BIBLE TOOLS

OLD TESTAMENT
The Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures), refers to a library of writings recognized as Scripture in ancient Israel. They collectively anticipate a coming Messiah and his Kingdom.


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The Old Testament in Protestant Christian Scriptures does not follow the original order encountered by ancient Jews, including Jesus. Instead, Jesus encountered the ancient Hebrew Scriptures as the traditional three-part collection of scrolls known as the TaNaK. The TaNaK follows the Masoretic text (a Hebrew word meaning "traditional"). However, to further complicate the issue, Jesus and the first several centuries of the church encountered the Hebrew Scriptures through the Septuagint — the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures compiled and developed roughly two centuries before Jesus. These Greek translations had several more writtings in them than did the Hebrew Scriptures. Depending on the Greek Jewish community, these additional texts varied.

CLARIFYING THE OLD TESTAMENT
DEFINING TERMS

HEBREW SCRIPTURE ORDER

Indeed the early church had more books in their Scriptures than did the Hebrew text. However, to reconnect with the Hebrew tradition and understand the Hebrew Scriptures canonically as Jesus and his Hebrew followers did, this resource is presented in their original order found in the TaNaK.

Each Hebrew Scripture writing is accompanied by a brief explanation of the author's/compiler's motivations and the circumstances that led to the writing. Additionally, estimated timelines for when the described events likely occurred are provided. It's important to note that due to historical uncertainties and the potential unreliability of details, the dates in this list are approximations.*

Books with the abbreviation *CRBV* next to them indicates a Cultivate Relationships Bible Version is available to read.

THE SCROLLS OF MOSES
TORAH

 GENESIS *CRBV* 

 EXODUS 

 LEVITICUS 

 NUMBERS 

 DEUTERONOMY 


THE SCROLLS OF THE PROPHETS
NEVI'IM

EARLY PROPHETS

 JOSHUA 

 JUDGES 

 SAMUEL (1 & 2) 

 KINGS (1 & 2) 

LATTER PROPHETS

 ISAIAH 

 JEREMIAH 

 EZEKIEL 

BOOK OF THE TWELVE PROPHETS

 HOSEA 

 JOEL 

 AMOS 

 OBADIAH 

 JONAH 

 MICAH 

 NAHUM 

 HABAKKUK 

 ZEPHANIAH 

 HAGGAI 

 ZECHARIAH 

 MALACHI 


THE SCROLLS OF THE WRITINGS
KETUVIM

THE POETIC SCROLLS

 PSALMS 

 PROVERBS 

 JOB 

THE MEGILLOT (SCROLLS)

 SONG OF SOLOMON 

 RUTH 

 LAMENTATIONS 

 ECCLESIASTES 

 ESTHER 

THE PROPHETIC SCROLL

 DANIEL 

HISTORY

 EZRA/NEHEMIAH 

 CHRONICLES (1 & 2) 



*BIBLIOGRAPHY
  • Maps and illustrations from: ESV.org (some maps have been edited to show a more accurate location of Mount Sinai located in Midian in the Arabian Peninsula based on archeological and Biblical evidence found in Exodus 3.1; 4.19; Acts 7.29-30; Galatians 4.25)
  • Book Intro Videos from: BibleProject.org