1. learning how to read the bible
The Story
learning how to read the bible

2. Compelling, but confusing … and often boring
The Bible
Compelling, but confusing … and often boring

3. The bible is a small library of books
OLD TESTAMENT (“Hebrew Scriptures”)
Many different authors
Different styles / literary types (genres)
611,000 words in Hebrew
39 books in the shared canon
written in Aramaic & Hebrew
7 additional books in the second canon (Deuteronomical) of the Catholic Church
written mostly in Greek

4. OLD TESTAMENT (“Hebrew Scriptures”)
Christian (English) bibles are arranged like the Septuagint / LXX (3rd C. BC) Greek translation
Organised into 4 sections
Pentateuch
(Torah / Law)
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
History
Joshua, Judges
Ruth
1-2 Samuel
1-2 Kings
1-2 Chronicles
Ezra Nehemiah
Esther
Wisdom
Job Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs
Prophets
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel,
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

6. Hebrew Bible (based on Septuagint order)
39 books
Including Deuterocanonical books = 46 books in Catholic OT
Genesis
Joshua
Job
Isaiah
Psalms
Jeremiah
Exodus
Judges
Proverbs
Lamentations
Leviticus
Ruth
Ecclesiastes
Ezekiel
Numbers
1 Samuel
Samuel
2 Samuel
Song of Songs
Daniel +
Daniel
Deuteronomy
1 Kings
Kings
2 Kings
Wisdom
12 Minor Prophets
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
1 Chron
Chronicles
2 Chron
Sirach
Ezra
Ezra - Nehemiah
Nehemiah
Tobit
Judith
Esther +
Esther
1 Macc
2 Macc
Pentateuch
(Torah / Law)
History
Wisdom
Prophets
KETUVIM
“Writings”
NEVI’IM
“Prophets”
TORAH
“Law”
Ta Na K

7. Hebrew Bible Ta Na K 24 books TORAH KETUVIM NEVI’IM Psalms Poetic
Proverbs
Genesis
Joshua
Job
Exodus
Judges
Song of Songs
Leviticus
Samuel
Ruth
Numbers
Kings
5 scrolls
(5 Megillot)
Lamentations
Deuteronomy
Isaiah
Ecclesiastes
Jeremiah
Esther
Daniel
Ezekiel
* Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Other late
books
Ezra - Nehemiah
12 Minor Prophets*
Chronicles
TORAH
“Law”
NEVI’IM
“Prophets”
KETUVIM
“Writings”

8. Hebrew Bible (based on Septuagint order)
39 books
Genesis
Joshua
Job
Isaiah
Psalms
Jeremiah
Exodus
Judges
Proverbs
Lamentations
Leviticus
Ruth
Ecclesiastes
Ezekiel
Numbers
1 Samuel
Samuel
2 Samuel
Song of Songs
Daniel
Deuteronomy
Kings
1 Kings
2 Kings
12 Minor Prophets
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
1 Chron
Chronicles
2 Chron
Ezra - Nehemiah
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Pentateuch
(Torah / Law)
History
Wisdom
Prophets
NEVI’IM
“Prophets”
TORAH
“Law”
KETUVIM
“Writings”
Ta Na K

9. Hebrew Bible Ta Na K 24 books TORAH KETUVIM NEVI’IM Psalms Proverbs
Genesis
Joshua
Job
Exodus
Judges
Song of Songs
Leviticus
Samuel
Ruth
Numbers
Kings
Lamentations
Deuteronomy
Isaiah
Ecclesiastes
Jeremiah
Esther
Daniel
Ezekiel
* Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Ezra - Nehemiah
12 Minor Prophets*
Chronicles
TORAH
“Law”
NEVI’IM
“Prophets”
KETUVIM
“Writings”

10. Hebrew Bible Ranked by size TORAH KETUVIM NEVI’IM Kings (39,145)
Isaiah (25,608)
Job (12,674)
Chronicles (38,013)
Numbers (25,048)
Proverbs (9,921)
Samuel (38,007)
Deuteronomy (23,008)
Daniel (9,001)
Jeremiah (33,002)
12 Minor Prophets (21,837)
Esther (4,932)
Genesis (32,046)
Leviticus (18,852)
Ecclesiastes (4,537)
Psalms (30,147)
Joshua (15,671)
Lamentations (2,324)
Ezekiel (29,918)
Judges (15,385)
Ruth (2,039)
Exodus (25,957)
Ezra – Nehemiah (14,112)
Song of Songs (2,020)
Hosea (3615), Joel (1447), Amos (3027), Obadiah (440), Jonah (1082), Micah (2118), Nahum (855), Habakkuk (1011), Zephaniah (1141), Haggai (926), Zechariah (4855), Malachi (1320)
TORAH
“Law”
NEVI’IM
“Prophets”
KETUVIM
“Writings”

11. Christian Bible (New Testament) 27 books
Matthew
Romans
1 Thessalonians
Hebrews
Mark
1 Corinthians
2 Thessalonians
James
Luke
2 Corinthians
1 Timothy
1 Peter
John
Galatians
2 Timothy
2 Peter
Acts of the Apostles
Ephesians
Titus
1 John
Philippians
Philemon
2 John
Paul’s 13 letters
Colossians
3 John
Jude
Revelation
Gospels
Acts
Letters
Apocalyptic

