What to Call the Parts of the Bible, or An Elegant Solution to a Problem Few People Know About

To begin at the beginning, I’m an expat American, living for more than one-third of my life in Asia. Professionally, I’m a biblical scholar, a writer, and professor at a seminary that has been around for 40 years; in fact, our fortieth anniversary celebration is taking place tomorrow (25 November 2023). For what it’s worth, the sixteen years I have taught here longer are more than any other biblical studies professor in the seminary’s history, and, after my historian colleague retires from full-time service next month, I will be the longest-serving of all faculty. My probably-too-long title for my first post needs explaining, if only because general knowledge of the Bible can no longer be assumed. The long-standing, traditional Christian name for the two parts of the Bible are “the Old Testament,” comprising thirty-nine (or forty-six, in some traditions like the Roman Catholic Church); and “the New Testament,” comprising twenty-seven books. My particular tradition accepts the Protestant (and, earlier, Jewish) canon of 39 books in the “Old Testament:” <a href="https://medium.com/@mitchel.modine/what-to-call-the-parts-of-the-bible-or-an-elegant-solution-to-a-problem-few-people-know-about-d6aae83fa1db">Visit Now</a>