The Layman's Guide to the Bible: A Complete Study Guide

The Bible is actually a library of 66 books. The 39 books of the Old Testament were composed between 1400 and 400 B.C., the 27 books of the New Testament between A.D. 50 and 100. The prophet Moses began the first five books of the Bible sometime before 1400 B.C. The Apostle John penned the last book of the Bible, Revelation, about A.D. 95. During the 1,600 years between the writing of the first and last books of the Bible, at least 38 other prophets made their contributions. The various Bible writers lived at different times, some separated by hundreds of years. In many cases they were complete strangers to one another. Some were businessmen or traders; others were shepherds, fishermen, soldiers, physicians, preachers, kings-human beings from all walks of life. They served under different governments, and lived within contrasting cultures and systems of philosophy.