The Meaning, Purpose and Importance of the Bible

 The Bible contains 66 distinct books under two major divisions.

 The first 39books of the Bible were mostly written in the Hebrew language and are commonly referred to as the
“Old Testament.”
 The second set of 27 books was originally written in the Greek language and is called the “New Testament.”
 These 66 books span stories that occurred over at least 4,000 years of human history, with as many as 40
different human authors. Diverse cultures, backgrounds, writing styles, and genres were used to write the Bible.

 What is the Bible?

 a Good Book
 Is a collection or library of many small books written over a period of more than a thousand years.
 The word Bible comes from the Greek word "Biblia" meaning "books".
 The Greek word Biblia itself is derived from Biblion, meaning paper, book or scroll and was a diminutive of
the word Byblos or papyrus.
 Hence, Byblos is the root word for Biblia. The name comes from the Phoenician port Byblos from whence
Egyptian papyrus was exported to Greece.
 The phrase "Ta Biblia", "The books" was used by Hellenistic Jews to referred to their sacred books, the
Septuagint, in particular. This was the Greek version of the Hebrew scriptures.
 The Christian Scriptures was referred to in Greek as Ta Biblia as early as 223 A.D. The Word Bible itself is
not found in any book of the Bible.

 Meaning & Significance of "Testament"

 Testament means covenant; agreement, A covenant is a sacred agreement or relationship between God &
humans. In ancient times, such covenants were finalized & confirmed through sacred rituals & ceremonies.
 Testamentum (Latin) – translated in Hebrew word, meaning “covenant”.
 A covenant is a sacred agreement between God and His people.
 Bible – Scripture, the Scriptures, or Holy Scriptures.
 Scriptures – means “sacred or divine writings”

 Two important things:

1.The Word of God set down in writing – so there can be a Word of God which is not written.
2. It is the Writings, which are the Word of God for us, and not the events or the words spoken before they
were composed.

 Significance of Studying the Bible

 According to Lord Tennyson, “Bible reading is education in itself.” George Washington also said, “It is
impossible to rightly govern this world without God and the Bible.” Thus, Bible reading is very important both
to a particular person as well as to the society as a whole.
1.FOR OUR FAITH TO GROW
2. FOR CONVICTION OF SIN
3. FOR AVOIDANCE OF SIN
 4. FOR GUIDANCE TO LIFE
 IMPORTANCE OF BIBLE ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURE
 2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teachingthe truth, rebuking error, correcting faults,
and giving instruction for right living,
 Useful for
1. teaching the truth
2. rebuking error
3. correcting faults and
4. giving instruction for right living

 Gideons International - Meaning of the Bible

 The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the
happiness of believers.
 Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.
 Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy.
 It contains light to direct you. Food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.
 It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s
charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.
 Bible Classification
 39 BOOKS

 PENTATEUCH (5 Books)
 GENESIS
means “the beginning.” It tells about the creation of the world and mankind.
 EXODUS
means “the going out.” It is the book of deliverance and the birth of the nation.
 LEVITICUS
the book of ritual or the guidebook of the priests
 NUMBERS
 The book of wanderings in the wilderness.
 DEUTERONOMY
 Means the “second law” book.

 HISTORICAL BOOKS (12 Books)

 JOSHUA
The story of the conquest and partition of Canaan.
 JUDGES
The book of deliverance.
 RUTH
Exemplifies True Friendship.
 1 and 2 SAMUEL
The book of the founding of the Kingdom of Israel.
 1 and 2 Kings
The book of the divided kingdom of Israel.
 1 and 2 Chronicles
Tells the history of Judah.
 Ezra
The Drastic Reformer. It tells about Judaism after the exile.
 Nehemiah
The Practical Man of affairs, the Builder
 ESTHER
The historical romance written to explain the origins of the Jewish feast of Purim.
 POETICAL BOOKS (5 Books)
 JOB
 The Book of the new ways of God.
 PSALMS
The Hebrew handbook of personal religion.
 PROVERBS
The concise sayings. It conveys truth about social, spiritual and moral life of a man
 ECCLESIASTES
The Words of the Preacher (Solomon)
 SOLOMON'S SONG
Song of the Wise.

 PROPHETICAL BOOKS:
 Major Prophets (5 Books)
 ISAIAH
the prophet of holiness, statesman, the prophet of world mission. It emphasizes holiness.
 JEREMIAH
the crying prophet, the prophet of the inwardness of religion.
 LAMENTATIONS
The Book of lament or sorrow.
 EZEKIEL
The Prophet of reconstruction or the prophet of remaking the nation.
 DANIEL
The Book of hard times.

