THE BIBLE
The Word of
God

What is the Bible?
• The word bible came the Greek word “ta’
biblia” which means “the Books”
• The Old Testament was written
originally in Hebrew with few parts in
Aramaic which later was translated to
Greek. The New Testament is entirely
written in Greek.
• The words of God are written in the
Bible that allows us to read the words
of God and helps us to find happiness
through these words.

THE BIBLE
The
Inspirations

The Human Authors
of the Bible
• God did not personally wrote the
bible, but rather choose men,
serving as instruments, to write
what He wanted to tell us. Through
the Holy spirit, the authors were
guided by divine inspiration,
ensuring the Bible to be free from
error when it comes to matters of
faith and behavior.

THE CONTENT
of the Bible
• The bible contains the story of
God’s love to us and how much God
loves us through the many ways God
showed us his love.

UNDERSTANDING
of the Bible
• The bible was written a long time ago
in a language we do not understand.
The culture and history of the authors
are strange to us which means reading
the bible does not mean understanding
its whole context. To have a proper
appreciation of the truths of the
bible, one must have the knowledge and
understanding of the various ways

Some of the literary forms used are
described below.
• Myths are symbolic, imaginative stories
presenting a truth too large and too
difficult to state in exact terms.
• Letters are imaginative stories with
historical baes.
• Epic are lengthy stories told in heroic or
exaggerated terms.
• Elegies are laments for the dead.
• Proverbs are prose and poetic statements as
maxims for instructions.
• Legal documents contain laws that govern the

• Canticles and Psalms are expressions
of faith sentiment in poetic and
lyrical language.
• Oracles of the prophets are solemn
words call people to true faith.
• Wisdom writings are reflections on
great human questions about life,
death, love, evil and suffering.

DIVISIONS
of the Bible
The Old Testament
The New Testament

Catholic Bible VS. Protestant Bible
Has an “imprimatur”
(which means can be
printed) and a
“Nhil Obstat”
(meaning ‘nothing
opposes’) signed by
a monsignor or a
bishop in the
copyright page.
none

Catholic Bible VS. Protestant Bible
-has 27 books in the
New Testament
-has 46 or 51 books
in the Old Testament
according to how
some of the books
are merged or
separated.
-has the 12
Deuterocanonical
books which
catholics consider
-has 27 books in
the New
Testament.
-has 39 books in
the Old Testament
and does not
contain the 12
Deuterocanonical
Books.

Catholic Bible contains…
• Letter of Jeremiah- from the book of
Jeremiah, the 73 verses of this letter are
interspersed within Jeremiah.
• Song of the three young men and prayer of
Azariah ( Daniel 3: 12-100)
• Susana (Daniel, chapter 13)
• Bel and the Dragon (Daniel, Chapter 14
• Esther(Greek)- sections are added to
Esther sometimes italicized or the
chapters are indicated by the alphabet.

Protestant Bible does not contain…
•Tobit
•Judith
•Sirach
•Wisdom of
Solomon
•Baruch
•Letter of
Jeremiah
•Song of the
three young
men and prayer
of Azariah
•Susana
•Bel and the
Dragon
•Esther(Greek).
•1 Maccabees
•2 Maccabees

Catholic Bible VS. Protestant Bible
-version with 46 books
include the New
American Bible,
Jerusalem Bible
Christian Community
Bible, Revised
Standard Version, and
the New Revised
Standard
Version(Catholic
Edition)
-version with 51 books
-King James
Version, New
International
Version, and the
Gideon Bible.

Catholic Bible VS. Protestant Bible
-39 Old Testament
Books
-7 Deuterocanonical
Books
-27 New Testament
Books
-has 73 books in
total.
-39 New Testament
Books
-27 New Testament
Books
-has 66 Books in
total

The Old Testament
is divided into 4
major parts
The Pentateuch
The Historical Books
The Wisdom Books
The Prophetic Books

The Pentateuch
Consists the first 5 books of the Bible which
expresses the will of God with regard to His
people and contain the story of creation, the
formation of the people of God and provide
the set of rules of conduct for the people of
God.
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Deuteronomy
Numbers

The Historical Books
Tells the story depicting the
hardships and difficulties
experienced by the people of God
after entering the promised land also
with their success and achievements.
Joshua
Judges
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings

The Wisdom Books
Contain beautiful prayers called Psalms
expressing and praising the greatness and
goodness of God. It is an expression of man’s
gratitude and love for God and also speaks of
man’s fear, and anxieties and of his need to
put his trust to God’s power.

