OLD & NEW TESTAMENTS
UNDERSTANDING HOW TO FIND BIBLE PASSAGES
When I first opened a big thick study Bible someone had purchased for me as a gift in the
Fall of 1995, I had no idea whatsoever how to read—let alone study—what looked to me like a
confusing Encyclopedia with numbers interspersed with the words on the pages. Because I
knew no different, I started at the very beginning… after all, isn’t that how you read a book? I
poured my hours into learning the history of Jesus Christ before I ever met Him in the four
Gospels of the New Testament. I wouldn’t recommend that to most people… but it was perfect
for me. I am a ‘show me’ kind of person. I am also an avid learner and for some crazy reason like
to study.
In this first session of BIBLE STUDY BASICS I want to give you an overview of how the
Bible you are preparing to study is set up. You will need your Bible on hand as I go through
these examples. Over the next lessons, I will address other features unique to the amazing
volume you hold in your hand. This book, written by dozens of different authors over thousands
of years, is the work of God through those He chose to preserve His Words for the generations
of believers to come.
You will get out of Bible Study what you are willing to invest in it. Here are a few
promises from the Father to those who are willing to glean from its pages.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not
need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
(2 Timothy 2:15)
Your word is a lamp to my feet,
and a light to my path.
(Psalm 119:105)
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
(Psalm 119:11)
These promises—no shame in studying Scripture, Scripture as a lamp or light for us to
be guided by, and Scripture keeping us from sinning against the Lord—are just a few of the
blessings of Bible study.
Let’s look first at how the Bible is organized. When the transcripts were originally
written in Hebrew or Greek, they were long documents without punctuation and any sort of
reference in place to find specific passages. The Bible is divided into two major sections: the Old
Testament (events, history, songs, wise sayings and prophetic words written before the birth of
Christ); and New Testament (four different accounts of Jesus’ life, history of the early Christian
Church and letters written to teach believers how to conduct their lives in faith.)
OLD TESTAMENT
The Old Testament contains 39 books, which are not necessarily in chronological order.
Here is a listing of the books in this portion of your Bible. Look at the beginning pages of your
own version and you will likely find this same chart. If not, print this one off for future
reference. *Note: Where the designation is Minor Prophet, it doesn’t mean their message was
less significant than the Major Prophets but that their volume of writing was less. **Note:
During the reign of the Kings of Israel, the nation divided in half (North and South) thus the
prophets I designated to the different kingdoms.
GENESIS: The book of Beginnings. Account of Early History of God’s Chosen People
EXODUS: God’s Deliverance of His People from Egyptian Bondage
LEVITICUS: Directions for how Levites will Serve in God’s House
NUMBERS: Census and Recounting of the Twelve Tribes of Israel
DEUTERONOMY: Restating of the Law Given in Exodus
JOSHUA: Story of Israel Entering the Land God Promised Them
JUDGES: Leaders Over a Disobedient Nation
RUTH: Story of a Faithful, Selfless Servant of God
1 SAMUEL: Story of Samuel the Prophet and Saul, King of Israel
2 SAMUEL: Story of King David of Israel
1 KINGS: Story of Solomon, Son of David and Other Kings
2 KINGS: Stories of Elijah and Elisha (Prophets) and Subsequent Kings
1 CHRONICLES: Retelling of Kings in Divided Kingdom of Israel
2 CHRONICLES: Completion of the List of Kings
EZRA: First Attempt for Exiled Israel to Attempt to Rebuild the Land
NEHEMIAH: Rebuilding Jerusalem’s Protective Walls
ESTHER: Jewish Woman who Keeps Israel from Annihilation
JOB: Faith Through Great Testing—and Accusation of Friends
PSALMS: Songs, Poetry Written by David and Others, Book of Encouragement
PROVERBS: Book of Wisdom, Warnings and Sage Advice, Mostly by Solomon
ECCLESIASTES: The Cry of a Man who Forsook God for Idols and the Flesh
SONG OF SOLOMON: Love Story of Solomon and His Love
ISAIAH: Major Prophet to Southern Kingdom
JEREMIAH: Major Prophet to Southern Kingdom
LAMENTATIONS: Jeremiah Mourns for Israel’s Coming Destruction
EZEKIEL: Major Prophet to Southern Kingdom
DANIEL: Major Prophet to Southern Kingdom
HOSEA: Minor Prophet to Southern Kingdom
JOEL: Minor Prophet to Southern Kingdom
AMOS: Minor Prophet to Northern Kingdom
OBADIAH: Minor Prophet to Southern Kingdom
JONAH: Minor Prophet to Northern Kingdom
MICAH: Minor Prophet to Southern Kingdom
NAHUM: Minor Prophet to Southern Kingdom
HABAKKUK: Minor Prophet to Southern Kingdom
ZEPHANIAH: Minor Prophet to Southern Kingdom
HAGGAI: Minor Prophet from the Captivity
ZECHARIAH: Minor Prophet from the Captivity
MALACHI: Minor Prophet from the Captivity
Each book of the Bible is divided into chapters, which have numbered verses. Thus:
Psalm 119:11 is the ‘address’ for the verse I listed in blessings for study portion above. You
would find the Book of Psalms, Find the Psalm numbered 119 and then scroll down to the verse
with #11 beside it. Knowing this process will enable you to find any verse in the Bible. Use
these verses as Practice: Genesis 6:10, Isaiah 40:4 and Jonah 1:3. Use the chart of Bible
Books to find where your verses are taken from. Find the Chapter and the Verse.
