1. What Is the Bible?
The Bible Course
Document #: TX001066

2. = = Bible(English) Biblia (Greek) “Books” (Literal Meaning)
This slide allows you to talk about the etymology of the word Bible, which has its root in a Greek word meaning “books.” After presenting this you might ask, “What does the meaning of the word Bible imply about the nature of the Bible?” (answer is in next slide)
© Nataliia Natykach/Shutterstock.com

3. The Bible is a library of books.
© Saint Mary’s Pres/Paul Casper
The Bible is a library of books.
This slide shows all the books of the Bible arranged in order, by section, on a bookshelf. It is a visual depiction to help get across the idea that the Bible is not just a book, but a library of seventy-three books. But don’t start describing the various sections yet. That comes later.

4. What are the main sections of the Bible?
© Saint Mary’s Press / Catholic Youth Bible®, Third Edition
This slide introduces or reviews the concept that the Bible is divided into main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. You may wish to assess the students’ knowledge by following this up with a discussion or questions along the following lines:
• Which section of the Bible is bigger? Why?
• What stories can you name from the Old Testament?
• What stories can you name from the New Testament?
• How would you summarize the overall message of the Old Testament in one sentence?
• How would you summarize the overall message of the New Testament in one sentence?

5. Books of Law Historical Books Wisdom Books Prophetic Books
© Saint Mary’s Pres/Paul Casper
Books of Law
The first five books of the Bible, the heart of the Old Testament
Historical Books
Sixteen books of religious history and a few “historical novellas”
Wisdom Books
Seven books of poetry and wise sayings
Prophetic Books
Eighteen books recording the warnings and promises of Israel’s prophets

6. Gospels Pauline Letters (Epistles) Acts Non-Pauline Letters Revelation
© Saint Mary’s Pres/Paul Casper
Gospels
The story of Jesus’ life and ministry and the start of the Church, told from four complementary
faith perspectives
Pauline Letters
(Epistles)
Fourteen letters by Saint Paul or his disciples written to provide teaching and to correct abuses in the early churches
Acts
This books tells about the early Christian community
Non-Pauline Letters
Seven letters written by Christ’s Apostles or their disciples to provide teaching and to correct abuses in the early churches
Revelation
A book written as apocalyptic
literature, during a time when
Christians were being persecuted

7. What kinds of books Poetry & Songs – Psalms
Historical Narrative – Acts of the apostles
Law - Leviticus
Wisdom sayings – Ecclesiastes
Prophecy - Isaiah
Letters – St. Paul to Corinthians

8. TESTAMENT Old Testament Old and New Testaments New Testament
God’s relationship with the Hebrews/Israelites
Synonym for
TESTAMENT
is solemn vow
Old and New Testaments
Our covenant relationship to God
This slide is a simple mind map exploring the meaning of the word Testament. Each click reveals another balloon whose words expand the meaning of Testament until you have a basic explanation of the Old and New Testaments. You may wish to begin by having the students create their own mind map before you present.
New Testament
The original covenant is fulfilled

9. THE BIBLE 73 books 40 different writers Almost 1500 Years
Over 10,000 events
One Story
Unity of Theme
No contradictions
40 writers, 15 centuries, yet claims ONE AUTHOR
“Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Spirit of God” (2 Peter 1:21)

10. The Forty Writers of the Bible
What kind of people
Shepherds
Kings
Fishermen
Peasants
Doctors
Tax-collectors
Where were they from
Rome
Jerusalem
Babylon (Iraq)
Persia (Iran)
Greece
Turkey

11. God is the Author
CCC 105 God is the author of Sacred Scripture. “The divinely revealed realities, which are contained and presented in the text of Sacred Scripture, have been written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit”

12. Reading the Bible
Be especially attentive “to the content and unity of the whole Scripture” ccc 112
Read the Scripture within “the living tradition of the whole Church” ccc 113
Be attentive to the analogy of faith ccc 114
Don’t pick one were and make it universal.
People have been reading it for thousands of years don’t ignore them
This is about Jesus and our relationship to him.

13. Senses of Scripture Literal sense Spiritual senses Allegorical Moral
Anagogical

14. Literal sense
What did the human author was trying to say, the way in which he was trying to say it, and what is incidental to the assertion.
We have translations and idioms from a different culture which are not always obvious.

15. Translations and idioms
It’s raining “cats and dogs”
How do you translate this into another language or culture?
está chovendo gatos e cachorros
é uma chuva torrencial

16. Where is Jerusalem? Which way do you go? Jerusalem is always “up”
Does it matter where you are?
North, South, East, or West?
Jerusalem is always “up”
Matthew 20:17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem
Luke 18:31 Look, we are going up to Jerusalem

17. Spiritual Senses CCC 117 Allegorical
 We can acquire a more profound understanding of events by recognizing their significance in Christ; thus the crossing of the Red Sea is a sign or type of Christ's victory and also of Christian Baptism.

