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You know that the Bible is important. . . but you also have questions that deserve answers.
What exactly is the Bible? Where does it come from? How does it apply to my life today? Everything Teen Guys Should Know About the Bible is designed to answer those questions and many more. This powerful book:
• Describes how the Bible came about, by whom, and when
• Lists key characters, terms, and verses to know and memorize
• Provides an overview of scripture’s story through a seven-part outline covering Creation to the End Times
• Gives you details about the life and ministry of the Bible’s “Main Man,” Jesus Christ
• Provides guidance on how to study God’s Word through the “inductive method” of observation, interpretation, and application
Through sixty-six separate books, 1,189 chapters, and hundreds of thousands of words, the Bible shares one
extraordinary message: God loves you. From the first chapter of Genesis, where God creates human beings, through the last chapter of Revelation, where God welcomes all people to “take the water of life freely,” the Bible proves that God is intimately involved in, familiar with, and concerned about the lives of people. His amazing love is shown in the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross. That sacrifice for sin allows anyone to be right with God through simple faith in Jesus’ work. These truths are found in the pages of scripture. God’s Word is the ultimate source of wisdom, and you’ll chart the best course for life by knowing it well. Start today with Everything Teen Guys Should Know About the Bible !
1 SOME BIBLE Basics
Here is a great opportunity to learn about the Bible. And not just facts about the Bible, though we’ll cover plenty of those. In the pages to follow, you’ll see what God’s Word can do for you, and what it should mean to you.
Let’s lay the groundwork by presenting some important basics about the Bible. Want to know more about this incredible gift from God, His written Word? Let’s get started!
Bible Books in Order
The word Bible comes from a Latin word meaning “book.” Though we often view the Bible as a single book containing the promises, commands, and wisdom of God, it’s actually a collection of sixty-six “books,” or writings— thirty-nine in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New Testament.
Knowing the order of these books as they appear in the Bible is very helpful to your reading and study. So over the next few pages you’ll find a list to commit to memory:
Old Testament Books
1. Genesis
2. Exodus
3. Leviticus
4. Numbers
5. Deuteronomy
6. Joshua
7. Judges
8. Ruth
9. 1 Samuel
10. 2 Samuel
11. 1 Kings
12. 2 Kings
13. 1 Chronicles
14. 2 Chronicles
15. Ezra
16. Nehemiah
17. Esther
18. Job
19. Psalms
20. Proverbs
21. Ecclesiastes
22. Song of Solomon
23. Isaiah 24. Jeremiah
25. Lamentations
26. Ezekiel
27. Daniel 28. Hosea
29. Joel 30. Amos
31. Obadiah
32. Jonah
33. Micah
34. Nahum
35. Habakkuk
36. Zephaniah
37. Haggai
38. Zechariah
39. Malachi
The Bible by the Numbers
• Number of books: 66
• Number of Testaments: 2 (39 books in the Old Testament; 27 in the New)
• Number of writers: around 40
• Number of chapters: 1,189 (929 in the Old Testament; 260 in the New)
• Number of verses: 31,101
• Number of words: around 785,000
• Longest chapter in the Bible: Psalm 119 (176 verses)
• Shortest chapter in the Bible: Psalm 117 (2 verses)
New Testament Books
40. Matthew
41. Mark
42. Luke
43. John
44. Acts
45. Romans
46. 1 Corinthians
47. 2 Corinthians
48. Galatians
49. Ephesians
50. Philippians
51. Colossians
52. 1 Thessalonians
53. 2 Thessalonians
54. 1 Timothy
55. 2 Timothy
56. Titus
57. Philemon
58. Hebrews
59. James
60. 1 Peter
61. 2 Peter
62. 1 John
63. 2 John
64. 3 John
65. Jude
66. Revelation
Types of Books in the Bible
Interestingly, both the Old and New Testaments contain five different types of writings. Each one serves a specific purpose. The Old Testament includes books of law, history, wisdom and poetry, and prophecy, featuring major and minor prophets (the terms describe the length of their writing, not their relative importance). The New Testament contains the gospels, history of the early church, Paul’s epistles, the general epistles, and prophecy. Here is how they break down:
Old Testament
Law (5): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
General Epistles (8): Hebrews, James, 1–2 Peter, 1–3
John, Jude
Prophecy (1): Revelation
Summarizing
Each
Book of the Bible
Bible books, regardless of type, are filled with remarkable promises, challenging commands, and helpful lessons that can help you live out your faith. Here are very brief sketches of what each book is about:
Old Testament
Genesis: God creates the world and establishes a special nation of people
Exodus: God delivers His people, the Israelites, from slavery in Egypt
