The Christian Life

  Lesson 2.

The Bible

 Now that I am a child of God – a Christian – a member of Christ’s church – I have a Father in heaven, who speaks to me through His Word, called the Bible. Reading the Bible is like reading a letter from home. Now that I am a child of God, heaven is my home. I am on my way to that home through my Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said “ I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

Read:  2Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible is divided into the Old and the New Testaments, two major divisions. These two main parts may be divided again for better understanding of this Word God has inspired by the Holy Spirit to guide in the right way.

The Old Testament is divided into five different parts by students and contains 39 books. There are five books of Law; twelve books of History; five books of Poetry; five books of Major Prophecy; twelve books of Minor Prophecy.

The Books of Law are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. They are called the books of law because they give us the Law of Moses. Although there is a lot of history in these books also, they are mostly law and that is why they are call the books of law. Moses, the great man of God, wrote these books. These books are also call the Pentateuch, a word that means five.

The Books of History are Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. These books tell us about the things that happened to the people of Israel. This nation is important to us because our Lord Jesus Christ came from this nation. Jesus was born a Jew. He came to save the whole world as men would believe and obey Him.

The Books of Poetry are Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. These are books showing devotion to God, dependence on God, and the meaning of life.

The five Books of the Major Prophets are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel. These books were written by the men whose names they carry, with the exception of Lamentations, written by Jeremiah. Each of these books were written during the Old Testament history of Israel and they can be understood by seeing what time in the history of Israel they were written. These books throw more light on the history of Israel and also tell us something about the coming of Jesus Christ, His mission in the world and His kingdom which is now the church of Christ.

The twelve Books of Minor Prophets are Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. These books, like the books of Major Prophets, may be understood better by reading the history of Israelite nation. There books contain things about the coming of Christ our Lord (the Messiah). They also tell us some things about Christ’s spiritual kingdom, which is the Church.

The second major part of the Bible is the New Testament which tells us about Jesus Christ our Lord Who died for us on the cross and Who was resurrected from the dead by God’s power. The New Testament also tells us about the beginning of Christ’s church, and shows us how the church is to worship, work, and live. The New Testament is also divided into parts. These parts are the Gospel Accounts; a Book of History; Letters of Paul the Apostle, to the churches and individuals; other letters; and a Book of Prophecy.

The Gospel Accounts are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John: the books which tell us about Jesus Christ our Lord: His birth, His life, His teachings, His death for our sins, and His resurrection from the grave. All that we truly know about Christ and His life on this earth is found in these books, along with some other things mentioned in the rest of the New Testament. From these books, we learn how Jesus told His people to carry His message of salvation to the entire world.

The History Book of the New Testament is Acts, which tells about the beginning of Christ’s church and gives us a brief history of the church and the spread of the gospel of Christ under the preaching of gospel until about 70 years after Christ was born. Acts shows us what to do be saved and how to enter the church, which is God’s family.

The Letters of Paul are those letters that this apostle wrote to churches and to individuals, and they contain instructions for the organization and the work and the worship of churches of Christ. These books of Paul also teach us how to live the Christian life. They are the books of Roman, 1^st and 2^nd Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1^st and 2^nd Thessalonians, 1^st and 2^nd Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and Hebrew. (The writer of Hebrew is uncertain; but many people think it was Paul.)

The other letters are James, 1^st and 2^nd Peter, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd John and Jude. It is believed that these letters were written by those whose name they bear. They are addressed to Christians and to individuals, they contain instructions for the  churches of Christ and also teach us how to live the Christian life.

The one Book of Prophecy is Revelation was written by the apostle John and contains visions granted to John about the future. It is written in symbolic words, and much care should be used in reading Revelation. It should not be given any meaning that is opposed to other plain teaching in the Word of God.

As God’s children, We should study the Bible, obeying Paul’s command to “give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15)

Read:  Galatians 3:22-25,

           Jude 3