How To Study The Bible Like A Pro - Class #5 - Structure Of The Bible Series

V. STRUCTURE OF THE BIBLE

The Bible is comprised of 66 books which were written over a period of roughly 1,500 years by various individuals as the Holy Spirit moved them. The books themselves fall into different categories which are determined by their literary structure. Between categories there is often some overlap. Prophecy is not restricted to the prophetic books but is found as well in other historical writing and much that is within the prophetic books themselves is in the form of poetry (Isaiah is a good example of prophecy in poetic form).

A. Old Testament (39 books)

HISTORICAL

Genesis #1

Exodus #1

Leviticus #1

Numbers #1

Deuteronomy #1

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 & 2 Samuel #2

1 & 2 Kings #2

1 & 2 Chronicles #2

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

POETICAL

Job #3

Psalms

Proverbs #3

Ecclesiastes #3

Song of Songs #3, #4

PROPHETIC

Isaiah #5

Jeremiah #5

Lamentations #5

Ezekiel #5

Daniel #5

Hosea #6

Joel #6

Amos #6

Obadiah #6

Jonah #6

Micah #6

Nahum #6

Habakkuk #6

Zephaniah #6

Haggai #6

Zechariah #6

Malachi #6

#1. These are also referred to as "The Law," "The Law of Moses" or "The Pentateuch."

#2. The books of Samuel and Kings give the history of both Israel and Judah from a moral standpoint, while the books of Chronicles give the history of the kings of Judah alone to a restored nation from an idealistic perspective.

#3. Though poetical these are also known as "Wisdom Literature," they also contain a great deal of prophecy and refer frequently to events recorded in the historical writings

#4. Also called "The Song of Solomon"

#5. Major prophets*

# 6. Minor prophets*

*Note that the major and minor prophets are not named to signify their importance or the importance of their message but to indicate the size of their prophetic writings, both together are referred to as "The Prophets" by the Jews.

B. New Testament (27 books)

BIOGRAPHICAL

Matthew #1

Mark #1

Luke #1

John #1

HISTORICAL

Acts #2

TEACHING/LETTERS

Romans #3

1 & 2 Corinthians #3

Galatians #3

Ephesians #3

Philippians #3

Colossians #3

1 & 2 Thessalonians #3

1 & 2 Timothy #4

Titus #4

Philemon #4

Hebrews #3

James #3

1 & 2 Peter #3

1 & 2 &3 John #3

Jude #3

PROPHETIC

Revelation #5

#1. Known as the “Gospels," biographical accounts of the life of Jesus

#2. The history of the early Church beginning at Jesus' ascension, overlaps most of the letters

#3. Letters to churches, not churches as we know them today groups of believers in various regions

#4. Letters to individuals

#5. An apocalyptic account of the end times and the beginning of eternity, although most of the other books of the New Testament also contain prophecy they are not devoted entirely to prophecy

C. The Bible Timeline

The foundation of Christianity is the Bible. It is the only dependable source for humankind to know God's voice. It has the answers to all eternal questions. The focus of all Scripture is ultimately on Jesus. It is the blueprint of Heaven and the only reliable source of truth for all moral and spiritual information by which humans can successfully live each day and build a foundation for any endeavor. In its original text, the Bible is the all-inclusive, inerrant, divinely inspired word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).

The Bible was written with a consistent theme by about 40 authors over an approximately 1,500-year period in three languages on three continents with no evident contradictions. Its writers were scholars, ranchers, shepherds, and fishermen.

The Book of Job is considered the oldest book in the Bible. BC 2000-1500

The stone tablets of the Ten Commandments were given to Moses. BC 1500-1400

The original 39 books were completed. BC 1400–400

The original 39 books were canonized BC 300

The Greek Septuagint was produced. BC 250–200

Old Testament Timeline

Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers) BC 1445-1406

Deuteronomy BC 1406

Joshua BC 1370

Judges BC 1085-971

Ruth BC 1085-971

Samuel BC 1030-931

Job BC 1030-931 BC (Poetic parts of the book date back to 2000 BC)

Proverbs BC 971-686

Ecclesiastes BC 940+-

Song of Songs BC 940+-

Joel BC 800-700

Amos BC 792-752

Hosea BC 782-722

Jonah BC 745-630

Isaiah BC 739-686

Micah BC 733-701

Nahum BC 663-626

Zephaniah BC 636-627

Kings BC 627-574

Habakkuk BC 626-590

Jeremiah BC 605-580

Ezekiel BC 597-573

Lamentations BC 586

Obadiah BC 586+-

Daniel BC 550-530

Haggai BC 520

Zechariah BC 520-480

Malachi BC 515-415+-

Esther BC 474-450

Chronicles BC 450-400

Ezra BC 440 BC

Psalms BC 440-400+- Oldest Psalm (90) BC 1406, David’s Psalms BC 1030+-.

Nehemiah BC 430

New Testament Timeline

The historic church has had the complete written “logos/graphe” Word since before 100 AD. Below is the consensus of Bible-believing Scholars for the timeline each book was written.