Introducing Introducing the Biblethe Bible

What is What is the the

Bible?Bible?

A collection of A collection of writings which the writings which the Church of God has Church of God has

solemnly solemnly recognized as recognized as

inspired. inspired.

- collection of - collection of writingswritings

- the Church of - the Church of God has God has solemnly solemnly

recognizedrecognized

- as inspired- as inspired

Basic Basic Materials of Materials of

the Biblethe Bible

Papyrus Papyrus plantplant

Along the Nile RiverAlong the Nile River

papyrus

ParchmentParchment

VellumVellum

Forms of Forms of the Biblethe Bible

scrollsscrolls

codexcodex

Codex SinaiticusCodex Sinaiticus

Codex VaticanusCodex Vaticanus

Where do we Where do we get the word get the word

“bible”?“bible”?

The name is derived from The name is derived from the Greek expression the Greek expression ““Biblia”Biblia” (the books), (the books),

which came into use in which came into use in the early centuries of the early centuries of

Christianity to designate Christianity to designate the whole sacred volume. the whole sacred volume.

In the Latin of the Middle In the Latin of the Middle Ages, the neuter plural Ages, the neuter plural

for for BibliaBiblia (gen. (gen. bibliorumbibliorum) gradually ) gradually

came to be regarded as a came to be regarded as a feminine singular nounfeminine singular noun

((bibliabiblia, gen. , gen. bibliaebibliae, in , in which singular form the which singular form the

word has passed into the word has passed into the languages of the languages of the Western world. Western world.

"The Book", by way of "The Book", by way of eminence, and eminence, and

therefore well sets therefore well sets forth the sacred forth the sacred character of our character of our

inspired literature. inspired literature.

"The Divine Library" "The Divine Library" ((Bibliotheca DivinaBibliotheca Divina), ),

which was which was employed by St. employed by St.

Jerome in the fourth Jerome in the fourth century; century;

““The Scriptures“ or The Scriptures“ or "the Holy Scripture" "the Holy Scripture"

- terms which are - terms which are derived from derived from

expressions found expressions found in the Bible itself.in the Bible itself.

““The Old and the The Old and the New Testament“ New Testament“

referring to the two referring to the two main compositions main compositions or divisions in the or divisions in the

BibleBible

How do we How do we reckon the Old reckon the Old

and the New and the New testaments?testaments?

““The Old The Old Testament" Testament"

designates the designates the sacred books sacred books

written before the written before the coming of Jesus, coming of Jesus,

and "the New and "the New Testament" denotes Testament" denotes

the inspired the inspired writings composed writings composed since the coming of since the coming of

Christ. Christ.

““The Word of The Word of God” since it is a God” since it is a

collection of collection of writings through writings through

God’s inspiration.God’s inspiration.

The Catholic Bible is The Catholic Bible is composed of 73 composed of 73

books. There are 46 books. There are 46 books in the Old books in the Old

Testament and 27 in Testament and 27 in the New Testament. the New Testament.

The Canon of Scripture The Canon of Scripture is the complete list of is the complete list of the sacred writings the sacred writings

which the Church has which the Church has come to recognize come to recognize through Apostolic through Apostolic

Tradition.Tradition.

Apocrypha – refer to Apocrypha – refer to the writings which are the writings which are

not included in the not included in the Canon or the official Canon or the official list which the Church list which the Church

has come to has come to recognize through recognize through

Apostolic Tradition.Apostolic Tradition.

Some 39 or 40 men Some 39 or 40 men had a part in the had a part in the

writing of the Bible, writing of the Bible, from Moses to the from Moses to the

apostle John. apostle John.

It took over 1500 It took over 1500 years to produce the years to produce the

Bible.Bible.

Out of all the men who Out of all the men who wrote the books of the wrote the books of the

Bible, Luke "the Bible, Luke "the beloved physician" beloved physician" (Col. 4:14) was the (Col. 4:14) was the

only Gentile. only Gentile.

Saint LukeSaint Luke

He penned the He penned the gospel of Luke and gospel of Luke and the book of Acts.the book of Acts.

The first section of the The first section of the Old Testament is called Old Testament is called

the Pentateuch. It the Pentateuch. It contains the first five contains the first five

books of the Bible books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, (Genesis, Exodus,

Leviticus, Numbers and Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). Deuteronomy).

These books, written by These books, written by Moses, cover the period Moses, cover the period of time from Creation to of time from Creation to the death of Moses, just the death of Moses, just prior to the entrance of prior to the entrance of God's people into the God's people into the

promised land.promised land.

CreationCreation Death of Death of MosesMoses

The Old Testament The Old Testament contains contains twelvetwelve books books

of history, from of history, from Joshua through Joshua through

Esther. Esther.

