The Story of the Bible

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The overall story of the Bible is a series of crossroad decisions. It is the story of humanity constantly seizing autonomy in order to define good and evil in its own terms. It culminates with the arrival of Jesus, who takes a different path that opens up the way to a new creation.

Structure

​The Old Testament
(49 books)

Law

Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy

History

Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1, 2, 3, 4 Kingdoms
1, 2 Chronicles
1, 2 Ezra
Nehemiah
Tobit
Judith
Esther
1, 2, 3 Maccabees

Wisdom

Psalms
Job
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs
Wisdom of Solomon
Wisdom of Sirach

Prophecy

Major prophets:
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Baruch
Lamentations
Epistle of Jeremiah
Ezekiel
Daniel
​Minor prophets:
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi

The New Testament
(27 books)

Gospels
​
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John

Acts

Acts

Epistles

​Romans
1, 2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1, 2 Thessalonians
1, 2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1, 2 Peter
1, 2, 3 John
​Jude

Revelation

​Apocalypse

Jewish Bible vs. Christian Bible

The Bible is divided into sections based on content. The divisions differ among Jewish, Christian Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant Bibles. Here is a chart to help you compare and recognize them.

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Sources

Why do Orthodox Christians use the Septuagint?

"The Orthodox Church of today continues using the Greek version of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint (LXX). The Septuagint—referencing the seventy finest Jewish scholars, from all twelve Jewish tribes, who made the translation from the Hebrew into Greek—became the universally accepted version of the Old Testament since the time of its appearance some three centuries before the birth of Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ, together with His apostles and evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and also Peter and Paul, used this Greek version when quoting the Old Testament in their gospels and epistles. These inspired Old Testament books tell the story of God’s dealings with ancient Israel, from approximately 2000 BC until the time of Jesus."

​Excerpt from the The Orthodox Study Bible, Overview of the Books of the Bible.

Codex Sinaiticus

Is the earliest known manuscript of the Christian Bible, compiled in the 4th century CE. It contains the Septuagint (LXX).

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VIew Manuscript

Did you Know?

The University of Michigan Papyrology Collection contains​​ the world's oldest existing manuscript of the letters of St. Paul. ​Thirty leaves of this manuscript, written in about 200 C.E., were found in Egypt and purchased by the University in 1931 and 1933.

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Hebrews 1

Bible Basics

Watch a four-parts series introduction to the study of the Bible held at St. Nicholas Church in Ann Arbor.

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