The word “Bible” means Book.

It was written over a period of 1600 years in over a dozen countries on three continents by 40 people in three different languages.

The Bible was written by poets, prophets, farmers, kings, soldiers, shepherds, princes, priests, historians, fisherman, tax collectors, scholars, businessmen and doctors.

There is only one Author of the Bible: God

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 Old Testament vs. The New Testament

The Old Testament tells the story about a people.

The New Testament tells the story about a person .

The Old Testament centers around Abraham and Moses.

The New Testament centers around Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

The Old Testament gathers around Mt. Sinai.

The New Testament gathers around the cross.

The Old Testament shows the wrath of God against sin.

The New Testament shows the grace of God against sinners.

The Old Testament writes the law on tablets.

The New Testament writes the law on our hearts.

Psalm 119:11 (NKJV)

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Matthew 5:17 (NIV) “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

The Story of the Old Testament

Law: 5 books - Genesis through Deuteronomy

History: 12 books - Joshua through Esther

Poetry and Wisdom: 5 books - Job through Song of Solomon

Prophets: 17 books - 5 Major Prophets – Isaiah through Daniel, 12 Minor Prophets – Hosea through Malachi

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (NIV) “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”