66 Introductions to the Bible

By Terris Green

Pastor Terris Green believes it is necessary to understand and accept the context and the basic purpose of the Bible before you can truly understand it. The who, what, when, why and where of the Bible, although sometimes misunderstood, are clearly written with a message that he feels is applicable to the lives of all people. In this book Pastor

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
• Release date: Aug 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781638372738

Terris Green

Terris Green was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, and now lives in South Carolina. He is a graduate of Voorhees College, South University, Capella University, and International Seminary in Plymouth, Florida. He has served in the United States Army, and as a minister of the Gospel since 2015. He has been the pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church in Pineville, South Carolina, since 2016.Pastor Green is known throughout South Carolina and beyond for his involvement in venues that promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From his childhood in the church to his adulthood commitment to the Gospel, he has never strayed from his Christian roots. As a child he and his siblings sang in the gospel group The Green Singers, and later Terris promoted gospel music as a gospel radio personality. Singing and managing the gospel recording artist High Spirits, he also played multiple instruments. As a church pastor he now serves as an ambassador of the Gospel through preaching the Word of God.

Book preview

The Old Testament

Part 1:

The Law, the Torah, and the Pentateuch.

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he Torah (the first five books of Moses) are the books of law also known by the Greek name the Pentateuch. Pentateuch means simply five books. The word pentateuch comes from a combination of the Greek word penta, meaning five, and teuchos, which can be translated scroll. Therefore, it simply refers to the five scrolls that make up the first of three divisions of the Jewish canon.

The name Pentateuch can be traced at least as far back as 200 CE when Tertullian referred to the first five books of the Bible by that name. In Greek, the Pentateuch) is referred to as the first five books of the Bible by Christians. Penta means five and teuchos means book.

Torah means teaching or instruction. The meaning of Torah is often restricted to signify the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), also called the Law in Jewish. These books tell the story of the people of Israel from creation to Moses's death.

Jews generally divided the Old Testament into three different sections: the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings, which contains the historical background of creation and God's choosing of Abraham and the Jewish nation as His chosen people. The written Torah is preserved in all Jewish synagogues on handwritten parchment scrolls that reside inside the ark of the law. According to Jewish beliefs, God dictated the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai fifty days after their exodus from Egyptian slavery. They believe that the Torah shows how God wants Jews to live. It contains 613 commandments, and Jews refer to the ten best known of these as the ten statements.

The Torah is written in Hebrew, the oldest of Jewish languages. It is also known as Torat Moshe, the Law of Moses. While the Torah is the first section or first five books of the Jewish Bible, the Tanakh is more commonly used to describe the entirety of Jewish scriptures.

Chapter 1

Genesis

The Beginning

T

he beginning of the Bible as thematically ordered is appropriately named. Genesis literally means in the beginning. Genesis primarily answers two questions: How did God's relationship with the world begin? and Where did the nation of Israel come from? As with every aspect of life, a beginning marks the ending of an era as well as to the beginning of something to come or a new endeavor. This beginning gives historical information about the origins, births, and ancestry of biblical history and sets the tone for the eternal destination of generations to come.

Who Is the Author of This Book?

The author of the book of Genesis is not identified by name, but Joshua 8:31 is an early referenced scripture verse that confirm Moses as the writer of the book: As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses. The expression the Book of the Law of Moses has been the commonly held view by both Jews and Christians throughout the history of the Holy Scriptures that points to Moses as the author. The LORD Jesus Himself referred to the book of Moses many times; one occasion, while explaining the doctrine of resurrection to the Sadducees, in the burning bush passage of Exodus 3:6, He said, But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the BOOK OF MOSES (Mark 12:26). The Sadducees believed only in the Pentateuch, therefore He quoted from Exodus to make His point. Other referenced verse where the LORD Jesus and others attribute the writing of the Pentateuch to Moses (see Luke 24:27 and Romans 10:5). According to the Torah, the name Moses comes from the Hebrew verb, meaning to pull out/draw out [of water], and the infant Moses was given this name by Pharaoh's daughter after she rescued him from the Nile (Exodus 2:10).

Era of Writing

The book of Genesis was written about 1450–1410 B.C.

What Is This Book About?

Most of the famous Bible stories are found in the book of Genesis. Genesis is where the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and the ark, the Tower of Babel, Abraham and Isaac, Jacob's ladder, and Joseph's coat of many colors are recorded.

Genesis is the only true beginning to everything that relates to mankind; it is the first book of the Law and gives detailed accounts of events regarding the Genesis (the origin) of life. Genesis describes the LORD God, who is infinite and all-powerful, creating everything that exists, from the stars and the moon in the skies to the creation of man from particles of dust from the earth, all by the power of His spoken Word. It was He who essentially created material matter out of His mouth; it was His mouth that blew life into man.

