Welcome to this week’s blog. For this week and the next several weeks, I will be focusing on my favorite book, the Bible. I’m going to share what I wish someone would have shared with me when I decided to study God’s word. I wanted to understand what He commands of me and how He wants me to live my life for Him.
Over the course of the next several weeks I will identify and share the Old Testament (The Bible, Part 1) and the New Testament (The Bible, Part 2). I will identify the purpose of each book, the author of each book, the date written, key verses and the key people involved to help give you a better understanding of the Bible before you dive into it on your own.
For most of us, the initial thought of opening the Bible and to randomly begin reading it feels overwhelming and intimidating, to say the least. If you’re not a scholar of historical biblical times, how can any of us absorb the books, the parables, the gospels, and the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament, just for starters?
For example, many never understand or learn the meaning or purpose of the Ten Commandments, or even know where to find them in the Bible. What are the Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Songs? The many books and gospels in the Bible were written by prophets, martyrs, disciples and witnesses. Some walked the earth before Christ (Old Testament), and some walked alongside Jesus (New Testament). The books of the Bible were intended to record God’s creation of heaven and earth, His creation of man and woman, and His desire for us to worship Him, our creator. The Bible is also an account of God’s promise to us, what we can expect while we are here, and how we must prepare for end times (the 2nd coming of Christ) before He takes us home to our eternal life in heaven with Him.
Let’s get started. I’ve divided the Bible into two sections that will help with the introduction or initial layout of the Old and New Testaments. When you open your Bible, you will find 39 books in the Old Testament, starting with Genesis (50 chapters) and ending with Malachi (4 chapters). The New Testament has 27 books, starting with Matthew (28 chapters) and ending with Revelation (22 chapters).
The author and compiler of the first five books of the Old Testament is Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy).
1st Book - Genesis: Chapters 1-50
Purpose: God called upon Moses to record God’s creation of heaven and earth, the world. Moses also emphasized God’s desire to have the creation of people set apart to worship Him (God).
Author: Moses
Date Written: 1450-1410 B.C. (Before Christ)
Key Verse: So, God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Chapter 1:27 and Chapter 12: 2 and 3)
Key People: Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Joseph
2nd Book - Exodus: Chapters 1-40
Purpose: Moses recorded the events of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and its development as a nation.
Author: Moses
Date Written: 1450-1410 B.C. (Before Christ)
Key Verse: The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the mystery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering . . . So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” (Chapter 3: 7 and 10)
Key People: Moses, Miriam, Pharaoh, Pharaoh’s daughter, Jethro, Aaron, Joshua and Bezalel
3rd Book - Leviticus: Chapters 1-27
Purpose: Moses compiled Leviticus as a handbook for the priests and Levites outlining their duties in worship, and a guidebook of holy living for the Hebrews.
Author: Moses
Date Written: 1450-1410 B.C. (Before Christ)
Key Verse: Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. (Chapter 19:2)
Key People: Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar
4th Book - Numbers: Chapters 1-36
Purpose: Moses is telling the story of how Israel prepared to enter the promised land, how they sinned and were punished, and how they prepared to try again.
Author: Moses
Date Written: 1450-1410 B.C. (Before Christ)
Key Verse: Not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times – not one of them will ever see that land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. (Chapter 14: 22 and 23)
Key People: Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Joshua, Caleb, Eleazar, Korah and Balaam
5th Book - Deuteronomy: Chapters 1-34
Purpose: Moses compiled this book to remind the people of what God had done and encouraged them to rededicate their lives to Him.
Author: Moses, but the final summary of Deuteronomy was written by Joshua due to the death of Moses.
Date Written: ~ 1407/6 B.C. (Before Christ)
Key Verse: Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who will love him and keep his commandments. (Chapter 7: 9)
Key People: Moses and Joshua
Let’s recap. In this week’s blog we covered the first five (1-5) books of the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). Next week I will pick up with Joshua in the Old Testament with the same format I used in this blog. I am hoping you find this format an easy, quick overview of each chapter as we make our way through the Old Testament (The Bible, Part 1). Once we have covered the Old Testament, we will then move into the New Testament (The Bible, Part 2) in the next several weeks.
Blessings until next week,
Debra Pauli Unstoppable Believer
Scripture Quoted From: New International Version Bible (NIV)