Lost in Translation? Hold The Toilet Paper Papyrus! A Guide to Navigating the Bible
Have you ever wanted to study the Bible but have felt at a loss on where to start or you start to feel overwhelmed once you start reading? You are not alone!
The Bible is an epic book! – sixty-six books, forty authors, spanning thousands of years. Navigating this vastness can feel like wandering into a futuristic library where the books are written by different groups of aliens in their own native language. The volumes brim with cultural references and customs that seem worlds away from ours. No wonder reading the Bible can feel overwhelming at times!
But fear not, my friend! Something that transformed my Bible-reading experience was seeing how the Bible's structure fits together. It’s like having a roadmap through this cosmic library, with shining stars illuminating the core themes and purpose of each section.
The Old Testament (broken into four categories) introduces God’s relationship with humanity and sets the stage for Jesus’ grand entrance. It’s a rollercoaster of promises, human shortcomings, and the continuous quest to keep God’s covenants. Here's the breakdown:
Law: Covers creation and guidance from the Lord. These books lay out the do’s and don’ts for living a Godly life – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
History: Chronicles the Hebrews’ journey and major empires of the time – Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.
Poetry: Expressions of praise, sorrow, and wisdom – Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Songs of Solomon.
Prophecy: Focuses on the prophets of ancient Israel who shared warnings, encouragement, and predictions of the future – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
Now, onto the New Testament (also divided into four categories):
The Gospels: Eyewitness accounts emphasizing Jesus’ divine nature, teachings, death, and resurrection – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
History: Describes the beginnings of the early church and the spread of Christ’s good news – The Book of Acts.
Letters (Epistles): Insights, encouragement, and guidance written by early church leaders – Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, 1 John, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude.
Prophecy: Contains symbolic (often wild!) visions of the future and Jesus’ second coming – The Book of Revelation.
Even with an overview of the Bible, the details can still feel puzzling but hopefully, by keeping the structure in mind, you will see connections, foreshadowing, and fulfillment of prophecy.
If you're looking for a way to change your life, look no further than the Gospels. Reading about Jesus' teachings and life can inspire you to make real, positive changes.
To help you on your journey, I'd like to offer you a free printable Bible tracker. With this tool, you can keep track of your progress and stay motivated. Don't wait - start your journey today!
