Introduction to the Introduction to the Bible Bible Richard Thetford www.thetfordcountry.com
Dec 28, 2015
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)