The Structure of the Bible

 

          THESE NOTES ARE WRITTEN SO THAT

          THE   VIEWER    WILL   BE    EQUIPPED

          TO  MORE  DEEPLY  APPRECIATE THE             

          FULL  MEANING  OF THE SCRIPTURES          

 

   The  structure  of the Bible is based upon

  the  7  literal days of Creation.  The prin-

  ciples  revealed in that record   should be

  clearly understood in all scriptural study.

 

     It is our intention to further define these principles

     within a  study on  Proverbs, if it is the Lord's will,

     where we see the "seven pillars" of "wisdom".

     See below for link to the relevant page   on this site.

            Note – numbers 1 - 7 are explained below.

 

    The Old Testament

  Introduction – Genesis

  1st section  1 Exodus            

                       2 Leviticus             

                       3 Numbers             

                       4 Deuteronomy              

   2nd section 1 Joshua            

                       2 Judges             

   3rd section 1 Ruth           

                       2 1st Samuel            

                       3 2nd Samuel            

   4th section  1 1st Kings                 

                       2 2nd Kings                

                       3 1st Chronicles          

                       4 2nd Chronicles              

                       5 Ezra              

                       6 Nehemiah              

                       7 Esther              

   5th section  1 Job           

                       2 Psalms          

   6th section  1 Proverbs            

                       2 Ecclesiastes          

                       3 Song of Solomon          

                       4 Isaiah           

                       5 Jeremiah           

                       6 Lamentations            

   7th section  1 Ezekiel1              

                       2 Daniel2          

                       3 Hosea3          

                       4 Joel4           

                       5 Amos5          

                       6 Obadiah6          

                       7 Jonah7          

                       8 Micah1          

                       9 Nahum2           

                     10 Habakkuk3         

                     11 Zephaniah4          

                     12 Haggai5         

                     13 Zechariah6          

                     14 Malachi7          

 

    The  New Testament

 

    1st section  1 Matthew           

                       2 Mark           

                       3 Luke           

                       4 John           

   2nd section 1 Acts            

                       2 Romans          

   3rd section 1 1st Corinthians           

                       2 2nd Corinthians          

                       3 Galatians          

   4th section 1 Ephesians1           

                      2 Philippians2            

                      3 Colossians3            

                      4 1st Thessalonians4           

                      5 2nd Thessalonians5            

                      6 1st Timothy6            

                      7 2nd Timothy            

                      8 Titus            

                      9 Philemon7            

   5th section 1 Hebrews                 

                      2 James            

   6th section 1 1st Peter              

                      2 2nd Peter             

                      3 1st John            

                      4 2nd John            

                      5 3rd John            

                      6 Jude            

   7th section 1 Revelation  

           

       66 Books-6 is the number of man; the Bible

                    offers us salvation- link to 'signs'- the 6th

                   and also consider explanatory notes below

 

             Explanatory Notes

 

 Numbers  have a  vital meaning    throughout the

 Bible,  and are built upon    the days of Creation.

 If  it  is  the  Lord's  will,  we  hope  to  go  into this in  more

 detail, but for now,  below we give the meaning of the num-

 bers  from  two  points  of  view,both being  very significant.

 

               1 from God's viewpoint-  the invitation

               from our viewpoint-      the hearing

               2 from God's viewpoint-  the promise

               from our viewpoint-      the belief

               3 from God's viewpoint-  the call to obey

               from our viewpoint-      the obedience

               4 from God's viewpoint-  the feeding

               from our viewpoint-      the growing

               5 from God's viewpoint-  the mercy

               from our viewpoint-      the trusting

               6 from God's viewpoint-  the enlightening

               from our viewpoint-      the separating

               7 from God's viewpoint-  the acceptance

               from our viewpoint-      the unifying

 

 The descriptions above are not meant to be arbitrary -       countless

 other words consistent with the above meanings    could have been

 used. They  are  simply  meant to open up  the vista of this vast &

 vital subject to  the  viewer's gaze.   If you follow this subject into

 every corner of the Bible,  you may be amply rewarded, both now

 and in the Age to come... let  us  now  make several other points..

 

    You will notice  the  similarities  between Old  and  New Testa-

    ments relative to the sections set out above.       For instance, both

    the  Old and the  New  Testaments  have       the  same  number of

    books in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th sections.  When we look

    at the 4th sections we see that there are 7 books in the Old,   &

    9 in the New - however,  in the New,  3 books form the 6th sub-

    section -  so there are  actually  only  7 sub-sections, the same as

    in the Old. Now looking at the 7th sections of Old and New, we

    see that  there  are  14 books in the Old, and only 1 in the New.

 

    These 14 books in the Old  Testament  are really the seed-plot

    of the Apocalypse in the New,and therefore are the equivalent

    of the New, inasmuch  as they have a special message concern-

    ing  the apocalypse of Jesus Christ.    Not  only  so, but you will

    notice  that  we  have  notated these  14 books in two sets of 7.

 

    This is because  the first  set concentrates on doctrine, and the

    second set deals more with practice. This distinction  is comm-

    on in the Bible -        for instance, the first 3 chapters of Ephesians

    relate  to  doctrine,  and  the  last  3  chapters  to practice. The

    change  of  emphasis  is easily seen in Eph.4v1 - "I  therefore…

    beseech you that  ye walk worthy  of the vocation wherewith  ye

    are called".  The  "unity of the spirit"  in  v3  is defined  in  v4 -

    6 by the same  7  principles we  have  outlined above, with  diff-

    erent  words,  but  they   have   the  same  essential   meanings.

