UNDERSTANDING AND USING THE BIBLE T

1 SERVING THE NEEDS OF LEADERS IN CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND FORMATION. UNDERSTANDING AND USING THE BIBLE . T his leaflet is designed to provide basic knowledge of the BIBLE . It may serve as a crash course in BIBLE basics, a reminder of the Hebrew Scriptures. The Old testament was originally written in Hebrew. Both the Old testament and the new testament are collec- things you have forgotten, or encouragement tions of books. The thirty-nine books of the Old to continue in regular BIBLE study. testament fall into three general categories.

2 The Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. THE WORD OF GOD. Law In many congregations, after the Scripture is The first five books of the Old testament are read the worship leader will lift the BIBLE and called the books of the Law, the Torah, or the say something like, The Word of God for the Pentateuch. people of God, and the congregation will re- spond, Thanks be to God. In these state- In these five books we find the stories of ments we acknowledge the important role that Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, the Scriptures play in the lives of Christians.

3 Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, Jo- seph, and Moses. Some extremely important The BIBLE contains a wide variety of literature, stories that are found in these books are: including letters, poems, hymns, and stories. The creation of the world. However, for Christians the BIBLE is not simply a book of literature or history or science. It is a The flood and God's covenant with Noah book of faith and as such has a greater au- to never again destroy the world by water. thority for our lives than other important books God's promise to Abraham and Sarah that we might read.

4 In the BIBLE we find recorded they will become the parents of a great the faithful witness of God's people, through nation. which we come to know who God is and what The continued growth of the Hebrew it means to be the people of God. people. The twelve sons of Jacob (the grandson of Abraham and Sarah) become When we talk about the Word of God we are the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. referring to more than just the words that The family moves to Egypt, where it con- make up the BIBLE . Through the biblical record tinues to grow and prosper.

5 We experience the presence of God. The bibli- The enslavement of the Hebrew people in cal stories are not just stories of ancient Egypt when they become so populous that people. As we immerse ourselves in the Scrip- they pose a political threat. tures we recognize ourselves in the stories The birth and life of Moses, who leads the and come to see God's claim on our lives. Exodus of Hebrew people out of slavery toward the land that God has promised. THE OLD testament The giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, after the people have left The BIBLE is divided into two major sections, Egypt.

6 The Old and New Testaments. The books of the Old testament were written before the The preparation to enter the Promised time of Jesus. They are the Scriptures that Je- Land after traveling in the desert for forty sus knew. The Old testament is also called years. 1. Prophets Writings Twenty-one books in the Old testament make The Writings include several different types of up the Prophets. The Prophets are not found literature. Several books in this category are in chronological order in the BIBLE but are in- poetry.

7 Perhaps best known in this group of termixed with books that fall in the Writings books is Psalms. The psalms are poems and category. In the Prophets we see the continu- hymns that were used in worship. Some of the ing story of God's people. In some of the im- Writings include wise sayings, while others tell portant stories in these books, the stories of people's experiences with God. Some of the well-known stories, poems, and Joshua leads the Hebrew people into the proverbs found in the writings are: Promised Land.

8 Psalm 23. This is the psalm that has The Hebrew tribes struggle to form a new brought comfort to people throughout the society that is ruled by God. The leaders dur- ages. It begins with The LORD is my shepherd, ing this time are called judges. I shall not want.. The people begin to want to be like other The story of Esther, the Jewish woman nations and demand a king. Saul becomes the who becomes queen and through wisdom and first king of Israel. courage is able to save her people from de- Saul becomes a weak king.

9 David ascends struction. to power as the second king of Israel. The story of Job, a man who remains faith- ful to God even though he experiences many David's son Solomon becomes the third tribulations. king of Israel. Under Solomon's leadership the Temple is built in Jerusalem. Proverbs 15:1, A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. This is one example of the many wise sayings that The Old testament was first an oral work, are found in the Book of Proverbs. put in written form over the span of several centuries.

10 The earliest writing dates from Ecclesiastes 3. This is the poem that be- about the 8th C , though it refers to events gins, For everything there is a season, and a several centuries before. The last of the books time for every matter under heaven.. was written around the 2nd C The Song of Solomon. This is a book of love poetry. The story of Ruth, the non-Jewish woman After Solomon's death Israel divides itself who becomes the great-grandmother of King into two smaller kingdoms, Israel and Judah. A David. In Ruth 1:16 we find the well-known series of kings reigns, many of whom fall away passage Where you go, I will go; where you from God.