Chapter 3 Structure and Contents of the Bible

Divisions and Books of the Old Testament. The Bible is traditionally divided into two main sections: the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) and the New Testament. The Old Testament is further divided into several books that include historical narratives, wisdom literature, prophetic writings, and poetry. It contains foundational texts of Judaism, such as the Torah (first five books), the Psalms, and the books of the prophets. Divisions and Books of the New Testament. The New Testament focuses on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It consists of four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), which narrate the life of Jesus, followed by the Acts of the Apostles, which describes the early Christian community. The New Testament also features epistles (letters) written by various apostles and concludes with the book of Revelation, a vivid apocalyptic text. Apocryphal and Deuterocanonical Books. Apart from the books recognized by Protestant Christianity, the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions include additional texts known as the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical books. These writings, found in certain editions of the Bible, provide insights into the historical and cultural context of the biblical period. In this the next chapter will talk about the themes and messages the Bible gave to the world so as to be fruitful to inherit the kingdom of heaven