The Beginning - the First Five Books of the Bible | Grace Communion International Ways to Give The Beginning - the First Five Books of the Bible The first book of the Old Testament is Genesis, often subtitled "The First Book of Moses." Tradition says it was written by Moses, though the book itself does not identify its author." Genesis" means "beginning," which is appropriate, since this book contains a simple but profound story of the creation of the world. This is not intended to be a scientific explanation. The Bible tells us that God did it, but not how. The Bible makes an important distinction between humans and other living creatures. The animals were made after their kind (Genesis 1:25), but humans were made in the likeness and image of God (verse 26). "God sent them out of the Garden of Eden" Genesis 3:23-24 Genesis tells us that God established an environment for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and gave them a choice, symbolized by two trees (Genesis 2:17). Eve decided to eat of the fruit of the forbidden tree after she listened to the serpent (identified in the New Testament as Satan, the devil), and Adam made the same decision.

Their act led to banishment from the garden, leaving them to make their own way in the world, where they and their descendants eventually surely died, just as God had said. Adam and Eve were typical of us all. At this early time, and in this simple setting, they showed that humans, if allowed to choose whether to trust and obey God, could choose to take matters into their own hands. Their decision set the course for the grim trail of war, hatred and strife that has marked human history. Perhaps you know of someone who'd like to hear about this article. If so, go to the bottom of the page and click on "Email this page." Fill out the form, and share the good news! There's also a way to share the page on Facebook, Twitter, Buzz, and other websites. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Other popular articles This article was written in 1991, and updated in 2001.

We got off to a bad start in the Garden of Eden. Yet by the time we reach the last chapters of the Bible's last book, we will see that in spite of our grim past and uncertain present, we humans face a positive future. God has a plan to save humans, and the Bible tells us about that plan. It is, above all, a story of hope! But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Let's continue in Genesis. The human race became increasingly violent and corrupt over the next few hundred years. Eventually God intervened. God told Noah to build an ark in which Noah, his immediate family and two of each kind of animal could be protected, while other life perished in a great flood. After this flood, it wasn't long before Noah's descendants rebelled again. God again thwarted man's rebellion by confusing his language, making it necessary for tribes to disperse. In its opening chapters, the Bible uses broad strokes to paint a picture of how and why humanity became alienated from God and started on a way of life that leads to death. The Bible now narrows its focus to tell the rest of the story from the point of view of one branch of the human family, the people of Israel.

(Whenever we refer to "Israel," we mean the people of ancient Israel who lived in the Middle East thousands of years ago, and not the Jewish state that was established in 1947.) The history of Israel begins with Abraham. God ordered Abraham to leave his homeland (in modern-day Iraq) and to journey towards a distant promised land that eventually would be given to him and his descendants as an inheritance. God further promised Abraham that if he remained faithful, all the people of the earth would be blessed through him. God used Abraham and his family to play an important role in the plan of salvation for the human race. Jacob blessed Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh - Genesis 48:20 "Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods" Exodus 7:12 The story continues with the experiences of Abraham's son Isaac, and then of Isaac's son Jacob. God changed Jacob's name to Israel (Genesis 35:10). Israel had 12 sons; these sons and their descendants were known as "the children of Israel" or "the twelve tribes of Israel." The remaining chapters of Genesis describe how famine led the children of Israel to move to Egypt.

The stage is set for the second book of the Bible. Exodus For some time after Joseph's death, the Israelites lived among the Egyptians. They prospered and grew until a later Pharaoh began to see them as a security risk and enslaved them (Exodus 1:8-11). God saw Israel's sufferings and graciously intervened to bring them out of Egypt as his people, to give them the land he had promised to their forefather, Abraham. Leaving Egypt and slavery behind them, the Israelites arrived at Mt. Sinai, where God made an agreement (or "covenant") with Israel. The Ten Commandments were the heart of this covenant. If Israel would obey God, they would be his people (Exodus 19:5-6) and become an example for other nations. But if they chose to disobey, they would forfeit God's blessings. God had rescued them from slavery and given them a new life as a nation. Do you notice some parallels between this story and that of Adam and Eve? God gave Israel blessings and then a choice: Trust God and everything will go well. Disobey and negative consequences are inevitable.

