This article serves as a foundation and informative piece designed mainly for beginners or those who want a refresher or reference to the components that makeup the Christian Bible. One should learn what the Bible is, when it was written, how many authors it has, how many books it has in it, how it’s broken down, the general categories that the books of the Bible fall into, how to read it, as well as we clear up the (*) throughout.
Words you should know to fully understand this article (& ones to follow) are located at the bottom of the article.
The Christian Bible is a historical text that was written by God through man using the Holy Spirit. It was written over the span of 1,600 years, from approximately the 2nd millennium BC (when Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible) and the 1st century AD (when Jesus’ disciple John wrote Revelation and other works after the Crucifixion of Jesus). BC represents the time period before Jesus Christ’s death. The Past. AD represents the time period after Jesus Christ’s death. The Present. Though the first 8 books of the Bible are written chronologically, most of the Bible is not. It does follow an order though and that is helpful when reading and studying. The dates of when the books were written are not necessarily chronological and that should be noted. For example, Moses is credited with having written the first 5 books of the Bible, but he did not live in the time of Adam and Eve when he recorded their history. John wrote Revelation which is future prophecy but he was one of Jesus’ disciples and did not live to see the words he wrote come to pass. We will discuss reading plans for the Bible at a future time. First, we need to get a good grip on the very basics so that we can navigate through those reading plans with much more ease.
There are *66 books in the Christian Bible.
Of these 66, there are 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books.
40 inspired-by-God authors wrote the Bible.
There are hundreds of versions of the Christian Bible in English today, but the most common ones used are: KJV (the closest translation from the original text), NKJV (a revised version of the KJV), ERV/ESV (Easy-To-Read/English Standard Version. Simplified, good resource, but not as profitable for gleaning the depth of God’s word.), NIV (New International Version). NLT (New Living Translation), AMP (The Amplified Bible which is a profitable resource for beginners when gaining context and greater understanding to the text being read), and The Blue Letter Bible (a gainful, free online program for search and study). Do research before purchasing a Bible and find out more about the people behind the version that you are considering. We will dig deeper into the different versions of the Bible later. Let’s take a look at what is actually in the Bible.
The books of the Bible can be broken down in many different ways and we will explore those ways later. For now, we’re going to break the Bible down into large, general categories: from the Old Testament, Law, History, Poetry and Wisdom, Major Prophets, Minor Prophets, and from the New Testament, The Gospels, Church History, Letters, and Prophecy.
Law consists of the books Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These 5 books are known as the Torah or Pentateuch in the Jewish faith.
History consists of the books Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.
Poetry and Wisdom consists of the books Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song Of Solomon.
Major Prophets consist of the books Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel.
Minor Prophets consist of the books Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
The Gospels consist of the books Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Church History consists of the book Acts.
Letters consist of the books Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude.
Prophecy* consists of the book Revelation.
The Old Testament is usually associated with the Jewish faith and expresses a way to salvation through the law for God’s chosen people in a time past. The New Testament is associated with the Christian faith and expresses a way to salvation through grace by faith in what Jesus Christ did on the Cross for all who believe today. The dividing factor of these two testaments, or time periods of salvation (also known as dispensations), is Jesus. The life, death, and resurrection of Christ is the central pillar of the Christian faith and is what began the new period we are in today known as grace.
When one opens a Bible they usually will find a page in the beginning that details the contents of the Bible breaking the books down between Old Testament and New Testament. Most Bibles will give pages to the books of the Bible for ease of finding them. At the back of most Bibles is a group of pages that serve as a resource for finding Bible verses either according to words, themes, or topics that the reader may want to examine closer. The verse lists provided under these topics are not complete and therefore further study and research is required to glean the fullness of the issues. When beginning to read a book of the Bible one will be greeted with a title that is usually hard to miss. Some books of the Bible begin with explaining who is writing and the setting that the book is taking place in. But that is not for all books of the Bible. The page will usually be divided by two columns per page and the reader would begin on the left side working their way down the first column before beginning onto the neighboring column. Each book of the Bible is divided by chapters and are identified by a large number. Each chapter is broken down by verses, generally a sentence or complete thought, and are identified by a small number beside them. So if we’re seeking for Jeremiah 29:13, we would find the book Jeremiah first, then we search for the large number 29 identifying the chapter of the book, and finally we scan the page for the smaller number 13 to finally encounter the verse. Try seeking that verse out for yourself. If you read: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” then you are in the right place!
Congrats! You now know the basics of the components of the Bible and how to navigate through it. The article that follows this one as a sort of part two is titled The Authors of The Books of The Bible and will provide the books of the Bible with their dates and their authors. An informational, biographical summary will be provided for each author for those who wish to understand the pen behind the paper. This part two will be available soon so subscribe if you haven’t already so you don’t miss any new posts!
*There are also extracanonical books which are other authentic texts that are not particularly profitable for doctrine but are great sources and accounts of historical figures and events. These 14 books are also known as the Apocrypha and include the titles: The First Book of Esdras, The Second Book of Esdras, The First Book of the Maccabees, The Second Book of the Maccabees, The Book of Baruch, The Book of Bel and the Dragon, Ecclesiastes or the Preacher, The Book of Enoch, The Book of Judith, The Prayer of Manasseh, The Book of Jasher, The History of Susanna, The Book of Tobit, and The Book of Wisdom. These “extra” texts are most commonly known for being books that are not accepted writings in our doctrine today. Why and who has set these books aside is a study for a different time.
