Overview of the Bible: Introduction

 

Introduction to the BIBLE

The Name: Bible comes from Greek ΒΙΒΛΙΑ – meaning “books”

Number of Books: 66 = 22*3 (Trinity of the Alphabet) – Standard Protestant Bible or 

49 = 7*7 (Fullness of completion) = 22 (OT) + 27 (NT)

22: 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles-Ezra-Nehemiah, Jeremiah-Lamentation, the Book of 12 (Minor Prophets, Acts. 7:42)

Two ways to structure the canon of OT

Christian (based on Septuagint, LXX)	Jewish (TaNaKh, based on Biblical tradition)
Pentateuch – 5 (Genesis to Deuteronomy) Historical Books – 12 (Joshua to Esther) Poetical Books – 5 (Job to Son of Songs) Prophets   Major – 5 (Isaiah to Daniel)   Minor – 12 (Hosea to Malachi)	Torah = Pentateuch – 5 Books of Moses Nebiim – Prophets Former and Later Former: Joshua, Judges, 1-2Samuel, 1-2 Kings Later: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the Book of 12   K’tubim – Writings: 1. Psalms, Job, Proverbs 2. 5 Megiloth – Song of songs, Ruth, Lamentation, Ecclesiastes, Esther 3. Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1-2 Chronicles.

Two canonical passages: Lk. 24:27 and :44

One passage becomes clearer: Matt. 23:35 = Gen. 4:1-16 to 2 Chr. 24:20-22       

4 ‘testaments’ in time:

Priestly		Kingly		Prophetical		New
Genesis to Judges	4 0 0	1-2 Samuel, 1 Kings 1-11, Poetical books (books of kingly wisdom)	2 0 0	1 Kings 12 – 2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, Esther, All the prophets	4 0 0	New Testament

 

Apocrypha:

1. OT Apocrypha. The books in the OT that came from LXX (Greek), not from MT (Hebrew).

Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Tobit, Ecclesiasticus (Ben-Sirach), Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah, 1-2-3-4 Maccabees, 1-2 Esdras, Prayer of Manasseh

Additions to the Hebrew Books:

Parts of Esther: 10:4 – 16, which consists of more “historical” information, and also prayers of Mordecai and Esther.       

Parts of Daniel: Song of 3 Holy children, Prayer of Azariah, Susanna, Bel and dragon.  

Psalm 151  

2. OT and NT Pseudepigrapha. 

OT Pseudepigrapha	NT Pseudepigrapha
The Psalms of Solomon The Book of Jubilees The Martyrdom of Isaiah The Book of Enoch	Infancy Gospel of Thomas The Secret Gospel of Mark The Acts of Paul Apocalypse of Peter

 

Main themes of the Bible:

Usually, it is said “the redemption of humanity”

Bible begins with creation and ends with creation.

Gen. 1:1-2 --- Is. 65:17-18 --- 2 Cor. 5:17-19 --- Rev. 21:1-2

What is the place for man/humans in this?

Gen. 3:17, 24 --- Ps. 8:3-5 --- John 1:14 --- 1 Cor. 6:3   

 

Inspiration of the Bible:

2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Pet. 1:21