Brief presentation by Todd Linn, PhD; an overview of the Bible; how it is structured

1. The Bible as a Whole
♦ God’s written
revelation of His will
to man. 2 Timothy
3:16-17
♦ Central theme – Jesus
Christ 1 Timothy 3:16
♦ Contains 66 Books
♦ Written by 40 Authors
♦ Spans 1600 years

2. Language of the Bible
♦ The Old Testament was written in Hebrew
– (some short passages in Aramaic)
♦ The New Testament was written in Greek.
♦ Our modern Bible is a translation of these
languages.

3. Why is the Bible divided between the
Old and the New Testament?
♦ “Testament” means “covenant or agreement.”
– The Old Testament contains a covenant God made with
man about his relationship before Christ came.
– The New Testament is the agreement God made with
man about the relationship with the Father after Christ
came.
♦ Old Testament contains a covenant of the law.
♦ The New Testament is a covenant of grace.
– Compare Galatians 3:19 – 25; 3:13-14.

4. ♦ Galatians 3:19-25
– 19What purpose then does the law serve? It was added
because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to
whom the promise was made; and it was appointed
through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20Now a
mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.
21Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly
not! For if there had been a law given which could have
given life, truly righteousness would have been by the
law. 22But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that
the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to
those who believe. 23But before faith came, we were
kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which
would afterward be revealed. 24Therefore the law was
our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified
by faith. 25But after faith has come, we are no longer
under a tutor.

5. Gal 3:13-14
♦ 13Christ has redeemed us from the curse of
the law, having become a curse for us (for it
is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs
on a tree”), 14that the blessing of Abraham
might come upon the Gentiles in Christ
Jesus, that we might receive the promise of
the Spirit through faith.

6. Divisions of the Bible
Old Testament 39 books
♦ 17 Historical (5 Law, 12 Historical)
♦ 5 Personal/ Experiential (Poetry)
♦ 17 Prophetical (5 Major, 12 Minor)

7. Divisions of the Bible Cont.
New Testament 27 books
♦ 5 Foundational (Gospels, Acts)
♦ 21 Epistles
– 14 Paul
• 9 to church
• 5 Pastoral
– 7 General
♦ 1 Prophecy ( The Revelation)

8. Facts About the Bible
♦ 1,189 Chapters
♦ 31,373 Verses
♦ 775,693 Words in King James Version
♦ Psalm 119 – Longest Chapter
♦ Psalm 117 – Shortest Chapter
♦ Psalms – Longest Book in the Old Testament
♦ Luke – Longest Book in the New Testament