1. The Books and Language of the Story
WHO? (Who Wrote The Bible?)
Many different people or God?
Cf. 2 Peter 1:20 – 21
“God-breathed”: the inspiration of the HS?
Dropped from a ladder? Dictation? NO!
God chose the authors, God spoke through them
Still, different human personalities, circumstances, writing styles & tastes affect or influence exactly how things are written.

2. The Books and Language of the Story
WHY? (Why Was The Bible Written?)
“teaching,”
“rebuking,”
“correcting”
(what’s the difference from rebuking?)
“training”
= “equipped for every good work”
Any other reasons you can think of…?

3. The Books and Language of the Story
HOW?
(How Was The Bible Written & Organized?)
God’s story—66 books
Written over a 1,600 year period.
Authors include leaders, kings, prophets, shepherds and fishermen.
Written on parchment or papyrus –not paper!
Written in Hebrew and Greek with some Aramaic.

4. The Books and Language of the Story
HEBREW
(GGNL WRBH HT)
Most of the Old Testament was written in this language.
Hebrew = 22 consonants but NO written vowels!
Vowel sounds = 14, based on markings
Read right to left

5. The Books and Language of the Story

6. The Books and Language of the Story
GREEK
All of the NT was written in this language.
International language of Jesus’ day was Koine Greek.
Greek = 24 letters—including vowels.
No spacing around words.

7. The Books and Language of the Story

8. The Books and Language of the Story
ARAMAIC
Aramaic = the language of most Jews in Jesus’ day.
Jesus spoke in this language.
So rarely is Jesus quoted in his native tongue.
TRANSLATING AND TRANSLATIONS
How to translate from ancient Hebrew and Greek into modern day English…
Types of translations of the Bible:
WORD 4 WORD =
THOUGHT 4 THOUGHT =
PARAPHRASE =

9. The Books and Language of the Story
THE OLD TESTAMENT
32 Books, Written approx – 400 BC
BOOKS OF THE LAW (GENESIS – DEUTERONOMY)
“PENTATEUCH,” “TORAH”
HISTORICAL BOOKS (JOSHUA – ESTHER)
BOOKS OF WISDOM AND POETRY
(JOB – SONG OF SOLOMON)
MAJOR PROPHETS (ISAIAH – DANIEL)
MINOR PROPHETS (HOSEA – MALACHI)

10. The Books and Language of the Story
THE NEW TESTAMENT
27 Books, Written approx. 45 – 100 AD
GOSPELS (MARK – JOHN)
HISTORICAL BOOK (ACTS)
PAULINE EPISTLES (ROMANS – PHILEMON)
What the heck is an “epistle?”
GENERAL EPISTLES (HEBREWS TO JUDE)
APOCALYPTIC BOOK (REVELATION)
Not “REVELATIONS”---why?