Bible Study Basics Day 2

Ok this may sound a little crazy and silly, but I learned it at my church (Centerpoint) and it really does stick like glue to you if you practice it. The beat is boom, boom, boom-boom, boom...And it goes 5,12,5,5,12...and then 4,1,21....What is this crazy little thing I ve got going here? Well the first part is the books of the Old Testament: 5, 12,5,5,12 and the books of the New Testament: 4, 1, 21, 1.

You can break the OT up into 5 parts.

1. The Law/Mosaic Law/Torah (Hebrew word for follow)/Pentateuch (5 laws):

This is your first 5. It covers Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Its all about beginnings. In Genesis you have the beginning of life, sin, death and promises. Genesis 1:11 sin enters the world and all things are tainted. In Genesis 12: 1-3, You have Abram who becomes Abraham, a pagan called by God. Through him God promises 3 things.

1.A blessing and a great nation

2. His name will be great and he will be a blessing

3. Through Abraham all the people of the earth will be blessed and

In the rest of Genesis you have the people, the land, the blessing and we follow the life of Abraham.

In Exodus you see the beginning of captivity in Egypt. God calling Moses to lead his people out of Egypt to the promise land mentioned in Genesis 12:1-5. You also get the 10 commandments in Exodus 20 to the first generation and again in Deuteronomy to the 2nd generation.

In Leviticus you get the writing to the Levits, the priests formed and the law wrote for the priests.

In Numbers you have the counting of the census. The first one for the 1st generation and again for the land.

Deuteronomy you have the 2nd time the law is given, to the second generation and these are the ones that enter the promise land.

2. History: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. (This is your 2nd group on the beat)

These books tell the history of Israel, of the people called by God back in Genesis, and the establishment of the Kings and law. In Joshua, you have the 2nd generation that enters the promise land. Judges is about the people that God called up to judge and how He leads them. Ruth, is a book that occurs during the time of Judges. 1st and 2nd Samuel you see King Saul-who was the 1st King of Israel with no heart for God. King David who was the 2nd king and had the heart God wanted. You also have King Solomon, a wise king, good with economics, national relationships, and with him you see the people groups divided into 2 parts. 1st and 2nd Kings are all about those 2 groups of people that split and how they both turn there back on God and wind up back in captivity. So most of this book takes place before captivity. 1st and 2nd Chronicles are wrote about there time in captivity . It's there time in captivity. Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther are about how they become reestablished as a people group after captivity.

3. Poetry: Job, Psalms Proverbs , Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon. (The next group of 5)

These are biblical poetry. King David is thought ot have wrote most of the Psalms and Solomon the Proverbs. All of these books took place during the History period!

4. Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, (Lamentations), Ezekiel, Daniel

These books are also all wrote during the History period.

5. Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

All wrote during the History period!

Some Dates To Remember

The events that we read about on the pages of the Old Testament happened before Christ was born in Bethlehem. If we say that Solomon became king in 971 B.C. this means that he became king 971 years BEFORE CHRIST was born in Bethlehem. Here are four dates that might be helpful to remember:

Abraham lived about 2000 B.C.

Moses lived about 1500 B.C.

David lived about 1000 B.C.

The Jewish temple which Solomon built was destroyed by
the Babylonians about 500 B.C. (the exact date was 586 B.C.)

His Story is About the Savior

The Old Testament is a Christ-centered book. Even though the Old Testament was written before Christ was born in Bethlehem, it has much to say about the Saviour.
In Luke 24:27 we learn that the Old Testament has much to say about Jesus Christ: "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in _______ the Scriptures (in all of the Old Testament) the things concerning _________________." The Old Testament concerns Jesus Christ. It is all about Him! Luke 24:44-45 and John 5:39 also teach this same truth.
Christ can be found in every book in the Old Testament. One writer has put it this way:

In Genesis He is the Seed of the woman (3:15).
In Exodus He is the Lamb of God for sinners slain (see chapter 12).
In Leviticus He is our High Priest (the whole book).
In Numbers He is the Star out of Jacob (24:17).
In Deuteronomy He is the Prophet like unto Moses (18:15).
In Joshua He is the Captain of the Lord’s armies (5:13-15).
In Judges He is the Angel of the LORD or the messenger of Jehovah (chapter 13).
In Ruth He is our Kinsman-Redeemer (Chapter 3).
In Samuel, Kings and Chronicles He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Samuel 8:1-9).
In Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther He is the sovereign Lord over all the kingdoms of the earth (entire books).
In Job He is our risen and returning Redeemer (Job 19:25).
In Psalms He is the Blessed Man (Psalm 1), the Son of Man (Psalm 2), the Crucified One (Psalm 22), the Coming One (Psalm 24), the Reigning One (Psalm 72).
In Proverbs He is our Wisdom (chapter 14).
In Ecclesiastes He is the forgotten Wise Man (9:14-15).
In Song of Solomon He is my Beloved (2:16).
In Isaiah He is our suffering Substitute (chapter 53).
In Jeremiah He is the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (23:6).
In Lamentations He is the Man of sorrows who weeps for His people (l:12-18).
In Ezekiel He is the glory of God (1:28).
In Daniel He is the Smiting Stone (2:34) and the Companion in the furnace of fire and the den of lions (3:24-25; 6:22).
In Hosea He is David’s Greater King (3:5).
In Joel He is the Hope of His people (3:16).
In Amos He is the Rescuer of Israel (3:12).
In Obadiah He is the Deliverer upon Mount Zion (verse 17).
In Jonah He is the buried and risen Saviour (compare Matthew 12:40).
In Micah He is the Everlasting God born in Bethlehem (5:2).
In Nahum He is our Stronghold in the day of wrath (1:7).
In Habakkuk He is the Anchor of our faith (2:4).
In Zephaniah He is in the midst for judgment and cleansing (3:5,15).
In Haggai He is Lord of presence and power (1:13).
In Zechariah He is the smitten Shepherd (13:7).
In Malachi He is the Sun of Righteousness (4:2).

