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The Bible is not a single book, but a collection or library of sixty-six books.

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Song of Solomon

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Daniel

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Revelation

The Old Testament includes 39 books, written in Hebrew and Aramaic.

History [Torah, Judges, Kings, Exilic]

Poetry [Philosophy, Songs, General Wisdom, Subversive Wisdom, Romance]

Prophecy [Pre-Exilic, Exilic, Post-Exilic]

The New Testament includes 27 books, written in Greek.

History [Jesus, Church]

Epistles [To Churches, Pastoral, General]

Prophecy [Apocalyptic]

Genres

historical narrative: Genesis, Exodus (first half), Numbers, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Jonah, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts

biography: Ruth, Ezra (partial), Nehemiah (partial), Esther, Jonah, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts (partial)

law: Exodus (second half), Leviticus, Deuteronomy

poetry: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Lamentations

prophecy: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Revelation

wisdom: Job, Psalms (partial), Proverbs, Ecclesiastes

epistles: Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude, Revelation (partial)

apocalyptic: Daniel (partial), Zechariah (partial), Revelation

Subgenres

parables (2 Samuel 12.1-7)

riddles (Judges 14.14)

aphorisms (Proverbs 15.1)

monologues (Job 3.3-26); Matthew 5-7)

dialogues (Genesis 4.9-15)

Additions to the Text

chapters

verses

paragraph headings

book introductions

cross-references

textual notes

translation notes

study notes

italicized words

capitalized words

red words

How References Work

1 Kings 3.4 = First book of Kings, chapter 3, verse 4

separator between chapter and verse can be a colon, a period, or even a superscript font

1 Kings 3.1-4 = verses 1 through 4 of chapter 3 of 1 Kings

1 Kings 3-4 = chapters 3 through 4 of 1 Kings

we use a semicolon to separate between chapters and a comma between verses (1 Kings 3.4, 7, 15; 16.1-20; 18)

we use an “a” or “b” to mark the first half or second half of a verse (1 Kings 3.4b)

we use an “f” to include the verse following the starting verse (1 Kings 3.4f = 1 Kings 3.4-5)

we use an “ff” to include all the verses to the end of the chapter (1 Kings 3.4ff = 1 Kings 3.4-28)

we often abbreviate book names to their first syllable.

Ways to Read the Bible

paper bible: any “standard” version

(NRSV, ESV, NASB, CSB, etc.)

website: biblegateway.com, biblehub.com

app on your phone: YouVersion, Bible.is

app on your computer: Logos, Accordance

Review:

The Bible is not a book, but a library of 66 books.

The Bible breaks into two main divisions: Old Testament (39 books) and New Testament (27 books).

The Bible contains different genres that affect how we read, including historical narrative, biography, law, poetry, prophecy, wisdom, epistles, and apocalyptic.

Even within genres, we can find subgenres like parables, riddles, aphorisms, monologues, and dialogues.

Although God inspired the text of scripture, other additions of publishers are subjective and devoid of divine authority.

Reference styles vary but follow the format of book => chapter => verse.

The Bible is available as a bound book, on websites, on phone apps, and on computer apps.

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