Home > Appendixes to VKICG > Bible: Original Manuscript Order of the Books

The Controversy

"Once the original, God-breathed manuscript order of the books of the Holy Bible -- the Old and New Testaments -- has been restored, God's divine design of the Scriptures begins to unfold."

-- Fred R. Coulter, The Holy Bible in its Original Order, pg. 9, emphasis retained.

The subject of biblical numerology (how God uses numbers) is a level of study reserved for the more established Christian after they have studied and understood the basics. But in regards to numbers, the books of the Bible in approximately all Bible translations are not accurate in their proper order. Though this may not be apparent amongst most Christian believers, it is not a hidden mystery to the sincere scholar or history book. Numerous historians, through the centuries, knew of the original order of the Bible manuscripts. As to biblical numerology, it also plays a role in this as well.

Original Manuscript Order of the Old Testament

"The 39 books of the Old Testament—as found in most versions today—comprise the entire Old Testament. The difference in numbering between the 39 books and the original number of 22 books lies in how Ezra grouped the books and how they were counted in the Tripartite Division of the Old Testament. The three-part division of the Old Testament is: 1) The Law, 2) The Prophets, and 3) The Writings (also known as the “Psalms” because the book of Psalms is listed first in this division)."

-- Fred R. Coulter, The Holy Bible in its Original Order, pg. 5.

"In the Old Testament all twelve minor Prophets are counted as one book: Joshua and Judges, as one book; I and II Samuel, as one book; I and II Kings, as one book; Ezra and Nehemiah, as one book; I and II Chronicles, as one book. This is the difference in the canonized count versus the individual book count. So, in the Old Testament there are actually 22 books and in the New Testament 27 books making a total according to the original manuscript order 49 books."

-- Fred R. Coulter, The Holy Bible in its Original Order, pg. 8.

Original Manuscript Order of the New Testament

"It is an established fact that from ancient times the vast majority of biblical scholars have been fully aware of the original manuscript order of the New Testament books."

-- Fred R. Coulter, The Holy Bible in its Original Order, pg. 7.

"About This Bible (A Faithful Version)"
https://afaithfulversion.org
Read the commentary section "About This Bible" to better understand the original manuscript order of books for the Bible.

The Seven Divisions of the Bible

Division I

- THE LAW

Division II

- THE PROPHETS

Division III

- THE WRITINGS

Division IV

- THE GOSPELS

Division V

- THE GENERAL EPISTLES

Division VI

- THE EPISTLES OF PAUL

Division VII

- REVELATION