Overview of the Bible

I. Books of the Bible

Old Testament (OT):

Pentateuch/Five Books of Moses (5):
Genesis - book of beginnings (Ge 1:1)
Exodus - birth of a nation (Ex 19:4-6)
Leviticus - laws of a nation (Lev 18:3-5; 22:32-33)
Numbers - Wilderness Wandering (Nu 14:26-35, Record of journey - Nu 33)
Deuteronomy - Laws Reviewed (Dt 1:1-4)

History/Narrative (12):
Joshua - conquest of Canaan (Jos 1:1-9)
Judges - value of relativism demonstrated (Jdg 2:8-23, 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25)
Ruth - Story of Kinsman Redeemer (Ru 2:11-12)
1 & 2 Samuel - Birth of Monarchy in Israel; rejection of God as their King (1 Sam 8:6-7)
1 & 2 Kings - Divided Kingdom (1 Ki 9:2-9)
1 & 2 Chronicles - Historical record (beginning with Saul's suicide) (1 Chr 9:1)
Ezra - Return of the Exiles (Ezra 1:1-4)
Nehemiah - Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (Neh 1:3)
Esther - Deliverance for Israel by the "Invisible Hand" of God (Es 8:1-4, 9:24-25)

Poetry/Wisdom Writings (5):
Job - providence of God & spiritual reality (Job 38:1-2, 40:1-5)
Psalms - worshiping God - through thick and thin (Ps 5:1-3)
Proverbs - wisdom (Prov 1:7, 4:7)
Ecclesiastes - Despair of men (Ecc 1:1-2, 12:13-14)
Song of Songs - Love of the Bridegroom (SS 8:6-7)

Prophets: warning of judgment, call for the apostate to repentance (2 Chr 36:15-16)
Major (5): Isaiah to Daniel
Minor (12): Hosea to Malachi

New Testament (NT):

Gospels (4):
Matthew to John - God in flesh (Jn 1:1-14, 20:30-31)

Narrative (1):
Acts - the promised Holy Spirit at work (Acts 1:8)

Epistles: Christian Disciplines & Doctrines (2 Tim 4:2, Heb 4:12-13)
Pauline Epistles (13): Romans to Philemon
General Epistles (8): Hebrews to Jude

Apocalyptic Writing:
Revelation - revelation of Jesus Christ (Rev 1:1-3, 22:20)

II. Concealment and Revelation
New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed;
Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.

What is in a Name? [Genesis 5]
Adam = "man"
Seth = "appointed"
Enosh = "mortal"
Kenan = "sorrow"
Mahalalel = "Blessed God"
Jared = "shall come down"
Enoch = "teaching"
Methuselah = "his death shall bring"
Lamech = "despairing"
Noah = "comfort"

The very first Prophecy in the Bible:
"Man is appointed mortal sorrow, but the blessed God shall come down teaching that His death shall bring the despairing comfort."