Did you know that the Bible is a very exciting book? In the Old Testament, you will read about narrow escapes from an enemies’ sword, the creation of the whole universe, and a major showdown on top of a mountain! In the New Testament, we will read exciting stories about an evil king, angels who can open prison doors and the most important Person that ever lived and who can and will change your WHOLE life.
The Bible is a very old book but it is still very important for us to read it even today. The Bible was not written by just one person, but was written by many different authors. The Bible is full of adventure, beautiful poetry, and advice that we should all follow. But everywhere you look in the Bible, you will find the BIG PROMISE!!!
The Old Testament Promise: The Saviour is coming!
The New Testament Promise: The Saviour has come!
How do the stories
all fit together?
The Bible is made up of 2 books – The Old Testament and The New Testament. The Old Testament also contains 39 smaller books. The New Testament is made up of 27 books. All of these books are also divided into chapters and each chapter contains many different verses. To find a verse in the Bible, look it up like this:
John 3:16
This verse is found in the book of John, chapter 3, and verse 16.
The Old Testament
The Old Testament is the story of a promise of a coming saviour. Every book in the Old Testament mentions this promise.
The Books of Law
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
The first 5 books of the Old Testament are called The Books of Law. In these 5 books the story of the beginning of the Universe is found. The Books of Law also contain the beginning of the nation that God called his own. God took His people out of slavery, and brought them through the Red Sea without them even getting wet. He sent them food from the sky and gave them water from rocks. God only asked His people to obey His laws, but over and over again His people disobeyed him. The good news is that God promised to make a way for all things to be right again.
The Books of History
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
First Samuel
Second Samuel
First Kings
Second Kings
First Chronicles
Second Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
The History Books tell the story of God’s nation. These books describe how God brought His people to their new homeland that he gave them. God was so good to his People. He helped them defeat their enemies and he even picked out kings to rule over them. God’s people mostly forgot about God and did what they wanted to do instead of obeying his laws. God’s nation eventually split in half and then both halves were taken away by their enemies. Then the only hope these people had was the Promise that God gave to them. He promised to give them back their nation and to send them the Greatest King of all time.
Books of Poetry
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
The Books of Poetry describe how wonderful and majestic God is. These books also contain advice for everyone on how to live and how to please God. You can find answers in these books on, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” These poems also promise that wonderful things will happen when God sends a new leader for His people!
Books of Major Prophets
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Books of Minor Prophets
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
God sent messages to His nation through special messengers that were called prophets. These messages were often God’s way of warning God’s people that they should obey His laws or they would be punished. When God’s people were slaves in a foreign country, the prophets told God’s people that there was a promise of a new King and a wonderful future for God’s nation.
The New Testament
The New Testament tells us how God’s promise that he made in The Old Testament came true! Men who were there and actually saw the promise come true wrote the books in the New Testament.
The Gospels
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
The men who wrote the 4 Gospel Books tell us all about the birth of Jesus. Jesus was the new King that was told about in the Old Testament. The writers of the Gospels tell us what Jesus taught and what happened in the life of Jesus. We also learn from these writers how Jesus made the Old Testament promises come true when He died on the cross for me and you. The very best part of the Gospels is when the writers tell us how Jesus came back to life and went to Heaven to make a Heavenly home for us. Someday Jesus will come back to earth again.
History
Acts
Letters Written by Paul
(to churches)
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
(to individuals)
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Paul was a man who at one time hated people that believed and followed in Jesus. Paul wanted to destroy all Christians. But then Paul became one of Jesus’ best known servants. He went to many countries and he started many churches. Paul would often write these churches letters and tell them how to behave and what they should believe. Paul also wrote letters to individuals.
General Letters
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Other people that believed and followed Jesus also wrote letters to new believers and told them more about Jesus. These letters also taught the new believers how to be a good example for other people. Being a Christian at this time was very hard and these writers tried to encourage the new believers.
Prophecy
Revelation
