The Bible can be viewed as a single volume but is actually a library of sixty-six books representing God’s collective revelation to mankind. One might consider the scriptures as God’s spiritual encyclopedia. The books can be studied individually, but in order to understand how they interact and complement each other, we need a functional understanding of how this is accomplished. There are several factors that will help us understand this. The physical arrangement of the writings, the time period during which events in the narrative occur and other factors are critical to understanding the scriptures. The structural arrangement provides a framework that will help us understand why things happen a certain way based on the temporal and spiritual context of the writing.
Context is a term that needs to be understood before we move on. Simply stated, context can be defined by the time period during which the writing was done, the intended audience of the writing, specific references indicating God’s conditions for that time and the particular subject under consideration. The context of a book, passage or event is critical to understanding why information is conveyed in a certain way and particular terms are used. The nature of worship and God’s commands may refer to a specific law which limits the application of passages. The intended audience of a particular writing may be an individual, a group, or, there may not be a specific audience identified. These factors will have much to do with establishing the meaning of verses, chapters or entire books in the Bible.
The context of a book or passage sets limits on how we can interpret the information presented. The physical arrangement and corresponding historical periods by which we can sort the writings is a basic element of establishing the proper context. Recognition of these factors will give us the opportunity to see how each of the individual writings adds to the unity of the scriptures. Without a grasp of the structural, or organizational properties of the Bible, and their related contexts, one may not perceive this unity due to misleading interpretations. The context of the books and passages under consideration will be discussed where appropriate as the study progresses but for now the structure and organization of the scriptures is an essential aspect of establishing context.
Two structural elements of the Bible under consideration in this chapter are content and chronology. The content of the Bible refers to the books that form the scriptural record. Chronology refers to the history related in those books. Together they form the basis for understanding everything that follows. The content will be explored by means of introducing the major divisions of the Bible, groups of books and intended audiences when appropriate to note them. First we need to examine the idea of a chronology as presented by the Bible.
Chronology refers to the passage of time and specifically denotes a rendering of historical events within a set period. The chronology presented in the scriptures is specific to the Bible. This will be covered in greater detail in chapter three, but here we need to simply understand that the Bible presents a spiritual history of God’s dealings with man from creation to judgment. The physical aspect of the history presented is dependent on the nature of God’s spiritual commands for that time. We will see that this dependency is a critical part of the context of the scriptures and is a limiting factor that affects not only interpretation but application as well. The Bible is not an attempt to give a comprehensive chronology of the world and ancient civilizations but is instead a spiritual history of God’s actions and relationship with mankind.
The sixty-six books of the Bible are arranged in two major divisions. These are the Old Testament (O.T.), made up of thirty-nine books, and the New Testament (N.T.) which contains twenty- seven books. One distinction which will be discussed as we progress, is the difference between the Old Testament and the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses can be referred to as the Old Testament in a proper sense. This may cause some confusion so we will refer to the Law of Moses as the Law, and the thirty-nine books of Hebrew origin as the Old Testament. The Law comprises only a small portion of the O.T. compared to the total number of chapters and verses, but is the foundation of the Old Testament.
The division of the O.T. and N.T. between the books of Malachi and Matthew can be confusing. Historically and spiritually Christ lived during the period of time governed by the Law. Later, when we discuss the doctrine of the Bible, we will distinguish at which point the Law ceased and the Christian era began. The reason for the separation between Malachi and Matthew will be discussed in chapter three.
The books of the O.T. can be divided categorically depending on the nature of their content and the means by which this is presented. These divisions are; law, history, poetry and prophecy. Other references may provide slightly different listings than these, but those given here will be utilized based on the traditional order and classification found in most English translations of the scriptures. Grouping the books into such categories allows us to break them down into smaller units. It should be noted that any attempt to categorize the books of the Bible is only a convenience to aid further study.
Categorizing the books of the Bible generally points to the predominant themes of a particular writing. Books which deal primarily with law also give historical accounts and may contain poetic and prophetic language. Prophetic books may offer chronologies, or narratives, of events against a background of the Law governing God’s people as well as figurative and poetic language in some passages. The books of poetry sometimes include discussions of the Law and provide additional narratives of events or supplemental information regarding historical accounts. The divisions should be regarded only as an expedient to acquiring an understanding of the focus of a book or group but is not exclusive of other concerns.
