Topical Bible: Books: Divine Communications Recorded In

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Bible, regarded as the inspired Word of God, is a collection of sacred texts that record divine communications to humanity. These communications are conveyed through various literary forms, including historical narratives, laws, prophecies, poetry, and epistles. The Bible is divided into two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament, each containing books that serve as vessels for God's messages.

Old Testament

1. The Pentateuch (Torah): The first five books—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—are traditionally attributed to Moses. These books contain God's laws and instructions, as well as the history of creation, the patriarchs, and the formation of Israel as a nation. In Exodus 20:1-2 , God speaks directly to the Israelites: "And God spoke all these words: 'I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.'"

2. Historical Books: These books, including Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther, document the history of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the post-exilic period. They record God's interactions with His people, often through prophets and leaders. For example, in 1 Samuel 3:10 , God calls the young Samuel: "Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for Your servant is listening.'"

3. Wisdom Literature: Books such as Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon contain divine wisdom and reflections on life, often in poetic form. The Psalms, for instance, are filled with prayers and songs that express the psalmists' communication with God. Psalm 19:1 declares, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands."

4. Prophetic Books: The major and minor prophets, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the twelve minor prophets, convey God's messages of warning, judgment, and hope. These books often begin with phrases like "The word of the LORD came to..." indicating divine revelation. In Isaiah 6:8 , the prophet responds to God's call: "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'"

New Testament

1. The Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John record the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the ultimate revelation of God to humanity. These books emphasize Jesus' divine nature and His role as the Savior. In John 1:14 , it is written, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

2. Acts of the Apostles: This book, written by Luke, details the early church's history and the spread of the Gospel through the apostles, guided by the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:4 describes the day of Pentecost: "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."

3. Epistles: The letters of Paul, Peter, James, John, and others provide instruction, encouragement, and theological insights to early Christian communities. These writings are considered divinely inspired and authoritative for teaching. In 2 Timothy 3:16 , Paul affirms, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness."

4. Revelation: The final book of the New Testament, written by John, contains apocalyptic visions and prophecies concerning the end times and the ultimate victory of God. Revelation 1:1 introduces the book: "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John."

Throughout these books, the Bible presents a cohesive narrative of God's redemptive plan for humanity, communicated through His chosen messengers and ultimately through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 17:14
And the LORD said to Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 30:8
Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 36:2
Take you a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, even to this day.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Revelation 1:19
Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Gifts no Certain Evidence of Grace.
... The same appears from another incident, recorded by St. ... the things written in the
books" which will ... who have gloried in special divine communications have been ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xiv gifts no certain.htm

The Historical Books. 1 the New Testament...
... its special office in the economy of divine revelation ... not improbable, some of the
existing canonical books of the ... who wrote down the oral communications of his ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxix the historical books.htm

Letter vi. In My Last Two Letters I have Given the State of the ...
... not a fact that the Books of the ... communion and co- agency of divine grace, attributable ...
with those express, and expressly recorded, communications and messages ...
/.../coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/letter vi in my last.htm

A Meeting in the Desert
... obedience, and need to hold our communications with God ... So, divine intervention and
human journeying and work were ... people not very much used to books, or who ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/a meeting in the desert.htm

The Recovery and Revival of the Blessed Hope Itself.
... that the things he had seen and the communications which he ... And of the making of
many books, there is truly no ... almost dies; and so it was with the Divine seed. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/1 the recovery and revival.htm

The Joys of 'that Day'
... that continuous teaching which, by that divine Spirit whom ... moment to allege that
fresh communications of truth ... and systems and preachers and books and magazines ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/the joys of that day.htm

Elucidations.
The Five Books Against Marcion. ... of exhibiting the only sinless One, in His Divine
perfections as ... the vision of spirits, nor with such communications as Abraham ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/elucidations.htm

Introduction
... holy Mother Teresa, who, in her books, but chiefly ... the most difficult questions of
this divine theology, and ... grows and profits by its communications with God. ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/introduction.htm

Letter Xciii. (AD 408. )
... of this anything from the Divine Books, how much ... to adduce against so many Divine
testimonies, as ... warning: "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xciii a d 408.htm

Introduction to the Present Edition.
... 14] "Of one of her books, namely, the ... X. to XXI., the investigation of Divine locutions,
Visions ... earlier writings were but confidential communications to her ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/introduction to the present edition.htm