The Bible is the Christian Church’s sacred book. It is a collection of texts, scriptures, letters, and research. Christians believe that God inspired these works, although they’re not the word of God. Many authors contributed to the Bible over the centuries. Writers compiled the first section, the Old Testament, between 1000 B.C. and 100 B.C. The New Testament was developed between 50 A.D. and 120 A.D., and it was formally accepted as an authoritative work in 397 A.D. These two testaments form the basis of today’s Christian Bible, even if there are slight differences between the Protestant and Catholic Bible. For more discussion of the Christian Bible, see the SuperSummary Study Guides <a href="https://www.supersummary.com/bible-old-testament/summary/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible: Old Testament: English Standard Version</a> and <a href="https://www.supersummary.com/bible-new-testament/background/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bible: New Testament: English Standard Version</a>. There are 39 smaller books contained within the Old Testament. In the New Testament, there are 27 smaller books. The 39 books of the Old Testament can be placed into five categories: the laws of Moses, historical writings, poetry and wisdom, writings from major prophets, and the writings of minor prophets. Old Testament writings predate Jesus Christ, and they focus on God and God’s chosen people. The 27 books of the New Testament can also be grouped into five categories: gospels, the single book of Acts, Paul’s letters to churches, Paul’s letters to church leaders, and miscellaneous letters. The New Testament writings reflect on Jesus Christ, his relationship to God, and what it means to follow Jesus. More people are familiar with the Old Testament than the New Testament. Beginning with the Old Testament, the most important category is the so-called “law of Moses.” This category includes “Genesis,” “Exodus,” “Leviticus,” “Numbers,” and “Deuteronomy.” Moses wrote these books after God visited him and granted him prophetic visions. Moses explains how to obey God, why we must follow God, and how His chosen people will inherit the Earth. The Bible’s best-known stories, including the stories of Adam and Eve, and Cain and Abel, are in the book of Genesis. The second Old Testament category is historical writings. These writings tell the story of Israel, and how God always looks after His faithful people. He smites heretics and nonbelievers, and He takes their kingdom away. Only the faithful and true believers will ever inherit the kingdom of God. If we believe in God, then God believes in us. Wisdom and poetry writings in the Old Testament include the book of “Job,” the “Psalms,” the “Song of Solomon,” “Proverbs,” and “Ecclesiastes.” These works encourage us to fear God and His wrath, but also to enjoy life and the gifts God gives us. The songs and verses celebrate everything from sex to wisdom. Essentially, God rewards the people who act justly, wisely, and righteously. The major prophets in the Bible are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and Ezekiel. These prophets talk about what will happen to Israel and the Promised Land. One day, God will prevail over every world government. Some poetry is also included in this category. Although some prophets are “minor,” their prophecies are very significant. Their books are simply shorter than the major prophet books. The minor prophets are Amos, Joel, Hosea, Malachi, Amos, Jonah, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Haggai, Zephaniah, Zechariah, and Habakkuk. Moving on to the New Testament, the first category is the gospels. The four gospels bring great news and tidings to the world. The four gospels are the books of “Matthew,” “Mark,” “Luke,” and “John,” and they describe Jesus’s life. They explain that Jesus will one day rule the world and spread peace and joy everywhere. The sequel to Luke’s work is known as the book of “Acts.” It explains how Jesus gained such an impressive following. In the book of “Acts,” Peter and Paul are the primary characters. Paul writes letters to churches across the Roman empire, praising Jesus and explaining how churches should operate. Paul kept a very close eye on how churches developed and what they said about God. He sent the letters to churches across several prominent cities, and the letters are known as the: “Romans,” “Corinthians,” “Galatians,” “Ephesians,” “Philippians,” “Colossians,” and “Thessalonians.” Paul also wrote letters to specific church leaders. He targeted leaders who wielded influence over local churches and church groups. The letters, named after the recipients, are titled: “Timothy (1 &amp; 2),” “Titus,” and “Philemon.” Although the last letter appeals to Philemon directly, it’s also an open letter to his church, and so some groups categorize it as a church letter. The final category in the New Testament is the general letters sent to large groups. Sent during 1 A.D., and spread throughout the Roman empire, the letters cover various topics and matters of faith. The letters are named: “Hebrews,” “James,” “Peter,” “John,” “Jude,” and “Revelation.” Some writers, such as John, wrote more than one letter. Christians of old interpreted the Bible literally. Although modern Christians try to understand the Bible in its original context, it’s preferable now to apply Christian teachings to the modern world. This keeps the religion relevant, and it’s easier for followers to understand and apply the teachings to their daily lives.

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