|
Quick
Overview of Bible Books and Divisions |
OLD
TESTAMENT
Genesis
1:1 - Malachi 4:4
The Story of the Nation of Israel and Her Coming Messiah
Pentateuch
(the writings of Moses)
Genesis 1:1 - Deuteronomy 34:12
The Revelation of The Law of God
Genesis
1:1 - 50:26 (written by Moses)
The Book of Beginnings
Creation:
beginning of God's dealings with men, and with Israel
Israel: first sin, first sacrifices; first man, first family
Men: first fathers of the Jewish nation, first captivity (Egypt), first
Revelation of God's names (Jehovah and Elohim)
Creation 1-2
Adam
Seth
The Fall into sin 3
The Flood, Government 6-10
Noah
Babel
Abraham
Isaac,
Jacob
Joseph
12 Tribes of Israel (Jacob)
Exodus 1:1
- 40:38 (written by Moses)
Israel: Subjection, Emancipation, Departure, Revelation, Bondage 1
Birth and life of Moses
Egyptian Prince - 40 years
Midianite shepherd - 40 years
Jehovah calls Moses 2
Moses Objections 4
Moses, Aaron before Pharaoh (Ramses II) 5-12
Plagues 7:20-12:30
Passover 12-13
Red Sea Crossing 14:21-31
Song of Praise 15
Israel in the Wilderness 16-19
Ten Commandments and Law 20-24
Tabernacle 25-31
Golden Calf 32
Wanderings in the wilderness - until
The setting up of the Tabernacle 33-40
Leviticus
1:1 - 27:34 (written by Moses)
The Way to God, The Walk with God, Law, Acceptable Worship
Offerings to
God 1-7
Holiness before God 11-15
Day of Atonement 16
Seven Feasts of Jehovah 21-23
Dietary, sanitary, marital, moral, civil, and ritual laws.
The Land, the Poor, Objects and People dedicated to the Lord
Vows to God, Warnings against forgetting and forsaking the Lord.
Numbers
1:1 - 36:13 (written by Moses)
Sinai to Kadesh - 40 years for an 11 day journey
Numbering of
the men over twenty,
set-up of the camp, priests' duties
before God and men,
rules against moral defilement of the camp,
rules for solemn assemblies,
Wilderness wanderings (11-20), preparation to enter Canaan
The Promised Land (to Abraham)
Rules of inheritance and cities of refuge.
Deuteronomy
1:1 - 34:12 (written by Moses)
Retelling the Law of God, Ratifying the Covenant
Moses recites
the Law before the Israelites enter Canaan;
Shema (6:4-5) The call to devotion to the One God, Jehovah
Blessings of obedience (28:1-14)
Penalties of disobedience, Prophecies shoot the 12 tribes (33)
Death of Moses (34)
Old
Testament Books of History
Joshua 1:1 - Esther 10:3
Joshua 1:1
- 24:33 (written by Joshua)
Into the Land of Promise
The Faithfulness of God, The Law of God, The Holiness of God
Joshua - God's people conquer, divide and settle Canaan
Judges 1:1
- 21:25 (anonymous)
Apostasy: Every Man Does what is Right in His Own Eyes
Judges - Israel under 15 judges (rescuers) between the death of Joshua and the
birth of Samuel.
"Every man did what was right in his own eyes."
Ruth 1:1 -
3:18 (anonymous)
The Complete Picture of God and His People (Israel, and The Church)
Ruth - Named for one of the women in the lineage of Jesus, this is a tender
love story, taking place in Bethlehem.
1 Samuel
1:1 - 31:13 (portions written by Samuel, Nathan, and Gad)
Samuel the Last Judge to Saul the First King
Biographies
of:
Samuel 1-7
Saul 8-15
David 16-31
Samuel was
the last judge;
God's people demanded a king,
so God commanded Samuel to anoint Saul.
When Saul disobeyed God, Samuel anointed David the Shepherd.
2 Samuel
1:1 - 24:25 (written by Samuel and others)
David the King of Israel
2 Samuel - The account of the forty year reign of
David
1 Kings
1:1 - 22:53 (written by Jeremiah the prophet)
The making of the 2 Kingdoms of Israel and Judah
The forty year reign
of Solomon 2-11
The civil war when the Kingdom was
divided by Jeroboam's rebellion 12-16
The ministry of Elijah
2 Kings
1:1 - 25:30 (written by Jeremiah the Prophet)
The Kingdoms Divided, the final curse upon Judah for Disobedience
The
history of the Divided Kingdom
"Israel" 10 Northern Tribes
"Judah" 2 Southern Tribes
Elijah 1-2
Elisha 2-9
Northern monarchy 9-17
Assyrian Captivity 721 BC
Southern monarchy 18-25
Babylonian Captivity 606 BC - 536
BC
1
Chronicles 1:1 - 29:30 (written by Ezra the Prophet)
Genealogies to David and His Reign as King.
