SUNDAY Epistles: the Word Epistle Comes from the Greek Word Epistole
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SUNDAY Epistles: The word epistle comes from the Greek word epistole that means “letter” or “message.” Since many of the New Testament books were originally written as letters to churches or individuals, they are referred to as the Epistles. The Epistles of the Bible include 21 of the New Testament’s 27 books, extending from Romans to Jude. All the known authors of the Epistles are either an apostle (Paul, Peter, John) or a family member of Jesus (James, Jude). MONDAY Law: The first five books of the Bible are sometimes called the Pentateuch which means “five books.” They are also known as the books of the law because they contain the laws and instruction given by the Lord through Moses to the people of Israel. TUESDAY History: The 12 books that comprise the “historical books” contain some of the most important segments of the entire Bible narrative. Taken together, these books tell the story of ancient Israel’s formation, rise to prominence, collapse into moral and physical defeat, and restoration. Many of the most famous characters in the Bible—people like David, Elijah, Solomon, Ahab, Esther, and many others—make their appearance in this section. The historical books extend from Joshua to Esther. WEDNESDAY Psalms: The book of Psalms contains some of the most beautiful poetry ever written. The Hebrew title of the book translates to "praises." Originally, these 150 poems were meant to be sung and were used in ancient Jewish worship services, accompanied by lyres, flutes, horns, and cymbals. King David established a 4,000‐piece orchestra to play during worship. THURSDAY Poetry: The Poetical consist of five books—Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. FRIDAY Prophecy: There have been prophets throughout every era of God's relationship with mankind, but the books of the prophets address the "classical" period of prophecy—during the later years of the divided kingdoms of Judah and Israel, throughout the time of exile, and into the years of Israel's return from exile. The Prophetic Books were written from the days of Elijah (874‐853 B.C.) until the time of Malachi (400 B.C.). The Prophetic Books are divided between the Major and Minor Prophets. The terms "major" and "minor" are meant to describe their length and the importance of their message. SATURDAY Gospels and Acts: The Gospels recount the story of Jesus Christ, each of the four books giving us a unique perspective on his life. The term “Gospel” comes from the Greek word euangelion, meaning "good news." Eventually, the meaning expanded to include any work dealing with the birth, ministry, suffering, death, and resurrection of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. .