    Proverbs 4v2,4   has the same transition -    doctrine to practice:

    "For I give you good doctrine,     forsake not my law…...Let thine

      heart retain my words: keep my commandments and live".

 

    Consider the parallels -    1- 'the invitation' TO the 'one body'..

    2-  'the promise'  OF   the  'one spirit'  (i.e. the one Truth, pro-

    ducing   the  one  attitude  of  mind,  link to 'spirit' -   but  false

    teachings  will  produce  different  results)..3- 'the call to obey'

    i.e. the 'one hope' -   this  was a key principle which led to John

    Thomas  realizing his need for re-immersion (& true baptism,

    link to 'baptism')  for  Romans 8v24  literally reads -     'we were

    saved  by the  hope'-  &  he had not known the hope previously.

    He later wrote'Elpis Israel'(The Hope of Israel) which is an in-

    tegral part of the Gospel - link to 'promises'-p.3,cpActs 28v20.

    Ephesians  5v26  defines  baptism as  'the washing of water by

    the word',  and it is  ineffectual unless the understanding of the

    word  and  its  humbling  effect on our minds is  first present...

 

    4- 'the feeding' by the 'One Lord' -    the number 4 sig. authority

    ..5-  'the mercy'- God's care for those showing the  'one  faith', 

    here signifying action,   i.e.  faith  in  the  terms of James,  after

    acceptance of  the Truth      Paul  in  Romans is treating of faith

    as a matter of belief - this  is  before  acceptance  of  the  Truth..

    Romans therefore appears in   the 2nd New Testament section,

    whereas  James' epistle is  in  the 5th section re working faith.

 

    6- 'the enlightening'  which  results  in 'one baptism'-  again, this

    is treating in this context not of water baptism, which by now has

    already taken place - but of what baptism really means, the cruci-

    fixion of sinful human nature..   it is the 'baptism' of which Jesus

    spoke when He said  (well  after  His  baptism  in water) -   'But I

    have a  baptism to be baptized with;and how am I straitened (mg.

    'pained') till it be accomplished'.   This of course was  His sacrifi-

    cial death. We do not know if  in this day we must witness to the

    death;  however, we are called upon to witness -     and without this

    witness to  the  Truth,  which  inevitably involves separating from

    evil, whatever  and wherever it is, we have no hope of life eternal-

    link  to  'apocalypse' where the aspect of 'witness' is discussed...

 

    Whereas the 3rd section (baptism in water) has to do with sep-

    aration  from  the  world the 6th section deals with separation

    from all evil, whether in one's own self,or that which may have

    permeated the nominal assembly of God.  This becomes the ful-

    filment of the number 6 in us - victory over sin by God's grace.

    On  the  6th day  man was created    and  given 'dominion' over

    God's creation..by  gaining  'dominion'  over  the  flesh     by the

    grace of God,we shall attain to that 'rest'     of which the 7th day

    speaks-Gen. 1v26-31; 2v1-3- link to 'grace'-p.2-'signs'-the 6th.

    Note the connection with Psalm 8 & Hebrews 2, and the work

    of Jesus Christ in the destruction of sin ('the devil').

    This is indeed  a  most  painful  and  sad experience, but is one

    which must be faced with faith and trust in God.   For more    de-

    tails link to   'the Lord's day'-4th Vision,  and  2nd Timothy 2..

    As shown above, all the following are related to    the number  6

    and consequently contain sound advice for this  situation - the

    epistles of Paul to Timothy and Titus, and the epistles of Peter,

    John  and  Jude...this  is  something  which  is   awe-inspiring..

 

   7- 'the acceptance'-  which is the ultimate aim  of  'the invitation'

    (cp 1 Timothy 6v12)  and  all  the  other  necessary  steps, over

    which we may stumble, but  must 'rise up again'-   Prov. 24v16

    .. we are accepted by the 'One  God  and  Father  of all, who is

    (i.e. by this time of  the 7th stage of our life in the Truth)   above 

    all, and through all, and in (us) all'. We  seal  our  salvation by

    peace(7)built on purity(6) - cp  James 3v17,18; Matthew 5v8,9.

    This does not give us immunity to persecution- v10,11- but note

    v12. Further re these  incremental  stages  in  our lives, link  to

    'signs'. There is great  value in  building on  basic principles, &

    if we do so, we shall attain to wisdom - Prov. 1v5; Matt. 13v12.

    The number 8 signifies perfection, & this is the ultimate aim of

       all of the above -  cp 'grace'-p.2-'the Lord's day'-8th Vision-

                                         'signs'-the 8th.

 

    It  is  not  our  aim, and nor could we,  fully prove the above in

    the course of  this short discussion,  but  we  make the promise

    born of over 45 years' study of this subject,   that  if you pursue

    it diligently with  a  mind  that  desires  to learn, in prayer,      you

    can make it your own,  to  the glory of  God and also your own

    eternal benefit.       One of  the main reasons this page  is offered

    now is so that you will have some  important background facts

    to assist you in the study which now features on this site -

      'Proverbs and Parables in the New Testament'

 

    This is a vast subject,  which is  most important to understand,

    for the Book of Proverbs not only has    many great and abiding

    lessons  to  teach  us  concerning  doctrine  and practice,   but it

    also  has      vital prophetical import concerning these last days

    in  which  we  live,   just  prior  to  the  coming  of Jesus Christ.  

          Please check periodically re the progress of this study.                 

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