The Divisions of the Old Testament are Law, (5)  History (12), Poetry (5), Prophecy (17, 5 major and 12 minor).

The Divisions of the New Testament are Gospel, (4) History, (1), Prophecy (1), Epistles (21, Pauline 14 and General 7).

The Old Testament begins with God; Genisis 1:1. The New Testament begins with Christ; Matthew 1:1. Adam to Abraham is the history of the human race. Abraham to Christ is the history of the chosen race. From Christ on we have the history of the House of God, commonly but mistakenly called “The Church.”

The New Testament was written to show us the character and teachings of Christ, the Mediator of the New Covenant. The New Testament was written by at least 8 men. Four of them (Matthew, John, Peter and Paul) were apostles. Two, (Mark and Luke) were companions of apostles. Two (James and Jude) were brothers of Jesus.  The New Testament was written at various times inthe second half of the first century.

Old Testament Versus the New Testament

The old commences what the New completes. The Old gathers around Sinai, the New around calvary. The Old is associated with Moses, the New with Christ. (John 1:17)

Bible Authors

The authors of the Bible were kings and princes, poets and philosophers, prophets and statesmen. Some were learned in the arts of the times, while others were unschooled fishermen. Other books are soon out of date. But this book, the Bible, spans the centuries. Most books must be adapted to age, but old and young alike love the Bible. Most books are provincial and interest only those in whose language they were written. But not the Bible. It was written in what are now called “dead languages.”

This post is the beginning of a series from one of Grandaddy Godsoe’s Sunday School lessons.

The Bible Shows Us Jesus Christ, the World’s Savior

Behind and beneath the Bible,  above and beyond the Bible, is the God of the Bible. The Bible is God’s written revelation of His will to men. Its central theme is salvation through Christ. 66 books, 40 authors, over about 1600 years.

The Old Testament was written mostly in Hebrew, with a few short passages in Aramaic. Some 100 years before Christ all of the Old Testament was translated into Greek. The New Testament was written entirely in Greek. Our Bible is a translation from these original languages. The word “Bible” is from the Greek “Biblios.” “Testament” means “covenant” or “agreement.”

The Covenants of Law and Grace

The Old Testament is the covenant God made with man about his salvation before Christ came. The New Testament is the agreement God made with man about his salvation after Christ came. The Old Testament is the covenant of law. The New Testament is the Covenant of grace which came through Jesus Christ. One led into the other.

17And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

20Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.