Introduction to the Introduction to the BibleBible

Richard Thetfordwww.thetfordcountry.com

Categories of those surveyed Categories of those surveyed whowho

read the bible weeklyread the bible weeklyBased on October, 2000 Gallup PollBased on October, 2000 Gallup Poll

The Bible was written over a period of about 1600 years by 40different writers from differing time periods and backgrounds.

There were many Writersused but only one Author

66

39 27

“Knowing this firstthat no prophecyof scripture is ofany private

interpretation, forthe prophecy camenot in old time bythe will of man:but the holy menof God spake asthey were movedby the HolySpirit.”

2 Pet 1:20-21

Although the Bible was 1600 years in the writing, with about40 different writers from different time periods and

backgrounds -there is still a perfect harmony found throughout. This attests to the fact that there is only one author!

See Also1 Corinthians 2:1-13Hebrews 1:1-3

Examples

DavidShepherdKing of Israel

MosesRaised as the sonof Pharaoh’s daughterTaught by his motherA Shepherd

MatthewTax Collector

LukePhysician

PeterFisherman

5 Booksof Law

5 Booksof Poetry

12 Books ofMinor Prophets

12 Booksof History

5 Books ofMajor Prophets

Memory Key5-12-5-5-12

The Old Testament canbe divided into 5 partsto aid the learning ofthe order of the books

Division 1

Division 2

Division 3

Division 5

Division 4

GenesisExodus

LeviticusNumbers

Deuteronomy JobPsalms

ProverbsEcclesiastes

Song of Solomon

JoshuaJudgesRuth

1 & 2 Samuel1 & 2 Kings1 & 2 Chron

EzraNehemiah

Esther

IsaiahJeremiah

LamentationsEzekielDaniel

HoseaJoelAmos

ObadiahJonahMicahNahum

HabakkukZephaniah

HaggaiZechariahMalachi

Romans1 & 2 Corinthians

GalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians

1 & 2 Thessalonians1 & 2 Timothy

TitusPhilemonHebrewsJ ames

1 & 2 Peter1, 2 & 3 J ohn

J ude

Memory Key4-1-21-1

The New Testament canbe divided into 4 partsto aid the learning ofthe order of the books

4 BooksGospels

MatthewMarkLukeJ ohn

Division 1

1 Bookof History

Revelation

Division 2

21 BooksEpistles

1 Bookof ProphecyActs

Division 4

Division 3

Further DividedPaul’s Epistles

to ChurchesRomans to 2 Thessalonians

to Individuals1 Timothy to Philemon

General EpistlesHebrews to Jude

Three Periods of Dispensation(How has God dealt with man?)

Patriarchal2,500 Years

Mosaical1,500 Years

Christ2,000 + Years

Through Patriarchs

- Family Relationships- Animal Sacrifices

Not a written law orgeneral covenant

Through Mosesand the Prophets

John 1:17

National Religion- Animal Sacrifices- Circumcision (Josh 5:2)- Eat no swine (Lev 11:6)- Stone the disobedient

– Children (Deut 21:18)– Sabbath (Ex 20:8;

35:3; Num 15:32)- Tithing (Lev 27:30)

Through ChristHebrews 1:1-2

Religion for ALL- Sacrifice > Christ- Circumcision of Heart

(Rom 2:29)- Gospel (1 Cor 15)- Church (Matt 16:18)- Blood of Christ (Heb 9:22)- Forgiveness of Sins (Matt 26:28; Acts 2:38)

Three Periods of Dispensation(How has God dealt with man?)

