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The Christian Bible is a collection of books written over a time period from about 1400BC to 100AD. These books that make up the Bible vary from romantic poetry, official government histories, personal journal entries, to letters between friends. The authors are as diverse: from national leaders, to peasants. Not surprisingly there can readily be noted differences in style and purpose as one reads the work of diverse authors.

An observer will initially note that the Bible is broken up into the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament incorporates a narrative from the creation of the world until a time well into the Persian Empire (about 440BC). Alongside the books focusing on narrative there are also to be found wisdom literature, books that tell the reader how he or she should live, the law, and the prophets.
The law books, include a lot that is also narrative; but some, notably Deuteronomy are structured constitutionally. The book of Deuteronomy is essentially a treaty between God, and the nation of Israel, God is depicted as the great King, and Israel his subject. Similarities can be easily noted between Deuteronomy and other ancient law documents (eg Hammurabi's Code).
With the prophetic books, the prophets are not particularly interested in predicting future events, (although that does happen) rather they seek to enforce God's laws.

In short, the Old Testament contains laws, where the Israelites were told how God wanted them to live; history, showing how they succeeded or failed in obeying the laws, and prophets, people who encouraged them to be obedient. As a body of literature what the Old Testament communicates throughout its pages is remarkably consistent.

The New Testament written from about 45AD 100AD begins with four accounts of the life of Jesus. Key elements of these accounts are the same, but there are also many differences; the reason being that they were written by four very different men, each with a different audience in mind, and with varied sources available to him. The book of Acts is narrative, detailing the spread of the Christian faith from Jerusalem to Rome in the years between 30AD and about 62AD. Most of the rest of the New Testament consists of letters written from leaders to various churches. These letters were sent both to encourage church members, and address various problems.

The Old Testament more often than not depicted God's people failing to live up to the standards he set for them. The New Testament inaugurates a new age, God

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