|
Cont. from page 11 Page12 DIVISION OF THE BIBLE: The Protestant Bible in general use today contains a total of 66 books , 39 Old Testament, and 27 New Testament. The 39 Old Testament books are the same as recognized by the Palestinian Jews. However, Septuagint which the Bible was current during the time of the apostles, contained more books than this 39 old testament books recognized by both Protestant and Palestinian Jews. Among the books included in the Septuagint which were not accepted by Palestinian Jews and Protestants are the least seven - Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiastics, Baruchi, and II Macabees, plus two so-called additions to Esther and Daniel. Although the Palestinian Jews did not accept these books as inspired, the Jews in 'Diaspora' accepted them. Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic Church accepted these books as canonical and have by virtue of that, a total of 46 books in the Old Testament bible. The only books accepted as canonical by the Jews today are the 39 books accepted by the Protestants. In the Hebrew Bible, the books are arranged in three groups: The Law, The Prophets and the Writings. The Law comprises the first five books of the Bible otherwise know at the Pentateuch. The Prophets are the major and minor prophets plus Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings. The writings then takes in the remaining books of Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ruth, Lamentation, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Nehemiah, Ezra, and Chronicles. The total is traditionally reckoned as 24 books, but it corresponds with the Protestants 39 books. The Protestant Bible does not follow the grouping in the Hebrew or the Septuagint Bible. Rather it has a preference, the Pentateuch, then II historical books, then the poetical books, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Songs of Solomon and then finally The Prophets which is further divided into two sections: The major and minor prophets which are observed by heart, not clearly marked by any deferential sign. All branches of Christian church are agreed on the New Testament canon. The grouping of the books are a natural one: The four gospels, then the one historical book Acts of the Apostles, after that the epistles, the first epistles of Paul, the general epistles and finally Revelation. TEXT: Although the Bible was written over a period of approximately 1600 years, from the time of Moses, to the end of the first century A.D. it's text has come to us in a remarkable state of preservation. It must be admitted though that some errors have crept in, this due largely to the fact that all copies of the scripture were made by hand until the invention of printing in the middle of the 15th century. This scribal errors do not however change the meaning of the scriptures, but rather have been noticed and pointed out by Bible translators. *To be Continued NETWORK OF THEOLOGY COLLEGES IS BORN
|