The Bible

• The Bible


  • Greek "ta biblia" means "the books" – refers to the whole sacred volume
  • Latin "biblia" means "The Book" – designates the eminence of the Bible
• The Bible


  • Sacred literature / Word of God
  • Unique revelation of God inspired by the Holy Spirit
  • It center entirely on Jesus Christ, God incarnate and the Savior of the world
  • Inspired words of God
• Canon


  Greek "Kanon" means measuring rod, rule, norm
• St. Jerome: 'The Bible is God's love letter to us. "Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ."'
• St. Francis of Assisi: 'To read the Scripture means to turn to Christ for Advice'
• The Old Testament


  • Old covenant between God and His chosen people
  • Covenant between God and Israem mediated by Moses
  • Mankind's preparation for the coming of the Messiah
  • Central Event: The Exodus
  • Language: Hebrew
• The New Testament


  • New covenant made by God with the entire human race, through life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
  • Covenant between God and Humanity mediated by Jesus
  • Central Event: The Resurrection
  • Language: Greek
• Author of the Bible

  God is the author of the Bible
• Inspiration


  The special influence of the Holy Spirit on the human authors, such that they were able to write down what God wanted them to write
• The Bible is not dictation or possession
• What Christian and Jews agree inspiration means


  • The impulse to write what came from God
  • The Bible contains things God wills for man to know about him
  • God guided his people in their choice of what writing was to be included in the final version of the Bible
  • The mind and the will of the human authors were somehow influenced by God to write what was written in the Bible without taking away their own will, ability to write or the power to express things on their own way for the people whom they were writing
• Deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament

  • Baruch
  • Sirach
  • 1 Maccabees
  • 2 Maccabees
  • Wisdom
  • Judith
  • Tobit
• Divisions of the Old Testament

  • Pentateuch
  • Historical Books
  • The Didactic Books
  • Prophetic Books
• The Pentateuch


  • Genesis
  • Exodus
  • Numbers
  • Leviticus
  • Deuteronomy
• Historical Books of the Old Testament

  • Joshua
  • Judges
  • Ruth
  • 1 and 2 Samuel
  • 1 and 2 Kings
  • 1 and 2 Chronicles
  • Ezra
  • Nehemiah
  • 1 and 2 Maccabees
  • Tobit
  • Judith
  • Esther
• Wisdom Books


  • Job
  • Psalms
  • Proverbs
  • Ecclesiastes
  • Song of Songs
  • Wisdom
  • Sirach
• Major Prophets


  • Isaiah
  • Jeremiah
  • Lamentations
  • Baruch
  • Ezekiel
  • Daniel
• Minor Prophets


  • Hosea
  • Joel
  • Amos
  • Obadiah
  • Jonah
  • Micah
  • Nahum
  • Habakkuk
  • Zephaniah
  • Haggai
  • Zechriah
  • Malachi
• The Prophets foretold the future coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God
• Books of the New Testament

  • The Gospels of Matthew
  • Mark
  • Luke
  • John
  • The Acts of the Apostles
  • Romans
  • 1 and 2 Corinthians
  • Galatians
  • Ephesians
  • Colossians
  • Philippians
  • 1 and 2 Thessalonians
  • 1 and 2 Timothy
  • Titus
  • Philemon
  • Revelation
• New Testament


  • Was written in Greek
  • Also called Christian Scriptures
  • Collection of writings in the early church which reflect the church belief in Jesus
• Gospel


  The good news of salvation proclaimed by Jesus Christ
• Synoptic Gospels


  The first 3 gospels
• Gospel of John


  • The last written by the apostle John in the year 90 A.D.
  • The most theological of all the gospels
  • The Gospel of Love
• Acts of the Apostles


  Describes how the early church was formed and spread throughout the world, through the power of the holy spirit
• The 7 Catholic Letters

  • James
  • 1 and 2 Peter
  • 1, 2 and 3 John
  • Jude
• Revelation


  • Considered the most mysterious book in the Bible
  • Known as prophetic book
• The book of Revelation encourages Christians to stand firm in their faith and avoid compromising with the non-believers
• Tools of Interpretation


  • Literary Analysis or criticism
  • Historical Analysis
  • Redaction Analysis
  • Study of Biblical Languages
• Ways of Interpreting the Bible

  • Fundamentalist
  • Most Christians and Most Jews as well
  • Catholic Church
• Parts of the Celebration of the Mass which include selection from the Bible


  • An Old Testament passage
  • A Psalm
  • An epistle from the New Testament
  • A passage from one of the Gospels
• Developing a Life of Prayer with the Scriptures


  • Plan your readings ahead of time
  • Find a quiet place where you know you will be free of distractions for a while
  • Relax. Try to slow yourself down
  • Read the passage you have chosen
  • Ask yourself the following questions: What is this passage trying to say to me? How does it apply to my life now?
  • Finish with a closing prayer
  • Don't always expect to feel inspired
  • Don't give up