Leviticus The third book of Moses, Leviticus, records laws and statutes that would regulate life and worship in the Promised Land. God was teaching these ancient people that sin has serious consequences, but that it can be forgiven. Leviticus not only has laws about the ceremonial rituals in the temple, it also has laws about how the Israelites were to live in peace and righteousness with one another. Social responsibilities and worship were woven together. Numbers The name of this book is derived from a census in which Moses numbered the tribes as the journey began. It is as much a story of Israel's failures as it is their successes. Even with continual evidence of God's support, the children of Israel lacked faith. Time and again on the journey through the wilderness, they complained. Some even threatened to return to Egypt. The Bible is remarkably honest about Israel's history. In other nations, patriotic epics usually glorify a people's strengths, while minimizing their failures and weaknesses. Not so the Bible. It is relentlessly realistic about the chosen people's lack of trust and confidence in their God. After a year or so of wandering, Israel arrived on the frontier of the Promised Land.

Moses sent scouts to survey the territory, but after 40 days most brought back a negative report. Most of the spies did not have faith in God, and they encouraged the people to return to Egypt. This was an important lesson for Israel. God had promised he would guide Israel to success. But Israel had to learn to trust him. But because of Israel's lack of faith, God said that Israel would have to spend 40 years wandering before they would enter the Promised Land. The people who complained would not receive the land. Deuteronomy The name of this last of the five books often referred to as the books of Moses comes from a Greek word meaning "second law." The law was given again. Just before the Israelites entered the land, the aged Moses reminded them of their covenant with God. He rehearsed their prolonged lack of faith and explained again why they wandered in the desert for 40 years. Moses carefully rehearsed the laws and statutes that were to undergird the new society. He encouraged the Israelites to remain faithful to God so that their new lives in the Promised Land would be successful (Deuteronomy 30:19).

At the age of 120, Moses died (Deuteronomy 34:5, 9). Before Moses' death, God guided him to appoint Joshua as his successor. Ancient Laws That Are Not Out of Date Some laws in the Old Testament may at first seem rather old-fashioned. But look again. Many of them confront the same issues that plague society today: crime, corruption, poverty, greed and even the destruction of the environment. Here are timeless, logical, commonsense principles that would help any people at any time build a fair and just society. Notice, for example, these laws: Exodus 21:35-36: "If a man's bull injures the bull of another and it dies, they are to sell the live one and divide both the money and the dead animal equally.

However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, yet the owner did not keep it penned up, the owner must pay, animal for animal, and the dead animal will be his." Exodus 22:7: "If a man gives his neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor's house, the thief, if he is caught, must pay back double." Exodus 22:26-27: "If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, return it to him by sunset, because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? When he cries out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate." Leviticus 19:9-10: "When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien.

I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 19:15: "Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly." Deuteronomy 20:19: "When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees of the field people, that you should besiege them?" Deuteronomy 22:6-7: "If you come across a bird's nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young.

You may take the young, but be sure to let the mother go, so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life." Deuteronomy 22:8: "When you build a new house, make a parapet around your roof so that you may not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your house if someone falls from the roof." Deuteronomy 24:6: "Do not take a pair of millstones – not even the upper one – as security for a debt, because that would be taking a man's livelihood as security." Deuteronomy 25:4: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Deuteronomy 25:14-15: "Do not have two differing measures in your house – one large, one small. You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." What is the first book of the Bible and what is it about? | CARM Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry What is the first book of the Bible and what is it about?

by Matt Slick 4/21/15 The first book of the Bible is the book of Genesis. The word "Genesis" means "beginning" or "origin". The name was assigned to it in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament). The first word in the book of Genesis is "bereshith" which means "in the beginning." Who wrote the book of Genesis? The book of Genesis was written by Moses who also wrote the next four books of the Bible: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The first five books of the Bible are considered to be the Law and are sometimes called the "Law of Moses and the Pentateuch. “Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn," (1 Kings 2:3).

"And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel," (Nehemiah 8:1). See also Joshua 8:31-32; 22:5; 23:6; 2 Kings 14:6; 2 Chronicles 25:4; 30:16; Ezra 7:6; Daniel 9:13; Malachi 4:4. In the New Testament there are references to the books and writings of Moses. “But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, and the God of Jacob’?" (Mark 12:26).