Not every Bible is the same as far as the wording within its pages. Few of us would be
able to read the Bible as it was written in Hebrew or Greek. This wonderful book has been
translated from its original language to the English you read today. In addition to that, it has
also been translated from its original English version of King James to more contemporary
versions with modern language used. Wherever I use Scripture in these lessons, I will be using
the New American Standard Bible (NASB).
NEW TESTAMENT
The first four books of the New Testament are referred to as the Gospel accounts. Gospel
means ‘good news’ and they are the good news of Jesus, who was spoken of often in the Old
Testament, but came to earth to dwell among His people in those accounts. Matthew, Mark,
Luke and John each wrote an account of Jesus’ birth, ministry, teaching, miracles, trial, death
and resurrection—and each one has minor differences depending upon the audience they were
targeting. Matthew and John were two of Jesus’ apostles and write from first-hand experience
walking with Him. Mark and Luke were gathering first-hand accounts from eye-witnesses to
Jesus’ life and compiling them years after His resurrection.
Here is a listing of the New Testament Books:
MATTHEW: Gospel account written by Matthew, the tax collector, apostle of Jesus.
MARK: Gospel account written by an early leader in the Christian church.
LUKE: Gospel account written by a learned physician, part of the early church.
JOHN: Gospel account written by Jesus’ closest earthly friend. Focus on His Divinity.
ACTS: History of how the church grew after Jesus’ death; and the call of Paul, the Apostle.
ROMANS: Paul’s letter to Christians in Rome. Clear explanation of Salvation & Doctrine.
1 & 2 CORINTHIANS: Paul’s letters to Christians in Corinth. Addresses church problems.
GALATIANS: Paul’s letter to church at Galatia. Warnings about adding to the Gospel.
EPHESIANS: Paul’s letter to church at Ephesus. Salvation is by Faith, not our works.
PHILIPPIANS: Paul’s letter to church at Philippi. Keep the church unified.
COLOSSIANS: Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae. Christ is Head, we are His body.
1 & 2 THESSALONIANS: Paul’s letters to the church at Thessalonica. Call to Purity.
1 & 2 TIMOTHY: Paul’s letters to his protégé Timothy, a young leader at Ephesus.
TITUS: Paul’s letter to another protégé, Titus, on Keeping himself Undefiled.
PHILEMON: Paul’s letter for a slave owner to forgive his runaway slave.
HEBREWS: Author unknown. Assurance of our faith through revisiting of church history.
JAMES: Brother of Jesus, leader in early church. Emphasis on Action not just Hearing.
1 & 2 PETER: Letters by Apostle Peter, not always perfect in his faith by used powerfully.
1, 2 & 3 JOHN: Shorter letters by John, Gospel writer and Revelation writer.
JUDE: Brother of Jesus, on Contending for the Faith in all circumstances.
REVELATION: Vision given to John, only apostle not martyred for the faith, of events of
end of days.
Use your same practice of looking up Scripture to find these verses: John 12:44-46;
Roman 8:28; and Revelation 3:15-16. Hopefully you are more familiar with the set-up of the
Bible and with how to search the text in order to find specific verses. This ‘address’ system has
opened a whole world for us to find and study specific areas of Scripture. How blessed we are to
have the Bible, to hold it in our hands, to open it and allow God to speak to our spirit from the
Words He preserved for our eyes at this time!