The Story LEARNING HOW TO READ THE BIBLE The Bible
Compelling, but confusing … and often boring The bible is a small library of books
• OLD TESTAMENT (“Hebrew Scriptures”) • Many different authors • Different styles / literary types (genres) • 611,000 words in Hebrew • 39 books in the shared canon • written in Aramaic & Hebrew • 7 additional books in the second canon (Deuteronomical) of the Catholic Church • written mostly in Greek • OLD TESTAMENT (“Hebrew Scriptures”) • Christian (English) bibles are arranged like the Septuagint / LXX (3rd C. BC) Greek translation • Organised into 4 sections
Pentateuch History Wisdom Prophets (Torah / Law) Joshua, Judges Job Isaiah Genesis Ruth Psalms Jeremiah Exodus 1-2 Samuel Proverbs Lamentations Leviticus 1-2 Kings Ecclesiastes Ezekiel Numbers 1-2 Chronicles Song of Songs Daniel, Deuteronomy Ezra Hosea, Joel, Nehemiah Amos, Obadiah, Esther Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Hebrew Bible (based on Septuagint order) 39 books Including Deuterocanonical books = 46 books in Catholic OT
Genesis Joshua Job Isaiah
Exodus Judges Psalms Jeremiah Proverbs Lamentations Leviticus Ruth Ecclesiastes Ezekiel Numbers 1 SamuelSamuel2 Samuel Song of Songs DanielDaniel + Deuteronomy 1 KingsKings2 Kings Wisdom 12 Minor Prophets 1 Chron 2 Chron Hosea, Joel, Amos, Chronicles Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Sirach Nahum, Habakkuk, Ezra Nehemiah Zephaniah, Haggai, Ezra - Nehemiah Zechariah, Malachi
Tobit Judith
EstherEsther +
1 Macc 2 Macc KETUVIM NEVI’IM PentateuchTORAH History Wisdom Prophets Ta(Torah “Law”Na / Law) K “Writings” “Prophets” Hebrew Bible Ta Na K 24 books Psalms Poetic Proverbs Genesis Joshua Books Job Exodus Judges Song of Songs Leviticus Samuel Ruth Numbers Kings 5 scrolls Lamentations (5 Megillot) Deuteronomy Isaiah Ecclesiastes
Jeremiah Esther
Ezekiel Daniel Other late * Hosea, Joel, Amos, Ezra - Nehemiah Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, books Nahum, Habakkuk, 12 Minor Prophets* Zephaniah, Haggai, Chronicles Zechariah, Malachi
TORAH NEVI’IM KETUVIM “Law” “Prophets” “Writings” Hebrew Bible (based on Septuagint order) 39 books
Genesis Joshua Job Isaiah
Exodus Judges Psalms Jeremiah Proverbs Lamentations Leviticus Ruth Ecclesiastes Ezekiel Numbers 1 SamuelSamuel2 Samuel Song of Songs Daniel Deuteronomy 1 KingsKings2 Kings 12 Minor Prophets 1 Chron 2 Chron Hosea, Joel, Amos, Chronicles Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Ezra Nehemiah Zephaniah, Haggai, Ezra - Nehemiah Zechariah, Malachi
Esther
KETUVIM NEVI’IM PentateuchTORAH History Wisdom Prophets Ta(Torah “Law”Na / Law) K “Writings” “Prophets” Hebrew Bible Ta Na K 24 books Psalms Proverbs Genesis Joshua Job Exodus Judges Song of Songs Leviticus Samuel Ruth Numbers Kings Lamentations
Deuteronomy Isaiah Ecclesiastes
Jeremiah Esther
Ezekiel Daniel * Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Ezra - Nehemiah Nahum, Habakkuk, 12 Minor Prophets* Zephaniah, Haggai, Chronicles Zechariah, Malachi
TORAH NEVI’IM KETUVIM “Law” “Prophets” “Writings” Hebrew Bible Ranked by size
Kings (39,145) Isaiah (25,608) Job (12,674) Chronicles (38,013) Numbers (25,048) Proverbs (9,921) Samuel (38,007) Deuteronomy (23,008) Daniel (9,001) Jeremiah (33,002) 12 Minor Prophets (21,837) Esther (4,932) Genesis (32,046) Leviticus (18,852) Ecclesiastes (4,537) Psalms (30,147) Joshua (15,671) Lamentations (2,324) Ezekiel (29,918) Judges (15,385) Ruth (2,039) Exodus (25,957) Ezra – Nehemiah (14,112) Song of Songs (2,020)
Hosea (3615), Joel (1447), Amos (3027), Obadiah (440), Jonah (1082), Micah (2118), Nahum (855), Habakkuk (1011), Zephaniah (1141), Haggai (926), Zechariah (4855), Malachi (1320)
TORAH NEVI’IM KETUVIM “Law” “Prophets” “Writings” Christian Bible (New Testament) 27 books
