Introduction
Many people who read the Bible find it confusing because they do not have a framework for the story. They do not understand how it all fits together. This series of books offers a simple framework that explains how all the parts fit into the bigger story.
The Bible consists of the Old Testament (three sections) followed by the New Testament (also three sections). The Old Testament includes thirty-nine books, and the New Testament consists of twenty-seven books.
The Old Testament:
- is the account of the Jewish nation of Israel, the nation God chose to work with to be a model to other nations.
- starting with Abraham, it covers about two thousand years of history
- details God’s interactions with the nation of Israel and the ancient Hebrew people.
- promises, “Christ will come.”
- closes four hundred years before the birth of Jesus.
The New Testament:
- is an account of Jesus.
- covers seventy years of history about Jesus’ life and the Church’s establishment
- is the story of Jesus, the Church He founded, and its growth under the apostles’ leadership after His death
- says, “Christ has come
- is the account of Jesus bringing redemption through his sacrifice on the cross
This blog is a guide to give you a framework of the Bible’s big picture. Knowledge of the six sections of the Bible and awareness of the storyline provides the foundation for understanding. This guide is a means to help you better understand how the sixty-six books fit together- how each book fits into the Bible’s broader framework.
Nothing can substitute for reading the Bible itself; nothing people write about God’s word can compare to it. While nothing else is required to study the Bible aside from God’s Word and the Holy Spirit leading you in your study, this guide will help you identify the six sections of the Bible.
The Message of the Bible
From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:15–17)
The Bible informs and drives all aspects of Christian belief and practice. It tells the true stories of people who lived on Earth, walked with God, and experienced his love. The Bible informs us how God has interacted with people throughout history. The accounts of God’s justice and judgment are there, as are examples of God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness.
Christianity grew out of Judaism, and it is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Those who follow His teachings are “Christians.”
Though it comprises sixty-six books, it has a unified message throughout. Salvation, an essential theme of the Bible, is God’s purpose to redeem humankind. God promised eternal life to those who believe in Jesus.
God guided the writing of the Bible, so it contains the things God wants humanity to know. The Bible is an account of God revealing Himself to humankind and recording His dealings with people.
We study the Bible to be transformed, not informed. It is good to be knowledgeable of Scripture—to know what it says. But when we take the time to understand why the Bible says what it says, transformation begins.
To approach Bible study with no higher motive than a desire to get theological knowledge is a mistake. One must seek, in studying God, to be led to God. The history recorded in the Bible preserves events and spiritual truths learned through those events.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18.
Six Sections of the Bible
Old Testament
Section 1 Old Testament Historical Narrative (17 books)
Section 2 Prose and Poetry of the Israelite Nation (5 books)
Section 3 Prophets Deliver God’s Message (17 books)
New Testament
Section 4 Gospels of Jesus (4 books)
Section 5 Formation of the Church (22 books)
Section 6 End Times (1 book)
The sixty-six books in the Bible divide into six sections. The Old Testament is comprised of three sections, as is the New Testament. The Old Testament is a biblical history of a nation: Israel and the New Testament is an account of Jesus and the formation of the Christian Church. The Old Testament details God’s interactions with the nation of Israel, and the New Testament discusses Jesus and the beginning of the Church. Starting with Abraham, the Old Testament covers about two thousand years of history, and the New Testament covers 70 years of history about Jesus’ life and the Church’s establishment.
Section One contains the storyline of the Old Testament.
Section Two shares the literature of the people during Section One.
Section Three relates the wisdom God gave the prophets to relay to humans.
Section Four contains the storyline of the New Testament about the life of Jesus.
Section Five describes the storyline of the Church’s growth under the apostles.
Section Six relays a letter John wrote about a vision he received about End Times.
Section 1: Historical Narrative of the Old Testament
One continuous historical narrative runs through the first seventeen books of the Bible. This storyline covers creation up to the time of Jesus’ birth.
This section tells the story of the Hebrew nation of Israel and its relationship with God. Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible for the Israelites to document their history and outline their place in God’s plan.