Leviticus: A holy God explains how to worship Him
Numbers: Faithless Israelites wander forty years in the wilderness of Sinai
Deuteronomy: Moses reminds the Israelites of their history and God’s laws
Joshua: The Israelites capture and settle the Promised Land of Canaan
Judges: Israel goes through cycles of sin, suffering, and delivery through leaders God has chosen
Ruth: A loyal daughter-in-law depicts God’s faithfulness, love, and care
1 Samuel: Israel’s twelve tribes unite under a king
2 Samuel: David becomes Israel’s greatest king, though he has major flaws
1 Kings: Israel divides into rival northern and southern kingdoms (Israel and Judah, respectively)
2 Kings: Both Jewish nations are destroyed for their disobedience to God
1 Chronicles: King David’s reign is detailed and analyzed
2 Chronicles: The history of Israel—from Solomon, through division, to destruction
Ezra: Spiritual renewal begins after the Jews return from exile in Babylon
Nehemiah: Returning Jewish exiles rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem
Esther: A beautiful Jewish girl becomes queen of Persia, saving fellow Jews from slaughter
Job: God allows human suffering for His own purposes
Psalms: The ancient Jewish songbook showcases prayers, praise—and complaints—to God
Proverbs: Brief, memorable sayings encourage people to pursue wisdom
Ecclesiastes: Apart from God, life is empty and unsatisfying
Song of Solomon: Married love is a beautiful thing worth celebrating
Isaiah: A coming Messiah will save people from their sins
Jeremiah: After years of sinful behavior, Judah will be severely punished
Lamentations: A despairing poem about the destruction of Jerusalem
Ezekiel: Though Israel is in exile in Babylon, the nation will one day be restored
Daniel: Faithful to God in a challenging setting, Daniel is blessed
Hosea: A prophet’s marriage to an immoral woman reflects God’s relationship with wayward Israel
Joel: A locust plague pictures God’s judgment on His sinful people
Amos: Real religion isn’t just ritual, but treating people with justice
Obadiah: Edom will suffer for participating in Jerusalem’s destruction
Jonah: A reluctant prophet runs from God and is swallowed by giant fish
Micah: Israel and Judah will suffer for their idolatry and injustice
Nahum: Powerful, wicked Nineveh will fall before God’s judgment
Habakkuk: Trust God even when He seems unresponsive or unfair
Zephaniah: A coming “day of the Lord” promises heavy judgment
Haggai: Jews returning from exile need to rebuild God’s temple
Zechariah: Jewish exiles should rebuild their temple and anticipate their Messiah
Malachi: The Jews have become careless in their attitude toward God
New Testament
Matthew: Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies of a coming Messiah
Mark: Jesus is God’s Son, a suffering servant of all people
Luke: Jesus is Savior of all people, whether Jew or Gentile
John: Jesus is God Himself, the only Savior of the world
Acts: The Holy Spirit’s arrival heralds the beginning of the Christian church
Romans: Sinners are saved only by faith in Jesus Christ
1 Corinthians: An apostle tackles sin problems in the church at Corinth
2 Corinthians: Paul defends his ministry to the troubled Corinthian church
Galatians: Christians are free from restrictive Jewish laws
Ephesians: Christians are all members of Jesus’ “body,” the church
Philippians: “Friendship letter” between the apostle Paul and a beloved church
Colossians: Jesus Christ is supreme over everyone and everything
1 Thessalonians: Jesus will return to gather His followers to Him
2 Thessalonians: Christians should work until Jesus returns
1 Timothy: Pastors are taught how to conduct their lives and churches
2 Timothy: The apostle Paul’s final words to a beloved coworker
Titus: Church leaders are instructed on their lives and teaching
Philemon: Paul begs for mercy for a runaway slave converted to Christianity
Hebrews: Jesus is better than any Old Testament person or sacrifice
James: Real Christian faith is shown by one’s good works
1 Peter: Suffering for the sake of Jesus is noble and good
2 Peter: Beware of false teachers within the church
1 John: Jesus was real man, just as He is real God
2 John: Beware of false teachers who deny Jesus’ physical life on earth
3 John: Church leaders must be humble, not proud
Jude: Beware of heretical teachers and their dangerous doctrines
Revelation: God will judge evil and reward His saints
Important Terms to Remember
When you read and study the Bible for yourself, it’s helpful to “understand the language.” There are some important words in the pages of scripture that may be unfamiliar, as well as some terms that don’t appear in the Bible but summarize key biblical truths. Following is a list of these “theological” words that you’ll want to know as you pursue a deeper understanding of God’s Word. . .and God Himself.
