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.