The first five books of the Bible, attributed to Moses as their originator, are referred to as the Pentateuch. These are referred to as the books of Law. In their customary order these are; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Each of the books contain history, law, poetic and prophetic language, providing a detailed account of God’s dealings with mankind up to the death of Moses.
The first book, Genesis, does not deal with the Law of Moses. It is the book of beginnings and the events recorded occur during the time in which God spoke with the heads of households. This period is known as the Patriarchal dispensation and is covered in detail in chapter three. The book provides a historical chronology of the world from creation to the death of Joseph. Some criticize the book of Genesis as a flawed attempt on the part of the Hebrew author to account for the history of the world. Following chapters will discuss doctrinal and historical issues emphasizing that what is given is a spiritual record of God’s earliest dealings with humans forming a basis for understanding the rest of the Bible.
The second book, Exodus, begins with the life of the Hebrews in Egypt after the death of Joseph and the call of Moses, the deliverer. Not until chapter twelve do we begin to see the issuing of commands by God to the Hebrews. The remainder of the book presents the Law and a narrative of events including instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle and items associated with worship. The spiritual relationship between the Hebrews and God is detailed in such a way that one may understand and appreciate the blessings and consequences that are part of being in a relationship with the Lord. The book, as is true of the other writings in this group, allows us to make comparisons and contrasts between the goodness of God and the nature of humans.
Leviticus, the third of the books of law, renders a deeper discussion of sacrificial and ceremonial elements of the Law. The content deals with almost every aspect of the Hebrews’ daily life including worship, citizenship, real estate, health, commerce and trade. A slave population is virtually given a ready made nation with God as the spiritual leader. In addition to this, the book stands as an instructional manual for the priests and Levites who were to serve in the Tabernacle and represent God before the people.
Fourthly is the book of Numbers. Here we find a chronology of the Hebrews as they travelled in the wilderness. Examples are given of the consequences for keeping and breaking the Law. Everything in the book of Numbers happens within the context of the spiritual leadership of the people and their relationship with Jehovah.
Last in this group is the book of Deuteronomy. Sometimes referred to as the farewell address of Moses, the book is a reiteration of the events leading up to the Hebrews entrance into Canaan and a restatement of the Law. Most importantly, the book renders a discussion of the future of the nation. Consequences for faithfulness, or rejection, of the Law and God, are given as the book comes to a close. Many of the last statements in the book are prophetic in nature. Specific passages, referred to as the “curses and blessings” were to be read publicly after they took possession of the land. The book represents Moses’ admonition to the people to be faithful and remember what the Lord had done for them once they became prosperous.
The next division of the O.T. may be referred to as the books of history. There are twelve of these books beginning with Joshua and ending with Esther. With some exception these books are a straightforward chronology of the Hebrew nation from the death of Moses to the return from Babylonian exile. The exceptions to this chronology are the books of Ruth, I and II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.
The events recorded in the book of Ruth occur during the period of the Judges (Ruth 1.1). First and Second Chronicles are a restatement of the history of the kings of the united and divided kingdoms. First Chronicles begins it’s narrative with a genealogy of the Hebrews after their return from Babylon. Ezra and Nehemiah are contemporary with each other and overlap historically giving an account of the return from Babylonian exile and reconstruction in Jerusalem. The book of Esther accounts for certain events during the reign of Ahasuerus, the Persian king, detailing an attempted genocide of the Jews. The events in the book of Esther occurred between the first group’s return to Jerusalem and the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.
The events recorded in the books of history give us a view of the development of the nation of the Hebrews. We can see their triumphs and successes, many times on a personal level, as the lives of the characters are examined. The events are framed within a context of the spiritual state of the Hebrews. The eventual consequences that befell the nation are consistent with warnings to the people found in the book of Deuteronomy. Although we have a historical accounting, the emphasis is on the spiritual welfare of God’s people. Keeping this in mind helps us to understand the catastrophe which overtook the Israelites without invoking anti-Semitic attitudes toward the race or their culture. The Hebrews are a good example of the way in which mankind behaves toward God in a general sense as we will see later.
