Overview of the Bible in short

The Bible

The English word "Bible" comes from bíblia in Latin and bíblos in Greek. The Bible is the Word of God written by more than 40 authors during a period of approximately 1500 years. One unique thing about the writers; they all are from different parts of the world, background; professions but spoke and wrote about the same God because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit. This is a divine inspiration book and a record of the relationship between God and humans.  Its original text was communicated in just three languages Hebrew, Koine or common Greek, and Aramaic. The Old Testament was written for the most part in Hebrew, with a small percentage in Aramaic and the New Testament was written in Greek. The Bible (which consists of 66 books) is subdivided into two major sections known as the Old Testament (consists of 39 books) and New Testament (consists of 27 books). In the Old Testament, the New is CONCEALED whereas, in the New Testament, the Old is REVEALED.

The Old Testament

The Pentateuch: The first five books of the bible are about the Law also known as the Pentateuch and also popularly referred to as the Books of Moses. They are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Historical Books: These are the books containing a detailed history of Israel and they are the next twelve Old Testament books namely Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.

Poetry Books: these books are also known as the Books of every day Wisdom or The Writings. It contains: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Songs of Solomon.

Books of the Prophets: The book of prophets is subdivided into two parts namely Major Prophets and Minor Prophets.

(i)            Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel.

(ii)        Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

 

The New Testament

The Gospels: Consisting of four books, named after the writer who had been with Jesus and the apostles. They are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

History of the Christian (New Testament) Church, also known as the Acts of the Holy Spirit, namely: Acts of the Apostles

The Epistles: These are Letters which are divided into two, namely:

(I)        Pauline Epistles: Letters written by Paul the Apostle to specified Churches. They are    Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.

(ii)              General Epistles: One written to the Jewish Christians in general, believed to be

 Written by the Apostle Paul, but not confirmed by contemporary Bible Scholars,   namely;

(i)                Hebrews

(ii)         Seven Letters written to Christians generally, named after the writers. James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude

The Prophetic Book: This is the last book of the Bible, and of the New Testament, known as The Revelations.