"But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB," (Luke 20:37). See also Luke 2:22; 24:44; John 1:17, 45; 7:19; 8:5; Acts 13:39; 1 Corinthians 9:9; Hebrews 9:19. There are other verses but they should be sufficient to show that both the old and New Testament attributed the first few books to Moses. Therefore, he wrote the book of Genesis. What is in the book of Genesis? The book of Genesis contains description of the creation of the world, the fall of Adam and Eve, the subsequent generations of people, through Joseph's death in Egypt. The book is divided into 11 parts that are designated with the expression "these are the generations of". However, the chapter divisions do not coincide with these 11 designations. Following are two brief outlines of the book of Genesis First Outline The fall, Gen.

3:1–24 The flood, Gen. 6:8–7:24 Abraham, Gen. 12:1–25:18 Photo Credit: connel / Shutterstock.com . Embed This Article Copy the following code and paste it into your website's code to display this article on your site. <div class="eg-article" itemscope itemtype=""> <meta itemprop="isFamilyFriendly" content="true"> <meta itemprop="image thumbnailUrl" content=""/> <meta itemprop="datePublished" content="2014-11-07"/> <meta itemprop="description" content="The Bible is made up of 66 books divided into two main parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Pentateuch is the first five books of the Bible, and the Gospels are the four books about the life of Jesus."/> <h1 itemprop="name headline">What Are the Books of the Bible?</h1> <span class="author">By: <span itemprop="author">Norton Herbst</span><br/> © ExploreGod.com </span> <p><p>The Bible can be confusing.

Is it more than one book?</p></p> <p>Flip through a <a href="">Bible</a> for the first time and you may be overwhelmed, confused, or both. Its language and subject matter are cumbersome to read. It contains unusual chapter and verse numbers that other books do not. But perhaps most challenging, the Bible is not just one book; it’s a collection of <em>sixty-six</em> different books. To read it completely in a year would be like reading more than one book a week for an entire year!<sup>1</sup></p> <p>To make things even more complicated, all the books of the Bible were not written by the same author. Nor were they all written during the same time period. Nor were they put in perfect chronological order. Whew!</p> <p>But as diverse and complex as the books of the Bible are, together they tell a sweeping story of a <a href="">God</a> who creates, loves, judges, teaches, and ultimately redeems the world.

For thousands of years, billions of people all over the world have found comfort, <a href="/how-do-you-find-purpose-in-life-video">purpose</a>, and truth in the books of the Bible. Granted, there are also many who are skeptical about the Bible’s claims. But for all who are on a journey of faith, this collection of sixty-six books cannot be ignored.</p> <p>So what are the books of the Bible? And what story do they tell?</p> <h3>The Old Testament</h3> <p>Let’s begin with the Old Testament, which comprises about three-quarters of the Bible. The Old Testament is largely concerned with the history, writings, and prophets of Israel.</p> <p>The first five books are called the Pentateuch, which means “five scrolls.” These books—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—include stories about how God created the world and established the nation of Israel from Abraham’s descendants. They describe how God led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, gave them laws for their nation at Mount Sinai, and provided for them as they journeyed to the Promised Land.

These books also contain the legal codes themselves, including the Ten Commandments.</p> <p>The next section of the Old Testament is comprised of the historical books—an appropriate title, as you’ll see. Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther reveal the dramatic history of the nation of Israel. These books tell of the Israelites’ settlement in the Promised Land and their division into two different kingdoms. They also record Israel’s subsequent defeat, destruction, and exile at the hands of the Assyrians and Babylonians, as well as the return of a remnant of Israelites to rebuild their nation.</p> <p>The next five books of the Old Testament are very different. Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs are not works of history per se. Rather, they consist primarily of poetry and wisdom literature. These books incorporate poems, songs, proverbs, and discourses on the way to live a righteous and wise life.

These five books were composed and compiled during the same time period as the historical books.</p> <p>Closing out the Old Testament are the books of the prophets<strong>.</strong> These books also coincide with Israel’s tumultuous history and consequently deal with themes related to the nation’s exile. Isaiah, Jeremiah (who also wrote the book of Lamentations), Ezekiel, and Daniel are often referred to as the major prophets, given their influence and the length of their books. The final twelve—Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habbakuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi—are often called the minor prophets. However, their writings were no less significant or jolting to the rebellious people of Israel.</p> <p>In total, the Old Testament covers roughly 2000 BCE to 400 BCE.</p> <h3>The New Testament</h3> <p>The New Testament picks up four hundred years later with the birth of <a href="">Jesus</a>.

