There are a variety of ways one might divide the Bible to aid the memory in placing this event or that event in it's proper context, and to generally hold a better grasp upon the story of the Bible. While at a series of studies last winter with Bob Waldron (Athens, AL), I was delighted to see the 17 periods of Bible history which brother Waldron teaches to aid others in knowing the Bible story.

Click here to download a useful chart with the 17 periods and much more.

17 PERIODS/DIVISIONS OF THE BIBLE

CREATION.........................................................................................
Genesis 1-5

FLOOD..............................................................................................
Genesis 6-9

SCATTERINGS.....................................................................................
Genesis 10-11

PATRIARCHS......................................................................................
Genesis 12-50

EXODUS............................................................................................
Exodus 1-40; Leviticus 1-27, Numbers 1-13

WILDERNESS WANDERINGS.....................................................................................
Numbers 13-36; Deuteronomy 1-34; Joshua 1-6

CONQUEST.........................................................................................
Joshua 6-24

JUDGES..............................................................................................
Judges 1-21, Ruth 1-4, 1 Samuel 1-7

UNITED KINGDOM................................................................................
1 Samuel 8 -31; 2 Samuel 1-24; 1 Kings 1-11; 1 Chronicles 1-29; 2 Chronicles 1-9; Job 1-42; Psalm 1-150; Proverbs 1-31; Ecclesiastes 1-12; Song of Solomon 1-8

DIVIDED KINGDOM...............................................................................
1 Kings 12-22; 2 Kings 1-18; 2 Chronicles 10-28; Obadiah; Joel; Jonah; Amos; Hosea; Isaiah; Micah

JUDAH ALONE......................................................................................
2 Kings 18-25; 2 Chronicles 28-36; Zephaniah; Nahum; Habakkuk

JUDAH IN CAPTIVITY............................................................................
Ezekiel; Daniel; Jeremiah; Lamentations

JUDAH RELEASED FROM CAPTIVITY........................................................
Haggai; Zechariah; Esther; Ezra; Nehemiah; Malachi

YEARS OF SILENCE...............................................................................
Amos 8:11-12

LIFE OF CHRIST....................................................................................
Matthew; Mark; Luke; John

EARLY CHURCH.....................................................................................
Acts

LETTERS TO CHRISTIANS........................................................................
Romans; 1 Corinthians; 2 Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; 1 Thessalonians; 2 Thessalonians; 1 Timothy; 2 Timothy; Titus; Philemon; Hebrews; James; 1 Peter; 2 Peter; 1 John; 2 John; 3 John; Jude; Revelation