 PROPHETICAL BOOKS:
 Minor Prophets (12 Books)
 HOSEA The Prophet of God’s universal love and the “Reluctant
the prophet of love. It portrays the allegorical love of Missionary”
God to His people.  MICAH
 JOEL The Prophet of the poor.
The prophet of the day of Yahweh.  NAHUM
 AMOS The Prophet who prophesized against Nineveh.
The Prophet of righteousness.  HABAKKUK
 OBADIAH Tell about Babylon as God’s agent in punishing Judah’s
The Prophet of the resentment against Edom. sins, but in the end Babylon will be ruined because of
 JONAH her pride.
 ZEPHANIAH
The Prophet of Restoration of Jerusalem.  MALACHI
 HAGGAI The Prophet of revival.
The prophet of the rebuilding of the temple of Jerusalem.
 ZECHARIAH
The Prophet of the restoration of Jerusalem.
 Bible Classification

 THE GOSPELS (4 Books)

 MATTHEW
The most influential Gospel.
 MARK (John Mark)
The earliest written Gospel.
 LUKE - “The Beloved Physician”
The most beautiful and best written Gospel.
 JOHN - “The Beloved Disciple”
The best loved Gospel, the Spiritual Gospel.

 HISTORICAL BOOK (1Book)

 ACTS of the Apostles
Writer was Luke. A sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Main theme: The origin and growth of the early church, from the
ascension of Christ to the imprisonment of Paul at Rome. Known as the historical book

 PAULINE EPISTLES
(including Hebrews, 13 Books)
 ROMANS: Addressed to Roman Christians Tells of man’s need of
redemption, new life in Christ and Christian conduct.
 I CORINTHIANS
Addressed to the Corinthian Church. Leading topics: The cleansing of the church from various evils, together with doctrinal
instructions.
 II CORINTHIANS
Leading topics: The characteristics of an apostolic ministry, and the vindication of Paul’s apostleship. It tells of the
Corinthians Church
 GALATIANS
The “Magna Charta of Christian Liberty”
 EPHESIANS
Tells of Jesus Christ as the clue to all history
 PHILIPPIANS
Tells of the ChristCentered Life
 COLOSSIANS
Tells of the Cosmic Christ
 I THESSALONIANS
Paul exhorts his disciples to continue in the faith and in holy conversation.
 II THESSALONIANS
Written to enlighten the church concerning the doctrine of Christ’s second coming and to warn believers against unrest and
social disorders. 1st and 2nd Book of the NT to be written down
 I TIMOTHY – Pastoral Letter
Counsels to a young pastor concerning his conduct and ministerial work.

 II TIMOTHY
Paul’s last letter, written shortly before his death, giving instructions and counsels to his beloved “son of the gospel.”
 TITUS – Pastoral Letter
Paul encourages Titus in the performance of his ministerial duties. Emphasis on the doctrine of good works.
 PHILEMON
An appeal to a converted master to receive a converted escaped slave (Onesimus) with kindness.Fairly wealthy man
won to Christianity by Paul

 GENERAL EPISTLES (8 Books)

 HEBREWS
 Writer is uncertain. Leading topics: The transcendent glory of Christ, and of the blessings of the new dispensation,
compared with those of the Old Testament. Key word: “Better.”Tells about the priesthood of Christ
 JAMES: The Lord’s brother
Tells about the practical rules for Christian life.
 I PETER – The Epistle of Hope
A letter of encouragement by Peter to the scattered saints throughout Asia Minior.
 II PETER
Last NT Book to be written.Tells about the knowledge on Jesus Christ
 I JOHN – The Epistle of Life
A deep spiritual message addressed by the apostle John to different classes of believers in the church. It lays great
stress upon the believer’s privilege of spiritual knowledge, the duty of fellowship and brotherly love.
 II JOHN- The shortest Book in the NT
A brief message of John on divine and worldly error. Addressed to “The elect lady of and her children.” A warning
against heresy and false teachers.
 III JOHN – Known as the “Johannine Philemon”
An apostolic letter of commendation written to Gaius, containing character sketches of certain persons in the church
JUDE
 Tells about complete loyalty to the Christian Faith

 PROPHECTICAL BOOK
 REVELATION
Known as the “Apocalypse” meaning unveiling of the last days or the end time.