The Gospels and the book of Acts record the events and teachings of Jesus’ life as well as the early years of the new movement he started.</p> <p>The first four books of the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are given the name “gospel,” which means simply “good news.” They are essentially biographies—though not in a modern sense but an ancient one.<sup>2</sup> Because they are drawn from some of the same sources, many of their stories about Jesus overlap. But each author includes different details and thus presents a unique perspective on Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah for Israel. A large portion of each biography focuses on Jesus’ death and resurrection and its significance for all people.</p> <p>One of these biographers, Luke, also wrote a second book: the Acts of the Apostles. It relates how the news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection launched a movement, beginning with the Jews in Jerusalem and extending to the heart of the Roman Empire.</p> <p>Twenty-one smaller books known as letters follow the gospels and Acts. The order of the letters in the Bible is based on length—longest to shortest—not chronology.

The content often addresses specific questions or problems each church or individual was facing.</p> <p>The first thirteen letters—Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon—are attributed to an early Christian leader named Paul (his story is told in Acts). He wrote many letters to various churches and individuals about Jesus and his teachings; he was one of the most influential members of the early church.<sup>3</sup> The next eight letters—Hebrews; James; 1 and 2 Peter; 1, 2 and 3 John; and Jude—were written by various other authors to early Christians explaining the nature of the Christian life while also addressing specific issues.</p> <p>The final book of the New Testament may be the most famous and least understood: the Revelation of John. As a work of apocalyptic literature, it is unique in genre and perspective.

It uses vivid imagery and a cosmic narrative to portray how God’s saving plan for all of creation will ultimately be realized.</p> <h3>A Grand Story</h3> <p>This very brief summary of the sixty-six books of the Bible barely scratches the surface.<sup>4</sup> There are other issues to explore, such as how the Bible was formed, why some books were not included, and of course, <a href="/how-to-read-the-bible">how to read</a> all these diverse books of the Bible. But scholars and Christians overwhelmingly agree: these sixty-six books are special. And they tell a grand story. Take a look and find out for yourself.</p> <div><hr /> <div><ol id="footnotes"> <li>If you are interested in reading the Bible in one year, visit YouVersion.com to see the various reading plans they offer.</li> <li>Richard A. Burridge, <em>What Are the Gospels? A Comparison with Graeco-Roman Biography</em> (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2004).</li> <li>David B.

Capes, et al., <em>Rediscovering Paul: An Introduction to His World, Letters, and Theology </em>(Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2007).</li> <li>For a more comprehensive description of each book along with tips for how to read them, consult Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, <em>How to Read the Bible Book by Book</em> (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002).</li> <li>Photo Credit: <a href="" target="_blank">connel / Shutterstock.com</a>.</li> </ol></div> </div></div> NOTICE: We work really hard to provide relevant, informative content free of charge. Please do not remove metadata, copyright information, or otherwise modify this content. Usage without proper attribution is not authorized or licensed. 3. The Law: The First Five Books | Bible.org From the series: Concise Old Testament Survey PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE 3.

The Law: The First Five Books The first five books of the Bible are sometimes called the Pentateuch which means “five books.” They are also known as the books of the law because they contain the laws and instruction given by the Lord through Moses to the people of Israel. These books were written by Moses, except for the last portion of Deuteronomy because it tells about the death of Moses. These five books lay the foundation for the coming of Christ in that here God chooses and brings into being the nation of Israel. As God’s chosen people, Israel became the custodians of the Old Testament, the recipients of the covenants of promise, and the channel of Messiah (Rom. 3:2; 9:1-5). GENESIS (The Book of Beginnings) Author: 1450-1410 B.C. Name of the Book: The name Genesis is taken from the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Theme and Purpose: Even a casual reading of the Book of Genesis reveals the prominence of the theme of blessing and cursing. For obedience and faith, there is blessing as in the Garden of Eden, but for disobedience, there is cursing.

The entire book turns on this theme and its antithetical opposite, cursing. But perhaps the main theme is the choice of a nation through Abraham and the Abrahamic covenant. Through Abraham God promised to bless the nations (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:1-21). Key Words: “Generations” or “account.” A key word or phrase is “these are the generations of” or “this is the account of.” It is used some eleven times to introduce the reader to the next section which gives the narrative about what happened in connection with the key events and persons of the book from the creation of the heavens and the earth to all the patriarchs of Israel. Key Idea: Beginnings: Genesis not only means ‘beginning’, but it is the book of beginnings. The book of Genesis gives us our historical point of reference, from which all subsequent revelation proceeds. In the book of Genesis all the major themes of the Bible have their origin.

