Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Matthew Deuteronomy Mark The Joshua Books Luke Judges John Ruth Acts of the 1 Samuel Romans 2 Samuel 1 Corinthians 1 Kings 66 Bible 2 Corinthians 2 Kings NORMAN OWEN Galatians 1 Chronicles Ephesians 2 Chronicles THE 66 BOOKS OF THE BIBLE The 66 Books of the Bible Norman Owen THE CHRISTADELPHIAN 404 SHAFTMOOR LANE BIRMINGHAM B28 8SZ 2007 First published 1997 Reprinted 1998, 2002, 2007 ISBN 978–085189140–8 Printed by The Cromwell Press Trowbridge, Wiltshire, UK Preface HE Bible speaks with supreme authority. Every part is from God. All its writers were Tdirectly inspired by Him. So the sixty-six books form one powerful, consistent message from Heaven! Many threads interweave to form this Book of inestimable beauty and worth. Nothing can compare with the Divine pattern in this priceless treasure. The Bible is perfect and complete; nothing can surpass it. The Bible carries conviction. It is true to life, honest about our human nature. Not one of its historical records has ever been proved wrong. Its amazing prophecies are still coming true. Its message for the world and for individuals remains the only bright light in a darkening age. Read it in humility—it will bring you hope and ultimate joy! NORMAN OWEN Bible Versions Most quotations from the Scriptures are from the Authorised (King James) Version, but occasionally the wording of the Revised Version is followed; or the text of the Revised Standard Version (RSV), New International Version (NIV) or New King James Version (NKJV) is used. v Acknowledgements HE chapters of this book first appeared as articles in the magazine Glad Tidings and it Twas the initiative of the editor of that magazine which led to the work being offered for publication in book form. The material lent itself ideally to the format of the Study Guide series; and readers who have enjoyed the Study Guides will find this new addition to the series—alongside the Scriptures themselves—a valuable aid to Bible exploration. The rather larger format has made it possible to amplify the original articles, while extra pages have been added to introduce each new section of the Bible. The publishers express warm thanks to the following whose illustrations have been incorporated: Phyllis Vincent (sheaf of corn, page 12); Paul Harrison (David and Goliath, page 13); Stanley Owen (sketches on page 31, taken from his Song of Solomon Study Guide); Paul Wasson (several sketches and all the maps) and Angela Willis (a number of line drawings and charts). Other drawings are the author’s, or are taken from non-copyright sources. For the chronology of the Judges we are indebted to Maurice Beale. The book is commended to all in the trust that the work of God Himself, the Divine Author of the inspired Scriptures, will be acknowledged as a result of the reading of these pages. vi Contents Page Page Page Preface v Prophecy Section Letters Section Acknowledgements vi Time Chart: Kings and Prophets 34 Introduction to the Letters Section 64 How we got our Bible viii 45 Romans 65 Divisions of the Bible 1 23 Isaiah 35 46 1 Corinthians 66 Map: Old Testament Times 2 24 Jeremiah 36 47 2 Corinthians 67 History Section 25 Lamentations 37 26 Ezekiel 38 48 Galatians 68 Introduction to the History Section 4 49 Ephesians 69 27 Daniel 39 1 Genesis 5 50 Philippians 70 28 Hosea 40 2 Exodus 6 51 Colossians 71 3 Leviticus 7 29 Joel 41 52 1 Thessalonians 72 4 Numbers 8 30 Amos 42 53 2 Thessalonians 73 5 Deuteronomy 9 31 Obadiah 43 54 1 Timothy 74 6 Joshua 10 32 Jonah 44 55 2 Timothy 75 7 Judges 11 33 Micah 45 56 Titus 76 8 Ruth 12 34 Nahum 46 9 1 Samuel 13 57 Philemon 77 10 2 Samuel 14 35 Habakkuk 47 58 Hebrews 78 11 1 Kings 15 36 Zephaniah 48 59 James 79 12 2 Kings 16 37 Haggai 49 60 1 Peter 80 13 1 Chronicles 17 38 Zechariah 50 61 2 Peter 81 14 2 Chronicles 18 39 Malachi 51 62 1 John 82 15 Ezra 19 63 2 John 83 Between Old and New Testaments 53 16 Nehemiah 20 64 3 John 84 17 Esther 21 Map: World between the Testaments 54 65 Jude 85 Time Chart: Old Testament Events 23 New Testament History Section Some New Testament People 86 Family Tree: From Adam to Jesus 24 Introduction to the Gospels 56 Final Prophecy Section Poetry Section 40 Matthew 57 Introduction to the Introduction to the Poetry Section 26 41 Mark 58 Final Prophecy 88 18 Job 27 42 Luke 59 19 Psalms 28 66 The Revelation 89 43 John 60 20 Proverbs 29 Summary of Bible Teaching 90 21 Ecclesiastes 30 44 Acts of the Apostles 61 Index 91 22 Song of Solomon 31 Map: Roman Provinces 62 Further Reading 