Joshua continues the story of the Hebrews following the death of Moses. Barred from entering the promised land, Moses transfers the responsibilities of leadership to Joshua who is characterized as a faithful servant of God. The book tells of the conquest of the land of Canaan and the subsequent division of the inheritance amongst the tribes.
The book of Joshua provides insight into the spiritual state of the Israelites and the judgments from God that resulted when they kept or broke the Law. The book sets the stage for a close up view of the dynamic aspects of the Law in the lives of the Hebrews. They were separated from other nations as a holy people and as such were obligated by the goodness of God to keep the Law. Reminders are given to the people to remember God’s blessings in providing for the nation. Joshua challenges the people to decide whether they will observe the Law and respect God or sin (Joshua 24).
While the people assured Joshua that they intended to remain faithful to God, the book of Judges gives a reckoning of the trials and triumphs of the Hebrews as they settle into the heritage given to them by God. Judges gives the reader a look at the valleys and peaks of the Israelites in their spiritual relationship to Jehovah. When they remained faithful to God they prospered. During periods of digression their nation was afflicted by a number of enemies and problems. At each of these times, when the people cried to God for assistance, He answered by calling forth a leader to deliver them. These individuals were known as Judges, the last of which was Samuel.
The book of Judges ends with a description of Israel as being in a state of spiritual and political anarchy. The writer states, “.... every man did that which was right in his own eyes....” (Judges 21.25). This eventually culminated in their rejection of God’s leadership through the Judge Samuel. The books of I Samuel through II Kings marks the transition from the Judges to the selection of the first king as recorded in I Samuel chapter eight. The last two Judges of Israel, Eli and Samuel, are covered in I Samuel.
Throughout the books of I Samuel through II Chronicles are accounts of how the Israelites fared in their spiritual relationship with Jehovah. These volumes present close up views of the effects of spiritual faithfulness and transgression on the status of the nation. It should be noted that the political structure, and the laws that governed Israel, were given by God and were contained in the Law. This intertwining of spiritual precepts and government seems confusing only when the reader forgets that the Israelites were a nation separated by Jehovah as His people to serve a spiritual purpose.
The twin volumes entitled I and II Chronicles, begin with a listing of genealogies. The narrative proper begins with the death of Saul and the assumption of the throne by David. From this point on the books restate much of the history of the kings of Israel up to the Babylonian captivity and deliverance by the Medes and Persians. I and II Chronicles also provide supple- mental information not found in the previous record of I Samuel through II Kings. This has been seen as a flaw in the scriptures by some scholars, but the information may also be viewed as complementary to the prior history. Other statements regarding the content of the books of I Samuel through II Kings are also true of the Chronicles.
The books of Ezra and Nehemiah record the events surrounding the return of the remnant to Judah. Herein are the accounts of the rebuilding of the Temple and the reconstruction of the wall of Jerusalem torn down by Nebuchadnezzars. Within these books is the revelation that it was God’s will that this work should proceed with all diligence. The writing addresses the social and spiritual state of the people who had begun to digress from their spiritual duties. The state of the people recorded in these two books is very similar to events preceding the downfall of the nation. For this purpose God delivered warnings and admonitions through Ezra, Nehemiah, Jeshua, the governor Zerubbabel and the prophets Haggai and Zecheriah.
The final book of history is Esther. The book chronicles the attempt of the corrupt Haman to exterminate God’s people. Esther, one of the prominent women of the Bible, averts the disaster and wins favor for her people. The events in this book occurred between the return of the first group to Jerusalem under the leadership of the governor Zerubbabel, Jeshua the priest and the prophet Zechariah and the time of Ezra and Nehemiah as noted above.
The next five books of the O.T. are the books of poetry. Some of these books, particularly Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, are referred to as the books of wisdom, or wisdom literature. Within these books a number of spiritual and historical elements are presented as well as prophetic statements dealing with the Messiah.