12. The Gospel and Acts Synoptic (with one eye) Gospels Gospels Acts
Matthew
Synoptic (with one eye) Gospels
Mark
Luke
John
Acts of the Apostles
Gospels
Acts

13. The order of the Gospel and Acts
Mark
Written c.65 (Rome)
70AD Temple in Jerusalem destroyed
Matthew
Written c.75 (Antioch)
Luke
Written c.85 (Antioch)
80-90AD Separation of Judaism and Christianity
John
Written c.95 (Ephesus)
Acts of the Apostles
Written c.85 (Antioch)
Gospels
Acts

15. The order of the Gospel and Acts
Matthew
Written c.75 – Connection with Moses / during change
Mark
Written c.65 – Dealing with suffering
John
Written c.95 – Growing in love / resurrection joy
Luke
Written c.85 – Growing in service / discipleship
Acts of the Apostles
Written c.85 – Living as missionary church
Gospels
Acts

16. The order of the Gospel and Acts
Mark
John
Suffering
Joy
Lent/Easter
Year B
Luke
Matthew
Acts of the Apostles
Change
Service
Year A
Year C
Gospels
Acts

17. The same pattern in the Hebrew Scriptures
Exodus
Sinai
Redemption
Suffering
Patriarchs
Exile
Jerusalem
Service
Change

18. Christian Bible (New Testament) 27 books
Matthew
Romans
1 Thessalonians
Hebrews
Mark
1 Corinthians
2 Thessalonians
James
John
2 Corinthians
1 Timothy
1 Peter
Luke
Galatians
2 Timothy
2 Peter
Ephesians
Acts of the Apostles
Titus
1 John
Philippians
Philemon
2 John
Paul’s letters
Colossians
3 John
Jude
Revelation
Gospels
Acts
Letters
Apocalyptic

19. Paul’s 13 letters Gospels Acts Letters Romans 1 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
Gospels
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
Acts
1 Timothy
Letters
2 Timothy
Titus
Apocalyptic
Philemon

20. Paul’s 13 letters are arranged by length Gospels Acts Letters
Romans (7,111)
1 Corinthians (6,830)
2 Corinthians (4,477)
Galatians (2,230)
Paul’s 13 letters
are arranged by length
Ephesians (2,422)
Philippians (1,629)
*Not to scale
Colossians (1,582)
Gospels
1 Thessalonians (1,481)
2 Thessalonians (823)
Acts
1 Timothy (1,591)
Letters
2 Timothy (1,238)
Titus (659)
Apocalyptic
Philemon (335)
Hebrews (4,953)

21. Paul’s 13 letters but are better read chronologically Gospels Acts
1 Thessalonians (1,481)
Paul’s 13 letters
but are better read
chronologically
2 Thessalonians (823)
1 Corinthians (6,830)
2 Corinthians (4,477)
Galatians (2,230)
Paul wrote between 48 – 64 AD (All of his letters were written before any of the Gospels)
Romans (7,111)
Colossians (1,582)
Ephesians (2,422)
Gospels
Philemon (335)
Philippians (1,629)
Acts
1 Timothy (1,591)
Titus (659)
Letters
2 Timothy (1,238)
Apocalyptic

22. Christian Bible (New Testament) Length of books
Matthew (28)
18,346
4,953
Hebrews
Mark (16)
11,304
1,742
James
John (21)
15,635
1,684
1 Peter
Luke (24)
19,482
1,099
2 Peter
Acts (28)
18,450
2,141
1 John
245
2 John
Luke-Acts (37,932)
219
3 John
13 letters of Paul (32,408)
461
Jude
9,851
Revelation
Gospels
64,767 (47%)
Acts
18,450 (13%)
Letters
44,552 (32%)
Apocalyptic
9,851 (7%)

23. Christian Bible (New Testament) 27 books
Matthew
Hebrews
1 Thessalonians
Ephesians
Mark
2 Thessalonians
Philemon
James
John
1 Corinthians
Philippians
1 Peter
2 Corinthians
1 Timothy
Luke
2 Peter
Galatians
Titus
Acts of the Apostles
1 John
Romans
2 Timothy
2 John
Colossians
Paul’s letters
3 John
Jude
Revelation
Gospels
Acts
Letters
Apocalyptic

24. Christian Bible (New Testament) 27 books
Read Gospels - Acts 
Matthew
2 Corinthians
Philemon
Paul’s letters
Mark
Galatians
Philippians
John
1 Thessalonians
Romans
1 Timothy
Luke
2 Thessalonians
Colossians
Titus
1 Corinthians
Acts of the Apostles
Ephesians
2 Timothy 
Re-read Matthew, Read Hebrews & James
Matthew
Hebrews
James
Re-read Mark, Read 1-2 Peter & Jude 
Mark
1 Peter
2 Peter
Jude 
John
1 John
2 John
3 John
Re-read John; read Johannine literature
Revelation