THE BIBLE-AN INTRODUCTION

TEXT: "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of woman, made under the law" (Gal. 4:4).

INTRODUCTION

1. The Bible is a collection of letters and individual books into one all authoritative inspired Book (2 Tim. 3:16).

2. The Bible has a purpose and each section of the Bible has a specific purpose leading to that overall purpose:

• The overall purpose of the Bible is "Redemption"-the buying back of man.
• The overall purpose of the Old Testament is to teach man "Obedience."
• The overall purpose of the New Testament is "Victory"-the victory found in Christ.

3. The theme of the Bible is Christ!

• The Old Testament: Christ will come.
• The Gospels (Matthew-John): Christ has come.
• Acts-Revelation: Christ will come again.

4. An overview of the Bible:

• THE PARTS OF THE BIBLE
• THE BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE BIBLE
• THE ONE WORD THEME FOR EACH BOOK
• THE PICTURE OF CHRIST IN EACH BOOK

I. THE PARTS OF THE BIBLE

A. THE OLD TESTAMENT--THE FIRST 39 BOOKS OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE.

• The Pentateuch or the Law: the first 5 books, Genesis-Deuteronomy.
• The History: 12 books, Joshua-Esther.
• The Poetry or Wisdom Literature: 5 books, Job-Song of Solomon.
• The "Major" Prophets: 5 books, Isaiah-Daniel.
• The "Minor" Prophets: 12 books, Hosea-Malachi.

B. THE NEW TESTAMENT--THE 27 BOOKS WHICH PROVIDE ALL AUTHORITY FOR MAN TODAY.

• The Gospel Accounts (Biographies of Christ): 4 books, Matthew-John.
• The History: 1 book, Acts.
• The Letters (Epsitles): 21 books, Romans-Jude.
• The Prophecy: 1 book, Revelation.

II. THE BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE BIBLE

A. A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

• It sets forth the SITUATION of man--created in perfection, but corrution soon enters.
• It sets forth the need for SALVATION--with the Adamic Covenant (Gen. 3:15), the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12), and the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam. 7).
• It sets forth the STATE of man's time--God used the great empires of the past to prepare the world for Christ; the Old Testament is His record of the state of the world, the events needed in order to understand the whole center of the Bible, its singleness of purpose (cf. Gal. 4:4).

B. A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT--THE CHRISTIAN DESCRIPTION

• Matthew-John: Who is a Christian?
• Acts: How one becomes a Christian.
• Romans-Jude: How to live as a Christian.
• Revelation: The hope of a Christian.

III. THE ONE WORD THEME OF EACH BOOK

• Genesis: Origination
• Exodus: Organization
• Leviticus: Ordination
• Numbers: Orientation
• Deuteronomy: Obedience
• Joshua: Occupation
• Judges: Oppression
• Ruth: Redemption
• 1 & 2 Samuel: United
• 1 & 2 Kings: Divided
• 1 & 2 Chronicles: Review
• Ezra: Restoration
• Nehemiah: Rebuilding
• Esther: Preservation
• Job: Persecution
• Psalms: Praise
• Proverbs: Practicality
• Ecclesiastes: Perspectives
• Song of Solomon: Purity
• Isaiah: Repentance
• Jeremiah: Rejection
• Lamentations: Remorse
• Ezekiel: Restraint
• Daniel: Ruling
• Hosea: Chastisement
• Joel: Calamity
• Amos: Condemnation
• Obadiah: Denouncing
• Jonah: Correction
• Micah: Discipline
• Nahum: Denunciation
• Habakkuk: Concern
• Zephaniah: Reprehend
• Haggai: Construction
• Zechariah: Continue
• Malachi: Consecration
• Matthew: Preaching
• Mark: Power
• Luke: Parables
• John: Personage
• Acts: Conversion
• Romans: Clarification
• 1 Corinthians: Discipline
• 2 Corinthians: Comfort
• Galatians: Combat
• Ephesians: Compliance
• Philippians: Cheerfulness
• Colossians: Control
• 1 Thessalonians: Comforting
• 2 Thessalonians: Consequences
• 1 Timothy: Conduct
• 2 Timothy: Constant
• Titus: Completion
• Philemon: Compassion
• Hebrews: Covenants
• James: Common-sense
• 1 Peter: Consolation
• 2 Peter: Caution
• 1 John: Communion
• 2 John: Commandment
• 3 John: Commendation
• Jude: Contending
• Revelation: Crown