It is a book of many beginnings: in it we see the beginning of the universe, of man and woman, of human sin and the fall of the race, the beginning of God’s promises of salvation, and the beginning of the nation Israel as the chosen people of God because of God’s special purpose for them as the channel for Messiah and Savior. In Genesis we learn about Adam and Eve, about Satan the tempter, about Noah, the flood, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph and his brothers. But here we also have the beginning of marriage, family, work, sin, murder, capitol punishment, sacrifice, races, languages, civilization, Sabbath, the first attempt at a united nations, and Babylonianism. The Bible is, through and through, a historical revelation. It is the account of God’s activity in history. Key Chapters: Since the call of Abraham and the promises of blessing to the nations through his seed is the prominent message of Genesis, the key chapters are those relating to the Abrahamic covenant and its reiteration, 12:1-3; 15:1-21; 17:1-9.

Key People: Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, Jacob, Rachel, Joseph. Christ as Seen in Genesis: Prophetically: Immediately after the fall, the promise of salvation is given in the seed of the woman (3:15), but then the Messianic links are made clear throughout Genesis: the line of Seth (4:25), the offspring of Shem (9:26), the family of Abraham (12:3), the seed of Isaac (26:3), the sons of Jacob (46:3), and the tribe of Judah (49:10). Typologically: There are several key types that portray the Savior in Genesis. (1) Adam is a type of Christ (Rom. 5:14). As Adam is the head of the old creation, so Christ is the head of the new spiritual creation. (2) Abel’s offering of a blood sacrifice points to Christ who would die for us. Abel’s murder by Cain may also illustrate Christ’s death. (3) Melchizedek is also a type of Christ (see Heb. 7:3).

(4) Joseph, who was loved dearly by his father, betrayed by his brothers, and yet became the means of their deliverance typifies Christ. Outline: The book easily falls into two major sections: Four Events and Four People I. Four Events (Gen. 1-11). A. The creation of the world and man (1-2) B. The corruption of man, the fall (3-5) C. The destruction of man, the flood (6-9) D. The dispersion of man, the nations (10-11) II. Four People: the election of a nation and the preparation for the redeemer (Gen. 12-50) A. Abraham (the father of faith and of the nation Israel) (12-23) B. Isaac (the beloved son of promise) (24-26) C. Jacob (scheming and chastening) (27-36) D. Joseph (suffering and glory) (37-50) EXODUS (The Book of Redemption) Author: 1450-1410 B.C.

Name of the Book: “Exodus” is a Latin word derived from the Greek exodos, the name given to the book by those who translated it into the Greek Septuagint (LXX). The word means “exit,” “departure.” Theme and Purpose: Two themes prevail in Exodus: (1) Redemption as pictured in the Passover, and (2) deliverance from the bondage of Egypt as seen in the Exodus out of Egypt and crossing the Red Sea. Key Word: “Redeem,” used nine times (6:6; 13:13; 15:13; 21:8; 34:20). After nearly four hundreds years of growth in Egypt, Exodus continues the history of God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel, and describes their deliverance out of Egypt and their development as a nation, actually, a theocracy under God. It describes the birth, history, and call of Moses by God to lead the people out of their Egyptian bondage and into the promised land, the land of Canaan.

Through the Passover lamb, the sparing of the firstborn, along with the miracles of the ten plagues, and the crossing of the Red Sea, God showed His people that He was not only more powerful than any Egyptian Pharaoh, but was the sovereign Lord, Yahweh, the God of redemption and revelation. Once the people had crossed the Red Sea and arrived in the wilderness or desert, God gave them His righteous law and declared that they were a treasured possession to Him and were to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation as a testimony to the nations (Ex. 19:4-7). This holy law, including the Ten Commandments, demonstrated God’s holiness, taught them how to love God and one another, but in the process, it also demonstrated how all fall short of the holiness of God and need a way of access to God that provides forgiveness. This was provided for in the tabernacle, the sacrifices, and the levitical priesthood. Key Chapters: Chapters 12-14 record the redemption of Israel from slavery in fulfillment of God’s promises; delivered from slavery by blood (the Passover lamb) and by power (the parting of the Red Sea).

