Kress Biblical Resources :: The Panoramic Outline

The Parts of the Bible

Bible:—Divine revelation of God’s plan for redemption in Christ, kingdom rule in Christ, and the glory of God in Christ—resulting in love for God and man ¹

Part 1: Old Testament (TNK) ²—Redemption through faith in Christ and the kingdom of God anticipated [Redemption Promised] ³

Part 2: New Testament—Redemption through faith in Christ and the kingdom of God accomplished [Redemption Provided] ⁴

The Parts of the Old Testament

1. The Law (Torah): ⁵ The foundation of the plan and the founding of the nation through which redemption will come
2. The Prophets (Navi’im): The prophetic history and call to the nation to look to Yahweh as King and to anticipate His coming kingdom ⁶
   1. The Former Prophets: ⁷ The faithfulness of Yahweh and the failure of the nation to faithfully follow Yahweh
   2. The Latter Prophets: ⁸ The faithfulness of Yahweh to proclaim judgment on the nation, and to promise a future hope of restoration
3. The Writings (Ketuvim): ⁹ The more individual-focused revelation for the believing remnant, waiting for the promised kingdom

The Parts of the New Testament

1. The Gospels and Acts: Redemption accomplished [Purchased] through the incarnate, crucified, resurrected Redeemer—and proclaimed by the church as a new people of God
2. The Epistles: Redemption applied [Practiced] in the church while waiting for the kingdom
   1. The Pauline Epistles: Letters to the predominantly Gentile churches ¹⁰
   2. The Non-Pauline Epistles: Letters to the predominantly Jewish churches ¹¹
3. Revelation: Redemption attained [Perfected] and the kingdom come

¹ 2Ti 3:15; Eph 1:3-14; Mat 6:9-10; Mat 22:37-40; cf. Gen 1:1ff; Isa 45:18-25; Dan 2:44; Zec 14:9, 16-17; Rev 22:3-5

² Jesus referenced the three-fold Jewish division of the OT in Luk 24:44. The Jewish structure and traditional book order for the Old Testament is followed in this resource (see Luke 24:44—The Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms [Psalms being the first and largest book of the section called, the "Writings"]). It is commonly referred to as the TNK or Tanak--Torah (Law), Naviim (Prophets), and the Kethuvim (Writings). For more information on the order of the Hebrew Canon see the FAQ Why Is There a Threefold Division of the Hebrew Canon? (Law, Prophets, Writings).

³ See for example Gen 3:15; Gen 12:3; Psa 2; Psa 22; Psa 118:22-23; 1Ch 17:11-14; Isa 7:14; Isa 9:6; Isa 53:1-12; cf. Luk 24:27, 44-47; Jhn 1:45

⁴ See for example Mat 28:18-20; Luk 24:44-47; Jhn 20:31; Act 1:6-8; Act 8:30-31; Rom 1:1-5; Heb 1:1-3; Rev 1:17-18; Rev 22:1-5

⁵ Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

⁶ See Deu 28-30

⁷ Joshua, Judges, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings

⁸ Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, The Twelve (what are commonly call the “Minor Prophets”)

⁹ Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentation, Esther, Daniel, Ezra/Nehemiah, 1&2 Chronicles

¹⁰ Gal 2:7-8

¹¹ Some have argued that Peter wrote to a predominantly Gentile audience in 1 and 2 Peter—though this is disputed. Nonetheless, Peter was known as Apostle to the Jews (Gal 2:7-9). John’s epistles were likely written to a mixed audience.