Introduction to Biblical Studies Basic Questions about the bible FAQS (frequently asked questions about the bible)

3. IntroducingIntroducing
the Biblethe Bible

4. What isWhat is
thethe
Bible?Bible?

5. A collection ofA collection of
writings which thewritings which the
Church of God hasChurch of God has
solemnlysolemnly
recognized asrecognized as
inspired.inspired.
CatholicCatholic
EncyclopediaEncyclopedia

6. - collection of- collection of
writingswritings

8. - the Church of- the Church of
God hasGod has
solemnlysolemnly
recognizedrecognized

10. - as inspired- as inspired

12. BasicBasic
Materials ofMaterials of
the Biblethe Bible

13. PapyrusPapyrus
plantplant

14. Along the Nile RiverAlong the Nile River

15. papyrus

16. ParchmentParchment

17. VellumVellum

18. Forms ofForms of
the Biblethe Bible

19. scrollsscrolls

20. codexcodex

21. Codex SinaiticusCodex Sinaiticus

22. Codex VaticanusCodex Vaticanus

24. Where do weWhere do we
get the wordget the word
“bible”?“bible”?

25. BibliaBiblia

26. The name is derived fromThe name is derived from
the Greek expressionthe Greek expression
““Biblia”Biblia” (the books),(the books),
which came into use inwhich came into use in
the early centuries ofthe early centuries of
Christianity to designateChristianity to designate
the whole sacred volume.the whole sacred volume.

28. In the Latin of the MiddleIn the Latin of the Middle
Ages, the neuter pluralAges, the neuter plural
forfor BibliaBiblia (gen.(gen.
bibliorumbibliorum) gradually) gradually
came to be regarded as acame to be regarded as a
feminine singular nounfeminine singular noun

29. ((bibliabiblia, gen., gen. bibliaebibliae, in, in
which singular form thewhich singular form the
word has passed into theword has passed into the
languages of thelanguages of the
Western world.Western world.

30. "The Book", by way of"The Book", by way of
eminence, andeminence, and
therefore well setstherefore well sets
forth the sacredforth the sacred
character of ourcharacter of our
inspired literature.inspired literature.

32. "The Divine Library""The Divine Library"
((Bibliotheca DivinaBibliotheca Divina),),
which waswhich was
employed by St.employed by St.
Jerome in the fourthJerome in the fourth
century;century;

34. ““The Scriptures“ orThe Scriptures“ or
"the Holy Scripture""the Holy Scripture"
- terms which are- terms which are
derived fromderived from
expressions foundexpressions found
in the Bible itself.in the Bible itself.

35. ““The Old and theThe Old and the
New Testament“New Testament“
referring to the tworeferring to the two
main compositionsmain compositions
or divisions in theor divisions in the
BibleBible

37. How do weHow do we
reckon the Oldreckon the Old
and the Newand the New
testaments?testaments?

38. ““The OldThe Old
Testament"Testament"
designates thedesignates the
sacred bookssacred books
written before thewritten before the
coming of Jesus,coming of Jesus,

39. and "the Newand "the New
Testament" denotesTestament" denotes
the inspiredthe inspired
writings composedwritings composed
since the coming ofsince the coming of
Christ.Christ.

40. ““The Word ofThe Word of
God” since it is aGod” since it is a
collection ofcollection of
writings throughwritings through
God’s inspiration.God’s inspiration.

42. How manyHow many
writings arewritings are
there in thethere in the
Bible?Bible?

43. The Catholic Bible isThe Catholic Bible is
composed of 73composed of 73
books. There are 46books. There are 46
books in the Oldbooks in the Old
Testament and 27 inTestament and 27 in
the New Testament.the New Testament.

45. What is theWhat is the
meaning ofmeaning of
“the canon of“the canon of
scripture”?scripture”?

46. The Canon of ScriptureThe Canon of Scripture
is the complete list ofis the complete list of
the sacred writingsthe sacred writings
which the Church haswhich the Church has
come to recognizecome to recognize
through Apostolicthrough Apostolic
Tradition.Tradition.

48. We have theWe have the
protocanonical booksprotocanonical books
and theand the
deuterocanonicaldeuterocanonical
booksbooks

49. DeuterocanonicalDeuterocanonical
books:books:
Judith, Tobit, 1 and 1Judith, Tobit, 1 and 1
Maccabees, Wisdom,Maccabees, Wisdom,
Baruch, EcclesiasticusBaruch, Ecclesiasticus

50. What is theWhat is the
meaning ofmeaning of
“apocrypha”?“apocrypha”?

51. Apocrypha – refer toApocrypha – refer to
the writings which arethe writings which are
not included in thenot included in the
Canon or the officialCanon or the official
list which the Churchlist which the Church
has come tohas come to
recognize throughrecognize through
Apostolic Tradition.Apostolic Tradition.