Matthew Romans 1 Thessalonians Hebrews
Mark 1 Corinthians 2 Thessalonians James
Luke 2 Corinthians 1 Timothy 1 Peter
John Galatians 2 Timothy 2 Peter
Acts of the Apostles Ephesians Titus 1 John
Philippians Philemon 2 John
Colossians Paul’s 13 letters 3 John
Jude
Revelation
Gospels Acts Letters Apocalyptic The Gospel and Acts
Matthew
Mark Synoptic (with one eye) Gospels
Luke
John
Acts of the Apostles
Gospels Acts The order of the Gospel and Acts
Mark Written c.65 (Rome) 70AD Temple in Jerusalem destroyed Matthew Written c.75 (Antioch)
Luke Written c.85 (Antioch) 80-90AD Separation of Judaism and Christianity
John Written c.95 (Ephesus)
Acts of the Apostles Written c.85 (Antioch)
Gospels Acts
The order of the Gospel and Acts
Matthew Written c.75 – Connection with Moses / during change
Mark Written c.65 – Dealing with suffering
John Written c.95 – Growing in love / resurrection joy
Luke Written c.85 – Growing in service / discipleship
Acts of the Apostles Written c.85 – Living as missionary church
Gospels Acts The order of the Gospel and Acts
Mark John Suffering Joy Year B Lent/Easter
Luke
Matthew Acts of the Apostles Change Service Year A Year C
Gospels Acts The same pattern in the Hebrew Scriptures
Exodus Sinai Suffering Redemption
PatriarchsExile Jerusalem Change Service Christian Bible (New Testament) 27 books
Matthew Romans 1 Thessalonians Hebrews
Mark 1 Corinthians 2 Thessalonians James
John 2 Corinthians 1 Timothy 1 Peter
Luke Galatians 2 Timothy 2 Peter
Acts of the Apostles Ephesians Titus 1 John
Philippians Philemon 2 John
Colossians Paul’s letters 3 John
Jude
Revelation
Gospels Acts Letters Apocalyptic Romans Paul’s 13 letters 1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians Gospels 1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians Acts 1 Timothy
2 Timothy Letters
Titus Apocalyptic Philemon Romans (7,111) 1 Corinthians (6,830) 2 Corinthians (4,477)
Galatians (2,230)
Ephesians (2,422) Paul’s 13 letters are arranged by length Philippians (1,629) *Not to scale Colossians (1,582) Gospels 1 Thessalonians (1,481)
2 Thessalonians (823) Acts 1 Timothy (1,591) 2 Timothy (1,238) Letters Titus (659) Philemon (335) Apocalyptic Hebrews (4,953) 1 Thessalonians (1,481) Paul’s 13 letters 2 Thessalonians (823) but are better read 1 Corinthians (6,830) chronologically 2 Corinthians (4,477)
Galatians (2,230) Paul wrote between 48 – 64 AD (All of his letters were written Romans (7,111) before any of the Gospels) Colossians (1,582)
Ephesians (2,422) Philemon (335) Gospels Philippians (1,629) 1 Timothy (1,591) Acts Titus (659)
2 Timothy (1,238) Letters
Apocalyptic Christian Bible (New Testament) Length of books
Matthew (28) 18,346 4,953 Hebrews
Mark (16) 11,304 1,742 James
John (21) 15,635 1,684 1 Peter
Luke (24) 19,482 1,099 2 Peter
Acts (28) 18,450 2,141 1 John
245 2 John
Luke-Acts (37,932) 219 3 John
13 letters of Paul (32,408) 461 Jude
9,851 Revelation
Gospels Acts Letters Apocalyptic 64,767 (47%) 18,450 (13%) 44,552 (32%) 9,851 (7%) Christian Bible (New Testament) 27 books
Matthew 1 Thessalonians Ephesians Hebrews
Mark 2 Thessalonians Philemon James
John 1 Corinthians Philippians 1 Peter
Luke 2 Corinthians 1 Timothy 2 Peter
Acts of the Apostles Galatians Titus 1 John Romans 2 Timothy 2 John Colossians Paul’s letters 3 John
Jude
Revelation
Gospels Acts Letters Apocalyptic Christian Bible (New Testament) 27 books Read Gospels - Acts Matthew 2 Corinthians Philemon Paul’s letters Mark Galatians Philippians
John 1 Thessalonians Romans 1 Timothy
Luke 2 Thessalonians Colossians Titus
Acts of the Apostles 1 Corinthians Ephesians 2 Timothy
Re-read Matthew, Read Hebrews & James Matthew Hebrews James
Re-read Mark, Read 1-2 Peter & Jude Mark 1 Peter 2 Peter Jude
John 1 John 2 John 3 John Re-read John; read Johannine literature Revelation