The books titled "Kings" were probably written by a
priest or a prophet since they attribute the downfall of the kingdoms to
rebellion against God. The chronicler books record basically the same history,
but without religious comment. I Chronicles tells
about David
2 Chronicles
1:1 - 36:21 (written by Ezra the Prophet)
Solomon and the latter Kings of Judah
Solomon's reign 1-9
The Divided Kingdom 10
History of the Southern Kingdom (Judah)
until the captivity 11-36
Ezra 1:1 -
10:44 (written by Ezra)
The Return from Babylonian Captivity
Zerubbabel led 49,897 people back to Palestine
after 70 years of captivity in Babylon (Persian control) 1-6
They rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem
5212-516 BC.
In
458 BC about 7,000 more people returned under Ezra's leadership 7-10
Nehemiah
1:1 - 13:31 (written by Nehemiah)
Rebuilding the walls of the Temple, Renewing the Covenant, Remaking the Nation
of Israel.
In 445 B,
Nehemiah led the people in rebuilding the city walls despite opposition by
God's enemies 1-7
He also led the people back into proper worship of Jehovah, by purifying the
priesthood 8-13
Esther 1:1
- 10:3 (anonymous)
The Deliverance of God's People among the Persians
A Jewish girl
becomes Queen of Persia, but risks her life to keep God's people from being
wiped out.
Old Testament
Books of Poetry and Wisdom
Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Song of Solomon, Canticles)
Job 1:1 -
41:17 (anonymous - Oldest book in Bible)
God, a Man named Job, and Satan
A contemporary of the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), Job was afflicted by
Satan; his wife and three friends blamed the losses of fields, family and
flocks on Job for sinning.
God asks 77 questions of Job.
God
vindicated Job. Blameless before God 1:1
Prosperity 1:2-3
Poverty, pain and persecution from Satan 1:13-2:10
Philosophies of Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar 2:11-32:1
Philosophy of Elihu 32:2-37:24
Person, power, and providence of Jehovah 38-41
Prayer of Job and prosperity restored 42
Psalms 1:1
- 150:6
(Authors:
David - 73, Asaph - 12, Korahites - 12, Solomon - 2,
Moses - 1, Ethan - 1)
These songs
were used to praise God in the Temple during the prescribed feasts.
In richly poetic language, the Psalms present God as shepherd, shield, savior,
etc.
Every compound name of Jehovah is to be found in the context of these songs.
Book I
(Psalms 1-41) Worship of the
Ever-Becoming One
Book II (42-72) Worship of the Miracle-Working God
Book III (73-89) Worship of the Mighty Helper
Book IV (90-106) Worship of the Governing King
Book V (107-150) Worship of the Redeemer
The Keynote
to the entire book is in 1:1-2
Each book book begins with a keynote to the section.
Each book ends with a prayer or a blessing to God.
Highlights
include:
Psalm 19 God's power revealed in Nature and His Word
Psalm 22 Messiah, Savior - suffering servant of God
Psalm 23 Messiah, Shepherd - Sustainer
of His people
Psalm 24 Messiah, Sovereign - supreme over all
Psalm 45 Passover song - Messiah, King
Psalm 72 Messiah reigning on earth
Psalm 90 Moses' praise for God's eternal care of
Israel
Psalms
95-100, 103-118 Praise for God's goodness
to Israel
Psalms
113-118, 136 Passover Psalms - song
during and after the meal
Psalm 119 , Values of God's Word
Psalm 139 , God's care for individuals
Psalm
120-150, The Hillel Psalms - "Praise the Lord!"
The climax -
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord!"
Proverbs
1:1 - 31:31 (written by Solomon and others)
Wisdom for living
Capsules of
wisdom, written by Solomon for the education of "a wise son."
Ecclesiastes
1:1 - 12:14 (written by Solomon)
Futility of human wisdom, pleasure and wealth, materialism;
Designs for Life and Living
Solomon's
search for satisfaction leads him to God, since all apart from Him is vanity.
This is a pessimistic view of life without God to show us the futility of every
activity in life that is not under His control.
Song of
Songs 1:1 - 8:14
The Winning of those who Love The Lord
Also called
"Song of Songs," or "Canticles."
Solomon's love song picturing God's love for Israel.
(Hosea seems to show Israel's attitude toward God.)