The book of Job explores the problem of suffering by those who are faithful to God. An important point emphasized by the book is that the enemy of God, and His people, is Satan, who has stood in opposition to God from the beginning. The eventual deliverance of the righteous through perseverance in the face of hardship is dramatically portrayed. A number of speakers offer explanations for Job’s tragedies by their misguided assumptions. Spiritual misconceptions are explored with the final pronouncement of judgment by God. Suffering is many times understood to mean that one has angered or wronged God. A study of the book of Job reveals that bad things happen even when one is trying to please God and remain faithful. Mankind’s true enemy, Satan, is presented as a liar and murderer who shows no restraint in challenging God Himself and works ill toward those who would be righteous.
Psalms is a collection of songs by a variety of writers including David and Moses. The Psalms can be categorized as didactic, historical, liturgical, and prophetic. Didactic Psalms are teaching instruments that speak of God’s actions, judgments, power and glory in his provisions for His people. Liturgical Psalms are songs of praise to God. Historical psalms render a poetic account of a number of events with God as the central force. Prophetic psalms deal with a number of subjects which overlap the other categories. Many of these deal with Messianic references. Whether didactic, historical, liturgical, or prophetic, all of the Psalms give reverence to God as the true creator and ruler of all things.
Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, attributed to Solomon, express spiritual truths through a collection of truisms and anecdotal statements. These are intended to assist the people of God in their daily lives by teaching that the “....whole of man is to fear God and keep His commandments....” (Ecclesiastes 12.13). While the writing is somewhat difficult to understand at times the diligent student will be able to come to an understanding of the books and their spiritual themes.
The Song Of Solomon historically has been interpreted as an allegorical reference to Christ. Careful analysis of the book however points to a more fundamental understanding of the content. Simply stated, the book is an exploration of the difference between simple physical attraction and the loving embrace of marriage. The text highlights the depth of trust found in the company of true love and emphasizes the power of erotic and sensual love experienced by a husband and wife. The value of chastity and integrity of character in reverence to God prior to marriage are underlying themes of the book. True love and devotion between a man and a woman for each other, is contrasted with sinful attitudes toward sexuality. Themes that emerge are the need for chastity prior to marriage and praise for the welcome pleasures found in physical intimacy when two commit their lives to each other.
Some take the view that God would not deal with the sexual aspects of life in the scriptures and interpret sexuality as tainted by corruption. Spirituality is seen by some as prohibiting physical intimacy which is a vital privilege and identifying characteristic of a marital relationship. Unrestrained sexuality, with no commitment or concept of genuine love and affection, are not espoused by the book. Fornication is condemned as a breach of character. The joys of marriage are celebrated in the book as an integral part of earthly life. Other references to sexuality and the marriage relationship, as well as other responsibilities of the husband and wife, can be found in the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Mutual care and consideration by both marriage partners are emphasized as basic to a good relationship while fornication leads to the degradation of both men and women.
The final seventeen books of the O.T. contain prophecy begin- ning with Isaiah and ending with Malachi. Several themes are expressed in each of the writings although they appear in a different order in each of the texts. These themes clarify a consistent message to God’s people with a few exceptions to this pattern which will be discussed below. Themes appearing in the prophets consist of a call to remembrance, rebuke, exhortation to repent and warnings of what will befall them if they continue to disobey. Woven into the prophetic writings are shadows of restoration and future greatness through the coming of the Messiah. Messianic statements and references become more numerous as time goes on and these must be examined in light of their immediate context and fulfilment that appears in the New Testament. Below is a summary of the primary themes that recur in the prophets.
God reminds the people of how He has blessed them by delivering them from Egyptian bondage, established their nation and given them a law. God confronts their unfaithfulness and lack of gratitude for these blessings by calling their attention to their spiritual negligence. God then restates his authority over the nation and warns them of the consequences for their actions. A righteous verdict is passed upon the ungodliness of the Israelites and a pronouncement of doom is made if they will not repent. God also reveals His authority over the entire earth, including the pagan nations of the Gentiles since they too are His creation. Included in this is God’s statement of His power contrasted with the idols of man’s imagination. Finally, in spite of impending destruction, God reveals His future plan to restore a remnant of the people which eventually will lead to the foundation of a spiritual kingdom through the Messiah.
