The Bible An Introduction

1. The Bible An Introduction

2. What does "Holy Bible" mean ? The word "Bible" comes from the Greek word "biblos" meaning "book". "Holy" is a word meaning "set apart" or "separate", with the idea of being set apart or dedicated by or for God. Therefore the name "Holy Bible" was given to this book because it was seen to be God's inspired Word, thus making it separate from all other books ever written.

3. When was the Bible written? The Bible is in fact a collection of books or writings that were written over a period of approximately 1600 years by many different writers. The first books were written by Moses about 1500BC, while the last was written by John the Apostlearound 100AD.

4. Why is the Bible divided into the Old and New Testaments? The translators divided these books into the Old and New Testaments many years after they were written. The Old Testament contains 39 books that were written in Hebrew before the birth of Christ, while the New Testament contains 27 books that were written in Greek after Christ.

5. Old Testament Genesis 创世纪 Exodus 出埃及记Leviticus 利末记 Numbers 民数记 Deuteronomy 申命记 Joshua 约书亚记 Judges 士师记 Ruth 路的记 1 Samuel 撒母耳记上 2 Samuel 撒母耳记下 1 Kings 列王记上 2 Kings 列王记下 1 Chronicles 历代志上 2 Chronicles历代志下 Ezra以斯拉记 Nehemiah尼希米记 Esther 以斯帖记 Job 约伯记 Psalms 诗篇 Proverbs 箴言 Ecclesiastes 传道书 Song of Songs 雅歌 Isaiah 以赛亚书 Jeremiah 耶利米书 Lamentations 耶利米哀歌 Ezekiel 以西结书 Daniel 但以理书 Hosea 何西阿书 Joel约珥书 Amos 阿摩司书 Obadiah俄巴底亚书 Jonah约拿书 Micah弥迦书 Nahum那鸿书 Habakkuk哈巴谷书 Zephaniah西番雅书 Haggai哈该书 Zechariah撒迦利亚书 Malachi玛拉基书

6. New Testaments Matthew马太福音 Mark马可福音 Luke路加福音 John约翰福音 Acts使徒行传 Romans罗马书 1Corinthians哥林多前书 2Corinthians哥林多后书 Galatians加拉太书 Ephesians以弗所书 Philippians腓立比书 Colossians歌罗西书 1Thessalonians帖撒罗尼迦前书 2Thessalonians帖撒罗尼迦后书 1Timothy提摩太前书 2Timothy提摩太后书 Titus提多书 Philemon腓利门书 Hebrews希伯来书 James雅各书 1Peter彼得前书 2Peter彼得后书 John约翰一书 John约翰二书 John约翰三书 Jude犹大书 Revelation启示录

7. Brief Bible Story

8. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden • God created the heavens and the earth and everything was very good. Adam and Eve could eat from any tree, except one, in the Garden of Eden. God warned them that if they ate from it they would die.

9. The fall • Theserpent (Satan) tempted Eve to eat from the forbidden tree. Eve convinced Adam to eat the fruit. Both Adam and Eve were disobedient and ignored the warning of God.

10. Exile from the Garden of Eden • Adam's disobedience brought sin into the world and caused God to drive Adam and Eve from the paradise Garden of Eden. God placed an angel with a flaming sword at the entrance of the Garden to keep them from returning.

11. Cain and Abel Cain and Abel were brothers. Abel chose to be a shepherd, while Cain became a farmer. At a time appointed by God, Cain brought his harvest from the field as an offering unto the Lord, but Abel brought a lamb. The Lord showed respect toward Abel and his offering, but He did not honor Cain and his offering. Cain was furious. He blamed the problem on Abel, and when they were in the field, Cain attacked Abel and killed him. God cursed Cain for killing his brother, and Cain went out from the presence of the Lord. His rebellion against God caused the first murder and the first broken family.

12. The flood • Years later, mankind again proved disobedient to God. A great flood was sent in judgment that covered the whole world. Because Noah was obedient, God spared him and his family and the animals which God brought to theark.

13. Noah’s Big Ark • Noah's Ark was a huge barge (a boat without sails, paddles or engine). This picture compares the Ark to the average size one-story home. The Ark was so big that it could hold at least 569 railroad cars.

14. The Tower of Babel Many generations after Noah, when the whole earth still spoke the same language, people traveled to a plain in the Middle East and settled there. The people made a tower designed for worshiping the sun, moon and stars. Mankind had chosen to worship God's creations instead of the Lord Himself. This decision was a direct refusal to obey God's command to go out and fill the earth. The Lord mixed up their language, causing them to stop building the city. Therefore the name of that city became "Babel", which means confusion; because there the Lord multiplied language on the earth, causing people to scatter abroad.

