Open Bible Christian Ministry
What is The Bible?
Home | Adam's Sin | Justification By Faith | Jesus Christ as the Risen Living Son of God | Definition of the Local Church | The Reason for Participation in the Local Church | Benefits of Participating in the Local Church | Power and Influence of the Holy Spirit in the Christian's Life | Vanity of Vanities | The Second Coming of Christ | Changed Life | The Edenic Covenant | The Adamic Covenant | Noahic Covenant | The Abrahamic Covenant | The Mosaic Covenant | The Palestinian Covenant | The Davidic Covenant | The New Covenant | Kinds of Suffering | Major Characteristics of The Bible | Praise | Revelation of God's Word | Love | The Six Days of Creation | Jealousy | Joy (Happiness) | The Lord's Prayer | Wisdom | Illumination of God's Word | Reading God's Word | God's Word Convicts | Obedience to God's Word | We Know God's Will Through His Word | God's Work in the Past | What is Man? | Sin | New Life : Based on Christ's Death | God's Word Corrects | God's Word Cleanses | God's Work in Our Lives | We Know God Through His Word | God's Word Confirms | Empowered by God | New Life: A Free Gift | The Song of Moses | Repentance | Remorse | Conversion | Salvation | Redemption | New Nature | Sharing Our Faith: Why? | The Work of the Holy Spirit On Salvation | Opening of Christ's Minstry | The Church | What Does The Lord Require Of You? | Pledges | 4 Spiritual Laws | What is The Bible? | Jesus Calls The Disciples | Temptation by the Flesh | Knowing the Will of God Through Circumstances and Counsel | God the Father of Believers | The Role of Children | God's Word Equips | The Offices of the Church | The Person of the Holy Spirit | Walking in the Spirit: Filling | Holiness of God | Proof Of The King : The Resurrection | God the Father of Christ | How To Be Saved | Accepting Christ | Giving | Our History | The Son of God | Meet the Staff | Current Projects | Blessings | Everlasting Life and Protection | Christ Revealed in John | Contributions to the Church | Bible Facts | Religious Links | Prayer Corner | A Season For Eveything | Dispensationalism | Personal Bible Study | Contact Us | Testimonies | Words of Inspiration | Christian's Guide to the New Life | He Is Crucified | He Is Risen

The Bible is made up of a "library" of 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament, 27 in the New Testament.  The Old Testament writings first appeared as separate scrolls in Hebrew;  we don't  know when they were first gathered into a single volume.  The 39 books of the Old Testament vary in authorship and style and can be divided into 4 major groups.

LAW:  Sometimes called the Pentateuch, or "five scrolls."  They are the first 5 books of the Bible;  Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers.

History:  Tracing the story of God's people from their entry into the Promised Land to the Exile:  These are the next 12 books of the Bible;  Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.

POETRY AND WISDOM:  Full of proverbs, riddles, parables, warnings, and wise sayings.  These are the next 5 books of the Bible;  Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.

PROPHECY:  God's prophets explained what happened in the past, spoke out against evil in the present, and told what God would do in the future.  These are the next 17 books of the Bible and the end of the Old Testament.  Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

The Aprocrypha is a collection of books and addition to the Old Testament books written between 300 B.C. and A. D. 100.  It was not accepted by the Jews as part of the Old Testament Scripture, and most Protestant denominations do not accept it as part of genuine Scripture.  The books are interesting  and valuable historical documents that range from historical narratives to pious fiction.

The 27 books of the New Testament were written in Greek and can also be divided into different types of writing:

HISTORY:  The 4 gospels and the book of Acts are considered history.  The Gospels; Mattew, Mark, Luke, and John are not simply historical records; they were written to persuade readers to believe in Jesus and form portraits of Jesus as Messiah.

LETTERS:  These include Paul's letters to churches in various cities, his letters to individual Christians, and letters written by other apostles. These are the next 21 books;  Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude.

REVELATION:  This book opens with letters to seven churches of Asia Minor; Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Smyrna, Ephesus, Philadelphia, and Laodicea;  but continues with vivid visions about the last days.

 

 

Open Book, Spinning

Dr. Odis C. Alexander
Hawthorne, CA  90250
Phone: 310-710-1652