***Some Dates To Remember & His Story is About the Savior are taken from http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/oldtesta/oldtes1.htm and are not my own writings, but I thought they would be helpful***

New Testament

The NT can be broke down into 4 groups: 4,1,21,1.

1. The Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. (4)

These are the writings about the story of Jesus each with a different emphasis and perspective. For example:

Matthew - Presents Jesus as the Messiah. Genealogy of Jesus through Joseph. Fulfillment of O.T. prophecy.
Mark - Presents Jesus as the Servant. 1/3 of the gospel deals with the last week of His life.
Luke - Presents Jesus as the Son of Man to seek and save the lost. Genealogy of Jesus through Mary. Largest of the gospels.
John - Presents Jesus as God in flesh, the Christ, so that you might believe.

2. History: Acts (1)

This is the history of the church, Jesus going into heaven and what happens after that with His people. Historical account from Jesus’ ascension to travels of Paul in his missionary journeys

3. Letters and Epistles: Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2nd Thessalonians, 1 &2nd Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 &2nd Peter, 1,2,3rd John and Jude

Pauline Epistles

Romans - A systematic examination of justification, sanctification, and glorification. Examines God’s plan for the Jews and the Gentiles.
1 Corinthians - This letter deals with factions and corrections due to immorality, lawsuits, and abuse of the Lord’s Supper. Also mentions idols, marriage, and the resurrection.
2 Corinthians - Paul’s defense of his apostolic position.
Galatians - Paul refutes the errors of legalism and examines the proper place of grace in the Christian’s life.
Ephesians - The believer’s position in Christ and information on Spiritual warfare.
Philippians - Paul speaks of his imprisonment and his love for the Philippians. He exhorts them to godliness and warns them of legalism.
Colossians - Paul focuses on the preeminence of Jesus in creation, redemption, and godliness.
1 Thessalonians - Paul’s ministry to the Thessalonians. Teachings on purity and mention of the return of Christ.
2 Thessalonians - Corrections on the Day of the Lord.
1 Timothy - Instructions to Timothy on proper leadership and dealings with false teachers, the role of women, prayer, and requirements of elders and deacons.
2 Timothy - A letter of encouragement to Timothy to be strong.
Titus - Paul left Titus in Crete to care for the churches there. Requirements for elders.
Philemon - a letter to the owner of a runaway slave. Paul appeals to Philemon to forgive Onesimus.

Non Pauline Epistles

Hebrews - A letter to the Hebrew Christians in danger of returning to Judaism. It demonstrates the superiority of Jesus over the O.T. system. Mentions the Melchizedek priesthood. (Hebrews may be of Pauline origin. There is much debate on its authorship).
James - a practical exhortation of believers to live a Christian life evidencing regeneration. It urges self-examination of the evidence of the changed life.
1 Peter - Peter wrote this letter to encourage its recipients in the light of their suffering and be humble in it. Mentions baptism.
2 Peter - Deals with the person on an inward level, warnings against false teachers, and mentions the Day of the Lord.
1 John - John describes true fellowship of the believers with other believers and with God. Describes God as light and love. Encourages a holy Christian walk before the Lord. Much mention of Christian love.
2 John - Praise for walking in Christ and a reminder to walk in God’s love.
3 John - John thanks Gaius for his kindness to God’s people and rebukes Diotrephes.
Jude - Exposing false teachers and uses O.T. allusions to demonstrate the judgment upon them. Contends for the faith.
Revelation - A highly symbolic vision of the future rebellion, judgment, and consummation of all things.

There were four general elements of ancient Greco-Roman letters.

1) opening salutation containing writer's name, the recipient's name, and a greeting

2) a prayer, blessing, or thanksgiving

3) the body of the letter (what the sender wanted to say that occasioned the letter)

4) final greeting and farewell

4. End Times: Revelations

Revelations is one of those books that correlates with Genesis. Genesis is a book about beginnings, Revelations is a book about endings. Starts and ends in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis sin comes into the world and in Revelation sin goes out of the world.

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