Why Was This Book Written?

The book of Genesis was written to record God's creation of the world and to demonstrate His love for everyone and everything He created. The book of Genesis revealed how the sin of man is met by the intervention and redemption of an all knowing and powerful God.

Summary of Chapters

Genesis is primarily divided into three eras of creation (the world, the human race, and the establishment of nations on the earth). Genesis has a historical and ancestral account of the inception of biblical events. This book reveals an all-powerful God who is infinite in His creation and love.

Key personalities include Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Esau, Rebekah, Jacob, and Joseph.

The fifty chapters are of Christian origin, stories that expand over about two thousand years of history.

In chapters 1–11, Moses explains the creation of all things: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). He then turns his attention to the fall of man in sin that caused the separation of man from God. God implements His judgment on the wicked earth with a flood that destroys everything and all of humanity except Noah, a faithful man who God chose, and spared his family from the flood annihilation.

In chapters 11–36, The first covenant between God and Abraham is made. God begins to carry out His plan of redemption for His people by establishing the nation of Israel. God reveals himself to Abraham and made a covenant (promise) with him, in which God announced to Abraham that his descendants would eventually inherit the Land of Israel. Abraham, like Noah, is faithful and is chosen to be blessed by God with a multitude of people who would bless the world.

In chapters 37–50, God faithfully rises up and protects the generations of Abraham and blesses his son and their sons as He had promised. The book of Genesis continues all the way to the betrayal, blessings, and death of Joseph while in Egypt. Genesis ends with the last prediction of Joseph. Joseph predicts that God will bring the children of Israel back to the Promised Land; this promise is about to emerge in the next movement of the story in the book of Exodus.

Conclusion

The unexplainable, supernatural existence of God and the creation of the world is the theme of Genesis.

There is no need to defend the existence of God; our genuine faith in God allows us to accept the fact that God is, always was, and always will be almighty and superior over everything in existence despite the claims of those who deny Him.

Because of the fall of one man and one woman in the garden of Eden, mankind is separated from Him by sin, but through one small nation, God's redemptive plan for mankind was revealed and made available to all. God, the Creator of heaven and Earth, can take a hopeless situation and create hope, just as He created the beginning.

Key Verses

Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Genesis 50:20: But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Verse to Consider

Genesis 3:15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise the head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Chapter 2

Exodus

The Exit

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he exit in the book of Exodus is indicative of an entrance as well as an exit. God is about to save Israel from slavery in Egypt; their departure is imminent. Exodus is a Greek word meaning departure. The name Exodus comes from the nation of Israel's mass emigration from Egypt. God is telling Moses to return to Egypt and lead the Hebrews into Canaan, the land promised to Abraham. Moses returns to Egypt and fails to convince the Pharaoh to release the Israelites. In the end, disobedience results in many lives being lost, but Israel finds new life in the promise of God.

Who Is the Author of This Book?

According to Exodus 17:14, the author of the book of Exodus is Moses. Exodus 24:4 and 34:28 agree: And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven…And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD. Exodus is part of the Torah, which is known as the Law of Moses. Since Moses is the one receiving instructions from God, the books are mostly attributed to him (see Genesis).

Era of Writing

The book of Exodus was written about 1450–1410 B.C.

What Is This Book About?

The story of Exodus takes Israel out of Egypt into the desert where the nation is specifically aligned with God (as opposed to the idols of Egypt and the surrounding nations). The book of Exodus is where God initially lays out His plans of expectations for all the people of Israel through the Ten Commandments. The book of Exodus ends with the glory of the LORD filling the tabernacle: God is now dwelling among His chosen people, Israel. The book of Leviticus goes on to document the laws God gives His people at Mount Sinai.

Why Was This Book Written?

The book of Exodus was written to record the events of Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt. In God's timing, the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt marked the end of a period of oppression for Abraham's descendants (Genesis 15:13) and the beginning of the fulfillment of the covenant promise to Abraham that his descendants would not only live in the Promised Land but would also multiply and become a great nation (Genesis 12:1–3, 7).

The purpose of the book of Exodus also reveals God's favor to Jacob's descendants from Egypt to the Promised Land.

Summary of Chapters

The book of Exodus consists mainly of two genres: narrative history and laws. The book of Exodus is about God hearing Israel's cries for help; He rescues them from their oppressors and makes them his own.

The key personalities include Moses, Miriam, Pharaoh, Pharaoh's daughter, Aaron, and Joshua.

The (forty) chapters of Exodus describe the events of the exodus in chronological order and presents the laws that God gives to the Israelites.

