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 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.

James - 40-46 AD

1 Thessalonians - 50-52 AD

2 Thessalonians - 51-53 AD

Galatians - 53-56 AD

1 + 2 Corinthians - 56-57 AD

Romans and 1 Peter - 57-58 AD

Philippians - 59 AD

Matthew - 35-60 AD

Titus, Philemon, Mark - 61 AD

Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Timothy - 61-63 AD

Hebrews - 61-63 AD

2 Peter, 2 Timothy, Luke, Jude - 58-67 AD

Acts - 58-67 AD

John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John - 63-80 AD

Revelation - 89-95 AD

Both the Old (OT) and entire New Testament (NT) could be reconstructed from the writings of the early Church Fathers such as Clement of Rome who wrote a letter to the church at Corinth in 95 AD that contained numerous OT Scriptures as well as the writings of the Apostles Jesus had hand-picked, that were considered as sacred Scripture.

The OT Scriptures were completed by 400 BC+-. The NT Scriptures (27) were compiled into one book in 144 A.D. by Marcion of Sinope (85 AD -160 AD), the son of the Bishop of Pontus.

Another early church father was Irenaeus, who lived from 130 AD to 202 AD. In his writings, he quoted from 24 books of the NT over 1,800 times.

Justin Martyr wrote a letter known as his first Apology to the Roman Emperor around 150 AD in which he described what happened during a typical Sunday church service. He wrote that the Scriptures of the OT (the writings of the Prophets) and the writings of the NT were read out loud, and then a message (discourse) was preached, songs were sung, and people prayed together. Then, an offering was taken, part of which was used to help those who were sick, as well as for widows and orphans, and all those that were in need (First Apology, 67).

There was also Origen Adamantius, who lived from 185 AD - 254 AD in Alexandria, Egypt. He was a theologian and scholar who made over 18,000 references to the books in the NT in his writings.