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THE
BIBLE - GOD'S WORD
THE OLD TESTAMENT
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THE NEW TESTAMENT |
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There are thirty-nine books in the Old Testament, and they are grouped under four divisions:
The Pentateuch or five books of Moses.
The Historical Books; twelve in number from Joshua to Esther.
The Poetical Books; five in number from Job to Songs of Solomon.
The Prophets, including Major Prophets; five in number from Isaiah to Daniel, and the twelve Minor Prophets from Hosea to Malachi.
1. THE PENTATEUCH
The name Pentateuch comes from the Greek and means the 'five-volumed book'.
GENESIS The word Genesis signifies generation or origin, and is the title given to the first book of the Bible. It narrates the history of Israel from the creation until the death of Joseph. In the introductory chapters, it gives the history of the creation of the earth and mankind down to the dispersion of Noah's descendants over this world. In the book is included the lives of the great patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the story of Joseph in Egypt.
EXODUS This name means departure. It may be divided into two parts, one describing the oppression of the Israelites in Egypt, and the history of Moses and God's deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians. It contains an account of the journey to Sinai and the giving of the Law.
LEVITICUS Meaning 'the book of the priests', it contains, for the most part, the law or collections of laws and very little historical matter.
NUMBERS The title Numbers is a translation of the name found in the Greek version of the book, and is so called for two numberings of the people described therein. It also narrates the appointing of Joshua as Moses successor.
DEUTERONOMY Meaning 'the second law', it commences with the continuation of the history narrated in the closing chapters of Numbers, and gives new laws in the changing of the requirements of the Children of Israel. The book is made up almost entirely of addresses delivered by Moses to the people. It also includes Moses' farewell speech and his warning to the people.
11 HISTORICAL BOOKS
JOSHUA Derives its name from the histories contained therein. This book contains the narrative from the death of Joshua until that of Samson. It also records the history of thirteen or fourteen outstanding rulers of the people, who were called Judges. In the whole history of the Israelites we encounter these great men of supreme courage and wisdom, who at times of crisis have come forward to deliver the people.
RUTH The writer's object was to narrate an episode from the history of King David's ancestors, and to remember the descent of that monarch. The events of this book occurred about a century before David. It tells the beautiful story of Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth. Ruth married Boaz, and through him David was descended. According to the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1, Boaz was also an ancestor of Jesus.
THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL The books are so called because Samuel is the most important character in the opening portion. The books relate the histories of Saul, Samuel , and David. To young children this is one of the most wonderful books in the Bible as herein is related the stories of the boyhood of Samuel and David.
THE BOOKS OF CHRONICLES The Hebrew title, "Acts of the Days", indicated the historical character of the work. They are full of geographical tables, and in historical matters the books of Chronicle give many narratives in common with the books of Samuel and Kings. According to Jewish tradition Ezra was the author of the Books of Chronicles.
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THE BOOKS OF EZRA AND NEHEMIAH
Ezra describes the first return of the Jews under Zerubbabel and the rebuilding
of the temple. It also describes the second migration from Babylon under
Ezra. Nehemiah describes the efforts to restore the religion to the people
of Yahweh.
ESTHER
Is so called after the principal character in the book. It tells the story
of how Esther, the Jewish maiden became queen of Xerxes, and was instrumental
in rescuing her people from destruction prepared for them by the king's
favourite prince.
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Ill. THE POETICAL BOOKS
JOB Is named after the main character whom the book is about. Job was an inhabitant in the land of Uz. He was a man of great wealth and piety, whose history and sayings is recorded in this book. It tells the story of his afflictions with disease, the overthrow of his prosperity and, eventually, his recovery.
THE PSALMS Commonly called the Psalms of David, they were used both in the public worship of the Israelites and private devotions. This book is one of the most widely read of all the books of the Bible. Some of the most beautiful passages in English literature are to be found in this book.
PROVERBS Is generally considered to have been written by Solomon, son of David. This book is composed of wise sayings expressed in short maxims and reflects the words of the wise for the guidance of the people.
ECCLESIASTES It is commonly supposed that the author of this book was King Solomon. The language of Ecclesiastes is unique. The author of the book demonstrates the vanity of all things, that life is full of disappointment for man unless he makes the approval of God his great object, knowing that after death there is a judgement.
THE SONG OF SOLOMON (The Song of Songs) - This book is annually read by the Jews in their synagogues at the Feast of the Passover. Opinions differ as to the interpretation of this book. It is description of wedclecl love, and we find that Christ's love to His redeemed Church is in the New Testament compared to conjugal love.
