Overview Of The Bible By Michael A. H. Back This overview of the Bible is divided into seven sections. The divisions I use for the OT are roughly equivalent to those used by the Jews, but there are a few differences (mostly because I kept the books in the current order...which is the order from the Septuagint). The NT divisions are pretty straightforward. The "Interesting Facts" sections are catch-all categories for things that I find interesting about the book, or may relate peripherally to the book (such as recent archeological discoveries). The information here is taken from a number of different sources (including my own research), but the primary source is probably the Application Study Bible. Keep in mind that the dates are rough estimates (as best as recent scholarship can determine), and are subject to change as more and newer information becomes available.
Click here[1] for
an overview of the New Testament
Old Testament Pentateuch (Torah - Law)
(1) Genesis Theme: Creation, fall of humanity into sin, God’s plan for humanity’s redemption, early history of God’s plan for and dealings with humanity, origin and history of the family that becomes Israel. Key People: Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Joseph Interesting Facts: Most of the names of the books of the Old Testament (as well as the order in which they appear) in our English Bibles come from the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint), produced about 250 years before Christ. The original Hebrew texts used a different order for the Old Testament books, and for many of the books, different names. “Genesis” is from a Greek word that means “Origin” or “Creation.” The original Hebrew name is the first word in the Hebrew text: “Beginning.”
(2) Exodus Theme: Persecution and slavery of Jewish people, early life of Moses, his call to lead the people from slavery, delivery from slavery by Moses, giving of the first part of the law, beginning of the Aaronic Priesthood, establishment of the tabernacle, and the early development of Israel into a nation. Key People: Moses, Miriam, Pharoah, Pharaoh’s daughter, Jethro, Aaron, Joshua, Bezalel Interesting Facts: There are more miracles recorded in Exodus than any other book in the Bible. Recent archeological expeditions have found what they believe to be 3500-year-old chariot parts in the sea between Sinai and Saudi Arabia, corresponding to the point that some believe to be where the sea was parted. The name Exodus (from the Greek Septuagint) literally means “The Road Out.” The Hebrew name of this book is simply, “Names.”
(3) Leviticus Theme: Giving of the bulk of the law (both the moral commands, which are still binding on Christians, and the ceremonial laws which were largely symbolic, and pointed forward toward truths to be revealed in Christianity). Key People: Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, Ithamar Interesting Facts: Holiness is mentioned more often in Leviticus than any other book in the Bible (152 times). Leviticus means “Of the Levites.”
(4) Numbers Theme: Takes up the story of Israel where it left off in Exodus, recounts their time wandering in the wilderness. Key People: Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Joshua, Caleb, Eleazar, Korah, Balaam Interesting Facts: Tablets recently discovered in Palestine, and dating from this time period report that a fierce race of warriors called the “Ebrews” were moving into the Canaan area and all the surrounding cities were afraid of them because they were killing everything in their path. The Greek name (Numbers) refers to the census taken at the beginning and end of the book. The original Hebrew name refers to the primary event: “In the Wilderness.”
(5) Deuteronomy Theme: Summary of wilderness wanderings, preparation for entrance into Canaan, final additions to the law given in Leviticus, and the Palestine Covenant. Key People: Moses, Joshua Interesting Facts: Moses, as the giver of the law, and Joshua (Hebrew form of Jesus) as the leader who takes Israel into the promised land foreshadow the plan of God for humanity through the Old (law) and New (grace) Covenants. The Greek name means “Two Laws,” a reference to the new laws added in this book. The Hebrew name referenced that it was the fifth book of the Torah: “Five Fifths of the Law.” Writings (History)
(6) Joshua
Theme: Fulfillment of the redemption promise to Israel. Conquest of Canaan, Key People: Joshua, Rahab, Achan, Phinehas, Eleazar Interesting Facts: Out of the million or so people who left Egypt with Moses, only TWO, Joshua and Caleb, entered the promised land. The rest of the Jews who entered with them were all born after the exodus.
(7) Judges Theme: The chaotic “dark ages” period of Israel’s history. It records six apostasies, bondages, and deliverances; enumerates 12 deliverers, and 5 civil wars. Israel has largely lost its sense of national unity and exists as isolated groups of independent tribes each fending for themselves. Key People: Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Abimelech, Jephthah, Samson, Delilah. Interesting Facts: Although we call them judges (from the title in the Septuagint), the Hebrew calls them “ruler heroes,” which happens to be the Hebrew title of this book.
(8) Ruth Theme: A “slice of life” during the end of the period of the Judges, recording how a gentile woman came to be in the line of David, and thus, the line of Christ. Key People: Ruth, Naomi, Boaz Interesting Facts: Both Boaz’ grandmother (Rahab, a prostitute) and Ruth were Gentiles, thus there are two Gentile women (one a prostitute) in the line of Christ.
(9) 1 Samuel
Theme: Last two judges of Israel (Eli, Samuel), the reign of the
first king (Saul), Key People: Eli, Hannah, Samuel, Saul, Jonathan, David
Interesting Facts: There were only THREE kings who ruled over a
united Israel:
(10) 2 Samuel Theme: The reign of King David. Key People: David, Joab, Bathsheba, Nathan, Absalom Interesting Facts: 1 and 2 Samuel were originally one book simply called “The Book of Samuel.” It was separated into two books by the Septuagint translators.
(11) 1 Kings Theme: David’s death, the reign of Solomon (last king of a united Israel), how the nation divided into two kingdoms (Israel and Judah), and the early reigns of the kings in the two divisions. Key People: David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Jeroboam, Elijah, Ahab, Jezebel Interesting Facts: 1 and 2 Kings were originally one book called, “Kings.” It was separated into two books by the Septuagint translators.
(12) 2 Kings Theme: The decline of the two kingdoms into eventual captivity (in Assyria and Babylon) as a result of abandoning God’s laws, and their spiritual heritage. Key People: Elijah, Elisha, Shunammite woman, Naaman, Jezebel, Jehu, Joash, Hezekiah, Sennacherib, Isaiah, Manasseh, Josiah, Jehoiakim, Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar Interesting Facts: 12 of the 16 prophets responsible for the 17 prophetic books at the end of the Old Testament lived and prophesied during the period covered in 2 kings (the four exceptions are Daniel, during the Babylonian captivity, and Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, all of whom came after the captivity).
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