There are five books There are five books of poetry: Job, of poetry: Job,

Psalms, Proverbs, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Ecclesiastes, and the

Song of Solomon. Song of Solomon.

There are five books of There are five books of the major prophets: the major prophets:

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel Lamentations, Ezekiel

and Daniel. There are and Daniel. There are 1212 minor prophets, from minor prophets, from

Hosea through Malachi.Hosea through Malachi.

The New Testament The New Testament contains four gospels contains four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke (Matthew, Mark, Luke

and John), each telling and John), each telling the story of the life of the story of the life of Christ from different Christ from different

viewpoints. viewpoints.

The New Testament has The New Testament has one book of history, the one book of history, the book of Acts, which tells book of Acts, which tells of the establishment of of the establishment of

the church and the the church and the growth of Christianity in growth of Christianity in

the first century. the first century.

It also has 21 epistles, It also has 21 epistles, the majority of which the majority of which were written by the were written by the

apostle Paul (Romans apostle Paul (Romans through Jude)through Jude)

and one book of and one book of prophecy (the prophecy (the

Revelation), penned by Revelation), penned by John while on the isle John while on the isle

of Patmos.of Patmos.

The Old Testament was The Old Testament was written in Hebrew (with written in Hebrew (with the exception of Daniel the exception of Daniel 2:4b-7:28 and Ezra 4:8-2:4b-7:28 and Ezra 4:8-

6:18). The New 6:18). The New Testament was written Testament was written

in Greek.in Greek.

The division into The division into chapters had been chapters had been

invented by Stephen invented by Stephen Langton (Archbishop Langton (Archbishop

of Canterbury) of Canterbury) between 1227 – 1248.between 1227 – 1248.

Archbishop Archbishop Stephen Stephen LangtonLangton

The use of verses The use of verses were introduced by were introduced by Robert Estienne in Robert Estienne in

1545.1545.

Robert Robert EstienneEstienne

What is Biblical What is Biblical Exegesis?Exegesis?

The branch of The branch of Theology which Theology which investigates and investigates and

expresses the true expresses the true sense of Sacred sense of Sacred

Scripture.Scripture.

Different Different versions / versions /

translations of translations of the Biblethe Bible

Massoretic Text Massoretic Text – this is the – this is the

oldest extant oldest extant Bible Bible

manuscriptmanuscript

Greek Septuagint – Greek Septuagint – the first translation of the first translation of

the Hebrew Old the Hebrew Old Testament, made into Testament, made into popular Greek before popular Greek before

the Christian era.the Christian era.

Biblia Vulgata – Biblia Vulgata – Bible translation Bible translation in Latin (Official in Latin (Official Bible translation Bible translation of the Catholic of the Catholic

Church)Church)

New American BibleNew American Bible - - In 1970, the New In 1970, the New

American Bible (NAB) American Bible (NAB) was first published. was first published.

It is an English Bible It is an English Bible translation that was translation that was

produced by members produced by members of the Catholic biblical of the Catholic biblical

scholars in scholars in cooperation with the cooperation with the

USCCB. USCCB.

USCCB - United States USCCB - United States Conference of Conference of

Catholic BishopsCatholic Bishops

New Jerusalem BibleNew Jerusalem Bible is a Catholic is a Catholic

translation of the translation of the Bible published in Bible published in

19851985

and edited by The and edited by The Reverend Henry Reverend Henry

Wansbrough, O.S.B. Wansbrough, O.S.B. his version is his version is

translated "directly translated "directly from the Hebrew, from the Hebrew,

Greek or Aramaic."Greek or Aramaic."

The The Good News Translation Good News Translation (GNT)(GNT) as it is known in as it is known in North America, or the North America, or the

Good News Bible (GNB)Good News Bible (GNB) as as it is known in the rest of it is known in the rest of the world, is an English the world, is an English

language translation of the language translation of the Bible by the American Bible by the American

Bible Society.Bible Society.

The The New International VersionNew International Version is a completely new translation is a completely new translation made by committees from the made by committees from the

Christian Reformed Church Christian Reformed Church and the National Association and the National Association of Evangelicals, though not of Evangelicals, though not made up of official church made up of official church

representatives, was representatives, was transdenominational. transdenominational.

The The King James King James VersionVersion is an English is an English

translation of the translation of the Christian Bible by Christian Bible by

the Church of the Church of England. England.

The The New Revised Standard New Revised Standard VersionVersion was translated by the was translated by the

Bible Translation and Utilization Bible Translation and Utilization of the National Council of of the National Council of

Churches, which is meant to Churches, which is meant to replace the Revised Standard replace the Revised Standard Version, and to identify it in Version, and to identify it in context with the many other context with the many other

English language translations English language translations available today.available today.

AbbreviationsAbbreviations

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

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