The writings of the prophets can be further divided by the length of the books. The longer works: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel, are referred to as the major prophets. The books of Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zecheriah and Malachi are referred to as the minor prophets because they are shorter in length. The terms major and minor should not be misunderstood to mean the major prophets are more important than the minor prophets. Only the length, not spiritual significance, makes the distinction between the two groups.
The majority of the prophets’ writings are directed to the Israelites. Exceptions to this are three books that specifically record warnings or judgments from God against other nations that had an impact on the fate of the Hebrews. Jonah, for example, was sent to warn the city of Nineveh to repent or suffer destruction from God. Nahum later writes of God’s judgment against the Assyrians. Obadiah is addressed to the Edomites, descendants of Esau. The Edomites are condemned for their failure to aid the Hebrews in their time of trouble and their role in helping bring about the invasions of Judah. While these books seem to conflict with the purpose of other writings during this general time period, they demonstrate that God is Lord over all the earth and exercises His authority to limit the power of worldly king- doms when they become evil in His sight. Judgments against other nations are found in the major prophets as well.
Through these writings God’s character as a righteous God is expounded. He is not a merciless God who destroys without cause or provocation. We are told that He sent prophets and messengers to call His people to repentance until there was no remedy (2 Chronicles 36.16). These same messengers were persecuted and murdered until finally God gave the Israelites over to the nations around them. The Lord would judge these nations as well for their own sin at a later time. The ramifications of this will be explored in more detail in other sections. A diligent and objective study of these books will reveal God’s integrity and love for His people and all mankind.
The O.T. ends with the book Malachi which is believed to the be the last of the writings of the prophets in a chronological sense. This time period is thought to be after the completion of the wall of Jerusalem and is characterized by a return to spiritual neglect once more. From that point onward other historians must be consulted to fill the gap of approximately four hundred years until the birth of Christ. The Jews are subjected to the dominion of various powers until their final subjugation by the Romans. During the period of Roman rule, the Messiah is born, ushering in the era of the N.T.
The transition from the Old Testament books to the New Testament is marked by a difference in the origin and language of the writings. The O.T. books were written in Hebrew but the influence of other languages such as that of the Chaldeans during the Babylonian exile has been noted to appear in later writings and copies of the Hebrew scriptures. The writers of the Old Testament were all Hebrew which is in contrast to those of the New Testament. The New Testament is written in Greek which was predominant in the Roman world of the first century and not all of the New Testament writers were Hebrew.
The books of the N.T. may also be divided into groups which include the gospels, history, epistles and prophecy. As was true of the O.T. books, these categories denote the primary emphasis of each book but are not exclusive of other concerns. Doctrine is an essential element to the history that is presented and is brought to life by examples and events. Books that deal primarily with doctrine will incorporate history in the discussions as a foundation for statements that are made. This intertwining of history and doctrine sets the N.T. books apart from the
O.T. but they also serve to demonstrate how both the Old and New testaments complement one another. This is significant in understanding the doctrine of the Bible and how interpretive mechanisms may be employed to accurately discern the meaning of passages and provides a basis for the establishment of contextual references.
Matthew, Mark Luke and John are referred to as the Gospels. They provide an account of the life and ministry of Christ. The majority of events recorded are believed to have occurred between the years 25 and 33 A.D., allowing for inaccuracies in our current calendar. The address of these books is directed toward a general readership with the possible exception of the book of Luke.
Luke addresses his gospel account to Theophilus. There is some question as to the identity of Theophilus. The name is a compound transliteration, a substitution of English letters for Greek characters, of two Greek words which mean “lover of God”. While this may have been a single individual, anyone who loves God and wishes to know about the Christ will be given a precise account of His work on earth.
