Simple Answers | to the Why | Questions | about the Chronological Bible

Question 1: How important is it to read the Bible chronologically? Should we be reading it? Why?

Simple Answer 1: It Reduces Confusion

Have you ever read a passage in one of the Old Testament prophets, perhaps Isaiah, Amos, or Zechariah, which left you scratching your head?

Hi! I’m Rodney Harrier, a passionate Bible teacher and continual student of God’s Word. Although I graduated from an excellent four-year Bible college, I’ve also scratched my head many times in confusion about the Scriptures. Like you, I wondered what prompted their writings and what they talked or preached about.

A true chronological Bible helps us understand the proper sequence of events, characters, and writings in the book.

Scripture interprets Scripture and often reveals why they were written. This is an eye-opening experience, an “a-ha” moment.

Simple Answer 2: Reading the Bible chronologically prevents us from making errors in our interpretations

Many Christians either ignore the Old Testament altogether or pick a verse from the Old Testament because they like it or because it seems to prove their presuppositions without considering the context. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

This means the Old Testament is profitable if we take the time to understand it in its context. Think about it. Suppose you had written authoritative letters, and someone else were to read them 4,000 years later. Wouldn’t you want your words interpreted as they were meant?

Simple Answer 3: The dating of events and people are present throughout the Scriptures

If chronology is important to God, shouldn’t it be to us? Here are some dates and events scholars have figured out from the Bible.

The day when the earth was created and the date of the flood
The Jews exodus from Egypt
When the Judges ruled
The date of David’s reign
When Solomon’s temple was built and dedicated
How and when each king of Israel and Judah ruled
The date that Isaiah saw a vision of the LORD
70-year exile of the Jews from their homeland
King Cyrus’ proclamation predicted before he was born
The date the Jewish people returned to their homeland
Christ’s birth and death
The beginning of the church and the destruction of the temple
The seven and one-half years of the tribulation

These and others are identified by many scholars like Dr. Floyd Nolen Jones

Simple Answer 4: The Logical Progression of the Scriptures helps us understand God’s nature, emotions, and his Sovereign Design for the world

Without Genesis 1-3, nothing makes sense. Genesis answers the questions, who is God, what is he like, and where evil originated.

Questions about nature are answered

Where did all living things come from, how did they get here, and what sustains them? Why do living organisms die? Was this always the case?

Approximately, how old are the earth and its inhabitants? Was there a creator, or did all this stuff just evolve?

Questions about our relationships with God and each other are answered

What does God require of us? What happens to people when they pay no attention to God? Does he care? If so, what’s he going to do about it?

What happens when we mess up? Is there any hope for us, or are we lost forever? Will our creator help us get out of trouble? Is there any hope for us?

Is there life beyond the grave?

Why do people get sick and die? Why do the innocent suffer? Is God mean or kind?

What could happen if we totally devote ourselves to God?

Questions about our needs and God’s provision for restoration are answered

We can’t fully understand the sacrifice of Jesus Christ without understanding the sacrificial system outlined in Exodus and Leviticus.

What might it look like if God were among us? How would he want us to worship and obey him?

In the sequential history of the events, Israel turns their back on God, even though God had been very kind and patient. He punishes them, trying to bring repentance so he can walk among them and bless them.

We are probably not Jewish, so how does God bring us hope? How can we be ready for Jesus’ return?

Question 2. Why aren’t our regular or standard Bibles chronological?

Simple Answer 1: Half of the Bible is chronological, and there are many clues where the rest of the Scriptures fit

The Bible was written by Jewish people. The Scriptures were carefully passed on to the next generations orally and later written on papyrus (an early derivative of paper). They knew the stories of their history.

The Scriptures that aren’t chronological are arranged according to the type of literature: Poetical, Prophetical, Narrative, Doctrinal, and Apocalyptic. Still, within the writings, there are clues, internal evidence within the Scriptures as to when they were written.

The trouble is that most people coming into our churches don’t know any of this. Sure, they can use Bible commentaries to make the connections, but why not put the Scriptures and the events they describe side by side to understand them ourselves? That is what most chronological Bible studies do.

Simple Answer 2: The arrangement of today’s standard Bible is not exactly the same as that of early Christians; there have been changes.

The arrangement of the books of the Bible is not inspired; the writings are. Chronological Bibles are good tools to help us understand why certain Scriptures were written when they were.

Question 3: Can we be sure of the dating of the Bible and its chronology?

Simple Answer: Most of the time, yes.

Chronology is often significant and determined by God, as was earlier stated. Many times, God’s prophets made a point of recording the details of the event, which were under the direct supervision of God. The book of Ezekiel is an excellent example of this. Other Scripture chronology can be determined by internal evidence, logic, and sometimes early church tradition and interpretations.

Take-Aways

You can now see how valuable it is to understand the chronology of the Bible. If it is important to God, it should be important to us. If you read the Bible chronologically, what you learn will change your life forever. Why not sign up today on my website? Study it for a whole year and see what a difference it makes. You will be amazed and blessed.

[1] Some Chronological Bible studies are arranged by theme instead of historical chronology. This violates the intent of the original writers.

[2] The Chronology of the Old Testament by Dr. Floyd Nolen Jones

[3] The current arrangement was by Jerome, but Ezra the priest and John, a disciple of Jesus probably assembled the original arrangement of the Scriptures. If you want to see what that is, go here

[4] institute for Bible reading--book order

Check out some chronological Bible Studies we have on this blog

connect with me on my home page

Good news! If you want chronological Bible studies to help you understand the Chronological Bible, just sign up for daily emails on my website. This gives you access to the daily Bible reading schedules that go with them, and you can use your own Bible. Yes, because I only move to parallel passages at natural breaks in the narratives, that means less flipping back and forth through your favorite Bible. Just think of it, in one year you can read through all of God’s Word and understand how it applies to you. What you learn can change your life forever.