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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
The Holy Bible is an anthology of writings that includes 66 books in English editions. The Bible consists of two parts, the Old Testament and New Testament. The Old Testament includes 39 books, and...
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Chris Eleam
Supporter
Since the inspired Scriptures are commonly referred to as the Bible, it is of interest to inquire into the origin and meaning of the word “Bible.” It is derived from the Greek word bi·bliʹa, which means “little books.” This, in turn, is derived from biʹblos, a word describing the inner part of the papyrus plant from which, in ancient times, a “paper” for writing was produced. (The Phoenician port of Gebal, through which papyrus was imported from Egypt, came to be called Byblos by the Greeks. See Joshua 13:5, footnote.) Various written communications upon this type of material became known by the word bi·bliʹa. Thus, bi·bliʹa came to describe any writings, scrolls, books, documents, or scriptures or even a library collection of little books. Surprisingly, the word “Bible” itself generally is not found in the text of English or other-language translations of the Holy Scriptures. However, by the second century B.C.E., the collection of the inspired books of the Hebrew Scriptures was referred to as ta bi·bliʹa in the Greek language. At Daniel 9:2 the prophet wrote: “I myself, Daniel, discerned by the books . . . ” Here the Septuagint has biʹblois, the dative plural form of biʹblos. At 2 Timothy 4:13, Paul wrote: “When you come, bring. . . the scrolls [Greek, bi·bliʹa].” In their several grammatical forms, the Greek words bi·bliʹon and biʹblos occur more than 40 times in the Christian Greek Scriptures and are usually translated “scroll(s)” or “book(s).” Bi·bliʹa was later used in Latin as a singular word, and from the Latin, the word “Bible” came into the English language.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
The Bible is made up of a collection of books, each one a distinct writing that serves a unique purpose. These books can be categorized into two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Old Testament (39 books for Protestants) This section records the history of God’s covenant with His people, Israel, as well as prophecies, poetry, and laws. It includes: The Law (Torah/Pentateuch) – The first five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). History – Books like Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and Kings, which chronicle the history of Israel. Wisdom Literature – Books like Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, focusing on poetry, wisdom, and reflection. Major Prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel, which contain prophecies and visions. Minor Prophets – Twelve shorter prophetic books like Hosea, Amos, and Micah. Another commentator said that instead of 5 parts, "the Old Testament is divided into 3 parts:, 1. The Law (Torah), consisting of the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses. 2. The Prophets, consisting of (1) the former, namely, Joshua, Judges, the Books of Samuel, and the Books of Kings; (2) the latter, namely, the greater prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets. 3. The Hagiographa, or holy writings, including the rest of the books. These were ranked in three divisions:, (1) The Psalms, Proverbs, and Job, distinguished by the Hebrew name, a word formed of the initial letters of these books, emeth, meaning truth. (2) Canticles, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, called the five rolls, as being written for the synagogue use on five separate rolls. (3) Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1 and 2 Chronicles. Between the Old and the New Testament no addition was made to the revelation God had already given. The period of New Testament revelation, extending over a century, began with the appearance of John the Baptist." -- Easton's Bible Dictionary New Testament (27 books) This section focuses on the life, teachings, and work of Jesus Christ, the early church, and the Christian faith. It includes: The Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, which recount the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Acts of the Apostles – Describes the early church’s spread and growth. Paul’s Letters (Epistles) – Letters to various churches or individuals, such as Romans, Corinthians, and Philippians. General Letters – Other letters written by apostles like Peter, James, John, and Jude. Revelation – A prophetic book by John, describing visions of the end times. What does it mean that the Bible is composed of different books? The Bible is not a single narrative but a collection of writings produced over centuries by different authors, many of whom lived in different time periods and contexts. These books were written in different styles, such as history, poetry, law, prophecy, and letters, each contributing to the overall message of God’s relationship with humanity. It’s like a library where each book serves a different purpose but works together to reveal God’s plan for the world. The different books are inspired by God, and together they provide a complete story about salvation, how God interacts with humanity, and how Christians are to live. It shows that God’s revelation is not limited to one form of writing or one historical moment, but is spread out over time and diverse circumstances, each contributing to the bigger picture of the Gospel.
Vincent Mercado
Supporter
The Council of Carthage, on 28 August 397 issued a canon of the Bible quoted as, "Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua son of Nun, Judges, Ruth, 4 books of Kingdoms, 2 books of Chronicles, Job, the Davidic Psalter, 5 books of Solomon, 12 books of Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Tobias, Judith, Esther, 2 books of Ezra, 2 books of Maccabees, and in the New Testament: 4 books of Gospels, 1 book of Acts of the Apostles, 13 letters of the Apostle Paul, 1 letter of his to the Hebrews, 2 of Peter, 3 of John, 1 of James, 1 of Jude, and one book of the Apocalypse of John." The Catholic Church had this list ever since.
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