Chapters 1–7 introduce Moses and the Israelites in bondage in Egypt. The timeline of this setting proves it to be approximately four hundred years after Joseph and his families were living in Goshen at the end of Genesis. God protects baby Moses and spares his life, as Moses is adopted by Pharaoh's daughter and is raised as an Egyptian. God calls Moses with a special revelation through a burning bush to release His people from slavery in Egypt. Moses obeys and with his brother, Aaron, confronts Pharaoh to let God's people go free, but Pharaoh ignores the warning.

In chapters 8–13, Moses, through the power of God, releases ten plagues of different sorts on the land of Egypt, which include turning all the water to blood, plagues of insects, boils, hail, and finally, the death of every firstborn son. This includes the death of Pharaoh's eldest who would have someday inherited the kingdom of Egypt. However, the Israelites obey God and follow the ordinance of the Passover, and God spares them.

Chapters 14–18 describe the Exodus or exit from Egypt. Pharaoh can no longer endure the plagues that God poured on Egypt and himself and allows them to leave. Moses and the Israelites escape, making it to the Red Sea. Shortly after, Pharaoh changes his mind and pursues them, but God destroys his army; they drown in the sea.

In chapters 19–24, Moses presents all of the laws to all the people at Mt. Sinai as God has commanded. The Ten Commandments are listed in Exodus 20:3–17.

Finally, in chapters 25–40, God continues to give His laws to Moses; He gives Moses instructions for a tabernacle, a special tent of worship. Moses gives the Israelites the tabernacle, priests, and worship instructions.

Conclusion

The Mosaic Law was given as a test to show mankind that they were incapable of keeping the Law. We are unable to please God by law-keeping.

The Apostle Paul exhorts us to put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the law. No one will be justified by observing the law (Galatians 2:16).

In Exodus, God's provision of freedom for the the Israelites from captivity to the manna and quail in the wilderness, is a clear indication of His gracious love for His people. God has promised to supply all our needs: God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our LORD, is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9).

We are to trust in the LORD for He can deliver us from anything. God does not allow sin to go unpunished forever. As a result, we can trust Him in His retribution and justice. When God removes us from a bad situation, we should not seek to go back. When God makes demands of us, He expects us to comply, but at the same time He provides grace and mercy because He knows that on our own we will not be able to fully obey and reach the exit.

Key Verses

Exodus 1:8: Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

Exodus 12:27: That ye shall say, it is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.

Exodus 20:2–3: I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Verse to Consider

Exodus 2:24–25: And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

Chapter 3

Leviticus

Living Holy

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iving holy is the theme of the biblical book of Leviticus. Leviticus is pertaining to the Levites. Be holy, as I am holy (Leviticus 11:44) is the persistent command God is giving to His people. Leviticus is the entrance referred to in the previous book of Exodus; God freed the people from bondage, now He expects them to enter into a relationship of worship with Him. God gives Israel instructions on how to worship Him. Leviticus is a book of laws to govern worship and establish its importance. Although much of this book is addressed to the priesthood in regard to their expectations, God makes clear His expectations for the people regarding what is appropriate worship.

Every value of the human being living should be in accordance with what is godly. People of God should breathe, live, love, eat, sacrifice, give, celebrate, and worship as one who is truly committed to the will and the way of God.

Who Is the Author of This Book?

Leviticus 1:1 is one of more than fifty occasions in biblical text that suggests the author of Leviticus is consistent with the authorship of Exodus: The LORD spoke to Moses (Leviticus 1:1, 4:1, 5:14, 6:1). The arguments that support Moses's writing of Exodus also uphold Moses's authorship of Leviticus. The New Testament also refers to Moses as the author of passages from Leviticus (Matthew 8:4, Luke 2:22, Hebrews 8:5).

Era of Writing

Because the Law in Leviticus was spoken by God to Moses at or near Mount Sinai where the Israelites camped for some time and were delivered after the original Ten Commandments, the most probable date for their revelation is 1445–1444 B.C.

What Is This Book About?

The book of Leviticus primarily discusses laws that relate to the Levites (hence the name Leviticus), e.g., laws of ritual sacrifices, laws of taking tithes from agricultural products, laws of priestly purity, laws of not drinking alcohol prior to service in the place of worship, marriage laws specific to priests, laws determining which foods are kosher, laws of a woman who gives birth, laws of marital intimacy, laws governing interpersonal conduct, and laws of the Jubilee year when land will be returned to its original owner and slaves are emancipated, etc.

Although challenging, the book Leviticus contains a meticulous and often tedious list of rules and regulations. Yet, if understood properly, the book supplies readers with rich wisdom and practical instruction.

Why Was This Book Written?