1. Adoption: Adoption is when someone legally becomes a full member of a family that is not theirs by birth. In the New Testament, it refers to God’s act of making us His children when we believe in Jesus and receive His Holy Spirit (John 1:12–13; Romans 8:15; Ephesians 1:5–6).
2. Altar: An altar is a structure on which sacrifices are made. In the Old Testament, people often set up altars for sacrifices to false gods. But there was one altar in the tabernacle, and later in the temple, that was dedicated to the worship of the one true God of Israel.
3. Angel: Angels are spiritual beings God created. Their primary role is to serve God, often as His messengers to humans. The Bible identifies two angels by name: Michael (Jude 9) and Gabriel (Luke 1:19).
Ten Biblical Names for GodĘĽs Word
• Word of God (Luke 11:28)
• Word of Life (Philippians 2:16)
• Word of Christ (Colossians 3:16)
• The Book (Psalm 40:7)
• Book of the Law (Deuteronomy 31:26)
• Holy Scriptures (Romans 1:2)
• Living Words (Acts 7:38)
• Scriptures (John 5:39)
• Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17)
• Good Word of God (Hebrews 6:5)
4. Anointing: To anoint someone is to put oil on their head. In Old Testament times, anointing was done in special rituals to mark someone’s appointment to an office such as high priest (Leviticus 16:32) or king (1 Samuel 9:16). It was a symbol of the presence of God being poured out on a person. In the New Testament, anointing is used when praying for someone’s healing (James 5:14).
5. Antichrist: An antichrist is someone who stands against Jesus and denies that Jesus is the Christ, or Messiah (1 John 2:22). Some experts believe that “the man of sin” predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 is the same as “the antichrist” in 1 John 2:18.
6. Ark of the Covenant: The ark of the covenant was a gold-covered wooden chest described in Exodus 25:10–22. The chest had a solid gold lid, called the atonement cover or mercy seat. On top were statues of two golden cherubim (angelic creatures) bowing down in worship. The ark represented the holy presence of God, so it could not be touched by human hands. Instead, poles were inserted through rings on the sides to carry the ark.
7. Ascension: The term refers to the moment when Jesus returned to heaven forty days after He rose from the dead (Luke 24:50–51; Acts 1:9–11). According to the Bible, Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3), reigning with Him (Ephesians 1:19–21).
8. Atonement : Atonement brings together two individuals who have been separated because of sin. It refers to the work of Christ in taking our sin on Himself and dying to pay the penalty in our place. Forgiveness for our sins is possible through personally accepting, by faith, Christ’s atoning sacrifice.
9. Baptism: The term literally means to dip, wash, immerse, submerge, or overwhelm. Baptism first appears in the New Testament when a prophet called John the Baptist baptized people in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:4–6). Christians are expected to be baptized as a sign of their repentance and new life in Jesus.
10. Beatitudes: The beatitudes are a series of blessings Jesus spoke in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1–12). Jesus called His followers to certain attitudes and behaviors, promising good things to those who demonstrated His own nature.
11. Begotten: This word describes the special relationship between God the Father and Jesus the Son. Though God is the heavenly Father to many people who believe in Jesus, Jesus was God’s “only begotten Son” (John 3:16).
12. Blessed: People are blessed when they have received the benefits of God’s goodness in their lives. Blessed is also used twice in 1 Timothy to describe God Himself (1:11; 6:15).
13. Born Again: Jesus once told a Jewish religious leader named Nicodemus that in order to see
the kingdom of God, one must be “born again” (John 3:3), or born from above. This is not a physical rebirth but a spiritual one (John 3:8). It happens when a person repents of sin and trusts in Jesus as Savior (John 3:16).
14. Canon: The “canon of scripture” is the accepted list of the sixty-six Bible books. The process of compiling the books of the Bible did not happen all at once. The Old Testament canon was finalized before the start of the first century BC (before Christ) by Jewish religious leaders. The New Testament was completed many years after the death of the apostles. Early churches had recognized many of the New Testament books from the time they were first written, but near the end of the fourth century AD (“anno Domini,” or after the birth of Jesus), church leaders agreed upon the final list.
15. Creation: The word refers to God’s act of making all things—the universe, the earth, and all living creatures—out of nothing (Genesis 1–2). God simply spoke most things into existence, though He personally fashioned the first man and woman. He called His finished creation “very good” (Genesis 1:31).
16. Disciple: A disciple is a person who learns from a teacher. A disciple of Jesus Christ is someone who follows Him, learns from Him, and obeys His teaching. Jesus issued a final command to His disciples to go out to the nations and “make disciples”
The Beatitudes
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
(M 5:3)
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
(M 5:4)
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
(M 5:5)
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
(M 5:6)
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
(M 5:7)
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
(M 5:8)
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”
(M 5:9)
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
