1.6 Origins and Structure of Bible

1) Overview of the Bible

• The Bible is the sacred text of Christianity, composed of different literary forms (historical accounts, poems, and letters) aimed at different audiences and purposes.

• It is divided into two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament.

2) The Old Testament

• Describes God’s relationship with the Jews before Jesus was born.

• Four main sections:

  1. Law: The first five books, including the laws God gave to the Jews (e.g., the Ten Commandments).

  2. History: Stories of how God guided the Jews and their disobedience, included to teach future generations.

  3. Wisdom: A collection of prayers, psalms, poems, and advice to help people live in a way that pleases God.

  4. Prophecy: Books written by prophets challenging the people to stay faithful to God and revealing God’s active presence in the world.

3) The New Testament

• Focuses on the life and teachings of Jesus and the early Church.

• Four main sections:

  1. Gospels: Narrate the actions and teachings of Jesus.

  2. Acts of the Apostles: Describe key events in the early Church up to around 60 CE.

  3. Epistles: Letters written by apostles explaining how to live according to Jesus' teachings.

  4. Book of Revelation: Mystical visions of the apostle John, interpreted by some as describing the end of the world.

4) Criteria for New Testament Books

• Books were included in the New Testament if they met four criteria:

  1. Supported by an apostle or someone close to one.

  2. Written early, mostly before the end of the first century.

  3. Consistent with other Christian teachings and beliefs.

  4. Universally accepted by the Christian Church at the time.