Key Verses: 6:6 Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgment’ (see also 20:2). 19:5-6 ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel. Key People: Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Pharaoh. Christ as Seen in Exodus: While Exodus contains no direct prophecy of Christ, there are a number of beautiful types of the Savior. (1) In many ways, Moses is a type of Christ. Deuteronomy 18:15 shows that Moses, as a prophet, anticipates Christ. Both are kinsman-redeemers who were endangered in infancy, renounced their power to serve others, and functioned as mediators, lawgivers, and deliverers.

(2) The Passover is a very specific type of Christ as the sinless Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36; 1 Cor. 5:7). (3) The Seven Feasts, each of which portray some aspect of the Savior. (4) The Exodus, which Paul connects with baptism, pictures our identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor. 10:1-2; Rom. 6:2-3). (5) The Manna and Water are both portrayed as pictures of Christ (John 6:31-35, 48-63; 1 Cor. 10:3-4). (6) The Tabernacle portrays the Savior in its material, colors, furniture, arrangement, and the offerings sacrificed there (Heb. 9:1-10:18). (7) The High Priest quite clearly foreshadows the person and ministry of Christ (Heb. 4:14-16; 9:11-12, 24-28). Outline: Exodus easily divides into two sections: Redemption and Revelation I. Redemption From Egypt (1-18) A.

In Bondage (Subjection) (1-12) B. Out of Bondage (Redemption by blood and power) (12-14) C. Journeying to Sinai (Education) (15-18) II. Revelation From God (19-40) A. The Giving of the Law (19-24) B. The Institution of the Tabernacle (25-31) C. The Breaking of the Law (32-34) D. The Construction of the Tabernacle (35-40) LEVITICUS (The Book of Holiness) Author: 1450-1410 B.C. Name of the Book: Leviticus receives its name from the Septuagint and means “relating to the Levites.” The Levites were the priests who were chosen of God to minister to the nation. The book of Leviticus contains many of the laws given by God to direct them in their work as priests for the worship of God.

Theme and Purpose: Leviticus 11:45 says, “Be holy, because I am holy.” The directives given in the book of Leviticus showed Israel was to walk before God as a holy people. Leviticus was designed to teach Israel (1) how to worship and walk with God and (2) how the nation was to fulfill its calling as a nation of priests. The great theme of Leviticus is holiness. A holy God can only be approached on the basis of sacrifice through the mediation of a priest. Key Word: “Holiness.” Key Verses: 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement. 20:7-8 You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. 8 And you shall keep My statutes and practice them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you (see also 11:45).

Key Chapter: Chapter 16 deals with the Day of Atonement, which became the most important day in the Hebrew calendar because it was the only day the high priest was allowed to enter into the Holy of Holies in order to make atonement for the people. “… for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you shall be clean from all your sins before the Lord” (16:30). Key People: Christ as Seen in Leviticus: Similar to Exodus, a number of types of Christ are evident in Leviticus. (1) The Five Offerings all typify the person and work of Christ in His sinless life, submission to the Father that we might have fellowship with God. (2) The High Priest as mentioned above is a very prominent type of Christ in Leviticus. (3) The Seven Feasts, again, as mentioned, also form a type of the Savior. Outline: Leviticus falls into two clear divisions: Sacrifice and Sanctification I. Sacrifice (1-17) 1450-1410 B.C.

Name of the Book: Numbers gets its name from the two accounts in chapters 1 and 26 of the numbering or counting of the people of Israel first at Mount Sinai and second on the plains of Moab. Theme and Purpose: Though Numbers gets its name from the numbering of the people, it is primarily concerned with nearly 40 years of wandering in the desert. A journey which should have only lasted eleven days became a 38-year agony of defeat simply because of the disbelief and disobedience of the people. Numbers, then, shows the consequence of failing to mix faith with the promises of God (see Heb. 3:16-4:2). Further, Numbers teaches us that while life does have its wilderness experiences, God’s people do not have to stay in those conditions. Joshua will illustrate this later. Another important theme shown throughout the book of Numbers is found in God’s continual care for his people. Over and over again, regardless of their rebellion and unbelief, He miraculously supplied their needs. He provided them with water, manna, and quail. He continued to love and forgive the people even when they complained, grumbled, and rebelled against Him.

