A Birds-Eye View of the Bible
When I first became a Christian, I literally knew nothing about the Bible. I had attended churches throughout my childhood (inconsistently) but couldn’t have told you the first thing about the Gospel or Prophets or Creation. The only explanation, I’ve decided, is that I didn’t have “eyes to see” or “ears to hear”.
Once I received Jesus as the Lord and Savior of my life, I was told the Bible was my guidebook for living a life devoted to the One who saved me. Therefore, I must study and apply the Scriptures to become all that God intends for me to be.
You see, I became a follower of Jesus the day before Thanksgiving 1987. Days later, I returned to college where I was already immersed in sorority and fraternity life. I had no idea how to change direction. I had no idea how to live as a Christian. I found myself longing for graduation, so I could begin my new life.
Fast forward…
Back in Atlanta, Georgia
Attending a Bible-based church
Mentored by a Christian woman
Met my husband-to-be
Learning… Growing… Becoming…
I remember the frustration and common occurrence of falling asleep while reading the Bible. How was I ever going to learn and apply God’s Word, if I couldn’t stay awake? The only thing I knew to do was pray:
“God, if you want me to know Your Word, please give me a passion for it.”
MIRACULOUSLY, HE DID!
Within a few years I was not only consuming the Bible for myself, I was also teaching it to others. It became my lifeline and my purpose. It became my passion! I was a teacher by trade, so it wasn’t a huge leap to lean in this direction of service to the Church. But the opportunities I’ve been given over the years to use God’s gift of teaching has been incredible—way beyond what I would have asked or imagined (Ephesians 3:20-21). And now, here I am teaching online… Thank you, Jesus!
Why study the Bible?
Great question! The main reason is because it is the God’s Word. He speaks to us through it. He directs us to study it—be transformed by it—allow it to discern the thoughts and intentions of your heart.
But why believe the Bible over other so-called Holy Books? There are many reasons, including archaeological evidence, prophetic accuracy, eyewitness accounts, etc. But the one I want to home in on today is literary consistency. The sixty-six books of the Bible were:
Written over 1,500 years
Written by 40 different authors from a variety of backgrounds, including shepherds, fishermen, priests, government officials, doctors, kings, prophets, and farmers. Most never met.
Written in three languages: Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek
Written on three different continents
Together, they tell a consistent story of the creation, fall, and redemption of God’s people through Jesus Christ.
Below are a few verses that speak to the divine inspiration of the Bible, but it is made clear in Scripture that the authors approached their writings from different perspectives and for different reasons. Don Stewart of Blue Letter Bible writes, “We conclude that the doctrine of divine inspiration does not necessitate the people always understanding what they wrote or said. Scripture emphasizes the end result; the writings, not the writers. The writings are what God divinely inspired.”
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Hebrews 1:1-3a
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. Luke 1:1-4
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 1 Thessalonians 2:13
I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. Daniel 12:8-9
CHALLENGE: Gather ten (not 40) people (all of whom have YOU in common). Have each write one paragraph (not an entire letter or book) on an aardvark named Benny from Pasadena, California. Afterward, attempt to compile the paragraphs into a coherent, intelligible story with a single theme. Please let me know if you are successful.
The Bible is not one book. It is a compilation of 66 books with one unifying theme. The Bible has two main divisions, Old Testament and New Testament.
The Old Testament is the story of the nation of Israel, chosen and preserved by God. From one family, God revealed His promised blessing that would be for the salvation of all mankind (Psalm 89:3-4; Isaiah 9:6; 11:1-10).
The New Testament is the story of that promised blessing. The Messiah, Jesus Christ, fulfilled the prophesies of the Old Testament by living a sinless life, dying for the sins of all who would believe, and resurrecting from the dead.
The Old Testament’s 39 books are divided into four categories:
The Pentateuch – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy: The first five books of the Bible tell the beginnings of God’s chosen people, Israel. Through Moses the Law was given, which set forth moral codes and societal laws for them to live by.
History - Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther: These books span approximately 800 years and contain stories of the people of Israel—their tribes and kingdoms—their rise and fall. The Temple is a primary focus, being the center of Israelite religious life.
Poetry - Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs): The book of Job speaks to God’s sovereignty, while the Psalms take us on an emotional roller coaster, exploring lament, joy, anger, praise, suffering, thanksgiving, and more. Proverbs is a book filled with wisdom and instruction, and Ecclesiastes speaks to the foolishness of living apart from God. Finally, the Song of Solomon introduces a kind of love that is undefiled and all-consuming.
Major Prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel
Minor Prophets - Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi
The only real difference between the major and minor prophets is the length of the writings. All warn of the consequences of disobedience, while looking forward to God’s promised salvation.
The intertestamental period is the time between the events of the Old and New Testaments. It spans approximately 400 years.
The New Testament’s 27 books are divided into four categories:
Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John: The Gospels are four separate accounts of the life of Jesus. They work together to provide a complete testimony of His ministry and message. Euangelion is the Greek word for “gospel,” which can be translated as “good news” or “good telling.” These four books are a proclamation of the good news that came through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah.
Church History – Acts of the Apostles (Acts): A history of the early Christian church and the spread of the gospel to the Gentile world. It hi-lights the missionary work of Paul and offers context for his letters in the following books.
Pauline Epistles - Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon
General Epistles - Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude
Letters written by the Apostle Paul and other church leaders for the purpose of instructing and encouraging followers of Jesus Christ on how to live righteously in a hostile, sin-sick world.
Prophesy - Revelation: The final book of the Bible points to the second coming of Jesus Christ and the promised reconciliation of the church. It warns that the world’s end is imminent and judgment will soon follow. Heaven and Hell are a reality in this book of prophesy, which offers hope to the faithful and warning to those who are yet to choose Jesus as their One and Only means of salvation.
Activity
Read through this birds-eye view of the Bible several times.
Get a blank piece of paper and write down as many facts as you can remember.
Repeat this activity until you feel comfortable sharing an overview of what you learned with someone else.
Memorize the eight major division of the Bible.
Memorize the 66 books of the Bible your way. You might be a visual or auditory learner. There are several resources online that can help.
Place the 66 books of the Bible in their categories:
You can try something like this | Image by andiescamroll via Pinterest
The Bible is not just a book of stories; it is God’s revelation to us, guiding us in every aspect of our lives. As I continue to study and grow in my faith, I pray that you too will find joy and purpose in His Word. Remember, the journey to understanding the Bible is ongoing, and it is one that brings us closer to the One who loves us unconditionally.