The Prophetic Books
Tell the narratives on the life of
the prophets scolding the people with
their sins and unfaithfulness, and
consoling the people with their
sufferings.
3 Major Prophets
12 Minor Prophets

•Isaiah
•Jeremi
ah
•Ezekie
l
3 MAJOR Prophets
•Hosea
•Joel
•Amos
•Obadiah
•Jonah
•Micah
12 MINOR Prophets
•Nahum
•Habbakuk
•Zephaniah
•Haggar
•Zecharah
•Melachi

• 1 Chronicles
• 2 Chronicles
• Ezra or 1 Esdras
• Nehemiah or 2
Esdras
• Ruth
• Ezra
13 Latter Books •Job
•Psalms
•Proverbs
•Ecclesiastes
•Songs of Songs
(Song of Solomon or
Canticle of
Canticles.
•Lamentations
•Daniel

The New Testament
Tells us how the promises of God
are fulfilled in Jesus Christ
bring the Good News from God
The Gospels
Acts of the Apostles
Apostolic Letters
Book of Revelations

The 4 Gospels
Matthew tells the Good News that the promised Savior is
Jesus. Jesus is the great teacher who teaches about God’s
about God’s Kingdom.
Mark tells the Good News that the Son of God is Jesus
Christ who has authority in His teachings, is powerful over
powerful over demons, and who forgives sin. Jesus is the Son
is the Son of Man who gives up His life to free people from
people from in.
Luke presents Jesus as both promised. Savior of Israel and of
all people. He brings Good News to the poor and serves the
serves the needy.
John presents Jesus as the Word of God that is eternal,

The Acts of the Apostles
authored by Luke, presents the early
followers of Jesus led by the Holy Spirit,
the early beginnings and foundation of the
Church, and Jesus’ community of believers.
Letters of Paul
guide the pagan nations whom God entrusted
to him to evangelize.

The Pauline Letters
Romans- was written to prepare the way for Saint Paul’s visit to
Rome to work among the Christians and then to Spain. The message
of the letter is about understanding the Christian faith and the
living practice of this faith.
1 Corinthians- was written to correct the problems of the life and
faith of Christians in Corinth on divisions, immortality, on sex
and marriage, matters of conscience, order of the Church, the Holy
Spirit’s gifts, and the teachings on the resurrections.
2 Corinthians- was written in defense of Saint Paul who was
accused of being false prophet, the reconciliation with the church
in Corinth, and of asking help for the Church’s need in Judea.
Galatians- was written to bring back the true faith in Christ and
practice of the Christian s who were confused by some false
teachings.

The Pauline Letters
Philippians- was written while Saint Pal was in prison. This
was addressed to the Christians of Philippi to have joy,
have joy, confidence, unity and perseverance in the faith life
the faith life of Christians in living in humility amidst quarrels
amidst quarrels and disputes.
Colossians- was written to correct the false teaching about
circumcision, rules on food, and the worship of spiritual
spiritual recluse. The message is to have full salvation only in
salvation only in union with Christ.
1 Thessalonians- was written to encourage and assure the
Christians of their faith in Christ, working quietly while hoping
quietly while hoping for the return of Christ.
2 Thessalonians - was written to strengthen the faith of
Christians about the Lord’s return that disturbed them. The
them. The emphasis is to remain steadfast in faith, to work
faith, to work for a living, and to persevere in good works.

The Pauline Letters
2 Timothy- is a written advice to Timothy to
persevere faith in Jesus, and to have patience, love,
patience, love, and endurance in suffering and
and persecution.
Titus- is a letter encouraging Titus to be kind and to
be good leader; also included are instructions on how
instructions on how to teach to the various age
age groups, the Christian conduct to be peaceful and
peaceful and friencly, avoiding hatred, argument, and
argument, and division in the church.
Philemon- is a letter requesting Philemon to reconcile
with his slave and treat him as a Christian brother.

The Catholic Letters
James- preached to the faithful outside of
Palestine about simplicity and practiced things
things inspired from the Old Testament. He was
was very attached to the Jewish tradition.
1,2 Peter- Is inspired by the baptismal ceremony in
the early church, hymns, homily on the rites, and
rites, and the life of a Christian.
1, 2, 3, John- Speak of the “communion” that
that must be lived among Christians.
Jude- denounces the false teacher like those

The Book of Revelations
The Book of Revelations- is attributed to
John the Evangelist, brother of James the
James the martyr. It was written to give
give hope an encouragement, and to urge the
urge the Christian to remain faithful to
faithful to Christ despite the suffering and
suffering and persecution. The central theme
central theme is that all enemies including
including Satan will, at the end, be defeated
defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ and those

INTERPRETATION
of the Bible
The bible is the word of God
written in the words of man. To
understand it, we must first
understand the words of the men
who wrote the Bible. Experience
show us that different people
tell the same story in different

1. Their situation and circumstances of life
2. Their educational background and experience
3. Their individual talent and style of
expression.
All these elements are taken
together in a single CONTEXT. A
better knowledge of the context
of the story will lead to a
better understanding of the
meaning and message of the
bible.