Topic: What are the major parts of the Bible?

Source of this posting: Moderator response

Date originally posted: January 6, 2003

Moderator who originally posted this source: Kathy Martyn

Question:   What are the major parts of the bible?

Answer: 

There are two major parts of the Bible: The Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament records the relationship between God and the descendants of Abraham. At different times these descendants are called the Hebrews, the Israelites, and the Jews. The Old Testament contains their religious history, laws and stories.

The New Testament presents Jesus as the full revelation of God. Jesus was a Jew and he affirmed the core beliefs of the Jewish faith. But he also revealed new insights into God's desired relationship with human beings.

The church teaches that there is a unity to the Old and New Testaments in relation to God. "The Old Testament prepares for the New and the New Testament fulfills the Old; the two shed light on each other; both are true Word of God." (Catechism #140)

The Old Testament is comprised of:
Introduction to the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)

The Historical Books ( Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith Esther, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees)

The Wisdom and Poetry Books (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach)

The Prophets ( Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Gabakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)

The New Testament is comprised of:
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelations.