SEMESTER 1
402 – Subdivisions of the Bible
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: BIBLE SURVEY I LESSON # 2
SUBDIVISIONS OF THE BIBLE
INTRODUCTION:
1. As you begin to read your Bible (having the statement that the theme is unified) you, nevertheless, notice a different nature in different parts.
III: The obvious difference in Genesis and The Song of Solomon, or Proverbs and Matthew.
2. Some books are filled with lineage, while others hardly contain a proper name.
3. You begin to hear such words as Pentateuch, historical, poetic, prophetic, gospels, epistles and your head starts to spin.
4. Thus, we need to know of the divisions and the reasons for them; i.e., who wrote, to whom, under what circumstances, when, etc.
III: The understanding of Isaiah and Jeremiah’s prophecies.
5. Thus, in this lesson we will have a look at the divisions of Scripture, the writers, the time factor and the issues taken up.
V. DIVISIONS AND GROUPINGS
1. Old Testament is composed of thirty-nine books, Genesis to Malachi.
2. It covers a period of about 3500 years (excluding prophecies).
3. It was written over a period of a little over 1,000 years.
4. The subdivisions are as follow:
i. Pentateuch – first 5 books – writer Moses
ii. Historical books – 12 books – It is thought 6 to 8 writers.
iii. Poetic books – 5 books – 3 writers
iv. Major Prophets – 5 books – 4 writers
v. Minor Prophets – 12 books – 12 writers
5. New Testament – composed of 27 books – 8 writers
i. History – Gospels and Acts – 4 writers.
ii. Pauline Epistles – 14 books – Paul
a) Question as to authorship of Hebrews
iii. General Epistles – 7 books – 4 writers
iv. Revelation – written by John the Apostle