Author Archives: clarevmerry

#26 The Shadowing of Kings

In exile it has happened time and again that Jews became administrators in the empires in which they were held captive.  Jewish administrators used their gifts  to help the rulers of empires enact just and wise decrees to the benefit of the diverse peoples of empires.  They also used their influence to save their ownContinue reading “#26 The Shadowing of Kings”

#25 The Authors of the Bible were Prophets

It is certain that each of the authors of the Bible was a prophet or someone who had the gift of prophecy.  It is through this gift that the Bible was inspired as a true revealing of God and His purposes.  The Holy Spirit speaks through chosen people who are His prophets (and not throughContinue reading “#25 The Authors of the Bible were Prophets”

#24 Twenty Four Authors of Scripture

Hebrew Old Testament = 8 Old Testament writers Each prophet wrote his own book for the most part, but Jeremiah did not.  The main prophets were Isaiah and Ezekiel apart from Jeremiah, but also Daniel.  This adds 3 authors. The twelve minor prophets came from different eras and just wrote shorter books.  This adds 11Continue reading “#24 Twenty Four Authors of Scripture”

#23 Bible Books, Authors and Dates Summary

This is a total of 45 books. Six of these books belong to the Apocrypha, so only 39 of them are found in Protestant Bibles. There are five other books belonging to the Apocrypha, but I would not include them in the Bible (Judith, Wisdom, 3 and 4 Maccabees and the Book of Odes). ThisContinue reading “#23 Bible Books, Authors and Dates Summary”

#20 Little Known Books of the Apocrypha

3 Maccabees 4 Maccabees Book of Odes Apocryphal books not included in Catholic Bibles: 3 and 4 Maccabees The books 3 and 4 Maccabees were written in Greek and conserved only in Constantinople by Orthodox Christians.  They are not used or recognized by Catholics or Protestants. The theme of these two books follows the detailsContinue reading “#20 Little Known Books of the Apocrypha”

#19 Book of Judith

Judith means ‘Jewess’ What is the Value of the Book of Judith? The book of Judith describes how a Jewess used her beauty and charm to trick an Assyrian general into inviting her into his tent as he laid siege to Jerusalem.  The story goes that she takes the opportunity of being alone with himContinue reading “#19 Book of Judith”

#18: 1 Maccabees

Value of 1 and 2 Maccabees These two books are historically valuable.  Maccabees helps fill in the Second Temple time between the last of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament. They show how Judaism formed during the centuries after the return from exile and how the Jewish nation survived in the years leadingContinue reading “#18: 1 Maccabees”