The Storyline of the Old Testament
- Prehistory: Creation-The Fall-The Flood
- God’s Chosen People: The Israelites (2100– 1525 BC) (575 Years)
- Four Hundred Years in Egypt and the Exodus (1525– 1400 BC)
- The Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai (1450– 1400 BC) (1 Year)
- Forty-Year Punishment in the Wilderness
- Arrival and Settlement in Canaan: The Promised Land (1400– 1100 BC)
- Judges: Cycles of Disobedience (350 Years)
- The Reign of Israel’s Kings (1100– 930 BC)
- Israel and Judah: The Divided Kingdom (930– 725 BC)
- 70 Year Babylonian Captivity – 70 years (585– 535 BC)
- Return from Captivity and Restoring Jerusalem (535– 425 BC)
- Silence/The Time between the Testaments (425– 5 BC)
Section 2: Wisdom and Poetry of the Israelites
- Section 2 does not include historical events but instead consists of the Hebrew nation’s poetry, literature, songs, and wise sayings authored during Section One.
Section 3: Prophets Deliver God’s Message
- The seventeen books of the prophets were God’s word to the Hebrew people during the later parts of the Old Testament history of Section One. God sent prophets to warn Israel of the coming judgment and encourage the people to turn back to God.
Section 4: Gospels of Jesus
- The four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John— tell of the birth, life, ministry, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. All four of the Gospels speak of Jesus’ life, yet each author emphasizes various aspects of Jesus.
- The Storyline of the Gospels
- Birth and Early Years of Jesus
- Jesus’ Three-Year Ministry
- Passion Week and the Crucifixion of Jesus
- Jesus’ Forty Days from Resurrection until Ascension
Section 5: Formation of the Church
- Acts tell the story of the Christian Church’s birth and growth for the first 30 years of existence.
- The 21 Epistles are letters written to churches and individual believers in the earliest days of Christianity containing principles for living as a Christian.
- The Storyline of The Formation of the Church
- Peter and the Beginnings of the Church (30– 100 AD)
- Ministry and Journeys of the Apostle Paul
- Letters Written to Spread the Gospel Message (50– 95 AD)
Section 6: End-Time Prophetic Events
- John, the last surviving apostle, is in Exile on Patmos’ Island, banished because of his religious faith. While here, John receives a series of visions describing God’s ultimate victory over evil.
Storyline of the Bible
Knowledge of the storyline of the Bible is imperative to understanding. The storyline is the chain of events in chronological order.
The storyline of the Old Testament is in Section One. Section Two presents the poetry and the hymns that the people in Section One enjoyed. Section Three reveals the messages the profits took to the people in Section One. Sections Two and Three are not part of the storyline but contribute to Section One.
The storyline of the New Testament is in Sections Four and Five-the life of Jesus and the formation of the Church. Section Six details a vision God gave John about how the world will end.
The storyline of the Old Testament is in Section One. Section Two presents the poetry and the hymns that the people in Section One enjoyed. Section Three reveals the messages the profits took to the people in Section One. Sections Two and Three are not part of the storyline but contribute to Section One.
The storyline of the New Testament is in Sections Four and Five-the life of Jesus and the formation of the Church. Section Six details a vision God gave John about how the world will end.
The Old Testament reveals God’s interaction with Israel, covering 2,000-plus years. The Old Testament is the account of the Jewish nation of Israel, the nation God chose to work with to be a model to other nations. God promised the Israelites a future Messiah to restore humankind’s relationship with God.
The New Testament is about Jesus and the formation of the Christian Church.
The New Testament covers 60 to 70 years. These books talk about Jesus’ life and the establishment of the Christian Church.
Old Testament Storyline
The storyline of the Old Testament is in Section One.
Section One includes seventeen historical books arranged in chronological order, covering about two thousand years. Section 2 contains the poetry and literature of the Hebrew people of Section One. Section 3 describes the prophets God sent to warn the people in Section 1.
