Facts about Bible II : Old Testament

continued from Facts about Bible

OLD TESTAMENT
The scriptures is divided into two main sections – The Old and New Testaments. The former reveals the covenant between God and one people, i.e. Israel. The latter reveals the covenant between God and the chosen from all peoples, i.e. the Church. In the center is Christ – the most important person in God's redemptive plan. In Him and through Him salvation has been made available to members of every nation, tribe, tongue and in every era.

The books of the Bible can be further categorized by genre. In fact it is by genre that they are arranged the way they are in our bibles, as opposed to chronologically. The first five books, which are also called the Pentateuch, are labeled The Law. It receives this name due to its primary event being the Mosaic covenant and God's law for Israel.

These are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy

The next section, made up of 12 books, is History books. These books give an account of the history of the people of Israel.

These include: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1st and 2nd Samuel, 1st and 2nd Kings, 1st and 2nd Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.

Wisdom books come next. In this section we find wise sayings, songs, poetic and philosophical writings.

There are 5 books classified as wisdom books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Songs of Solomon.

The rest of the Old Testament is made of Prophets' books. There are seventeen in all. The first five are considered major prophets while the remaining twelve are called minor prophets. Prophetic books carry words of exhortation or admonishment towards Israel or other nations during different times in history. In them we find God, through His chosen spokesmen the prophets, warning of imminent judgment for the disobedient or calling for repentance and a return to His covenant. There are also a plethora of what are called, messianic prophecies, foretelling Christ's coming.

The prophets' books are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah and Malachi.

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