IV. THE PROPHETICAL BOOKS
The Four Great Prophets ISAIAH This book gives the history of the greatest of the Hebrew Prophets, and contains some of the most interesting chapters in the whole Bible. The book falls into two main divisions, the first describing the kingdom of Assyria, the second that of Babylonia. Isaiah prophesies about the restoration of Israel from the Babylonian captivity. He also foretells the advent of the Messiah.
JEREMIAH This book is believed to have been written by the prophet himself. It comprises, for the most part, prophecies relating to Judah and the Kingdom of God. It gives much information regarding the personal history of Jeremiah himself and events that happened during his ministry. The prophet was much distressed by the lapses into sin of the ultimate ruin of the country. He was a great patriot who looked forward in hope to the renewal of God's covenant with the Jews and restoration of His chosen people.
LAMENTATIONS
It is believed to have been written by Jeremiah. It consists of five separate
poems, the subject of which is the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebudchadnezzar,
and the misfortunes that followed that event.
EZEIKEL Was one of the prophets who were taken into Babylonian captivity. He was younger than Jeremiah, and like him prophesied both before and after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaideans. He foretold that the land of Israel would again be peopled with those of the house of David and its ruins rebuilt.
DANIEL
Is the book that has a special appeal to young people. Daniel was carried
away captive by Nebudchandezzar. In this book we are given
den, and also Nebuchadnezzar's dream, which was interpreted by Daniel.
V. THE TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS
HOSEA Was a native of the Northern Kingdom, where he prophesied under Jeroboam and succeeding kings. He was a younger contemporary of Amos, whose book he seems to have known. He warned Israel of their infidelity toward God, rebuked them for their sins, and threatened them with punishment if they would not renounce their evil ways.
JOEL Very little is known of this prophet, but it is presumed that he was a Judean. It is believed that he prophesied in the early years of Kings Joash, possibly in Jerusalem where he was probably a priest. The book gives Joel's lamentation over the devastating plague and the exhortation from the prophet to the people to repent and return to Jehovah. He foretold the pouring out of the Spirit on all flesh.
AMOS He was apparently a native of Judah, and lived earlier than Isaiah. He prophesied that God's judgement would fall on Damascus, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Judah but would fall most heavily on Israel. The book ends with the promise that the kingdom of God shall again be restored.
OBADIAH
Very little is known of Obadiah. It is believed that this book was composed
shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem.
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JONAH This book gives an account of Jonah's call, his disobedience and his punishment by being swallowed up by the great fish. It also describes the success of his visit to Nineveh.
MICAH He was a younger contemporary of Isaiah and may perhaps be described as "the prophet of the people". The book is full of prophesies, exhortations to repentance, and threat of punishment. It also prophesies the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem.
NAHUM We know little of Nahum except that he lived in a village called Eikosh, in Galilee. The subject of Nahum's prophecy is the fall of Nineveh.
HABAKKUK Nothing is known about this prophet outside the book itself. The theme of the prophecy is the Chaldean invasion. The book is dramatically constructed in the form of a dialogue containing the prophet's complaint and Jehovah's reply that judgement is near. It contains some of the finest examples of Hebrew lyric poetry.
ZEPHANIAH He was a great-grandson of Hezekiah, and prophesied during the reign of Joash. The prophet graphically describes the great day of wrath coming upon the nations on earth, especially on Judah and Jerusalem. He exhorts the people to repent and thus escape the doom which threatens the Philistines, and even Nineveh itself the capital of Assyria. den, and also Nebuchadnezzar's dream,, which was interpreted by Daniel.
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HAGGAI
He came forward in the second year of Darius (530 B.C) to urge the people
again to undertake the rebuilding of the temple, already commenced in
the second year of Cyrus (535 B.C.), but abandoned owing to opposition.
The book describes the glory of the new temple and promises that Jehovah
will again bless His people with fruitful seasons.
ZECHARIAH It contains an earnest exhortation to repentance. It describes the many visions of Zechariah and also promises the advent of the Messiah. It is a vision "of the last things as seen in the light of the Old Testament".
MALACHI This is the last book of the Old Testament. Nothing is known regarding the history of the prophet Malachi. The book mainly attacks the degenerate condition of the priesthood and the sins of the people after exile. It contains a striking Messianic prediction. Elijah the prophet, spoken of in 4:5 as the forerunner to the Messiah, was expressly declared by Christ to be John the Baptist.
THE NEW TESTAMENT
ST. MATTHEW There is abundant evidence for believing that St. Matthew, who wrote this book, may safely be identified with Levi. The whole tone of the gospel is Hebraic and may be regarded as the last word of Jehovah to His ancient people. It most closely connects the old covenant with the new.
St MARK There is good reason for believing that most of the mate- rial which St. Mark used was taken from the preachings of St.. Peter. He was called Peter's interpreter because he communicated to others what he had heard form Peter's lips. It is believed that St. Mark wrote his gospel in Rome for the Gentiles.
