Christianity
for Beginners
The Bible
Mike Mazzalongo
Origin of Bible
• Bible = “Biblia” = Books
Origin of Bible
• Bible = “Biblia” = Books
• 39 + 27 = 66
Origin of Bible
• Moses – 1500 BC
Origin of Bible
• Moses – 1500 BC
• Pentateuch – first 5 books
Origin of Bible
• Moses – 1500 BC
• Pentateuch – first 5 books
• 1500 years
Origin of Bible
• Moses – 1500 BC
• Pentateuch – first 5 books
• 1500 years
• 28 writers
Origin of Bible
• Moses – 1500 BC
• Pentateuch – first 5 books
• 1500 years
• 28 writers
• 39 books
Old Testament Organization
Jewish Division - 24 Books
1. Law (Genesis to Deuteronomy)
2. Prophets (Former & Latter)
3. The Writing (Poetry, History)
= 5 books
= 8 books
= 11 books
Old Testament Organization
Modern Division - 39 Books
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Pentateuch (Genesis to Deuteronomy)
History (Joshua to Esther)
Poetry (Job to Song of Solomon)
Major (Isaiah to Daniel)
Minor (Hosea to Malachi)
= 5 books
= 12 books
= 5 books
= 5 books
= 12 books
Old Testament Story
…only one story
• Beginning of the world.
Old Testament Story
…only one story
• Beginning of the world.
• Condition of mankind.
Old Testament Story
…only one story
• Beginning of the world.
• Condition of mankind.
• Formation of Jewish nation.
Old Testament Story
…only one story
•
•
•
•
Beginning of the world.
Condition of mankind.
Formation of Jewish nation.
Promise of a savior.
New Testament Origin
…only one story
• Life of Jesus.
New Testament Origin
…only one story
• Life of Jesus.
• His death, burial & resurrection.
New Testament Origin
…only one story
• Life of Jesus.
• His death, burial & resurrection.
• Establishment of Christianity.
New Testament Division
1. The Gospels
(Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
2. History (Acts)
3. Pauline Epistles (Rom., 1-2 Cor., Gal., Eph.,
Phil., Col. 1-2 Thess., 1-2 Tim., Titus, Philemon)
= 4 books
= 1 books
= 13 books
4. General Epistles (Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter
1-3 John, Jude)
5. Prophecy (Revelation)
= 8 books
= 1 book
27 books
New Testament Canon
“Measuring Rod”
• Apostles were alive.
New Testament Canon
“Measuring Rod”
• Apostles were alive.
• Abundance of material.
New Testament Canon
“Measuring Rod”
• Apostles were alive.
• Abundance of material.
• Jesus’ second coming imminent.
New Testament Canon
Events that Produced Canon
• Canon of Marcion – AD 140
New Testament Canon
Events that Produced Canon
• Canon of Marcion – AD 140
• Persecution
New Testament Canon
Events that Produced Canon
• Canon of Marcion – AD 140
• Persecution
• CODEX Form
New Testament Canon
Principles for Selection of Canon
• Authorship
New Testament Canon
Principles for Selection of Canon
• Authorship
• Value of Book
New Testament Canon
Principles for Selection of Canon
• Authorship
• Value of Book
• Circulation
New Testament Translations
• Old Testament – Hebrew
New Testament Translations
• Old Testament – Hebrew
• Greek translation of Hebrew O.T.
called Septuagint
New Testament Translations
• Old Testament – Hebrew
• Greek translation of Hebrew O.T.
called Septuagint
• Koine (common Greek)
New Testament Translations
• Old Testament – Hebrew.
• Greek translation of Hebrew O.T.
called Septuagint.
• Koine (common Greek)
• 5,357 Greek manuscripts
New Testament Translations
• Latin Vulgate – 404 AD / Jerome
New Testament Translations
• Latin Vulgate – 404 AD / Jerome
th
• Common languages (5-14 centuries)
New Testament Translations
• Latin Vulgate – 404 AD / Jerome
th
• Common languages (5-14 centuries)
• Renaissance movement (many translations)
New Testament Translations
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•
•
•
Latin Vulgate – 404 AD / Jerome
th
Common languages (5-14 centuries)
Renaissance movement (many translations)
st
Gutenberg – 1 printed Bible in 1452
New Testament Translations
• First known English translation - 700AD
New Testament Translations
• First known English translation - 700AD
• First complete English Bible
John Wycliffe, 1382
New Testament Translations
• First known English translation - 700AD
• First complete English Bible
John Wycliffe, 1382
• First complete English printed Bible
William Tyndale, 1526
New Testament Translations
• First known English translation - 700AD
• First complete English Bible
John Wycliffe, 1382
• First complete English printed Bible
William Tyndale, 1526
• King James English translation - 1611
New Testament Translations
• Revised Standard Version (RSV)
• American Standard Version (ASV)
• New American Standard Version (NASV)
• New International Version (NIV)
• New Living Translation (NLT)
New Testament Translations
English versions are 99.9% accurate.
Bible Claims
Inspiration
“All scripture is inspired by God…”
- II Timothy 3:16a (NLT)
Bible Claims
Inspiration
“..No prophecy in scripture ever came
from the prophet’s own initiative. No,
those prophets were moved by the
Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.”
- II Peter 1:20-21 (NLT)
Why Inspired?
• Ability to survive
Why Inspired?
• Ability to survive
• Uniqueness
Why Inspired?
• Ability to survive
• Uniqueness
• Fulfilled prophecy
• Isaiah 44:28
• Isaiah 700 BC, Cyrus 600 BC
• Mark 10:32-34
Next Lesson
Jesus Christ