When books of the bible were written, the Pentateuch and the Synoptic gospels were the most important, but there were also the Prophets and the Acts of the Apostles. What’s more, there were the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Pentateuch
The Pentateuch is a set of five books that constitute the first part of the Hebrew Bible. These books are considered to be the first of three divisions of the Jewish canon.
This set of books focuses on the ministry of Moses and the events surrounding the birth of Israel. It also portrays the stories of Joseph and Abraham.
Among the major questions about Pentateuch authorship, we need to consider the issue of text unity. In addition, we must ask about the chronology of the composition. Moreover, we must also consider theological emphases.
The Pentateuch is divided into two broad time periods: the pre-Patriarchal period, and the post-Patriarchal period. Using these periods, we can establish a chronology for the Pentateuch.
Prophets
A prophet is a person who delivers God’s message to specific people, usually relating to current or future events. Prophets usually deliver warnings of imminent judgment, or announce the blessings of future restoration. They also remind people of their pact with God.
The Bible describes many prophets, including Moses, Joshua, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Amos, Obadiah, Joel, and others. All have some common characteristics. While there is no single author, the prophetic books are thought to have been written by disciples.
In the Old Testament, prophets addressed issues like the fall of Israel to the Assyrians, the return of the Israelites to the Promised Land, and the time when Israel would be restored. They warned of the punishment of disobedience, and the need to be restored to God’s will.
Acts of the Apostles
Acts of the Apostles is the fifth book of the New Testament. It was written between the mid-second century and the early fourth century. This is the only narrative document of the Apostolic age of the church.
The book of Acts is a narrative detailing the growth and development of the early Christian community. It is a companion piece to the Gospel of Luke. The main theological emphasis of the book of Acts is the Holy Spirit.
Despite the abundance of miracles and other awe-inspiring events portrayed in the book of Acts, the reliability of these claims is often called into question. Some have argued that the miracles described in Acts were not actually real. Others have suggested that the author of the book may have exaggerated or misreported his involvement.
Psalms
The books of the Bible are composed of various sections of history, poetry, and prophecy. The Old Testament has an entire section dedicated to poetry, while the New Testament does not.
The book of Psalms is probably one of the most well-known books in the Bible. It is the largest of the four major canonical books in the Bible, and it is written by several different authors. Several scholars estimate that all of the psalms in the Bible were written over a period of almost a thousand years. Some of them are prophetic, while others are praising God.
While the book of Psalms is not the only place that songs appear in the Bible, it is a prime example. Many other songs are scattered throughout Scripture, and some of them have become part of the Church of God hymnal. As a result, the church has a plethora of Psalms that are arranged with modern melodies.
Synoptic gospels
The synoptic gospels are a set of three books of the bible that share many of the same events in Jesus’ life. Each book has its own unique content, but it is possible to trace a common literary source.
Synoptic gospels were written during the siege of Jerusalem during the first century, after the destruction of the Jerusalem temple by the Romans. Matthew and Luke were written about 15 years after Mark, while John was written nearly forty years later.
Some scholars claim that these gospels were written by Jewish Christians. Others argue that the writers used a variety of sources. They may have drawn on other sources such as liturgy, oral traditions, and earlier editions of other gospels.
Dead Sea Scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls are an important archaeological discovery. They contain thousands of ancient manuscripts written in various locations. These texts reflect different versions of the Bible during compilation. It also offers a window into the life of Jesus in his time.
In addition to the Hebrew Bible, the Scrolls include the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. Some of the scrolls are written in the paleo-Hebrew alphabet, thought to have fallen out of use in the fifth century BCE.
One of the most important books from the Qumran Scrolls is the book of Jubilees. This work was influenced by Enochic literature. While the book was popular in early Christian circles, it ceased to be accepted into canon in the first centuries A.D.