18. Spiritual Senses CCC 117 Moral sense Anagogical sense
The events reported in Scripture ought to lead us to act justly. As St. Paul says, they were written "for our instruction".
Anagogical sense
We can view realities and events in terms of their eternal significance, leading us toward our true homeland: thus the Church on earth is a sign of the heavenly Jerusalem

19. Old Testament was written before the birth of Jesus
Moses
1400 B.C..
30 A.D.
2011 A.D.
Old Testament was written before the birth of Jesus

20. New Testament was written soon after the death of Jesus
Moses
1400 B.C..
80 B.C..
30 A.D.
2018 A.D.
New Testament was written soon after the death of Jesus

21. Moses is attributed with writing the first five books of the Bible
1400 B.C..
30 A.D.
2011 A.D.
Moses is attributed with writing the first five books of the Bible
GENESIS EXODUS LEVITICUS NUMBERS DEUTERONOMY

22. They are sometimes called the
Moses
2011 A.D.
1400 B.C..
30 A.D.
They are sometimes called the
Pentateuch Torah

23. Moses
1400 B.C..
30 A.D.
2011 A.D.
Beginning.
THE FIRST FIVE BOOKS -- LOOK BACK FROM THE DEATH OF MOSES -- ALL THE WAY TO THE BEGINNING OF TIME
Oral story until much later – BC

24. Division of humankind into nations and languages
Moses
Creation of world
2500 B.C.
1400 B.C..
30 A.D.
2011 A.D.
The First Book
GENESIS – Chapters 1-11
Creation of the world
First human family
Spread of evil
World wide flood
Division of humankind into nations and languages

25. Truth of Creation and early man Not scientific explanations
Moses
Creation of world
2500 B.C.
1400 B.C..
30 A.D.
2011 A.D.
The First Book
GENESIS – Chapters 1-11
Truth of Creation and early man
Not scientific explanations
Figurative language
God created the universe and Man from nothing
Water above – sky
Water below - water

26. God chooses the FATHERS of the future nation of Israel
Moses
Creation of world
2500 B.C.
1400 B.C..
30 A.D.
2000 A.D.
The First Book
GENESIS – chapters 12-50
God chooses the FATHERS of the future nation of Israel
Four Generations – grow from 1 couple to 70 people

27. EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, DEUTERONOMY
Moses
Creation of world
2500 B.C.
1400 B.C..
30 A.D.
2000 A.D.
Books 2-5 (Moses)
EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, DEUTERONOMY
Tells about the beginning of the nation
And how God gave them His Laws

28. ARE BOOKS OF HISTORY WRITTEN BY VARIOUS AUTHORS
Moses
Creation of world
2500 B.C.
1400 B.C..
80 B.C..
30 A.D.
2011 A.D.
Historical books
ARE BOOKS OF HISTORY WRITTEN BY VARIOUS AUTHORS
1400 – 80 B.C.
Possession of their land, the establishment of the kingdom, the captivity and return to their land

29. ARE BOOKS OF POETRY AND WISDOM
Moses
Creation of world
2500 B.C.
1400 B.C..
80 B.C..
30 A.D.
2011 A.D.
Wisdom literature
ARE BOOKS OF POETRY AND WISDOM
Job is about man’s question about suffering
Psalms is a collection of poems put to music
Proverbs is a collection of short wise sayings

30. ARE BOOKS OF POETRY AND WISDOM
Moses
Creation of world
2500 B.C.
1400 B.C..
80 B.C..
30 A.D.
2011 A.D.
Wisdom literature
ARE BOOKS OF POETRY AND WISDOM
Ecclesiastes tells how to live life in a world where all is vanity
Song of Solomon is a poem about true romantic love

31. Preparing God’s people for the oming of Jesus
Moses
Creation of world
2500 B.C.
1400 B.C..
80 B.C..
30 A.D.
2011 A.D.
Historical books
Tells the story of God calling his people and their response to His call
Preparing God’s people for the oming of Jesus
Fall away and repent.

32. Moses
Creation of world
2500 B.C.
1400 B.C..
400 B.C..
30 A.D.
2011 A.D.
Even the Fathers of the nation of Israel were told by God that one of their descendants would one day be born and bless the entire world

33. THE STORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
was
Someone is coming
God is preparing his people

34. THE MESSAGE OF THE PROPHETS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT WAS
The CHRIST is coming
2011 A.D.
1400 B.C..
Moses
Creation of world
2500 B.C.
80 B.C..

35. Jesus the Messiah has come
New Testament
Jesus the Messiah has come

36. Deuterocanonical books
Tobit BC
Judith BC
Wisdom of Solomon - 30 BC
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)- 132 BC
Baruch 
1 Maccabees BC
2 Maccabees BC
Parts of Daniel & Ester
Protestants removed these books at the time of the reformation.
At the time there we no original Hebrew copies only Greek copies.
Septuagint - Greek translation of the Old Testament

37. Points to Remember The Bible is a library of seventy-three books.
The Bible has two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Testament is another word for covenant. A covenant is a sacred vow.
The Old Testament covenants are between God and his Chosen People, who are called Hebrews, Israelites, or Jews.
Click to add notes

38. In the Bible God reveals his plan for our salvation.
Points to Remember (cont.)
Saint Augustine once observed that the “New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New.”
In the Bible God reveals his plan for our salvation.
Click to add notes

39. Questions?