The Bible📝
The Bible is a collection of religious texts central to both Christianity and Judaism.
The word "Bible" comes from the Greek word biblia, meaning "little books," which reflects its nature as a library of diverse texts collected into a single volume.
Main Divisions
The Christian Bible is divided into two main parts:
The Old Testament:
This section largely corresponds to the Hebrew Bible (also called the Tanakh).
It contains the history of God's creation, the early history of the world, and the story, laws, prophecies, and wisdom literature related to the ancient Israelites (God's covenant nation) leading up to the time of Jesus.
It was primarily written in Hebrew.
The New Testament:
This section is specifically Christian.
It focuses on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (as told in the four Gospels), the history of the early Christian church (the Book of Acts), and letters written by apostles (the Epistles) explaining Christian doctrine, and a book of prophecy (Revelation).
It was primarily written in Koine Greek.
Key Points
Authorship: The books were written by many different authors over a period of more than a thousand years.
Canons: The number and order of books vary slightly between different traditions.
The Protestant Bible has 66 books (39 Old Testament, 27 New Testament), while the Catholic and Orthodox Bibles include additional books in the Old Testament, often referred to as the Deuterocanonical books or Apocrypha. Central Theme: For Christians, the unifying theme is God's plan of salvation, culminating in Jesus Christ.
The Bible is typically divided into two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The number of books included can vary slightly depending on the specific tradition (e.g., Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, or Jewish). The Protestant Bible is the most common and consists of 66 books (39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament).
Here is the list of books in canonical order for the 66-book Protestant Bible:
Old Testament (39 Books)
| Category | Books |
| The Pentateuch (Law) | Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy |
| Historical Books | Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther |
| Wisdom/Poetry Books | Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs) |
| Major Prophets | Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel |
| Minor Prophets | Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi |
The Bible is typically divided into two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The number of books included can vary slightly depending on the specific tradition (e.g., Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, or Jewish). The Protestant Bible is the most common and consists of 66 books (39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament).
Here is the list of books in canonical order for the 66-book Protestant Bible:
Old Testament (39 Books)
| Category | Books |
| The Pentateuch (Law) | Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy |
| Historical Books | Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther |
| Wisdom/Poetry Books | Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs) |
| Major Prophets | Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel |
| Minor Prophets | Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi |
New Testament (27 Books)
| Category | Books |
| The Gospels (Life of Jesus) | Matthew, Mark, Luke, John |
| History | Acts (of the Apostles) |
| Pauline Epistles (Letters of Paul) | Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon |
| General Epistles (General Letters) | Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2, & 3 John, Jude |
| Prophecy | Revelation |
Why do we need to study the Bible?
Studying the Bible is essential for every believer because it is God’s Word—a guide for life, truth, and spiritual growth. Through it, we come to know who God is, understand His will, and learn how to live according to His purpose. Below are several reasons why we need to study the Bible, each supported by biblical passages:1. To Know God and His Will
The Bible reveals God’s character, His love, and His plans for us.
📖 John 17:3 (NIV)
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
📖 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2. To Grow Spiritually and Strengthen Faith
The Word of God nourishes our spirit and helps us mature in faith.
📖 1 Peter 2:2 (NIV)
“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”
📖 Romans 10:17 (NIV)
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”
3. To Receive Guidance and Wisdom
The Bible directs our steps and gives us wisdom to make the right decisions.
📖 Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
📖 Proverbs 2:6 (NIV)
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
4. To Avoid Sin and Stay Pure
God’s Word teaches us how to overcome temptation and live righteously.
📖 Psalm 119:11 (NIV)
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
📖 Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
5. To Be Equipped for Ministry and Good Works
Studying Scripture prepares us to serve others and share the Gospel effectively.
📖 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
📖 Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.”
6. To Find Comfort, Hope, and Strength
The Word of God gives peace, encouragement, and strength during trials.
📖 Romans 15:4 (NIV)
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”
📖 Psalm 119:50 (NIV)
“My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.”
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