Part 2 – Understanding the Bible
(John 1:1-3 NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
(John 1:14 NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
We want you to love it, learn it, and live it.
The more you understand something, the more you can desire and love it.
The same is true with the Word of God.
- The word “Bible” means Book.
- The most read book in history
- The longest running best-selling book ever
- The most translated book in history
- It was written over a period of approximately 4000 years in over a dozen countries on three continents by forty people from all walks of life, in three languages.
Poets, prophets, princes, kings, sailors, soldiers, attorneys, doctors, farmers, scholars, shepherds, priests, historians, fishermen, tax collectors, and businessmen.
Caves, ships, homes, palaces, prisons, and deserts.
How did they come up with the same story?
- There were about 40 writers but only one Author.
(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.
The Bible is not in chronological order. It is grouped by the type of book.
Overview of the Old Testament
- Law – 5 books – Genesis through Deuteronomy
- Historical – 12 books – Joshua through Esther
- Poetical – 5 books – Job through Song of Solomon
- Prophetical – 17 books
- 5 Major Prophets – Isaiah through Daniel
- 12 Minor Prophets – Hosea through Malachi
Overview of the New Testament
- Gospels – 4 books – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
- Acts – historical record of the early church
- Epistles – 21 books – Romans through Jude
- Revelation – prophecy of the last days and eternity
Some Humor in the Bible
(Numbers 12:1-3 NKJV) Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. (2) So they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard it. (3) (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
(John 20:1-4 NKJV) Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. (2) Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” (3) Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. (4) So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.
The Plot – The Mirror Image
The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed, but the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.
God and righteous man in Paradise
Genesis 1-2
Satan and sin enter
Genesis 3-5
The world judged and destroyed
Genesis 6-9
“One World” Government System
Genesis 10-11
12 Tribes / Israel, God’s holy people
Genesis 12 – Malachi
Jesus Christ
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
12 Disciples / Church, God’s holy people
Acts – Jude
“One World” Government system
Revelation 6-19
The world judged and destroyed
Revelation 6-19
Satan and sin exit
Revelation 20
God and redeemed man in Paradise
Revelation 21-22
- The Subject – Jesus
(John 5:39 NLT) “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to Me!
- The Object – Us
- The Verb – Give
(John 3:16 NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
(1 John 3:16 CEV) We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. That’s why we must give our lives for each other.