i. The Old and New Testament (De Veteri et Novo Testamento) 1. The Old Testament is so called because it ceased when the New came. The apostle Paul reminds us of this, saying (Ⅱ Corinthians 5:17): “Old things have passed away, and behold, new things have come about.” 2. One testament is called New (Novus) because it innovates (innovare). Indeed, the only ones who come to know it are those who are renewed (renovatus) from the old by grace and who belong now to the New Testament, which is the kingdom of heaven.

3. The Hebrews take the Old Testament, with Ezra as its redactor, as consisting of twenty-two books, corresponding to the number of letters in their alphabet. They divide these books into three classes: Law, Prophets, and Sacred Writings. 4. The first class, Law (Lex), is taken as being five books: of these the first is Bresith, which is Genesis; second Veelle Semoth, which is Exodus; third Vaiicra, which is Leviticus; fourth Vaiedabber, which is Numbers; fifth Elleaddebarim, which is Deuteronomy. 5. These are the five books of Moses, which the Hebrews call Torah (Thora), and Latin speakers call the Law. That which was given through Moses is properly called the Law.

6. The second class is of Prophets (Propheta), in which are contained eight books, of which the first is Josua Benun, called Iesu Nave in Latin (i.e. the book of Joshua ‘ben Nun,’ the son of Nun).