Articles of interest
What is the Bible all about?
And how can I understand it?
THE BIBLE is a collection of ancient writings that were inspired by God and written down by men.
Christians regard the Bible as the authoritative Word of God.
Together, these writings briefly tell the history of the world from the day God created it until after the world ends. They also tell us why God's Son, Jesus Christ, came to earth and died and rose from the dead.
These writings were probably originally written on stone tablets and scrolls, and although the originals have long since worn out or disappeared, copies of the manuscripts
have been handed down and collected into the 66 books that make up the Bible we have today. The Bible consists of two main parts. The first is called the Old Testament and the second is the New Testament. The Old Testament (OT) is made up of 39 books, and covers the time before Jesus Christ's birth. The New Testament (NT) consists of 27 books, which cover the time after Christ's birth.
These 66 books have been accepted as divinely inspired by Christians down through the centuries. Each book of the Bible is split into chapters and verses. A reference to a passage in the Bible will give the book first, followed by the chapter, a colon, and a verse. For instance, Romans 10:9 refers to the Book of Romans, chapter 10, verse 9.
The old testament
The Old Testament starts with the Book of Genesis. This gives details of how God created the universe, the creation of animal life, creation of the first humans (Adam and Eve), how sin originated, how death came into the world, how technology and music began, why God sent a worldwide flood, how nations arose, and how the various languages came about.
The rest of the Old Testament records God's dealings with mankind, especially as they related to God's people, Israel.
It tells of people and kingdoms that rose and fell, battles to establish the temple at Jerusalem, how God punished and rewarded His people, and miracles that preserved and delivered His people.
The Old Testament also contains ancient poetry, and a number of books by people whom God chose to be His prophets. Books by the prophets contain amazing prophecies, some of which were fulfilled long ago and some that are still awaiting fulfillment as the world draws to a close.
10 highlights in the Old Testament
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Creation of the world and the first humans (Genesis 1:1-2:25).
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Sin's entry into the world (Genesis 3:1-24).
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The worldwide flood (Genesis 6:1-8:19).
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The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9).
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Lot's wife turns into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:1-26)
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Ten plagues on the Pharaoh of Egypt (Exodus 7-11).
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Parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:13-31).
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The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17)
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Fall of the city of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-27).
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David fights Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-58).
The New Testament
The 27 books of the New Testament give divinely inspired details of the life, miracles, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ around 2000 years ago. They then give an account of the exploding growth of the Christian church in the first century.
The books of the New Testament were written over a period of about 50 years — in the last half of the first century.
The first 4 books of the New Testament are called “Gospels” (good news), and they include many of the actual words that Jesus spoke while He was on earth. Following the Gospel accounts of Christ's life is the Book of Acts, which is a record of how early Christianity grew and spread.
Numerous books of the New Testament are actually letters written by the apostles to various churches. They contain doctrines, warnings about false teachers, words of encouragement, and important advice to the expanding church congregations. The New Testament tells us how to gain eternal life so that when we die we will be with God forever.
The New Testament records the fulfillment of many prophecies about Christ that were written centuries earlier, and other prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled.
The last book of the Bible is the Book of Revelation, written by the apostle John. This book is regarded by some as the most exciting book in the Bible. It tells of the restoration of all things to God's created perfection in the beginning, but because it is a prophetic book many people find it hard to understand.
10 highlights in the New Testament
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The birth of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:18-2:12).
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Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7).
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Jesus walks on water (Matthew 15:22-33).
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The Last Supper (Luke 22:14-20).
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Christ's arrest, crucifixion, and burial (John 19).
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Christ's resurrection from the dead (John 20).
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Why God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth (John 3:16-21).
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The growth of the church after Christ's ascension into Heaven (Book of Acts).
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How to be saved (Romans 10:9-13).
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What will happen at Christ's Second Coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11).