96 vii HOW WE GOT OUR BIBLE God inspired God inspired the the Old Testament New Testament writers writers The opening verses of Genesis The opening verses of Matthew Hebrew Old Testament Greek New Testament In 1947 some very ancient Hebrew scrolls were found in Papyrus manuscript of 2 Corinthians 1:1-8 the caves of Qumran near the Dead Sea The English Bible Foreign Language Bibles German Wycliffe (1382) Spanish Tyndale (1525) French The Great Bible (1539) Esperanto Swahili Geneva Bible (1560) Russian Authorised (King James) Version (1611) Korean … Revised Version (1885) … a total of over 2,000 languages Revised Standard Version (1952) New English Bible (1970) “No prophecy of Scripture is of any New International Version (1978) private interpretation, for prophecy New King James Version (1982) never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were Every year more than 20 million Bibles in the English language are printed moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20) viii DIVISIONS OF THE BIBLE 66 Great Books from God—“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16) THE BIBLE is really one book, whose 9 1 Samuel New Testament author is the Lord God. ‘The Good Book’, 10 2 Samuel Gospels 40 Matthew as it has been called, is God’s Guide Book 11 1 Kings and Acts 41 Mark to Life—for all to read. Without it, we shall 12 2 Kings 42 Luke wander aimlessly through life, to the grave. 13 1 Chronicles 43 John With it, we can know what God has in store 14 2 Chronicles for the earth, and how we can share in His 15 Ezra 44 Acts of glorious purpose, centred in the Lord Jesus 16 Nehemiah the Apostles Christ. The twin themes of both Old and 17 Esther Letters 45 Romans New Testaments (see Acts 8:12) are: Poetry 18 Job 46 1 Corinthians • The Kingdom of God 19 Psalms 47 2 Corinthians • Jesus Christ 20 Proverbs 48 Galatians 21 Ecclesiastes 49 Ephesians Old Testament 22 Song of Solomon 50 Philippians History 1 Genesis Prophecy 23 Isaiah 51 Colossians 2 Exodus 24 Jeremiah 52 1 Thessalonians 3 Leviticus 25 Lamentations 53 2 Thessalonians 4 Numbers 26 Ezekiel 54 1 Timothy 5 Deuteronomy 27 Daniel 55 2 Timothy 6 Joshua 28 Hosea 56 Titus 29 Joel 7 Judges 57 Philemon 30 Amos 8 Ruth 58 Hebrews 31 Obadiah 32 Jonah 59 James Every part of the Bible matters. 33 Micah 60 1 Peter The wonderful links between 34 Nahum 61 2 Peter these 66 Books become 35 Habakkuk 62 1 John apparent when you read from all 36 Zephaniah 63 2 John sections of God’s Word, humbly and 37 Haggai 64 3 John prayerfully. 38 Zechariah 65 Jude 39 Malachi Prophecy 66 Revelation 1 Map of Old Testament Times Some of the places and peoples associated with the history of Israel and God’s purpose. For the following, see maps on the pages indicated: The Migration of Abraham 5 The Exodus 6 The Conquest of Canaan 10 The Judges 11 The Reign of David 14 The Ministry of Elijah 15 The Rebuilding of Jerusalem 20 The Persian Empire 21 (Other maps specific to the prophets are featured on pages 38, 39, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48) 2 HISTORY SECTION “He made known his ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel.” (Psalm 103:7) Books 1-17 BC 4000 Introduction to the HISTORY SECTION 3500 No. Book Contents 3000 1 Genesis 2 Exodus THE PENTATEUCH (5 BOOKS) 3 Leviticus A history of God’s dealings with early man, 1 His promises to Abraham and His work with 4 Numbers 2500 Israel, the people He brought out from Egypt 5 Deuteronomy 6 Joshua 2000 THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF ISRAEL 7 Judges IN THE PROMISED LAND 8 Ruth 1500 9 1 Samuel 2, 3, 4, 5 10 2 Samuel THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN ISRAEL 6, 7, 8 11 1 Kings A history of the Kings and Prophets in God’s Kingdom, 1000 12 2 Kings from the time of Samuel until the overthrow of 9-14 13 1 Chronicles Jerusalem and the captivity of the Jews in Babylon 14 2 Chronicles 500 15, 16, 17 15 Ezra 16 Nehemiah AFTER THE CAPTIVITY 17 Esther 4 HISTORICAL SECTION PEOPLE MENTIONED IN GENESIS GENESIS ADAM—Eve The name “Genesis” means ‘birth’ or ‘beginning’. In this book we learn 1 about very important beginnings in God’s plan for the Earth. Cain Abel SETH “In the beginning God created the heaven (Galatians 3:29); (c) inheritance of the NOAH and the earth” (1:1). The opening words of promised land of Israel by the faithful; the Bible teach that God is the Creator of (d) blessings for all nations—“In thee shall SHEM Ham Japheth the universe, which He made with a plan all families of the earth be blessed” (12:3).