Understanding the Old Testament

The divisions of the Old Testament

UNDERSTANDING THE OLD TESTAMENT

A SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

There are two main divisions in the Bible: the Old Testament

and the New Testament. The Old Testament books are the

earliest writings recognized as Scripture and were once a part of

the Hebrew Bible. Later, the writings of the early apostles began

to be recognized as Scripture, and the name ‘Old Testament’ was

given to those books contained in the Hebrew Bible and the

name ‘New Testament’ was given to the writings of the apostles.

Before being renamed ‘Old Testament’ the books contained in

the Hebrew Bible were called the Tanakh, which is an acronym

for the original division of the Hebrew Bible: Law (Torah),

Prophets (Nevi’im) and the Writings (Ketuvim).

THE LAW (5) THE PROPHETS (21) THE WRTINGS (13)

1. Genesis 1. Joshua 1. Psalms

2. Exodus 2. Judges 2. Proverbs

3. Leviticus 3. Samuel (2) 3. Job

4. Numbers 4. Kings (2) 4. Song of Solomon

5. Deuteronomy 5. Isaiah 5. Ruth

6. Jeremiah 6. Lamentations

7. Ezekiel 7. Ecclesiastes

8. Twelve Minor Prophets 8. Esther

9. Daniel

10. Ezra

11. Nehemiah

12. Chronicles (2)