Bible Lectures
Introduction to the Bible
by Timothy Kenney, PhD
We begin our journey of biblical discovery by asking, "What is the Christian Bible?" The Christian Bible comprises the Hebrew scriptures and early writings of the Christian Church. Correspondingly, the Hebrew writings are referred to as the Old Testament and the early Christian writings are collectively called the New Testament. Together, both sets of writings are believed to be the divinely-inspired written Word of God, thus being called Holy Scripture.
The first division of Holy Scripture is called the Old Testament. Old Testament writings are organized into four categories: the Pentateuch, the Historical Books, the Books of Wisdom, and the Prophets. The Orthodox Church also numbers among the divinely-inspired books of the Old Testament the deuterocanonical writings.
Our next biblical article will provide a brief narrative outline to the first five books of the Old Testament, the Pentateuch.
Bibliography
- The New American Bible. Wichita, KS: Devore and Sons, Inc., 1987.
OrthodoxWiki.
http://OrthodoxWiki.org/Old-Testament