JESUS CHRIST:

GODS REVELATION
TO THE WORLD
CHAPTER 3
SURVEYING THE BOOKS
OF THE BIBLE

Best Seller
The Bible was first printed in 1454

The Bible is always at the top of

any best-sellers list

Familiar
Sayings
from the Bible
A HOUSE DIVIDED
APPLE OF HIS EYE
CAN A LEOPARD
CHANGE HIS SPOTS
OUT OF THE
MOUTHS OF BABES
HANDWRITING ON
THE WALL
LABOR OF LOVE
BY THE SKIN OF MY
TEETH
EAT, DRINK, AND
BE MERRY

Formation of the
Old Testament
Before the actual writing
took place, there was a
period of oral traditions
that came from the
experiences the people had
with God and with each
other.
Many historians believe the
Chosen People began to
preserve their stories
during the reign of King
Solomon (950 BC).
Many editors were involved,
resulting in many OT books
being compilations.

The Old Testament

Canon
The Septuagint (a Greek
translation of the Hebrew
Scriptures) was common
during Jesus day.
Jewish scholars omitted the
seven books written in
Greek from the Septuagint.

The Council of Trent

accepted all the books in
the Septuagint as part of
the Old Testament canon.
Protestant Reformers
accepted the official list of
Hebrew Scriptures accepted
by rabbis in AD 90.

Survey of the
Old Testament Books
Pentateuch

The Historical Books

Most scholars believe that

four different oral
traditions went into
writing the foundational
Pentateuch.

How God remained faithful to

the covenant; how the
Israelites struggled to live by
its terms

Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy

Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 and 2 Samuel
1 and 2 Kings
1 and 2 Chronicles
Ezra and Nehemiah
Tobit, Judith, and Esther
1 and 2 Maccabees

Survey of the
Old Testament Books
The Wisdom Books

Prophetic Books

How God works in our

everyday lives

The biblical prophets were a

messengers from God.

Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song

of Songs
Wisdom
Sirach

Worship

the one, true God

Accept Gods love and
mercy
Be just, especially to the
poor
Know that God will
ultimately triumph

Classifying
the Prophets
MAJOR PROPHETS:
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Ezekiel
Daniel
MINOR PROPHETS:
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi

The Writing of the

New Testament

Stage 1:
The Historical Jesus
Jesus lived a typical life of a
Jewish boy
Began his public ministry c. 28
AD
Taught, healed, and proclaimed
the coming of the Kingdom of
God
Crucified by Pontius Pilate c. 30
AD
Rose from the dead three days
after his crucifixion

Stage 2:
Oral Tradition
Go out to the whole world;
proclaim the gospel to all creation

KERYGMApreaching to unbelievers
DIDACHEteaching, further catechesis
LITURGYworship of the Christians

Why Commit the Oral Tradition to

writing?

The end of the world

was not coming as
quickly as the early
Christians at first
thought it would

Distortions to the
Gospel were occurring

More instruction was

needed

Stage 3:
The New Testament
Writings

First written books of the New Testament

were the letters of St. Paul

The four Gospels, Acts, Catholic Epistles,

and Revelation were probably written in the
latter half of the 1st century

Survey of the New Testament

The Sacred Tradition of the Church, administered
by the Apostles and their successors, determined
which books were to be included in the canon
and which were not under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit.

Types of Writing in the

New Testament
Gospels

Acts of the Apostles

The heart of the

Scriptures!

Second part of the

Gospel of Luke

Mark

(~6075)
Matthew (~8090)
Luke (~85)
John (~80110)

Acts tells the early

history of the Church

Types of Writing in the

New Testament
Pauline Letters
Circulated in his name; either
written by Paul himself or a
disciple of Paul

1 and 2 Thessalonians
Galatians
Philippians
1 and 2 Corinthians
Romans
Philemon
Colossians
Ephesians
Titus
1 and 2 Timothy

The Letter to the Hebrews

Emphasizes Christs
superiority over all
creation
Perfect sacrifice of Death
on the cross took away
sin, fulfilling the
promises of the Old
Testament

Types of Writing in the

New Testament
Catholic Epistles

Revelation

Letters intended for all

(Catholic means
universal)

This highly symbolic

works purpose was to
encourage Christians
who were undergoing
persecution for their
faith in Jesus Christ.

James
1

and 2 Peter
Jude
1, 2 and 3 John