The Bible

God’s Grand Story: Act 1Week 2

What is the Bible?

The Bible is not a book for the faint of heart - it is a book full of all the greed and glory and violence and tenderness and sex and betrayal that benefits mankind. It is not the collection of pretty little anecdotes mouthed by pious little church mice - it does not so much nibble at our shoe leather as it cuts to the heart and splits the marrow from the bone. It does not give us answers fitted to our small-minded questions, but truth that goes beyond what we can even know to ask.

from Thoughts and Reflections by Rich Mullins

What is the Bible?

• A working definition:

A collection of writings containing the record and revelation of God’s interaction with man.

… of God’s interaction with man.

• Actual people• Actual places• Actual problems• Actual encounters• Actually God

Old Testament

• Historical – The Law - Pentateuch– Genesis– Exodus– Leviticus– Numbers– Deuteronomy

Old Testament

• The Prophets – Joshua– Judges– Samuel– Kings– Isaiah– Jeremiah– Ezekiel– Minor Prophets

Old Testament

• The Writings– Psalms– Proverbs– Job– Song of Solomon– Ruth– Lamentations

Old Testament

• The Writings (cont)– Ecclesiastes– Esther– Daniel– Ezra– Nehemiah– Chronicles

… of God’s interaction with man.

• Moses – Leading the people to their new land through rediscovering their relationship.

Old Testament

• Historical – The Law - Pentateuch– Genesis – Beginning– Exodus – Exit– Leviticus - Law– Numbers – People– Deuteronomy – Reminder

Old Testament

Moses – Genesis through Deuteronomy – The Law

Creation

Old Testament

• Historical – Pre-Kings– Joshua – Land– Judges – Cycle– Ruth – Preparation

• Historical – Monarchy– Samuel – King– Kings – Divide– Chronicles – Commentary

Old Testament

Genesis - Deuteronomy – The Law

Creation

Joshua – Chronicles – The Land

Old Testament

• Historical – The People– Ezra – Temple– Nehemiah – Wall– Esther – People

Old Testament

Genesis - Deuteronomy – The Law

Creation

Joshua – Chronicles – The Land

Ezra – Ester – The People

Old Testament

• Poetry – The Heart– Job – Suffering– Psalms – Songs– Proverbs – Wisdom– Ecclesiastes – Experience– Song of Solomon – Passion

Old Testament

Genesis - Deuteronomy – The Law

Creation

Joshua – Chronicles – The Land

Ezra – Ester – The People

Job – Song of Solomon – The Heart

Old Testament

• Prophets – The Preparation– Major Prophets

• Isaiah – Daniel

– Minor Prophets• Hosea – Malachi

JudahJeremiahJoel

BabylonLamentationsEzekielDaniel

BothIsaiahHoseaMicahZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachi

IsraelAmos

OtherObadiah – EdomJonah – NinevehNahum – NinevehHabakkuk

Old Testament

• Prophets – The Preparation– Isaiah – Divided– Jeremiah – Judgment– Lamentations – Sadness– Ezekiel - Repentance

Old Testament• Prophets – The Preparation

– Daniel – Purpose– Hosea – Faithfulness– Amos – Justice– Jonah – Mercy– Micah – Future– Nahum – Accountability– Habakkuk – Why?– Zephaniah – Repent– Haggai – Return– Zechariah – Encouragement– Malachi - Deliverance

Old Testament

420 BC785 BC

Hosea

605 BC

Daniel Captured

586 BC

Jerusalem Destroyed

755 BC

Isaiah

722 BC

Israel Falls

458 BC

Ezra Returns

MalachiWritten

Old Testament

Genesis - Deuteronomy – The Law

Creation

Joshua – Chronicles – The Land

Ezra – Ester – The People

Job – Song of Solomon – The Heart

Isaiah – Malachi – The Preparation

Summary

• God’s character is consistent throughout His word.

• Understanding the history helps us as we seek to understand how God worked through specific people in a specific place at a specific time.