Study One: The Big Picture of the Bible

SUMMARY: Before jumping in and trying to understand the details of this massive book called the Bible, it is a good idea to grasp its overall structure and story.

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The Big Picture of the Two Testaments
The Bible consists of two parts, commonly called the Old and New Testaments. I prefer to call the Old Testament, the “First Testament” or the Hebrew Bible. Both testaments are like libraries, consisting of books grouped together in sections.

First Testament

• The Torah (the “law” of Moses)
• The Prophets (historical books & writing prophets)
• The Writings (poetry and wisdom books)

New Testament

• The Gospels and Acts
• The Epistles

The books and sections in the First Testament appear in different orders in different versions. In the Christian Old Testament, the order is like this:

The Torah

• Genesis through Deuteronomy

The Historical Books

• From Conquest to Exile: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles
• Exile and Post-Exile Books: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

The Wisdom Books

• Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs

The Prophets

• Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
• Minor Prophets: The Twelve (Hosea through Malachi)

In Jewish editions of the Hebrew Bible, the order is like this:

The Torah

• Genesis through Deuteronomy

The Prophets

• Early Prophets: Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings
• Latter Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the Twelve (Hosea through Malachi)

The Writings

• Psalms, Job, Proverbs
• Five Scrolls: Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Esther
• Daniel
• Ezra-Nehemiah
• 1-2 Chronicles

The main difference, as you can see, is that the Hebrew Bible places the prophets near the historical books and puts the poetic and post-exile books at the end, whereas the English OT puts all the historical narratives at the beginning so that one can read the story straight through from creation to the end of the Jewish exile in Babylon.

However, the big picture is the same—the First Testment has three basic parts: Torah, Prophets, Writings.

When you approach the Bible, it can be helpful to know that its books are grouped in sections. Step back and appreciate the big picture of the book before you dive into its details.

The Big Picture of the Bible's Story
The story of the Bible is told in five basic parts:

Creation and Fall

• Genesis 1-11
• Creation, Garden of Eden, Fall, Cain & Abel, Noah & flood, emergence of nations, Tower of Babel

The People of God

• Genesis 12-Exodus 19
• Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, twelve tribes, Moses, exodus from Egypt, to Mt. Sinai

Life under Law, Kingdom, & Exile

• Exodus 20-Malachi
• From Joshua to David & Solomon, divided kingdom, exile in Babylon, return from exile
• This section includes the prophets and the wisdom and poetic writings that were written during this period.
  

The Dawning of the Messianic Kingdom

• Matthew-John
• The life, ministry, and finished work of Jesus the Messiah

The Expansion and Consummation of the Messianic Kingdom

• Acts and the Epistles
• The ministry of the apostles, establishment of the church, worldwide mission, future hope

The Big Picture of the Bible's Message
The Bible tells claims to be God's revelation of himself and his plan for creation and human beings. It is a selective history from the Divine point of view. And it has a message for all of us.

• CREATION. God created all that is, and made this world to be a sacred place where human beings would reflect his image, live together in his blessing, and care for his creation.

• FALL. People chose instead to seek their own way rather than God's, and thus became separated from him and his blessings, under the penalty of corruption, conflict, and death in a fallen world.

• ISRAEL. God chose to work through a people to restore his blessing to humankind and all creation. He selected Abraham and made a great nation from his descendants, redeeming them from their oppressors, giving them his law, settling them in the Promised Land, raising up kings, prophets and wisdom teachers, and patiently bearing with them when they failed to walk in his ways.

• PROMISES. All through this time in many ways, God spoke to his people and promised that in the last days he would come to restore his blessing to them and, through them, to all humankind. He promised to give them a new heart, a new Spirit, and a new King who would rule over them and all the world in righteousness and peace.

• EXILE. Ultimately, God cast his people into exile. However, he did not forget them, but in time brought them back to the Promised Land. Nevertheless, even thought they had returned home geographically, Israel remained under foreign domination and in spiritual exile, still waiting for God to fulfill his promises.

• JESUS. After many years of silence and oppression, God sent his promised Messiah. Jesus, God's Son, was born to the virgin Mary, grew up, was baptized by John, and began his ministry in Israel. Traveling about, he announced that the promised Kingdom was dawning in their midst. He proclaimed that everything Israel had failed to do under the Old Covenant would now be fulfilled in his own life and ministry. Jesus taught a new Torah, worked signs and wonders as evidence of the in-breaking Kingdom, gathered a new people around him, died on a cross as foretold by Scripture, and was raised from the dead as God had promised. He ascended into heaven and poured out the promised Holy Spirit, inaugurating the "last days," when God's blessings will be fully restored to all creation.

• MISSION. This is the age in which we live today. Those whom Jesus has forgiven and made new are now announcing that his Kingdom is coming, and all are invited to join it by trusting in him. In and of ourselves, we have no ability to reform our lives and restore God's blessing to his creation, for we are sinful and weak. However, through Jesus and his finished work of bearing our sins and defeating evil and death, we can be forgiven and made new, part of the new creation he is establishing.

• CONSUMMATION. One day, Jesus promised he will return to consummate the Kingdom. On that day, he will put creation to rights. All will be made new. Righteousness and peace will characterize the world. God will bring in a new heavens and new earth, and Jesus will reign over all.