15. Abraham and Isaac • Later, another man showed that he would obey God. Abraham trusted God enough that he would even sacrifice his own son, Isaac. God provided a ramas a substitute sacrifice.

16. Moses and the burning bush • God talked to Moses from within a burning bush. God promised that He would deliver Israel from Egypt, just as He had promised. God was faithful and rescued the nation of Israel from the Pharaoh.

17. Moses and the 10 commandments God gave Moses the 10 commandments, rules which must be obeyed if people are to please God. One of these rules is that people must only worship God. The commandments were carved in stone by the finger of God Himself

18. Prophets Describe the Savior After 40 years in the desert, the Israelites (Jews), entered Canaan. God spoke to the Jews through King David and prophets, reminding them to be holy as a witness to all nations. Later, Israel was disobedient and rebelled against God, rejecting His laws and killing the prophets. Finally, after 800 years of rebellion, Israel was taken out of her own land and was made captive in the nations of Assyria and Babylon .But God continued to speak through prophets during the Jews' captivity, and some of The messages prophecies about the Savior who would Come to rescue sinful mankind.

19. Fiery Furnace(Shadrach, Mesach and Abednego) Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego obeyed God's commandments and would not worship another god. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, didn't like their commitment to God and ordered that they be thrown into a furnace filled with fire.

20. Safe in the Fire • God was with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace of fire. When Nebuchadnezzar saw that they were not hurt by the fire, and that there were now 4 people in the furnace, he called for them to come out. God had perfectly protected them.

21. Birth of Jesus After70 years of captivity, the Lord allowed His people to come back to the land of Israel. 500 years later, when Rome ruled Israel, two young Jews named Joseph and Mary planned to marry. But before they came together, Mary became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit of God. The Child was named 'Jesus', which means Savior, for He will save His people from their sins. In a city called Bethlehem, Jesus was born.

22. The angel and the shepherds And in the same country, there were shepherds watching over their flocks at night. And the angel of the Lord came to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very frightened. Then the angel said, "Don't be afraid: for I bring good news of great joy, for all people. Today a Savior was born for you which is Christ the Lord."  

23. Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus 600 years after the time of Daniel, Mary and Joseph worshiped the one true God - Mary's son Jesus. God took the form of a man, being born as a baby, so that He could deliver the world from sin.

24. Mary and Baby Jesus The Shepherds come to see the Savior, Christ the Lord."When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, 'Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.' So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger

25. Baby Jesus • "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."    --Luke 2:12

26. The Star of Bethlehem "When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was."    --Matthew 2:9

27. The Wise men Worshipping Jesus The Wise men brought gifts for Jesus. "After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."    --Matthew 2:11

28. Jesus in the temple Mary and Joseph search for Jesus. "After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions."   --Luke 2:46

29. Jesus being baptized John the Baptistand Jesus"After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.'"   --Matthew 3:16-17

30. Jesus healing a lame man Jesus healed the lame and made blind people see. Jesus did miracles to show that His teachings are true and that He can forgive people of their sins.

31. The Betrayal and Crucifixion After supper, Jesus walked to a garden for a time of prayer. Judas approached Jesus, greeting Him with a kiss of betrayal. After that, Jesus allowed himself to be tied up and brought into the high priest's house. Early the next morning, the crowd led Jesus to the Roman governor, Pilate. Pilate, wanting to satisfy the people, had Jesus brutally whipped, and then turned Him over to be crucified. Afterwards they took Jesus and led Him away, making Him carry a wooden cross up to a place called Calvary, also known as Golgotha or the place of a skull.

32. Jesus on the cross Jesus died on the cross for our sins."For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life"    --John 3:16

33. Jesus rose from the dead After three days ,Jesus conquered death and rose from the grave.

34. Thomas declaring Jesus as his God When Thomas saw Jesus after the resurrection, he felt the nail wounds in Jesus' hands and feet. Thomas knelt before Jesus and proclaimed him to be his Lord and his God.

35. Resurrection to Eternity Jesus continued appearing to many people, showing them that He was alive, which gave infallible proof of His resurrection. At the end of forty days, Jesus announced to His disciples, "You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall tell others about Me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth." As they watched, Jesus was taken up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight to the eternal kingdom.