1. Why Is the Bible So Important? Record of people’s experiences with God Influenced so many throughout history Tremendous examples of struggles of life – good & bad Best selling book of all time Great stories and literature

2. The Bible A Collection of documents written over many centuries

3. The Bible - Collection of documents written over many centuries Two parts Old Testament or First Testament New Testament or Second Testament “Testament” = “Covenant” First -Covenant with Israel and her ancestors Second – Covenant with Jesus’ followers

4. Testament “Testament” or “Covenant” refers to the story of how God chose to work through various people in history. Old or First = God working through the descendants of Abraham (The Jewish people)

5. Testament The First/Old Testament was Jesus’ Bible and the Bible of the first Christians The two testaments are complimentary New or Second = God working through Jesus and his followers (Christians)

6. Old Testament 39 different documents (books) Law/ Torah Prophets Writings

7. New Testament 27 different documents (books, letters) Gospels = Life of Jesus Acts = Beginnings of Christianity Letters of apostles to churches & individuals Book of Revelation – written to Christians being persecuted by Roman government

8. Canon Authoritative collection of writings Old Testament accepted by Jews even before Jesus’ time New Testament came together throughout the first century AD

9. Old Testament Canon Some parts initially transmitted orally Preserved and written by Priests, Prophets Spiritual leaders of Israel Accepted by people of Israel as authoritative in religious and moral matters Process over several centuries Completed and agreed on by the time of Jesus

10. Inspiration The idea that God worked with the authors of the Old and New Testaments to provide reliable and useful teachings for helping people: through the struggles of life know the most positive and important values in life find truth in this life know more about God himself

11. Ways People Study the Bible Devotional approach Religious – moral - Spiritual Literary approach Historical approach Political approach

12. Tools for Studying the Bible History Archaeology Sociology Philosophy Literary theory Linguistics Economics Musicology