Old
Testament Books of Prophecy
Isaiah 1:1 - Malachi 4:4
Old
Testament Major Prophets
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
Isaiah 1:1 -
66:24 (written by Isaiah)
The Program of God through Judah, Jerusalem, and the Nations
Israel's
rebellion against God, God's call to repent and return 1-9
Israel's commission 6
Downfall of the heathen kingdoms 13-24
Babylon, Moab, Syria, Egypt, Tyre and Assyria
Isaiah tells the coming of Messiah, His suffering, His glory and His earthly
Kingdom and the restoration of Israel
Jeremiah
1:1 - 52:34 (written by Jeremiah)
Prophetic Judah and the Nations
Isaiah and
Jeremiah were written to the Southern Kingdom before the captivity and the
destruction of Jerusalem
Lamentations
1:1 - 5:22 (written by Jeremiah)
Tears and Prayers for Judah and Jerusalem
The book of
Lamentations describes the Jews in captivity and the destruction of Jerusalem.
It is written by Jeremiah, and its poetic quality is beautiful.
Ezekiel
1:1 - 48:35 (written by Ezekiel)
The House of Israel, the Captivity in Babylon
Ezekiel and
Daniel were written to all the Jews in Babylon during the exile to show God's
judgment on Gentile world powers and His restoration of the believing remnant.
They also encouraged faithfulness to Jehovah.
Daniel 1:1
- 12:13 (written by Daniel)
Daniel's Vision of the Plan of God for Israel
Old
Testament Minor Prophets
Group-1 - Hosea (Israel), Joel (Judah), Amos (Israel), Obadiah (Nations)
These were
written to the Northern Kingdom before their exile 721 BC to warn of impending
doom,
but the people, led by their kings, refused to repent. Obadiah is directed to
the people of Edom to warn of punishment for sin.
Hosea 1:1
- 14:9 (written by Hosea)
Love, Chastisement, and Restoration of God's Prodigal People Israel
Joel 1:1 -
3:21 (written by Joel)
The Day of the Lord - The Desolation and Deliverance of Israel
Amos 1:1 -
9:15 (written by Amos)
Prophecies, Sermons, and Visions concerning Israel and Her Future
Obadiah
1:1-21 (written by Obadiah)
The Judgment and Destruction of Edom (Descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother)
Group-2 -
Jonah (Nations), Micah (Judah), Nahum (Nations)
Jonah 1:1
- 4:11 (written by Jonah)
God's Evangelism is to the Whole World
Jonah was
written to show God's people what happens to a nation who hears God's Word and
repents.
It concerns the people of Nineveh, capital of Assyria.
These people repented and God spared their city for about 250 years.
Micah 1:1
- 7:20 (written by Micah)
Destruction to Samaria and Judah, but promised Blessing to come
Micah
preached to the Southern Kingdom, Judah, but especially to Samaria about God's
hatred of their sin.
He is a Pre-Captivity prophet.
Nahum 1:1
- 3:19 (written by Nahum)
The Majesty and Judgment of God
Nahum wrote
about 150 years after Jonah, again warning the people of Nineveh to turn to
God.
Everything he predicted about the city happened as foretold about one hundred
years earlier.
Group-3 -
Habakkuk (Judah), Zephaniah (Judah)
Habakkuk
1:1 - 3:19 (written by Habakkuk)
"The Lord is in His Temple, let ALL be silent before Him"
Habakkuk was
written to the people of Judah before their captivity.
It forewarns of the invasion of Judah, but also foretells the doom of the
Chaldeans (Babylonians).
Zephaniah
1:1 - 3:20 (written by Zephaniah)
Judgment and Blessing - even through Babylon
Zephaniah
(Pre-Exile) tells about the coming invasion of Judah
by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon.
The fall of several Gentile nations surrounding Israel is told about twenty
years before it took place.
Group-4 -
Haggai (Post Captivity), Zechariah (Post Captivity), Malachi (Post Captivity)
These were written to all the Jews who returned from the captivities to rebuild
the Temple and the city of Jerusalem.
Haggai 1:1
- 2:23 (written by Haggai)
The Construction of the Temple and Confidence in the Future
Haggai's
message was encouragement to finish rebuilding the Temple.
Zechariah
1:1 - 14:21 (written by Zechariah)
Consolation and Hope in the 2nd Coming of Christ
Zechariah
deals with God's plans for the Gentile nations in the future, and with His
plans for His own people under their Messiah (1000 year
reign).
Malachi
1:1 - 4:6 (written by Malachi)
Rebuke for the neglect of True Worship – Repent
Malachi wrote
after the Temple had been rebuilt and worship had been re-established.
