This article is the sixth installment in our series "Christian, What Do You Believe: The Belgic Confession of Faith". Find the whole series here.
The fourth article of the Belgic Confession is basically a list of Bible books. That might not seem very edifying, but the list is important. It distinguishes the Protestant Bible from the augmented Bible of the Roman Catholic Church. It also contrasts the canonical books—or those that fit the rule of the apostolic testimony—with other religious writings, old or new.
And this list can, in fact, build us up. It can help us relate the two parts of our one Bible into the single story of how God saves sinners. The story’s first part, the Old Testament, records the promise of redemption in which the hero, Christ, is somewhat concealed. In the second part, the New Testament, Christ is revealed: he clearly fulfills—not abolishes (Matt. 5:17)—everything promised about him. In both parts God tells us how to know and obey him.
This list of books outlines the story of the Bible, which we should know and hold very dear.
The Message of the Old Testament
English Translations organize the Old Testament books into three groups: history, poetry, and prophecy.
Old Testament History
The historical books tell the story of the world from creation to the eve of Christ’s first coming.
The five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) tell how the eternal God made a perfect world, how human sin spoiled everything, and how God promised to send a redeemer to graciously save a remnant of lost sinners. The people who first learned of this promise were called Israelites after the patriarch born with the name Jacob. When Israel became enslaved in Egypt God rescued them, taught them how to honor and enjoy him, and gave them a territory to call their own.
That land was already occupied. So, Joshua, Judges, and Ruth tell of the conquest and settlement of, and early leadership in the promised land. Six books (1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles) describe the rise and fall of God’s chosen people. Because of their unfaithfulness, the Lord split his people into two kingdoms—Israel and Judah—and judged them by military oppression and deportation at the hands of foreigners. Ezra and Nehemiah tell how God returned to the Holy Land a remnant. God would always care for his own, even as he had during the days of exile as recorded in Esther.
Old Testament Poetry
The poetic books more figuratively describe the life of God’s people and model wise responses to life’s challenges. Job explores the reality of godly suffering—God is sovereign; we must trust him even if we don’t understand his ways. In the Psalms, David and others pour out their hearts before the Lord trusting in the Messiah’s ministry of redemption. In Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon, David’s son Solomon wisely applies the fear of the Lord to daily life, contrasts the vanity of godlessness with the joy of righteousness, and extolls the love between marriage partners and between the Lord and his church.
Old Testament Prophecy
The prophets record God’s ministry to his people through human spokesmen. From the beginning, God sent prophets to confront the people’s covenant-breaking and warn them of the wages of sin. Isaiah wrote about the folly of trusting in any strength than the Lord’s. Israel and Judah failed to listen. Still, God would deliver a remnant through his Suffering Servant. Jeremiah persistently warned the people of the coming judgment. In Lamentations Jeremiah laments Jerusalem’s sin and her wretched condition following her destruction in the year 586 BC. Ezekiel and Daniel ministered during the exile; they explained the reason for God’s judgment and modeled and urged a godly life even during severe opposition.
The Minor Prophets Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah sound the same message: Use the coming judgment to repent. Through the ministries of the prophets Haggai, Zachariah, and Malachi God urged the people to rebuild—physically and spiritually—in the wake of God’s judgment.
The Old Testament books set the stage for the arrival of the promised Savior, Jesus of Nazareth, God’s own Son.
The Message of the New Testament
The four Gospels and Acts continue to tell the story of redemptive history following a 400-year period of relative prophetic silence. Matthew, Mark and Luke describe from a similar perspective the good news of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, ascension, and promise to return. John tells the same story focusing on Christ’s eternal divinity; he includes some sermons and prayers omitted in the synoptics. The Acts of the Apostles records the continuing ministry of Jesus through his Spirit and disciples.
The epistles or letters to the fledgling New Testament churches address particular needs which are also applicable to the universal church. Paul wrote at least thirteen of them. Romans is Scripture’s doctrinal pinnacle. It unpacks Christian theology in terms of sin, salvation, and service. In 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses problems in the Corinthian church and responds to questions about marriage, idols, worship, and the resurrection. In 2 Corinthians, Paul relates personal history and urges generous giving for the Jerusalem saints. Paul firmly warns the Galatians not to replace the gospel with a message of faith plus works. Ephesians stresses the unity of Christ’s believers. From prison, Paul wrote Philippians to joyfully declare God’s work in the church. Colossians extols Christ as the only and all-sufficient Savior. 1&2 Thessalonians urge active faithfulness in the light of Christ’s second coming. The Pastoral Epistles (1&2 Timothy, and Titus), establish continuity of the gospel ministry through faithful pastors. Philemon is a concrete exhibition of Christian forgiveness.
The anonymous Hebrews is a sermon-letter powerfully demonstrating that Jesus of Nazareth is the prophet, priest and king foreshadowed in the Old Testament.
The non-Pauline letters are called general epistles. James is patterned after the teaching of his brother Jesus and outlines “pure and undefiled religion” (James 1:27). 1&2 Peter and Jude are closely related in their warnings against false prophets and their focus on Christ as the living hope. 1, 2 & 3 John identify the marks of believers united to God’s Son and provide concrete boundaries for fellowship in the world and in the church.
In Revelation Jesus exposits the spirituality of world history and previews the eternal bliss awaiting believers after Jesus’ return.
From Genesis to Revelation the Bible is a cohesive story written by dozens of human authors over hundreds of years. The sum of the story in a single word is redemption. What is corrupted by sin can be restored in Christ. As evidence, the Bible tells of undeserving people who found new life in a vibrant walk with God. Because of the central message of the gospel of Jesus Scripture is a unified book of hope in a world gone bad. So, our calling is simple: take up and read this Bible. See every page as another facet through which the glory of Christ shines forth as rays of hope to those who trust in God’s covenant promise. And be assured by this finished book that God is still working out his unbreakable plan to save the world through Christ (1 John 3:17).
Footnotes
Following the Septuagint, Lamentations is not included in the confession’s list because it was merged with Jeremiah.