ST. LUKE While St. Mark is said to give us the teaching of St. Peter, it is said that Luke gives the teaching of St. Paul. The cases are not parallel, whereas Mark derives his material from Peter, Luke derives his spirit from Paul. He is rightly called the "father of Christian Church history". St. Luke prefers to accept Jesus as the Saviour of all men and the Satisfier of all needs rather that the Messiah of Old Testament prophecy.
ST. JOHN This was written by John the beloved disciple. It is the most influential book in all literature. He writes for adult Christians to confirm them in the belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing in Him they may have life in His name. It was written in Ephesus where he lived during the last portion of his life.
ACTS Was written by St Luke who was the companion of St. Paul. It gives the history of the early Christian Church and the work of the disciples after the death of Christ. Luke addresses the Acts to those who are in need of information about the foundation of the Church.
ROMANS Written by the apostle Paul, and was directed to the Christian Church in Rome. St. Paul had many friends there, and had long wished to visit them. In this treatise he expounds Christianity as the divine scheme for producing righteousness in man.
CORINTHIANS St. Paul wrote these epistles to the Church in Corinth. In the first epistle he rebukes them for their evil doings which were reported to him, and replies to many questions which they had asked.
GALATIANS This epistle was written to the Churches in Galatia, where St. Paul had been detained by illness, and this led to the conversion of the Galatians. He makes it quite clear that the Mosaic Law although divine in origin, is not binding on Christians because legal ordinances have been superseded by faith in Jesus Christ. This epistle was written late in A.D. 57.
EPHESIANS This epistle belongs to the group, which is called "The Epistle of the Imprisonment", that is, the first Roman imprisonment, and was written to the Church in Ephesus about the year A.D.63. The epistle expounds the conception of the Church and draws practical conclusion f rom it.
PHILIPPIANS This epistle was also written from Rome. It is an expression of love and gratitude for the affectionate generosity of the Philippians. It overflows with Christian joy.
COLOSSIANS This was written by Paul from Rome. Colossae was the most insignificant of the churches which had been honoured by receiving a letter form St. Paul. He wrote to worn them against erroneous doctrine by insisting that Christ is the one Mediator between God and man.
THESSALONIANS These two epistles form the earliest group among the letters of St. Paul, and the first is probably the earliest Christian document that has come down to us. The epistles were written to the church at Thessalonica and Macedonia, and were written about A.D. 53, at a time when some expected that Christ's return was very near.
THE PASTORAL EPISTLES
TIMOTHY AND TITUS These are personal letters. They are treated, not from the point of view of the congregation, but from the point of view of the ministry. St. Paul lays great stress on sobriety in conduct and religion.
PHILEMON This exquisite relic stands alone among the writings of St. Paul and almost alone in the Bible. It is a private letter from the apostle to a private individual. The Pastoral Epistles are addressed to individuals, but they are not private. It reveals the apostle as a perfect Christian gentleman with all a gentleman's courtesy and delicacy of feeling. It also gives insight into how the problem of slavery was dealt with.
HEBREWS The writing is not addressed to Hebrews generally, but to some definite community of Hebrew Christians. It was originally ascribed to St. Paul, but later is believed to have been written by some other person, possibly one who had come under the influence of Paul.
ST. JAMES This is one of the General Epistles, and was written by James the Just, the brother of our Lord. We find in this account numerous reminiscences of Christ's words. It begins and ends with exhortations to patience and practical piety. Deeds, not words, is the theme all through.
ST. PETER I and 2 Written by St. Peter in about A.D. 64. The letter was probably written to those Christians who had fled from Nero's persecution and had taken refuge in Asia Minor. The chief motive of the letter is to inspire patience and hope amid tribulation and persecution.
THE EPISTLES OF ST. JOHN. There are three epistles written by the author of St. John. They were probably written about A.D. 85 to 95. The theme of the first letter is 'God is Love' and 'God is Light'. The second epistle is addressed either to a local church or an individual woman. The third epistle is addressed to a man named Gaius, who is commencl for his hospitality.
JUDE This is the last of the General Epistles, and is written by a brother of James. It urges all Christians to be unflinching in their defence of the truth.
REVELATION This is the only prophetic book in the New Testament, and is sometimes called the Apocalypse. It gathers up proceeding prophecies relating to the coming of the Messiah and the Kingdom of Heaven upon earth, and translates them into anticipation of the new Advent, the new heavens, the new earth. It's main theme is 'I come quickly'. The first three chapters of the book are comparatively easy to understand, but the intermediate chapters are full of dark visions, the exact meaning of which we are not likely to discover until the Lord comes. There are passages of very great beauty, and comparative clearness, and there are also allegories and parables.
| PORTMORE
UNITED CHURCH |