God calls His priests and His people to pure worship, and encourages them with
assurances of His love and care.
400
YEARS OF PROPHETIC SILENCE FROM GOD
NEW
TESTAMENT
Matthew 1:1 - Revelation 22:21
The
Gospels
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Matthew
1:1 - (written by Matthew)
Christ as KING, written to the JEWS (The King and His Kingdom)
His Person,
preaching and passion are presented
The Tax gather for the Roman Government
Matthew's familiarity with government shows through.
We find him sensitively selecting details about the government of the Messiah
Mark 1:1 -
(written by Mark)
Christ as SAVIOR, written to the ROMANS (The Man and His Mission)
His
sanctification, His service and His Sacrifice are presented by John Mark, the
close associate of Peter
Luke 1:1 -
(written by Luke)
Christ as MAN, written to the GREEKS
His being,
birth, baptism
His temptation, teaching, transfiguration,
His Cross, His commission, His coming again,
Luke, the Greek medical doctor.
Luke, the careful researcher and historian.
Luke gives us a good picture of the human personality of the Messiah.
John 1:1 -
(written by John, the Disciple that Jesus Loved)
Christ as the WORD OF GOD, written to ALL MEN (The Son and His Salvation)
John selects
seven miracles and teachings of Jesus to lead men to faith in Him.
Jesus is the eternal incarnate, saving Son of God.
John presents the Messiah's claims in Jesus' own words:
I AM Messiah
I AM Jehovah
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Light of the world
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The Resurrection and the Life
I AM The Way, The Truth, and the Life
I AM The Vine
I AM The King
In figurative language, Jesus claims to be all that men need in every situation
of life.
The
History of the Transition from the Synagogue to the Church
Acts
(written by Luke)
The First 30 Years of the Church
The History
of the early church after the ascension of its founder.
Continuation of St. Luke's account in the Book of Luke.
Basically it is in two parts:
The Gospel to the Jews first, and the Gospel to the Church
at Jerusalem, Peter, James and John, apostles
The Gospel also to the Greeks, the church as Antioch, Syria,
introducing Paul and Barnabas.
Peter - Acts 1-14
Paul - Acts 15-28
The Gospel is preached in:
Jerusalem,
All Judaea,
Samaria,
and to the uttermost part of the earth.
The
Pauline Epistles
Romans, 1+2 Corinthians, Galatians
Paul's Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon)
Paul's Pastoral Epistles (1+2 Timothy, Titus)
The Pauline
General Epistles
Romans, 1+2 Corinthians, Galatians
Romans
(written by Paul)
The Righteousness of God Explained
St Paul's
letter to the church at Rome is a logical presentation of doctrine covering:
Man's sinful
condition
God's merciful provision
Paul's desire for the Jews
The Christian's faith-walk with God
1 + 2
Corinthians are St. Paul's letters to the believers in Corinth and is his
longest.
Because of their pagan surroundings, the Christians had to fight immorality,
idolatry, and worldliness.
1
Corinthians (written by Paul)
Spiritual and Moral Problems Faced
They had many
questions about the Christian's life.
St. Paul patiently answers these questions.
Topics covered include:
Paul's calling
Their sinful divisive spirit
Their unity in Christ
The proper use of a Christian's body
Marriage
Spiritual gifts
Love
The resurrection and
The Second Coming
2
Corinthians (written by Paul)
Joy for the Corinthian changes, Encouragement toward Holiness
In 2
Corinthians, he deals with:
The Christians ministry to the lost world
The fellowship of believers
The believer's giving
God's Grace, and
His final encouragements
Galatians
(written by Paul)
Justification by Faith Explained
Legalizers
and Judaizers crept into the church shortly after Paul set it up.
They taught that in order to become a Christian, a person first had to become a
Jew.
They said Christian men had to be circumcised, all Christians had to obey the
Law, and had to observe the Sabbath.
Paul's letter shows that the Law was meant only to bring men to freedom in
Christ.
He cogently sets forth his case in 3:24-29
The Prison
Epistles (written by Paul)
(Written While Paul was Imprisoned in Rome)
Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon
Ephesians
(written by Paul, from prison)
The Establishment of the Body of Christ
This letter,
probably meant for the churches of Laodicea and Ephesus, very clearly shows the
Christian's position In Christ.
Paul shows how this doctrine (chapters 1-3) affects our behavior (chapters
4-6).
Christ is presented as the head of the Church.
Philippians
(written by Paul, from prison)
Christ and the Christian Life
Paul's
letter, written from prison in Rome, is a song of joy.
