FRED ZASPEL
The Bible is a book that gives the history of the human race from creation and fall into sin to its final redemption in the new creation, the new heaven and the new earth.
The Bible is separated into two main divisions: the Old Testament and the New Testament, each gathering the literature written during and concerning the Old and New Covenants, respectively. The Old Covenant was made with Israel at Mount Sinai and was summarised in the ten commandments. It lays out the responsibilities of Israel and the blessings God promised to that nation for her obedience. The New Covenant promised gracious forgiveness in the death of Jesus Christ, the sinner’s substitute, and eternal fellowship with God.
The Old Testament, in our English versions, arranges its literature in four sections — Law, History, Poetry, and Prophets and covers history from creation to the formation of Israel to the exile of the nation of Israel and return to the land.
The law (Genesis-Deuteronomy), also called the Pentateuch, Torah, or books of Moses, covers history from creation to just before Israel entered the Promised Land. Of major significance here is the creation and subsequent fall of humanity into sin and the divine promise of a redeemer — a promise that informs the remainder of the Bible. Next is the formation of the nation of Israel, its exodus from Egypt, receiving of the law of God (the Old Covenant) with its sacrificial / priestly worship, and wilderness wanderings.
The historical books of the Old Testament (Joshua-Esther) highlight the history of the nation of Israel from their entrance into Canaan under the leadership of Joshua, to the chaotic days of the Judges, the establishing of the monarchy, the division of the nation (Israel in the North and Judah in the South), the exile of both nations, and the return of Judah to the Promised Land. The poetic books (Job-Song of Solomon). The Psalms record the aspirations of a redeemed heart — in virtually its every emotion — in the worship of God. Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, with their emphasis on faithful living under God, are known as the “wisdom literature” of the Old Testament. The Song of Solomon is a love story portraying the relationship of marital love and reflective of the love of Christ and the church.
The prophets (Isaiah-Malachi) were written during the time of the kings of Israel and Judah. The prophets were spokesmen for God to kings and to the nations. They gave warnings of judgment, demands to obedience to the law (the covenant), and they also gave prophesies of future hope.
The New Testament begins with the announcement of the fulfillment of God’s ancient promise that he would send a deliverer to save his people from their sins. This person was Jesus Christ, the promised king. The New Testament, like the Old Testament, is categorized into four sections: the Gospels, the History Book, the Epistles, and Prophecy.
The Gospels (Matthew-John) record the events surrounding Jesus’ birth, life, miracles, teaching, death, and resurrection. Each Gospel writer labors to emphasize one particular aspect of Christ and his work, but each builds his biographical account with an emphasis on the “passion narratives” — the death and resurrection of Christ — and stress that Christ died as the sinner’s substitute and was raised from the dead in triumphal accomplishment of their salvation.
The book of Acts is the church’s first history book. Here Luke records for us how the message of Christ was taken from Jerusalem to the world. It also records the ministries of the apostles, but mainly of Paul, and his successes in establishing churches throughout the Roman Empire.
The epistles (Romans-Jude) are letters that were written during period of book of Acts. The Epistles are letters that were written by the apostles mainly to churches that they had founded. Their purpose is to explain the significance of Christ in terms of both our faith and practice.
Revelation, the leading New Testament book of prophecy, looks ahead to the climax of history when Christ returns to take his own to the new heaven and the new earth in eternal fellowship with God.
From creation to the new creation, the Bible displays the unfolding purpose of God in history — a history in which he has set out to glorify himself in human salvation.
The Bible is separated into two main divisions: the Old Testament and the New Testament, each gathering the literature written during and concerning the Old and New Covenants, respectively. The Old Covenant was made with Israel at Mount Sinai and was summarised in the ten commandments. It lays out the responsibilities of Israel and the blessings God promised to that nation for her obedience. The New Covenant promised gracious forgiveness in the death of Jesus Christ, the sinner’s substitute, and eternal fellowship with God.
The Old Testament, in our English versions, arranges its literature in four sections — Law, History, Poetry, and Prophets and covers history from creation to the formation of Israel to the exile of the nation of Israel and return to the land.
The law (Genesis-Deuteronomy), also called the Pentateuch, Torah, or books of Moses, covers history from creation to just before Israel entered the Promised Land. Of major significance here is the creation and subsequent fall of humanity into sin and the divine promise of a redeemer — a promise that informs the remainder of the Bible. Next is the formation of the nation of Israel, its exodus from Egypt, receiving of the law of God (the Old Covenant) with its sacrificial / priestly worship, and wilderness wanderings.
The historical books of the Old Testament (Joshua-Esther) highlight the history of the nation of Israel from their entrance into Canaan under the leadership of Joshua, to the chaotic days of the Judges, the establishing of the monarchy, the division of the nation (Israel in the North and Judah in the South), the exile of both nations, and the return of Judah to the Promised Land. The poetic books (Job-Song of Solomon). The Psalms record the aspirations of a redeemed heart — in virtually its every emotion — in the worship of God. Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, with their emphasis on faithful living under God, are known as the “wisdom literature” of the Old Testament. The Song of Solomon is a love story portraying the relationship of marital love and reflective of the love of Christ and the church.
The prophets (Isaiah-Malachi) were written during the time of the kings of Israel and Judah. The prophets were spokesmen for God to kings and to the nations. They gave warnings of judgment, demands to obedience to the law (the covenant), and they also gave prophesies of future hope.
The New Testament begins with the announcement of the fulfillment of God’s ancient promise that he would send a deliverer to save his people from their sins. This person was Jesus Christ, the promised king. The New Testament, like the Old Testament, is categorized into four sections: the Gospels, the History Book, the Epistles, and Prophecy.
The Gospels (Matthew-John) record the events surrounding Jesus’ birth, life, miracles, teaching, death, and resurrection. Each Gospel writer labors to emphasize one particular aspect of Christ and his work, but each builds his biographical account with an emphasis on the “passion narratives” — the death and resurrection of Christ — and stress that Christ died as the sinner’s substitute and was raised from the dead in triumphal accomplishment of their salvation.
The book of Acts is the church’s first history book. Here Luke records for us how the message of Christ was taken from Jerusalem to the world. It also records the ministries of the apostles, but mainly of Paul, and his successes in establishing churches throughout the Roman Empire.
The epistles (Romans-Jude) are letters that were written during period of book of Acts. The Epistles are letters that were written by the apostles mainly to churches that they had founded. Their purpose is to explain the significance of Christ in terms of both our faith and practice.
Revelation, the leading New Testament book of prophecy, looks ahead to the climax of history when Christ returns to take his own to the new heaven and the new earth in eternal fellowship with God.
From creation to the new creation, the Bible displays the unfolding purpose of God in history — a history in which he has set out to glorify himself in human salvation.
