Study this one last, as there is lots of overlap with other topics.
What is the Christian Bible? (More detail in other chapters - see religious figures and
sacred texts)
The English word ‘bible’ comes from the Greek words tà biblía meaning ‘the books’.
The Christian Bible is a collection of sacred books bound together in two volumes known as the
Old Testament and the New Testament.
The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew. It is the sacred scripture of the Jewish
religion, as well as Christian.
Protestant: 39 Old Testament books (same as the Hebrew Bible)
Catholic and Orthodox: 46 books
Catholics have more as they include other books known as Apocrypha.
Old Testament was written and edited by many authors over many centuries. From God’s
covenant with Israel to their exile from Babylon.
The New Testament was originally written in Greek. It has 27 books, each focusing on Jesus.
They are:
● Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) which tell of Jesus’ life and ministry
● The Book of Acts, which recalls the founding of the early church
● A collection of 21 Epistles (letters) to various churches, 14 of them written by Paul
● A book of visions, known as the Book of Revelations by an early church leader
Bible can be read in many ways as poetry/law/history but many choose to read it as instruction
for meaning and purpose of life.
The Bible’s teaching on the meaning and purpose of life
The Bible accounts of how God dealt with a variety of different people over a period of
centuries. It tells of God’s plan to save human beings from sin. This story is known as ‘salvation
history’:
● God creates the universe. The purpose was for humans to be the pinnacle of God’s
creation and be the maintainers of order.
● Everything was good until Adam and Eve brought sin and death to the world. Original sin
and the Fall.
● God makes a covenant with Abraham - that he will have countless descendants who will
inherit the promise land. Abraham’s 12 great grandsons become the founding fathers of
What is the Christian Bible? (More detail in other chapters - see religious figures and
sacred texts)
The English word ‘bible’ comes from the Greek words tà biblía meaning ‘the books’.
The Christian Bible is a collection of sacred books bound together in two volumes known as the
Old Testament and the New Testament.
The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew. It is the sacred scripture of the Jewish
religion, as well as Christian.
Protestant: 39 Old Testament books (same as the Hebrew Bible)
Catholic and Orthodox: 46 books
Catholics have more as they include other books known as Apocrypha.
Old Testament was written and edited by many authors over many centuries. From God’s
covenant with Israel to their exile from Babylon.
The New Testament was originally written in Greek. It has 27 books, each focusing on Jesus.
They are:
● Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) which tell of Jesus’ life and ministry
● The Book of Acts, which recalls the founding of the early church
● A collection of 21 Epistles (letters) to various churches, 14 of them written by Paul
● A book of visions, known as the Book of Revelations by an early church leader
Bible can be read in many ways as poetry/law/history but many choose to read it as instruction
for meaning and purpose of life.
The Bible’s teaching on the meaning and purpose of life
The Bible accounts of how God dealt with a variety of different people over a period of
centuries. It tells of God’s plan to save human beings from sin. This story is known as ‘salvation
history’:
● God creates the universe. The purpose was for humans to be the pinnacle of God’s
creation and be the maintainers of order.
● Everything was good until Adam and Eve brought sin and death to the world. Original sin
and the Fall.
● God makes a covenant with Abraham - that he will have countless descendants who will
inherit the promise land. Abraham’s 12 great grandsons become the founding fathers of
