The Bible
The Bible is the holy scripture of the Christian religion, purporting to tell the history of the Earth from its earliest creation to the spread of Christianity in the first century A.D. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament have undergone changes over the centuries, including the the publication of the King James Bible in 1611 and the addition of several books that were discovered later.
Feb 17, 2025, 06:21 IST
Old Testament
The Old Testament is the first section of the Bible, covering the creation of Earth through Noah and the flood, Moses and more, finishing with the Jews being expelled to Babylon.
The Bible’s Old Testament is very similar to the Hebrew Bible, which has origins in the ancient religion of Judaism. The exact beginnings of the Jewish religion are unknown, but the first known mention of Israel is an Egyptian inscription from the 13th century B.C.
The earliest known mention of the Jewish god Yahweh is in an inscription relating to the King of Moab in the 9th century B.C. It is speculated that Yahweh was possibly adapted from the mountain god Yhw in ancient Seir or Edom.
The Bible is divided into two main parts:
1. The Old Testament (Hebrew Bible)
The Old Testament contains religious texts that are also sacred in Judaism. It includes:
A. The Torah (Pentateuch) – The First Five Books
1. Genesis – Creation of the world, Adam & Eve, Noah’s Ark, Abraham, and the origins of Israel.
2. Exodus – The story of Moses, the Ten Commandments, and the Israelites' escape from Egypt.
3. Leviticus – Laws and religious rituals for Israel.
4. Numbers – Israel’s journey through the desert.
5. Deuteronomy – Moses’ final teachings before entering the Promised Land.
B. Historical Books (Israel’s History)
6. Joshua – The conquest of Canaan.
7. Judges – Leaders of Israel before kings.
8. Ruth – A story of loyalty and redemption.
9. 1 & 2 Samuel – The lives of Samuel, Saul, and King David.
10. 1 & 2 Kings – The history of Israel’s kings, including Solomon.
11. 1 & 2 Chronicles – A summary of Israel’s history.
12. Ezra & Nehemiah – The return from exile and rebuilding of Jerusalem.
13. Esther – The story of a Jewish queen who saves her people.
C. Wisdom and Poetry Books
14. Job – A discussion on suffering and faith.
15. Psalms – Songs and prayers of worship.
16. Proverbs – Wise sayings and moral teachings.
17. Ecclesiastes – Reflections on life’s meaning.
18. Song of Solomon – A poetic love story.
D. Major and Minor Prophets (Messages from God)
19. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel – Messages of judgment and hope.
20. Hosea to Malachi – Short prophetic books addressing Israel’s faithfulness to God.
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2. The New Testament (The Story of Jesus & Early Christianity)
A. The Gospels (Life of Jesus Christ)
21. Matthew – Jesus as the Messiah.
22. Mark – A fast-paced account of Jesus’ miracles.
23. Luke – A detailed account of Jesus’ teachings and compassion.
24. John – Focuses on Jesus as the Son of God.
B. Acts of the Apostles
25. Acts – The history of the early Christian church and missionary work of Paul.
C. Epistles (Letters to Churches & Individuals)
26. Romans to Philemon – Letters from Paul teaching Christian beliefs and ethics.
27. Hebrews to Jude – General letters encouraging faith and perseverance.
D. Revelation (Prophecy of the End Times)
28. Revelation – A vision of the end of the world, Jesus’ return, and God’s ultimate victory.
Summary
Old Testament → Creation, Israel’s history, laws, prophecies.
New Testament → Jesus’ life, early Christianity, future prophecy.