IV. THE PICTURE OF CHRIST IN EACH BOOK

• Genesis: He is the Creator, the Seed of woman, Shiloh.
• Exodus: He is the Lamb of God for sinners slain.
• Leviticus: He is our High Priest.
• Numbers: He is the Star of Jacob.
• Deuteronomy: He is the Prophet like Moses.
• Joshua: He is the Captain of the Lord's Host.
• Judges: He is the Savior from Judah.
• Ruth: He is our Kinsman Redeemer.
• 1 & 2 Samuel: He is the Despised and Rejected King, the Seed of David.
• 1 & 2 Kings: He is the King from the line of David.
• 1 & 2 Chronicles: He is the Son of Adam, Abraham, and David.
• Ezra: He is the Restorer of Righteousness.
• Nehemiah: He is the Carpenter (Builder) from God.
• Esther: He is the Providence of God.
• Job: He is our Risen and Returning Redeemer, our Mediator.
• Psalms: He is the Blessed Man, the Son of God, the Coming One, the Reigning One, the Leader of Praise.
• Proverbs: He is our Wisdom.
• Ecclesiates: He is the Forgotten Wise Man.
• Song of Solomon: He is my Beloved.
• Isaiah: He is the Lamb of God, Immanuel, Wonderful, the Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
• Jeremiah: He is the Lord of Righteousness.
• Lamentations: He is the Man of Sorrows.
• Ezekiel: He is the One King, the One Shepherd.
• Daniel: He is the Smiting Stone, the Lord of Heaven and Earth.
• Hosea: He is the Head of the Kingdom.
• Joel: He is the Deliverer from Mount Zion, the Name of Salvation.
• Amos: He is the Builder of the Church.
• Obadiah: He is the Deliverer upon Mount Zion.
• Jonah: He is the Buried and Risen Savior.
• Micah: He is the Ruler of Israel.
• Nahum: He is the Furious God.
• Habakkuk: He is the Anointed One.
• Zephaniah: He is the Pure Language.
• Haggai: He is the Desire of God.
• Zechariah: He is the Branch.
• Malachi: He is the Messenger of the Covenant.
• Matthew: He is the Preacher and King of the Jews.
• Mark: He is the Power.
• Luke: He is the Master Teacher.
• John: He is the Son of God.
• Acts: He is the Ascended and Reigning Lord.
• Romans: He is our Righteousness.
• 1 Corinthians: He is the Firstfruits from the dead.
• 2 Corinthians: He is made Sin for us.
• Galatians: He is the End of the Law.
• Ephesians: He is our Armor.
• Philippians: He is the Supplier of every need.
• Colossians: He is the Pre-eminent One.
• 1 Thessalonians: He is our Returning Lord.
• 2 Thessalonians: He is our Judge.
• 1 Timothy: He is our Mediator.
• 2 Timothy: He is the Bestower of Crowns.
• Titus: He is the Grace of God and our Savior.
• Philemon: He is the Refresher of our spirit.
• Hebrews: He is our High Priest, the Fulfiller of the Law.
• James: He is the Lord of Sabaoth.
• 1 Peter: He is the Theme of Old Testament prophecy.
• 2 Peter: He is the Long Suffering Savior.
• 1 John: He is the Word of Life.
• 2 John: He is the Target of the anti-Christ.
• 3 John: He is the Truth.
• Jude: He is the believer's Hope.
• Revelation: He is the Loveable and Victorious King.

CONCLUSION

1. The Bible, written over a span of approximately 1,600 years, by some 40 different men, yet unified to the one single purpose, the redemption of man, with that single theme: Christ--He will come, He has come, and He will come again.

2. It covers the situation of man, the salvation of man, and the state of man-with the single plan for all men to be saved in Christ.

3. It covers all the ages or laws God has and ever will have-it shows the history: first of all creation, the narrowed to that seed line to bring forth the Christ, and finally opened to invite all men to God.

4. It opens with the loss of the tree of life (Gen. 3:22-23) and ends with the tree of life restored (Rev. 22:2).

5. It alone has the power of salvation-the redemption of man-are you in need of its power?