The general narrative of Luke and the other gospels indicates they are addressed to anyone wishing to gain a knowledge of the Savior. The gospels are not arranged in a strict chronological order. Information given in some accounts is not found in others or details may be recorded with differing degrees of detail. Some have criticized the gospels as being inaccurate because of this, but closer comparison demonstrates that the books are complementary in nature. John, for example, wrote in very simple language and dwells on the spiritual nature of Christ. Luke, a physician, wrote in more complicated language giving greater detail in some instances than the other writers. Rather than seeing these differences as arguments against divine inspiration, they demonstrate how God inspired the writing and preserved the personality and style of each writer.
The book of Acts is the fifth book of the N.T. and gives an account of the establishment of the Lord’s church from the ascension of Christ in chapter one, to the end of Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome. The book is addressed to Theophilus and is attributed to Luke as the author because of this. The narrative seems to have a general address to anyone interested in the beginning of the church. Acts presents Christ as the Son of God and the fulfilment of O.T. prophecy. The reader is introduced to the basics of the faith. If any book can be said to touch on all aspects of the life of a Christian from conversion onward, it is the book of Acts.
Acts provides a historical background for the epistles. In this sense, the book is of great value to Christians at any time because of the interactive nature of the narrative with other books of the O.T. and the N.T. The book of Acts also gives detailed accounts of conversion which form the basis for under- standing the doctrine of the New Testament.
The third, and largest, grouping of books in the N.T. are the epistles. There are twenty-one of these books. The address in each of these writings is intended specifically for those who are Christians. This is important when we begin to consider the doctrinal aspects of the New Testament since the address is an essential element of the overall context of each of the books. They are addressed to individual Christians (I and II Timothy, Titus, Philemon), to congregations (Romans, I and II Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I and II Thessalonians), to groups of congregations in a geographical region (Galatians), or to Christians in general (Hebrews, Jude). The book of James is addressed to the “...twelve tribes scattered abroad...” (Jas 1.1). I Peter addresses gentile Christians living in the area of Asia Minor naming the provinces specifically (1 Pet 1.1). II Peter is addressed to believers everywhere (2 Pet 1.1). I, II and III John begin with what appears to be a general address but the first epistle closes referring to the readers as “Little children” (1 John 5.21). John’s second and third letters appear to be addressed to a specific group of Christians and are meant to deal with problems they were having. Some of those under scrutiny by the apostle are mentioned by name.
The final division of the N.T., prophecy, contains the book of Revelation. This book is unique in the N.T. in that the mate- rial presented is done so through highly figurative language. The book is addressed to seven churches, or congregations, lying in the region of “Asia”. Because of the utilization of representational forms, Revelation is perhaps one of the most controversial books of the Bible. To understand the book the reader should have a grasp of the structural, representational and doctrinal aspects of the other volumes in the Bible. This is necessary in order to accurately discern the underlying spiritual message embodied in the narrative. The theme of the book is that Christians can be victorious in the struggle to overcome the world in spite of persecution and the threat of death. Revelation demonstrates that God exercises authority over all nations and renders judgment against them when they become evil or persecute His people.
This summary of the layout of the scriptures will help in understanding the contextual aspects of the Bible. Keeping this structural overview in mind will enable us to locate the various books and have a beginning awareness of the purpose of each of the writings. While there is some overlap in the content of the books, a structural concept may alleviate the feeling of being overwhelmed by the amount of information presented.
The idea of a structural concept enables the clarification and identification of the purpose for which each of the books was written. While being complementary in nature, in that each of the books contributes to the overall message of the scriptures, a structural consideration enables the student to recognize reasonable limitations to later interpretation. Working within the framework of a set structure prevents certain distortions and misconceptions from forming. This is especially important at the outset of a study since first impressions of any subject are some- times the hardest to change once one has adopted a perspective.
The recognition of boundaries, or limits, to the ways in which the Bible may be interpreted, may seem to be constricting at first. The study of the Bible is a matter of being disciplined in the way in which we look at the scriptures. The structural considerations presented serve to provide a starting point for organizing a study. Lack of organization in studying the Bible has been a problem for students not only of the scriptures, but of any subject which demands adherence to fundamental considerations and concepts. An absence of a firm foundation at the outset will lead to confusion and frustration later when more complex ideas are examined.