52. How many menHow many men
took part in thetook part in the
writing of thewriting of the
Bible?Bible?

53. Some 39 or 40 menSome 39 or 40 men
had a part in thehad a part in the
writing of the Bible,writing of the Bible,
from Moses to thefrom Moses to the
apostle John.apostle John.

54. How long did itHow long did it
take to producetake to produce
the Bible?the Bible?

55. It took over 1500It took over 1500
years to produce theyears to produce the
Bible.Bible.

56. Out of all the men whoOut of all the men who
wrote the books of thewrote the books of the
Bible, Luke "theBible, Luke "the
beloved physician"beloved physician"
(Col. 4:14) was the(Col. 4:14) was the
only Gentile.only Gentile.

57. Saint LukeSaint Luke

58. He penned theHe penned the
gospel of Luke andgospel of Luke and
the book of Acts.the book of Acts.

59. What do we callWhat do we call
the first section ofthe first section of
the Oldthe Old
Testament?Testament?

60. The first section of theThe first section of the
Old Testament is calledOld Testament is called
the Pentateuch. Itthe Pentateuch. It
contains the first fivecontains the first five
books of the Biblebooks of the Bible
(Genesis, Exodus,(Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers andLeviticus, Numbers and
Deuteronomy).Deuteronomy).

61. These books, written byThese books, written by
Moses, cover the periodMoses, cover the period
of time from Creation toof time from Creation to
the death of Moses, justthe death of Moses, just
prior to the entrance ofprior to the entrance of
God's people into theGod's people into the
promised land.promised land.

62. CreationCreation Death ofDeath of
MosesMoses

63. How many booksHow many books
of history areof history are
there in the Oldthere in the Old
Testament?Testament?

64. The Old TestamentThe Old Testament
containscontains twelvetwelve
books of history, frombooks of history, from
Joshua throughJoshua through
Esther.Esther.

65. How many booksHow many books
of poetry are thereof poetry are there
in the Oldin the Old
Testament?Testament?

66. There are five booksThere are five books
of poetry: Job,of poetry: Job,
Psalms, Proverbs,Psalms, Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes, and theEcclesiastes, and the
Song of Solomon.Song of Solomon.

67. How manyHow many
prophetic booksprophetic books
are there in theare there in the
Old Testament?Old Testament?

68. There are five books ofThere are five books of
the major prophets:the major prophets:
Isaiah, Jeremiah,Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Lamentations, EzekielLamentations, Ezekiel
and Daniel. There areand Daniel. There are 1212
minor prophets, fromminor prophets, from
Hosea through Malachi.Hosea through Malachi.

69. How manyHow many
Gospels are thereGospels are there
in the Newin the New
Testament?Testament?

70. The New TestamentThe New Testament
contains four gospelscontains four gospels
(Matthew, Mark, Luke(Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John), each tellingand John), each telling
the story of the life ofthe story of the life of
Christ from differentChrist from different
viewpoints.viewpoints.

71. How manyHow many
historical bookshistorical books
are there in theare there in the
New Testament?New Testament?

72. The New Testament hasThe New Testament has
one book of history, theone book of history, the
book of Acts, which tellsbook of Acts, which tells
of the establishment ofof the establishment of
the church and thethe church and the
growth of Christianity ingrowth of Christianity in
the first century.the first century.

73. How manyHow many
epistles are thereepistles are there
in the Newin the New
Testament?Testament?

74. It also has 21 epistles,It also has 21 epistles,
the majority of whichthe majority of which
were written by thewere written by the
apostle Paul (Romansapostle Paul (Romans
through Jude)through Jude)

75. How manyHow many
prophetic booksprophetic books
are there in theare there in the
New Testament?New Testament?

76. and one book ofand one book of
prophecy (theprophecy (the
Revelation), penned byRevelation), penned by
John while on the isleJohn while on the isle
of Patmos.of Patmos.

77. What were theWhat were the
originaloriginal
languages usedlanguages used
in the Bible?in the Bible?

78. The Old Testament wasThe Old Testament was
written in Hebrew (withwritten in Hebrew (with
the exception of Danielthe exception of Daniel
2:4b-7:28 and Ezra 4:8-2:4b-7:28 and Ezra 4:8-
6:18). The New6:18). The New
Testament was writtenTestament was written
in Greek.in Greek.

79. Who inventedWho invented
the use ofthe use of
chapters in thechapters in the
Bible?Bible?

80. The division intoThe division into
chapters had beenchapters had been
invented by Stepheninvented by Stephen
Langton (ArchbishopLangton (Archbishop
of Canterbury)of Canterbury)
between 1227 – 1248.between 1227 – 1248.

