Understanding How To Read/Study The Bible

There are four gospels; the first four books of the New Testament. They are called by the names of their authors - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Each gives an account of the life of Jesus as they or others witnessed it. So the accounts are not identical: The shortest of the gospels is Mark, so this is a good place to start.

 

The Bible, although in the form of a book, actually consists of 66 documents each of which is referred to as 'a book'.

 

The 66 documents are divided into two parts, 39 books in what is called the 'Old Testament' and 27 books in what is called the 'New Testament'.

 

The Old Testament describes the creation of the earth and of mankind, the entry of sin into the world, and the history of one nation of people, Israel, to whom God reveals what he is going to do to rescue mankind from judgment. The first book is called 'Genesis' which means 'beginnings'.

 

The New Testament begins with the records of the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth, shown by his deeds and His teaching to be the divine Son of God. He was crucified as a criminal but three days later came back to life.