Why are the books of the Bible arranged that way? Why aren’t they arranged in a chronological and historical format as opposed to their present “genre” divisions? There’s really no deep or sacred answer, and the order is not ordained by God. The best answer that might be given is, “we’ve always accepted it that way.” And this answer is a good one. Their compilation happened hundreds of years ago. Research if you desire to, but do not let it keep you up at night. As previously stated, the Bible has been formatted along “genre lines: connected by similarities in style, subject matter, and similar characteristics. These divisions give the most “initial” clarity to most readers of the Scripture. There will come a time in any serious study of the Word, that a “chronological” approach will be critical.
Before enumerating reasons for studying this way, consider some discoveries as we simply view the chronology of Biblical writings:
- Job is the earliest written book in the Old Testament.
- Oh my, what about the Kings and Chronicles? Do you know they wrote about the same history, only they were written hundreds of years apart and with very different perspectives?
- The Psalms can sound randomly repetitious if you don’t understand the setting from which they were written.
- And where do all those prophets fit into the scheme of things?
- How will we know when a verse or passage is taken “out of context”?
- The Old Testament was written over a span of about 1200 years; the New was completed over 100 years.
- The chronological arrangement of the New Testament books makes complete sense when thought out, but it can be shocking when you first see the list. The first two books written were James and Galatians. John wrote all of his books, epistles, etc. at the end of the hundred year period.
- Acts is basically a historical reference to most of the New Testament; it references the context of when and why most of the Epistles were written.
Now, let’s look into some of the reasons that a chronological study in the Scriptures could be effective – even necessary – for serious students of the Bible. (These points are not in any order or prioritized by importance; neither is the list exhaustive.)
- A chronological study is the most effective way to grasp that God is the author of the entire Bible. His sovereign superintendence is seen through its essential unity.
- The story of Salvation unfolds as we recognize the progressive nature of revelation through the timeline of Scripture.
- God’s actions make more sense than when they are encountered out of the chronological and historical context.
- Awareness of the chronology connects truths and helps us make clear connections when others challenge us with “contradictions” in Scripture.
- Chronology transforms the Bible from a random collection of content into a cohesive story.
- Our trust and confidence in God increases by seeing His promises come to fruition as they are actually presented in His bigger picture and story.
- You can recognize more and more the inter-connectedness of Scripture.
- It helps us to integrate Scripture with secular world history.
- It places the poetic and prophetic literature in its specific historical context.
- You’ll be less likely to skip parts of the Bible that are essential to gaining the complete sense and story of redemption.
- We are able to trace the spiritual journeys of the biblical characters.
- We gain a greater confidence in the uniqueness, the accuracy, and the authenticity of the Word of God.