The Old Testament centers on the nation of Israel and the account of the lives of Abraham and his descendants (Isaac, Jacob, Joseph) to become his chosen people on earth. God developed a relationship with Abraham and promised to make his descendants a nation that would impact the entire world. God promised the Israelites a future Messiah who would restore humanity’s relationship with God.
The Old Testament is the biblical history of the Israelites, his chosen people, and how God called them to bring blessings to all people. God made a covenant with Abraham to rescue humanity, promising all nations to be blessed through him and his descendants. Jews and Gentiles receive this blessing through faith in Christ.
- Creation (Before 4000 BC) (Prehistory)
- The Fall of Humanity
- The Great Flood (Before 2500 BC)
- God’s Chosen People: The Israelites (2100– 1525 BC)
- Egyptian Bondage and Deliverance– 400 years
- Receiving the Commandments at Mount Sinai – 1 year
- 40 Years in the Wilderness – 40 years
- The Conquest and Settlement of Canaan (The Promised Land) – 25 years
- Judges: Cycles of Disobedience (350 Years)
- The Kings of Israel (1100– 930 BC)
- Israel and Judah: The Divided Kingdom (930– 725 BC) Fall of Jerusalem and Exile in Babylon – 70 years (585– 535 BC)
- Fall of Jerusalem and Exile in Babylon – 70 years (585– 535 BC)
- Return from Exile and Rebuilding Jerusalem (535– 425 BC)
- Four Hundred Years of Silence
The storyline of the New Testament is in Sections Four and Five. The New Testament covers 70 years, and these books talk about Jesus’ life and the establishment of the Christian Church.
The New Testament details the coming of a promised Messiah. His name was Jesus, and He fulfilled Old Testament prophecies as He died to become the Savior and rose from the dead.
The Storyline of the Bible
Knowledge of the storyline is imperative to understanding the Bible.
The Old Testament reveals God’s interaction with Israel, covering 2,000-plus years. The Old Testament is the account of the Jewish nation of Israel, the nation God chose to work with to be a model to other nations. God promised the Israelites a future Messiah to restore humankind’s relationship with God.
The Old Testament is the history of the Israelites and how God called them to bring blessings to all people. To save humanity, God made a covenant with Abraham, promising all nations would be blessed through him and his descendants. Jews and Gentiles receive this blessing through faith in Christ.
The New Testament is about Jesus and the formation of the Christian Church.
The New Testament covers 60 to 70 years. These books talk about Jesus’ life and the establishment of the Christian Church.
Old Testament Storyline
The Old Testament is the biblical history of the Israelites, his chosen people, and how God called them to bring blessings to all people. God made a covenant with Abraham to rescue humanity, promising all nations to be blessed through him and his descendants. Jews and Gentiles receive this blessing through faith in Christ.
- Creation (Before 4000 BC) (Prehistory)
- The Fall of Humanity
- The Great Flood (Before 2500 BC)
- God’s Chosen People: The Israelites (2100– 1525 BC)
- Egyptian Bondage and Deliverance– 400 years
- Receiving the Commandments at Mount Sinai – 1 year
- 40 Years in the Wilderness – 40 years
- The Conquest and Settlement of Canaan (The Promised Land) – 25 years
- Judges: Cycles of Disobedience (350 Years)
- The Kings of Israel (1100– 930 BC)
- Israel and Judah: The Divided Kingdom (930– 725 BC) Fall of Jerusalem and Exile in Babylon – 70 years (585– 535 BC)
- Fall of Jerusalem and Exile in Babylon – 70 years (585– 535 BC)
- Return from Exile and Rebuilding Jerusalem (535– 425 BC)
- Four Hundred Years of Silence
New Testament Storyline
- The Birth and Early Years of Jesus (5 BC– 30 AD)
- Jesus’ Three-Year Ministry
- Passion Week and the Crucifixion of Jesus
- Jesus’ Forty Days from Resurrection until Ascension
- The Beginnings of the Christian Church (30– 100 AD)
- Ministry and Journeys of the Apostle Paul (47-57 AD)
- Epistles (Letters) to Spread the Gospel Message (50– 95 AD)
- John’s Vision from God of the End Times (95– 96 AD)