Patriarchal2,500 Years

Mosaical1,500 Years

Christ2,000 + Years

Through Patriarchs

- Family Relationships- Animal Sacrifices

Not a written law orgeneral covenant

Through Mosesand the Prophets

John 1:17

National Religion- Animal Sacrifices- Circumcision (Josh 5:2)- Eat no swine (Lev 11:6)- Stone the disobedient

– Children (Deut 21:18)– Sabbath (Ex 20:8;

35:3; Num 15:32)- Tithing (Lev 27:30)

Through ChristHebrews 1:1-2

Religion for ALL- Sacrifice > Christ- Circumcision of Heart

(Rom 2:29)- Gospel (1 Cor 15)- Church (Matt 16:18)- Blood of Christ (Heb 9:22)- Forgiveness of Sins (Matt 26:28; Acts 2:38)

Three Periods of Dispensation(How has God dealt with man?)

Patriarchal2,500 Years

Mosaical1,500 Years

Christ2,000 + Years

Through Patriarchs

- Family Relationships- Animal Sacrifices

Not a written law orgeneral covenant

Through Mosesand the Prophets

John 1:17

National Religion- Animal Sacrifices- Circumcision (Josh 5:2)- Eat no swine (Lev 11:6)- Stone the disobedient

– Children (Deut 21:18)– Sabbath (Ex 20:8;

35:3; Num 15:32)- Tithing (Lev 27:30)

Through ChristHebrews 1:1-2

Religion for ALL- Sacrifice > Christ- Circumcision of Heart

(Rom 2:29)- Gospel (1 Cor 15)- Church (Matt 16:18)- Blood of Christ (Heb 9:22)- Forgiveness of Sins (Matt 26:28; Acts 2:38)

World Empires• Egypt (1600 - 1200 B.C.)

• Israel (1200 - 750 B.C.)

• Assyria (750 - 612 B.C.)

• Babylon (612 - 539 B.C.)

• Persia (539 - 333 B.C.)

• Greece (333 - 63 B.C.)

• Roman (63 B.C. – 476 A.D.)

Old T

estament

Until 400 B

.C.

New

Test.

400 Years of Silence

Bible PeriodsBible Periods• Creation/Pre-flood

– Genesis 1-5

• Flood/Post Flood– Genesis 6-11

• Patriarchal– Genesis 12-50

• Egyptian Bondage– Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers 1-12

• Wilderness Wandering– Numbers 13 - Deuteronomy

Bible PeriodsBible Periods• Conquest

– Joshua

• Judges– Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel 1-8

• United Kingdom– 1 Samuel 9-31, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings 1-11, 1 Chronicles -

2 Chronicles 9

• Divided Kingdom– 1 Kings 12 – 2 Kings 17, 2 Chronicles 10-29

– Obadiah, Joel, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah

Bible PeriodsBible Periods• Judah Alone (Northern kingdom no more)

– 2 Kings, 18-25, 2 Chronicles 29-36

– Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah

• Captivity (Babylon)– Daniel (606BC), Ezekiel (597BC), Jeremiah (586BC)

• Witness is Jeremiah (Lamentations)

• Return from Babylonian Captivity and rebuilding the Temple

– Esther, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

• Silent Years (432BC to Christ)

Bible PeriodsBible Periods• Life of Christ

– Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

• Establishment/Growth of the Church (History)

– Acts

• Letters– Romans through Jude (21 books)

• Prophecy– Revelation

To learn of God•Proverbs 2:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:14-17

“...that you may be filled with the knowledge of His willin all wisdom and spiritual understanding:”

Colossians 1:9

Three Categories of Learning

The ability tocomprehend andrecognize facts.

The ability to use andapply our acquiredknowledge andunderstanding.

The ability tocomprehend, to put intoone’s own words.

To learn of God•Proverbs 2:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:14-17

To maintain spiritual life•Matthew 4:4; Job 23:12

To be sure of the truth•1 Peter 4:11; Acts 17:11; 1 Thes

5:21-22; John 8:32

To avoid sin•Psalms 119:11; John 17:17; 1 Cor

15:34; Hosea 4:6; Hebrews 5:12-14

To come to Christ•John 5:38-40; Matthew 11:28-30;

John 12:48

“search from the book of the LORD, and read..…” (Isaiah 34:16)