The Bible – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Introduction

1.    You cannot just hand someone a Bible to read and know what God wants.

2.    The Bible is BIG

a.    66 books

b.    1,189 chapters

c.    31,102 verses

d.    773,746 words

3.    The Bible is important

a.    Tells about our past – Created in God’s image Gen. 1:27

b.    Tells about our present – Purpose to praise God 1 Peter 2:9

c.    Tells about our future – Man can life with God for eternity John 14:1-2; Acts 17:30-31

4.    Too hard to understand – BIG words

a.    Mahershalalhashbaz – Son of Isaiah, longest word in the Bible

b.   (Isaiah 8:1)  Moreover the LORD said to me, "Take a large scroll, and write on it with a man's pen concerning Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.

c.    Translates – Make haste to the spoil; Fall upon the prey

d.    Prophecy that Assyria would rush in and take the spoil (Israel, northern kingdom) into captivity – BUT it would be short lived – Babylon would soon fall on the prey

5.    Let’s make this easy for us – can you count 1 2 3 4 5?

ONE major theme

1.    The salvation of man

2.    We sin – we can’t save ourselves

3.    We need help to be saved.

4.    Bible is the way for man to be saved.

TWO major divisions

1.    Old Testament

a.    39 books

b.    Genesis – Malachi

2.    New Testament

a.    27 books

b.    Matthew – Revelation

THREE dispensations (long periods of time)

1.    Patriarchal – God spoke to the father (head of an extended family)

2.    Mosaic – The Law of Moses written, read, studied

3.    Christian – From death of Christ – until this world ends

FOUR divisions of the New Testament

1.    Biography of Christ (4 books – Matthew – John)

2.    History of the church (1 book – Acts)

3.    Letters to Christians (21 books – Romans – Jude)

a.    Some to churches (Ex. Rome, Corinth, Philippi)

b.    Some to individuals (Ex. Timothy, Titus)

c.    Some to all Christians (1, 2 Peter, James)

4.    Prophecy – (1 book – Revelation)

FIVE sections of the Old Testament

1.    Law – 5 (Genesis – Deuteronomy)

2.    History – 12 (Joshua – Esther)

3.    Poetry – 5 (Job – Song of Solomon)

4.    Major Prophets 5 (Isaiah – Daniel)

5.    Minor Prophets 12 (Hosea – Malachi)