The purpose of Leviticus was to provide guidelines for interpersonal behavior and a legal outline for the service of God. Leviticus is a response to a redeemed people (the Israelites) who had been held captive in Egypt for four hundred years and were rescued by God, but the concept of God had been distorted by the polytheistic, pagan Egyptians. Therefore the Israelites needed instruction and laws to guide them in an attempt to change their sinful behaviors to accepted godly behaviors.

Summary of Chapters

The emphasis in Leviticus is on the need for personal holiness in response to a holy God. Leviticus is composed of two basic genres: narrative history and law. It was written to draw the Israelites to the understanding of the infinite holiness of God and so that they would know He desires them to act in a holy manner toward Himself. God gives them many instructions to carry out.

It describes Moses giving procedural instructions for the Israelites, especially to the Levitical priests, about how they are to carry out offerings, ceremonies, and celebrations. The word holy is mentioned more times in Leviticus than any other book in the Bible.

The key personalities of Leviticus include Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

The (twenty-seven) chapters of Leviticus serve as a handbook for the priests and Levites outlining their duties in worship, and a guide for the Hebrews on living holy.

Chapters 1–10 outline and name the various offerings made for various reasons. In chapters 1–7, the outline the offerings required of both the congregations and the priesthood are named. In chapters 8–10, sin must be atoned for through the offering of proper sacrifices; the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood is described.

In chapters 11–15, the differentiation is made between various types of uncleanness; clean and unclean foods are explained, as well as childbirth and purification of the body and directives to the priest regarding diagnosing diseases, which are carefully regulated.

In chapter 16–17, there is the description of the Day of Atonement when an annual sacrifice is made for the cumulative sin of the people. The people of God are to be circumspect in their personal, moral, and social living.

In chapters 18–27, God's guidelines to His people for practical holiness are outlined; various feasts are instituted in the people's worship of God as they assemble and practice according to God's laws. Blessings or curses would accompany either the keeping or neglect of God's commandments (chapter 26). Vows to the LORD are covered in chapter 27.

Conclusion

God takes His holiness very seriously, and so should we. The trend in the postmodern church is to create God in our own image, giving Him attributes we want Him to have instead of the ones His Word describes. God's utter holiness, His transcendent splendor, and His unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16) are foreign concepts to many Christians. We are called to walk in the light and to put away the darkness in our lives so that we may be pleasing in His sight. A holy God cannot tolerate blatant, unashamed sin in His people, and His holiness requires Him to punish it. We dare not be careless in our attitudes toward sin or God's distaste of it, nor should we fail to recognize the seriousness of it in any way.

Praise the LORD that because of Jesus's death on our behalf, we no longer have to offer animal sacrifices. Leviticus is all about substitution. The death of the animals was a substitute penalty for those who sinned. In the same way—but infinitely better—the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was the substitute for our sins. Now we can stand before a God of utter holiness without fear because He sees in us the righteousness of Christ that results in us living holy.

Key Verses

Leviticus 1:4: And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

Leviticus 17:11: For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Verse to Consider

Leviticus 19:18: Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Chapter 4

Numbers

The Count

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he count in the book of Numbers consists of a census (counting of the people) of the twelve tribes of Israel who wandered in the wilderness for forty years due to their failure to trust and obey God. Before they began their wandering experience in the wilderness toward the Promised Land following the Exodus from Egypt, all the men who were over the age of twenty and fit to fight were accounted for. Numbers is the fourth book in the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. It's a historical account but also teaches important lessons about God fulfilling his promises.

Who Is the Author of This Book?

Moses was the author of the book of Numbers. Numbers is one of the first five Book of the Law of Moses referred to as the Pentateuch. Unlike many of the other books of the Bible, instructions to the writer are not obvious, but based upon the previous books, we know that Moses was the author. If we need to use scripture verse to prove Moses as the author, we can look at Numbers 1:2: Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls. Moses and Aaron were directed to number all the fighting men. Moses is recording his experience of taking a census.

Era of Writing

The book of Numbers was written between 1440‑410 B.C.

What Is This Book About?

The book of Numbers tells the story of the children of Israel's forty years’ journey of wandering in the wilderness. The theme of obedience and rebellion followed by repentance and blessing are the topical tone of Numbers. Numbers follows Moses and Israel's journey from the foot of Mount Sinai (which is where Leviticus ends) to the edge of the promised land of Canaan.

When the people are almost halfway to the Promised Land, Moses sends a few spies into the land to scout it out for the upcoming invasion. The spies return with bad news and in a panic, claiming that the Canaanites are far too powerful for Israel to compete against. The news leads to a revolt, with the people refusing to take the land that was promised to them. God gives them their wish, decreeing that the whole