The Tripartite TaNaKh, The Great Synagogue, Dead Sea Scrolls Witnesses, and Masoretic Precision
Broad historical and manuscript consensus that the 24/39-book Hebrew canon ( Torah , Nevi'im, Ketuvim - TaNaKh) was established and closed well before the 1st century AD, attested by Josephus, Philo, the Prologue to Ben Sira (c. 132 BC), the New Testament, and Qumran biblical scrolls.
Apostolic Authority, The Muratorian Fragment, Athanasius's 39th Festal Letter, and Antilegomena
Historical consensus that the 27-book NT canon developed via rigorous criteria: apostolicity (authored by an apostle or close associate), orthodoxy (consistency with the Rule of Faith), catholicity (widespread use across churches), and antiquity (1st century origin). Debates on antilegomena resolved by the late 4th century.
Methods, Canons of Criticism, Text-Types, and the Reconstruction of the Original Autographs
Historical and scientific consensus that over 5,800 Greek NT manuscripts, ancient versions (Syriac Peshitta, Old Latin, Coptic, Vulgate), and early patristic quotations preserve the pristine original text of the NT with >99% substantial fidelity. Minor variant debates (e.g. Pericope Adulterae John 7:53–8 :11, Longer Ending of Mark 16:9-20 , Comma Johanneum 1 John 5:7-8 ) are evaluated via transparent canons of textual criticism.
Old Testament • 42 Chapters
Job (Old Testament, 42 chapters). Key figures: Eliphaz , Adam , Ram (or Amram ). Key places: Tema , Sheba , Ophir , Ethiopia , Adam , Jordan . Opens with: "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil...."
Old Testament • 10 Chapters
Esther (Old Testament, 10 chapters). Key figures: Jair , Shimei , Kish , Jehoiachin (or Jeconiah ), Judah . Key places: India , Ethiopia , Persia , Media , Tarshish , Jair . Opens with: "Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia , over an hundred and seven and..."
Old Testament • 50 Chapters
Genesis (Old Testament, 50 chapters). Key figures: Adam , Cain , Abel , Enoch , Irad , Mehujael . Key places: Eden , Havilah 2 , Gihon 2 , Ethiopia , Assyria , Euphrates . Opens with: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth...."
Old Testament • 13 Chapters
Nehemiah (Old Testament, 13 chapters). Key figures: Judah , Jacob/Israel , Moses , Asaph , Berechiah , Zadok . Key places: Jerusalem , Jericho , Gibeon , Mizpah 3 , Zanoah 1 , Keilah . Opens with: "The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,..."
Old Testament • 4 Chapters
Jonah (Old Testament, 4 chapters). Key places: Nineveh , Tarshish , Joppa . Opens with: "Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,..."
Old Testament • 3 Chapters
Habakkuk (Old Testament, 3 chapters). Key figures: Teman , Midian . Key places: Lebanon , Teman , Paran , Cushan , Midian . Opens with: "The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see...."
Old Testament • 29 Chapters
1 Chronicles (Old Testament, 29 chapters). Key figures: Adam , Seth , Enosh , Kenan , Jared , Enoch . Key places: Adam , Ham 2 , Gomer , Magog , Javan , Tubal . Opens with: "Adam, Seth , Enosh ,..."
an old man, elder
Primary meaning: an old man, elder. Strong's: older; as noun, a senior; specially, an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or Christian "presbyter". Lexical nuances: an old man . Compar., πρεσβύτερος , -α , -ον , [in LXX chiefly for זָקֵן ;] of age, elder : ὁ νἱὸς ὁ π. , Lk 15:25 ; as subst., opp. to νεανίσκοι , Ac 2:17 ; to νεώτερος , I Ti 5:1 , 2 ; of the religious leaders of the past, Mt 15:2 , Mk 7:3 , 5 , He 11:2 (= οἱ πατέρες , He 1:1 ). Of dignity, rank or office (as found in π. and Inscr. of civil and religious offices, including priesthood, in Asia...
Derivation: comparative of (elderly);
a disposition, testament, will, a convention, arrangement, covenant
Primary meaning: a disposition, testament, will, a convention, arrangement, covenant. Strong's: properly, a disposition, i.e. (specially) a contract (especially a devisory will). Lexical nuances: as usually in cl., a disposition, testament, will (Plat., al.): Ga 3:15 (R, mg., but v. Lft., in l.), He 9:16 , 17 (R, txt.; MM, Exp. , xi,; Milligan, NTD , 75; Abbott, Essays , 107; Deiss., LAE , 341; but v. infr.).
Derivation: from G1303 (διατίθεμαι);
Old Testament • 52 Chapters
Jeremiah (Old Testament, 52 chapters). Key figures: Hilkiah , Benjamin , Josiah , Amon , Judah , Jehoiakim (or Eliakim ). Key places: Anathoth , Jerusalem , Egypt , Baal , Kittim , Kedar . Opens with: "The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah , of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin :..."
Old Testament • 31 Chapters
1 Samuel (Old Testament, 31 chapters). Key figures: Ephraim , Elkanah , Jeroham , Zuph , Eli , Phinehas . Key places: Ephraim , Shiloh , Ramah 1 , Egypt , Dan , Aphek 2 . Opens with: "Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim–zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah , the son of Jeroham , the son of Elihu, the son o..."
Old Testament • 25 Chapters
2 Kings (Old Testament, 25 chapters). Key figures: Moab , Jacob/Israel , Ahaziah , Baal , Jehoshaphat , Judah . Key places: Moab , Samaria , Baal , Ekron , Gilgal 1 , Jericho . Opens with: "Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab...."