Key Word: “Wanderings.” Key Verses: 14:22-23 Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs, which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, 23 shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it. 20:12. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” Key Chapters: Chapters 13-14 stand as the key chapters because these chapters record a critical turning point for the nation. Here, at Kadesh-Barnea (32:8), after receiving the evil report from 10 of the 12 spies whom Moses sent to spy out the land, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb Israel focused on the giants in the land, failed to believe God, and refused to enter to possess and conquer the land, a Land that flowed with milk and honey.

Key People: Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Joshua, Caleb, Balak Christ as Seen in Numbers: (1) Perhaps no place is there a clearer portrait of Christ and His crucifixion than in the serpent lifted up on the standard (cf. Num. 21:4-9 with John 3:14). (2) The rock that quenched the thirst of the people is a type of Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). (3) The daily manna pictures Christ as the bread come down from heaven (John 6:31-33). (4) The pillar of cloud and fire portray the guidance of Christ and the cities of refuge certainly portray Christ as our refuge from judgment. (5) Finally, the red heifer is also a type of Christ (ch. 19). Outline: Numbers divides into three sections: Preparation at Sinai, Failure of the Old Generation, Preparation of the New Generation. I. Preparation at Sinai (Old Generation) (1-10) A. The Position and Numbering of the People (1-4) B. The Precepts of God and Sanctification of the People (5:1-9:14) C.

The Pilgrimage Toward the Promised Land (9:15-10:36) II. Failure of the Old Generation (11-25) A. Discontent Along the Way (11-12) B. Disbelief at Kadesh-Barnea (13-14) C. Discipline from the Lord (15-25) III. Preparation of the New Generation (26-36) A. Reorganization of Israel (26-27) B. Regulation of Offerings and Vows (28-30) C. Regionalization of the Land (31-36) The figures below illustrate the position of the tribes in camp and on the march: 1410 B.C. Name of the Book: The English title, which comes from the Septuagint, means “second law-giving” and comes from the mistranslation of 17:18, which actually says “a copy of this law.” Deuteronomy is a not a second law, but rather a review, expansion, and reiteration of the original law given at Sinai. Theme and Purpose: Watch yourself lest you forget.

After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites were on the eve of entering the promised land. Before they did, it was necessary (lest they forget what God had done and who they were) that they be reminded about all that God had done for them and about God’s holy law which was so vital to their ability to remain in the land and function as God’s holy nation and as a kingdom of priests to the nations (Deut. 4:1-8). As a part of this theme or purpose, the book also emphasizes the vital necessity of teaching children to love and obey God. Deuteronomy ends with the renewal of God’s covenant with Israel (chapter 29), Joshua’s appointment as the new leader (chapter 31), and Moses’ death (chapter 34). Key Word: “Covenant” (occurring some 27 times) Key Verses: 4:9, 23 Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.

23 So watch yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which the Lord your God has commanded you. 4:31 For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. 10:12-14 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? 14 Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. 30:19-20 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.

So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, 20 by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them. Key Chapters: Chapter 27 is key because in it there is a formal ratification of Israel’s covenant as Moses and the levitical priests call upon all Israel to take heed and listen, for in verses 9-10 it is declared, “This day you have become a people for the Lord your God. You shall therefore obey the Lord your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.” Chapters 28-30 are also key because of the promises regarding Israel’s near and distant future as it pertains to blessing for obedience or cursing for disobedience. Key People: Moses and Joshua. Christ as Seen in Deuteronomy: The statement about Moses in 18:15 is one of the clearest portraits of Christ.

It reads, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.” Further, Moses, as a type of Christ, is the only figure other than Christ to fill all three of the offices of prophet (34:10-12), priest (Ex. 32:31-35), and king (although Moses was not king, he functioned as ruler of Israel; 33:4-5). 4 Outline: Deuteronomy divides into three sections: I. Preamble (1:1-5) Introduction to Genesis: First Book of the Bible Updated November 10, 2015. What is Genesis? Genesis is the first book of the Bible and the first book of the Pentateuch , a Greek word for "five" and "books". The first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers , and Deuteronomy ) are also called the Torah by the Jews, a Hebrew term that connotes "law" and "teaching." The name Genesis itself is an ancient Greek term for "birth" or "origin".