81. ArchbishopArchbishop
StephenStephen
LangtonLangton

82. Who introducedWho introduced
the use ofthe use of
verses?verses?

83. The use of versesThe use of verses
were introduced bywere introduced by
Robert Estienne inRobert Estienne in
1545.1545.

84. RobertRobert
EstienneEstienne

85. What is BiblicalWhat is Biblical
Exegesis?Exegesis?

86. The branch ofThe branch of
Theology whichTheology which
investigates andinvestigates and
expresses the trueexpresses the true
sense of Sacredsense of Sacred
Scripture.Scripture.

87. DifferentDifferent
versions /versions /
translations oftranslations of
the Biblethe Bible

88. Massoretic TextMassoretic Text
– this is the– this is the
oldest extantoldest extant
BibleBible
manuscriptmanuscript

90. Greek Septuagint –Greek Septuagint –
the first translation ofthe first translation of
the Hebrew Oldthe Hebrew Old
Testament, made intoTestament, made into
popular Greek beforepopular Greek before
the Christian era.the Christian era.

92. Biblia Vulgata –Biblia Vulgata –
Bible translationBible translation
in Latin (Officialin Latin (Official
Bible translationBible translation
of the Catholicof the Catholic
Church)Church)

94. New American BibleNew American Bible --
In 1970, the NewIn 1970, the New
American Bible (NAB)American Bible (NAB)
was first published.was first published.

95. It is an English BibleIt is an English Bible
translation that wastranslation that was
produced by membersproduced by members
of the Catholic biblicalof the Catholic biblical
scholars inscholars in
cooperation with thecooperation with the
USCCB.USCCB.

96. USCCB - United StatesUSCCB - United States
Conference ofConference of
Catholic BishopsCatholic Bishops

98. New Jerusalem BibleNew Jerusalem Bible
is a Catholicis a Catholic
translation of thetranslation of the
Bible published inBible published in
19851985

99. and edited by Theand edited by The
Reverend HenryReverend Henry
Wansbrough, O.S.B.Wansbrough, O.S.B.
his version ishis version is
translated "directlytranslated "directly
from the Hebrew,from the Hebrew,
Greek or Aramaic."Greek or Aramaic."

101. TheThe Good News TranslationGood News Translation
(GNT)(GNT) as it is known inas it is known in
North America, or theNorth America, or the
Good News Bible (GNB)Good News Bible (GNB) asas
it is known in the rest ofit is known in the rest of
the world, is an Englishthe world, is an English
language translation of thelanguage translation of the
Bible by the AmericanBible by the American
Bible Society.Bible Society.

103. TheThe New International VersionNew International Version
is a completely new translationis a completely new translation
made by committees from themade by committees from the
Christian Reformed ChurchChristian Reformed Church
and the National Associationand the National Association
of Evangelicals, though notof Evangelicals, though not
made up of official churchmade up of official church
representatives, wasrepresentatives, was
transdenominational.transdenominational.

105. TheThe King JamesKing James
VersionVersion is an Englishis an English
translation of thetranslation of the
Christian Bible byChristian Bible by
the Church ofthe Church of
England.England.

107. TheThe New Revised StandardNew Revised Standard
VersionVersion was translated by thewas translated by the
Bible Translation and UtilizationBible Translation and Utilization
of the National Council ofof the National Council of
Churches, which is meant toChurches, which is meant to
replace the Revised Standardreplace the Revised Standard
Version, and to identify it inVersion, and to identify it in
context with the many othercontext with the many other
English language translationsEnglish language translations
available today.available today.

109. AbbreviationsAbbreviations

110. GnGn
ExEx
LvLv
NmNm
DtDt
JosJos
JgsJgs
RuRu
1 Sm1 Sm
2 Sm2 Sm
1 Kgs1 Kgs
2 Kgs2 Kgs
1 Chr1 Chr
2 Chr2 Chr
EzrEzr
NehNeh
TbTb
JdtJdt
EstEst
1 Mc1 Mc
2 Mc2 Mc
JbJb
PsPs
PrvPrv
EcclEccl
SgSg
WisWis
IsIs
JerJer
LamLam
BarBar
EzEz
DnDn
HosHos
JlJl
AmAm
ObOb
JonJon
MiMi
NaNa

111. HbHb
ZepZep
HgHg
ZecZec
MalMal
MtMt
MkMk
LkLk
JnJn
ActsActs
RomRom
1 Cor1 Cor
2 Cor2 Cor
GalGal
EphEph
PhilPhil
ColCol
1 Thes1 Thes
2 Thes2 Thes
1 Tm1 Tm
2 Tm2 Tm
TiTi
PhlmPhlm
HebHeb
JasJas
1 Pt1 Pt
2 Pt2 Pt
1 Jn1 Jn
2 Jn2 Jn
3 Jn3 Jn
JudeJude
RvRv