Can someone explain this?

[cwiehle]

You start with a difficult question.

I must say I was amazed to recently discover that the Old Testament is not in date order.

The Old Testament is the old dispensation. There were the 10 commandments and the people lived under the law. The New Testament is from Jesus' birth. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John cover more or less the same time period. The New testament is grace. From the Old Testament we can see that man cannot keep the laws, (even now we can see that). Jesus came to be the sacrifice for us. We are saved by grace. Nothing we have done can save us, Jesus saves us.

There are some of the Bibles you can buy, that give you the date the book was written (eg Life application).

I have heard that there is a four hundred year gap between the end of the OT and when Jesus was born.

All scripture is God breathed.

Who wrote the Ten commandments again? I am sorry I know I should know these basics? How is the weather in South Africa?

 

[repentandbelieve]

Who wrote the Ten commandments again? I am sorry I know I should know these basics? How is the weather in South Africa?

On Mt Sinai, Moses received a copy of the Ten Commandments, engraved by the finger of God Himself upon two tables of stone. (Deuteronomy 9:10 and Exodus 32:15,16)

 

[kisstheson]

I will read John, but may I ask why you recommend starting there?

Thanks for sharing you heart. I appreciate your honesty. I agree with NorwayUnn cwiehle, start with the Gospel of John. If you find that you have one of the "Thee, Thy, Thine, Thou," translations and this seems hard to understand why not go to your local Christian bookstore or Barnes and Noble and pick up a more modern tanslation such as "The Message." That's an easy to read Bible.

I hope NorwayUnn doesn't mind me answering your question but...simply put... The Gospel of John is one of four testimonies written about Jesus. John was His closest friend and an eyewitness to the words and miracles of Jesus. As you read John's account of Christ's life you will see the amazing, incredible things that Jesus did, things that no other person on earth ever did. You'll read the claims of Jesus Himself. He said things that no one else ever said and He backed His claims up with awesome miracles.

Please cwiehle, why not open up your heart to Jesus before you start to read John's gospel? Ask Him to show you His love for you. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you as your read His story.

There are a thousand reasons why we could tell you to get to know Jesus. And you probably have a thousand and one questions but if we try to answer all those questions right now don't you think things will get sort of complicated? I suggest you start simple. Please take some time alone by yourself and read the Gospel of John. Hey! Maybe you already started!

"You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest through the trees. These Scriptures are all about Me! And here I am standing right in front of you..." ~Jesus Christ, The Gospel of John chapter 5 vrs 39-40
The Message Bible

 

[CanisLupus]

Hello everyone,

I am in what you would call the beginning stages of my search for faith. I was subjected to a life changing moment a few weeks back when I rolled my car on my way to work. I can't remember much of it, but the two days I was in the hospital I found myself thanking God that I was still alive,and that I could see my family again. Until then I was in religious limbo for the past 20 years of my life. I have never been Atheist, I always wanted to believe. I have just never understood the possiblilty of certain things the Bible claims. The more I read and talk to you here at CF I am beginning to accept more and more, and that I am not supposed to understand everything. Someone in apologetics said I should hang around here (deeper fellowship) so I am around non-argumentative surroundings and can concentrate more on my Christian education.
I was just going to post a simple question, but it turned into this long intro.

My question was this- Why is there an old and new testament? What is the timeline? I have never read the Bible, but am going to start, this question I posed was one of my first confusions.

Thank you

Chris

I recommend reading this book: Steps to Christ
It is free to read it online. Just click on the chapter 1 which is looks like this "1. God's Love for Man" and read then continue on to the end of the book.

(I am not a baptist or anabaptist, but I am a christian.)

 

[repentandbelieve]

I recommend reading this book: Steps to Christ
It is free to read it online. Just click on the chapter 1 which is looks like this "1. God's Love for Man" and read then continue on to the end of the book.

(I am not a baptist or anabaptist, but I am a christian.)

Excellant recommendation "Steps to Christ". Few books have exerted such a great influence in the uplifting of humanity as has "Steps to Christ". It is very powerfully written. Simple and plain yet powerfull.

 

[Dee235]

I taught scripture for a long time and I have noted folks who try to swallow too much at once gets an upset tummy.

You are wise and give good advice, Peaceful Dove. The Bible says that when we are first born again we must be fed milk, and then later on we can start eating meat.

 

[Dee235]

Who wrote the Ten commandments again? I am sorry I know I should know these basics? How is the weather in South Africa?

God gave the Ten commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai.

The weather was good yesterday, actually has been rather hot over the past few days. Tonight though it is raining. It is East London's rainy season though. We also have that marvelous experience: humidity.

 

[pdudgeon]

My question was this- Why is there an old and new testament? What is the timeline? I have never read the Bible, but am going to start, this question I posed was one of my first confusions.

in the beginning there was simply "a" testament--an oral history that was eventually written down. It tells of the political and spiritual history of the Jews, introduces and explains who God is, and how He worked all thru their history from the very creation of time by God Himself up untill about 400 B.C. (before Christ).

all thru these books we see the effects of sin upon men and how it separated them from God and wrecked havocc in their lives. In Genesis we see both God's justice and His mercy at work.
the old testament also contains many books of the prophets whom God sent with messages both of warning and of hope to His people.

the new testament was written after the life and death of Jesus. When it was written "the" testament was re-named the "old testament" to distinguish it from the new.
The Apostles realized that they needed to record the story of Jesus from His conception thru his death and resurrection so that new believers could learn and so that those who knew Jesus best could tell the true story of what happened. Their books are the first 4 in the new testament, and each one emphasizes a different aspect of who Jesus is.

Matthew (first book) presents Jesus as Israel's promised Messiah (savior) and king.
Mark (second book) presents Jesus as the Servant and emphasizes his ministry. the key word in Mark is "immediately".
Luke (third book) presents the humanity and compassion of Jesus as the "Son of Man" who identified with and took pitty on the sinful state that man existed in apart from God.
John (fourth book) presents Jesus as the Truth from God, the Son of God, the only way to God, and God Himself in person in the flesh.

The next book, called Acts of the Apostles, begins with the events after Jesus' crucifiction, and tells of the early church, how it spread and was persecuted. After that we have a selection of the letters written by the Apostles to churches in various cities,as well as some written to people (book of Timothy, for example).
The new testament finally ends in Revelation, a recorded vision of the future by the Apostle John.

 

[Protodromos]

Chris I admire your interest in Christianity. There is something you should know before you ask people about their understandings of the faith though. In Christianity today there is division of East and West and subsequently in the teachings/theology of each. The Eastern understanding is the more traditional of the two and dates back to Christ directly. I will happily point you to further resources if you are interested. Most Christians in America today fall under the Western influence. If you look at Europe and Russia (and a small proportion in America) you will find the Eastern traditions and beliefs/theology which are 2,000 years old rather than the Western ones which are primarily from the Roman Catholic church or in retaliation against it (Protestant, Baptist etc.)
While there are many commonalities between both sides there are also fundamental and very important differences. I encourage you to look at the roots of the Christian faith by reading the "church fathers" rather than by starting at what people believe today and piecing together your understanding of Christianity using the Bible only. The Christian faith is so much deeper and has so much more to offer than that. Like I said, I will gladly help you take a look at it if you're interested.
God bless your efforts and search.
-john