*There are various prophets and many prophecies throughout the Bible. Here we are categorizing future, unfulfilled prophecy. Some aspects of Revelation are believed to have occurred or are believed to currently be occurring. This is mostly inconsequential when categorizing Revelation, as the majority of the book still has yet to have occurred and therefore is future, unfulfilled prophecy. As previously stated, there are many ways to categorize or break down the books of the Bible and the events therein. We will be looking closer at these various perspectives in the future.
Words you should know to fully understand this article & ones to follow:
Testament – The name of each general division of the canonical books of the sacred Scriptures; as the Old Testament; and the New Testament. The name is equivalent to covenant, and in our use of it, we apply it to the books which contain the old and new dispensations; that of Moses, and that of Jesus Christ.
Covenant – A mutual consent or agreement of two or more persons, to do or to forbear some act or thing; a contract; stipulation.
In theology, the covenant of works is that implied in the commands, prohibitions, and promises of God; the promise of God to man, that man’s perfect obedience should entitle him to happiness. This do, and live; that do, and die.
The covenant of redemption is the mutual agreement between the Father and Son, respecting the redemption of sinners by Christ.
The covenant of grace is that by which God engages to bestow salvation on man, upon the condition that man shall believe in Christ and yield obedience to the terms of the gospel.
Gospel – The history of the birth, life, actions, death, resurrection, ascension, and doctrines of Jesus Christ; or a revelation of the grace of God to fallen man through a mediator, including the character, actions, and doctrines of Christ, with the whole scheme of salvation, as revealed by Christ and his apostles. This gospel is said to have been preached to Abraham, by the promise, ‘in thee shall all nations be blessed.’ Galatians 3:8.
It is called the gospel of God. Romans 1:1.
It is called the gospel of Christ. Romans 1:16.
It is called the gospel of salvation. Ephesians 1:13.
God’s word.
Prophecy – A foretelling; prediction; a declaration of something to come. As God only knows future events with certainty, no being but God or some person informed by him, can utter a real prophecy The prophecies recorded in Scripture, when fulfilled, afford most convincing evidence of the divine original of the Scriptures, as those who uttered the prophecies could not have foreknown the events predicted without supernatural instruction. 2 Peter 1:19.
Faith – Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity, without other evidence; the judgment that what another states or testifies is the truth.
The faith of the gospel is that emotion of the mind, which is called trust or confidence, exercised towards the moral character of God, and particularly of the Savior.
In theology, the assent of the mind or understanding to the truth of what God has revealed. Simple belief of the scriptures, of the being and perfections of God, and of the existence, character, and doctrines of Christ, founded on the testimony of the sacred writers, is called historical or speculative faith.
Evangelical, justifying, or saving faith is the assent of the mind to the truth of divine revelation, on the authority of God’s testimony, accompanied with a cordial assent of the will or approbation of the heart; an entire confidence or trust in God’s character and declarations, and in the character and doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the will to his guidance, and dependence on his merits for salvation. In other words, that firm belief of God’s testimony, and of the truth of the gospel, which influences the will, and leads to an entire reliance on Christ for salvation.
Being justified by faith Romans 5:1.
Without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:1.
For we walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7.
Grace – Favor; good will; kindness; disposition to oblige another; as a grant made as an act of grace.
Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.
And if by grace then it is no more of works. Romans 11:6.
Favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin.
My grace is sufficient for thee. 2 Corinthians 12:9.
The application of Christ’s righteousness to the sinner.
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Romans 5:20.
Salvation – The act of saving; preservation from destruction, danger or great calamity.
Appropriately in theology, the redemption of man from the bondage of sin and liability to eternal death, and the conferring on him everlasting happiness. This is the great salvation
Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation 2 Corinthians 7:10.
Deliverance from enemies; victory. Exodus 14:13.
Remission of sins, or saving graces. Luke 19:9.
The author of man’s salvation Psalms 27:1.
Extracanonical – Something not included in a canon of officially accepted writings, authorized books, or sacred books.
Apocrypha – 14 Biblical or related writings not forming part of the accepted canon of Scripture. (The First Book of Esdras, The Second Book of Esdras, The First Book of the Maccabees, The Second Book of the Maccabees, The Book of Baruch, The Book of Bel and the Dragon, Ecclesiastes or the Preacher, The Book of Enoch, The Book of Judith, The Prayer of Manasseh, The Book of Jasher, The History of Susanna, The Book of Tobit, and The Book of Wisdom.)
Doctrine – In a general sense, whatever is taught. The doctrines of the gospel are the principles or truths taught by Christ and his apostles.
The act of teaching.
He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in his doctrine Mark 4:2.
Learning; knowledge.
Whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Isaiah 28:9.
The truths of the gospel in general.
That they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. Titus 2:1.
Instruction and confirmation in the truths of the gospel. 2 Timothy 3:10.
Dispensations – Distribution; the act of dealing out to different persons or places.
That which is dispensed or bestowed; a system of principles and rites enjoined.
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