Also, the Minor Prophets should fit into the earlier parts of the Old Testament.You will also find that some of the books bear the name of a person who wrote it, while others were written by someone else and sent or directed to the person bearing the name of the book.5. Overview of the Bible:
The most brief of overviews would be:
•God created a perfect human being in a perfect environment.
God created a perfect human being in a perfect environment.•Perfect man sinned and lost out in life and in relationship to his creator.
Perfect man sinned and lost out in life and in relationship to his creator.•Man became so sinful that God regretted creating him so He was going to destroy him.
Man became so sinful that God regretted creating him so He was going to destroy him.•But Noah found favor in the sight of God and through him, spared the entire human race.
But Noah found favor in the sight of God and through him, spared the entire human race.•Later God found another man Abram (Abraham) who pleased God, who God knew would “raise his children to follow after God.”
Later God found another man Abram (Abraham) who pleased God, who God knew would “raise his children to follow after God.”•God promised Abraham that He would bless Abraham so greatly that all the nations of the world would be blessed because of him.
God promised Abraham that He would bless Abraham so greatly that all the nations of the world would be blessed because of him.•That blessing began to be fulfilled when Abraham and his wife Sarah had a son Isaac in their old age.
That blessing began to be fulfilled when Abraham and his wife Sarah had a son Isaac in their old age.•God reconfirmed the promise of Abraham to Isaac who then had a son Jacob.
God reconfirmed the promise of Abraham to Isaac who then had a son Jacob.•God confirmed the promise of Abraham to Jacob and changed his name to Israel.
God confirmed the promise of Abraham to Jacob and changed his name to Israel. •Jacob/Israel had 12 sons and 1 daughter. Later the nation that God was beginning to build would take for its name, “Israel” and the 12 tribes of Israel would bare the names of Jacob's 12 sons.
Jacob/Israel had 12 sons and 1 daughter. Later the nation that God was beginning to build would take for its name, “Israel” and the 12 tribes of Israel would bare the names of Jacob's 12 sons.•This family of 70 went to Egypt to avoid a famine.
This family of 70 went to Egypt to avoid a famine.•400 years later they came out under the leadership of Moses. Only now, they are a nation of over 3 million people.
400 years later they came out under the leadership of Moses. Only now, they are a nation of over 3 million people.•They eventually come into the land that God had promise hundreds of years earlier and now they have their own land, no long wandering in the wilderness.
They eventually come into the land that God had promise hundreds of years earlier and now they have their own land, no long wandering in the wilderness.•For a period of time Israel is ruled by Prophets, then Judges, and finally by Kings.
For a period of time Israel is ruled by Prophets, then Judges, and finally by Kings.•But because of sin and rebellion, not everything went as great as one would hope or expect. The Kingdom is divided and continues for centuries in an "on again, off again" relationship with their true King, Almighty God Himself.
But because of sin and rebellion, not everything went as great as one would hope or expect. The Kingdom is divided and continues for centuries in an "on again, off again" relationship with their true King, Almighty God Himself.•Finally, God provided a Savior for their sins in the person of Jesus, born of a Virgin in Bethlehem, just as the prophets foretold.
Finally, God provided a Savior for their sins in the person of Jesus, born of a Virgin in Bethlehem, just as the prophets foretold.•Jesus is born, grows to manhood, is baptized by His cousin, John the Baptist and then ministers to literally thousands of people, healing their sick, casting out demons, performing miracles and even raising a few dead folk from the dead.
Jesus is born, grows to manhood, is baptized by His cousin, John the Baptist and then ministers to literally thousands of people, healing their sick, casting out demons, performing miracles and even raising a few dead folk from the dead.•However, He is crucified, and buried, but rose again on the third day just as He and several prophets hundreds of years before Him prophesied and became victorious over sin and death and the devil and now sits at the right hand of God Almighty waiting for the directive to return to reign for a 1000 years on the earth.
However, He is crucified, and buried, but rose again on the third day just as He and several prophets hundreds of years before Him prophesied and became victorious over sin and death and the devil and now sits at the right hand of God Almighty waiting for the directive to return to reign for a 1000 years on the earth.•Fortunately, He trained disciples whom He designated "Apostles" that they might be with Him and would give leadership to a new entity called the Church. He also filled them with the Holy Spirit and baptized them into the Holy Spirit.
Fortunately, He trained disciples whom He designated "Apostles" that they might be with Him and would give leadership to a new entity called the Church. He also filled them with the Holy Spirit and baptized them into the Holy Spirit.•This Baptism in the Holy Spirit was also prophesied by Joel, John the Baptist and Jesus Himself. It is still available and necessary for all believers today.
This Baptism in the Holy Spirit was also prophesied by Joel, John the Baptist and Jesus Himself. It is still available and necessary for all believers today.WOW
For the simplest of outlines or overviews, please look at and study the one that follows. It will be the outline we will use for the remainder of this book.
You will find that the Bible has been broken down into 14 time frames, periods, or eras. You will also note that for each era, there is the name of the key player or person, the number of years of that period, a brief description of what characterized that period and the geographic location of that period.
If you can memorize the following charter, you will have a simple but accurate summary of the story line of the Bible. Of course, in the following chapters we will go into a little more detail of the events of each period.
The following chart summarizes the entire Bible into 14 eras:
Time PeriodFigureYearsDescription Location
FigureYearsDescription LocationOld Test.
Creation Adam2000The first man Eden
Adam2000The first man EdenPatriarch Abraham 200 The first Patriarch Canaan
Abraham 200 The first Patriarch CanaanExodus Moses 400 The leader of the exodus Egypt
Moses 400 The leader of the exodus EgyptConquest Joshua The leader of Israel's army Canaan
Joshua The leader of Israel's army CanaanJudges Samson 400 The most famous Judge Canaan
Samson 400 The most famous Judge CanaanKingdom David 400 The most well-known Israelite King Israel
David 400 The most well-known Israelite King IsraelExile Daniel70 The major prophet during the exile Babylonia
Daniel70 The major prophet during the exile BabyloniaReturn Ezra The central "return" leader Jerusalem
Ezra The central "return" leader JerusalemSilence Pharisees 400 The religious leaders Jerusalem
Pharisees 400 The religious leaders JerusalemNew Test.
Gospels Jesus40 Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ Jerusalem
Jesus40 Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ JerusalemHistory Apostles The World
Apostles The WorldChurch Peter
PeterMissions Paul The World
Paul The WorldEnd Times Jesus New Jerusalem
Jesus New Jerusalem