In ancient Hebrew that is Bereshit, or "In the beginning" which is how the Book of Genesis begins. Facts About the Book of Genesis Genesis is the first book the Bible, the Torah and, the Pentateuch Genesis has 50 Chapters & 1,533 Verses Chapter & verse divisions are of Christian origin Stories cover about 2,000 years of history Two parts: primeval history (1-11) and patriarchal history (12-50) Adam & Eve: The first humans and the source of Original Sin Noah: Had enough faith to be spared by God from a world-wide flood Abraham: Chosen by God to be the "father" of Israel, God's "chosen people" Isaac: Abraham's son, inherited God's blessing Jacob: Abraham's grandson whose name God changed to "Israel" Joseph: Son of Jacob, sold into slavery in Egypt Who Wrote the Book of Genesis? The traditional view was that Moses wrote the Book of Genesis between 1446 and 1406 BCE.

The Documentary Hypothesis developed by modern scholarship indicates that several different authors contributed to the text and at least one edited multiple sources together to create the final Genesis text that we have today. Exactly how many different sources were used and how many authors or editors were involved is a matter of debate. Early critical scholarship argued that various traditions about the origins of the Israelites were collected and written down during the reign of Solomon (c. 961–931 BCE). Archaeological evidence casts doubt on whether there was much of an Israelite state at this time, though, let alone an empire of the sort described in the Old Testament. Textual research on the documents suggests that some of the earliest portions of Genesis can only be dated to the 6th century, well after Solomon. Current scholarship seems to favor the idea that the narratives in Genesis and other early Old Testament texts were at least collected, if not written down, during the reign of Hezekiah (c. 727–698 BCE). When Was the Book of Genesis Written? The oldest manuscripts we have of Genesis date to some point between 150 BCE and 70 CE.

Literary research on the Old Testament suggests that the oldest parts of the Book of Genesis may have first been written during the 8th century BCE. The latest parts and final editing were probably done during the 5th century BCE. The Pentateuch probably existed in something like its current form by the 4th century BCE Book of Genesis Summary Genesis 1-11: The beginning of Genesis is the beginning of the universe and of all existence: God creates the universe, the planet earth, and everything else. God creates humanity and a paradise for them to live in, but they are kicked out after disobeying. Corruption in humanity later causes God to destroy everything and everyone save one man, Noah, and his family on an ark. From this one family come all the nations of the world, leading eventually to a man named Abraham Genesis 12-25: Abraham is singled out by God and he makes a covenant with God. His son, Isaac, inherits this covenant as well as the blessings that go with it. God gives Abraham and his descendants the land of Canaan , though others already live there.

Genesis 25-36: Jacob is given a new name, Israel, and he continues the line which inherits God's covenant and blessings. Genesis 37-50: Joseph, Jacob's son, is sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt where he acquires a great deal of power. His family comes to live with him and thus the entire line of Abraham settles in Egypt where they will eventually grow to great numbers. Book of Genesis Themes Covenants : Recurring throughout the Bible is the idea of covenants and this is already important early in the Book of Genesis. A covenant is a contract or treaty between God and humans, either with all humans or with one specific group like God's "Chosen People." Early on God is depicted as making promises to Adam, Eve, Cain, and others about their own personal futures. Later God is depicted as making promises to Abraham about the future of all his descendants. There is debate among scholars about whether the recurring stories of covenants is one deliberate, grand, overarching theme of the Bible as a whole or whether they are just individual themes that ended up being linked together when the biblical texts were collected and edited together.

Sovereignty of God: Genesis starts out with God creating everything, including existence itself, and throughout Genesis God asserts his authority over creation by destroying whatever fails to live up to his expectations. God has no particular obligations to anything created except that which he decides to offer; put another way, there are no inherent rights possessed by any people or any other part of creation except that which God decides to grant. Flawed Humanity: The imperfection of humanity is a theme which starts in Genesis and continues throughout the Bible. The imperfection starts with and is exacerbated by the disobedience in the Garden of Eden. After that, humans consistently fail to do what is right and what God expects. Fortunately, the existence of a few people here and there who do live up to some of God's expectations has prevented the extermination of our species.

Books of the Bible Books of the Bible Books of the Bible in Canonical Order Old Testament The Pentateuch Genesis Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Exodus Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Leviticus Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Numbers Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Deuteronomy Historical Introduction Joshua Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

 21 22 23 24 Judges Introduction 1 2 3 4 1 Samuel Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2 Samuel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 Kings Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2 Kings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 1 Chronicles Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 2 Chronicles Wisdom Books Job Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

 Psalms Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87

 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 Proverbs Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 

7 8 Wisdom Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Sirach Prophetic Books Isaiah Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 Jeremiah

Question: What is the first book of the Bible?
Answer: Genesis