His main plea is "Let the mind be in you which was also in Christ
Jesus."
It shows:
the single mind,
the submissive mind,
the satisfied mind, and
the serving mind.
Colossians
(written by Paul, from prison)
Warning Against Using the Mosaic Law to find Righteousness
Paul directs
this letter against mystics (Gnostics) and ascetics.
He seeks to
correct errors which have been brought into the Church by false prophets.
He shows the exalted position of Christ as Creator and Savior, and
Shows that our response to Him should be "Whatever you do, do it heartily
as unto the Lord."
1
Thessalonians (written by Paul - General Pauline Epistles)
Encouragement in Persecution and teaching about The Day of the Lord
Paul explains
the second coming of Jesus and what happens to the believers [dead and alive]
when Jesus comes.
In chapters 4-5, Paul stresses the importance of holiness in light of Christ's
return.
2
Thessalonians (written by Paul - General Pauline Epistles)
Encouragement in Persecution and teaching about The Day of the Lord
Paul deals
with the apostasy or falling away in the end times.
Paul's closing plea is for the Thessalonians to imitate his faith.
The
Pastoral Epistles (written by Paul)
(Instructions for young pastors)
1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus
1 + 2 Timothy
- Paul's letter to a young pastor (elder) on how to:
Administer the Church at Ephesus
The importance of correct doctrine, and
Reliance on the Word of God
Warning is given about the Last Days.
1 Timothy
(written by Paul, Pastoral)
The Behavior of the Body of Christ
2 Timothy
(written by Paul, Pastoral)
The Behavior of the Body Concerning the Future
Titus
(written by Paul, Pastoral)
The Behavior of the Body of Christ Concerning the Holy Spirit
Paul's letter
to another young pastor-teacher on how to administer the Church in Crete.
Philemon
(written by Paul, written from prison - Prison Epistles)
The Value of the Individual
Paul's letter
on behalf of a runaway slave who has accepted Christ as his Savior, and who is
returning from Rom to his master, Philemon.
Paul plays on the name, Philemon, which in Greek means "Loving."
Hebrews
(author uncertain)
The Superiority of Christ
A letter to
Jewish Christians showing the New Covenant superior to the Old Covenant [The
Law].
Jesus is shown as better:
Than the angels, because He is the Son of God
Than Moses and the O.T. prophets, because He is the Son of
God
Than the Sacrifices, because He is the Son of God in the
flesh
The obedience, submission and faithfulness of Jesus as a man is seen very
clearly. Since He, Himself: entered flesh, He is the understanding High Priest,
who "once for all" offered Himself for our sins, and having
thoroughly purged us from our sins, He has sat down on the right hand of His
Father in majesty.
The General
Epistles
James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude
James
(written by James the Apostle, half brother of Jesus)
Practical Christianity
James, the
half-brother of Jesus, shows that faith in Christ produces good works.
This manual on Christian living is believed to be the first N.T. book written.
1 Peter
(written by the Apostle Peter)
The Believer and The Grace of God
2 Peter (written
by the Apostle Peter)
Christianity VS Heresy
In books 1+2, Peter wrote about:
Patience in suffering
The Christian's blessings in Christ,
The cost of salvation,
The authority of God's Word,
The doom of false teachers, and
The Lord's coming in Judgment.
1 John
(written by the Apostle John, the one whom Jesus Loved)
Contrasts in the Life of a Christian
2 John
(written by the Apostle John, the one whom Jesus Loved)
Walking in the Commandments of Christ
3 John
(written by the Apostle John, the one whom Jesus Loved)
Traveling Ministers and two contrasting lives
John 1-2-3 were written to combat first-Century Gnosticism.
John's letters deal with knowing God through His incarnate Son and not by
mystical Gnosis.
He also writes concerning understanding love, and enjoying Christian
fellowship.
Gnostics taught that the body was sinful... the spirit was good... therefore,
Jesus could not have had a body of flesh, and that
knowledge of God comes through the mind or spirit, not through eye-witness
contact.
Jude
(written by the half-brother of Jesus and full brother of James)
The Problem of False Teachers
Jude, another
of Jesus' half brothers, wrote this very short
letter.
It warns early Christians to contend for the true faith, the faith taught by
the Apostles.
He warns of certain doom to false teachers (using good O.T. examples).
He exhorts Christians to "build yourselves up in the Most Holy Faith.
The
Revelation of Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit, to the Apostle John (written by
the Apostle John, son of Zebedee)
The Day of the Lord - The Tribulation, The Millennium, The Eternal State
In a category
by itself, John writes concerning the Unveiling of Jesus as the Omega.
Only in human history does Jesus become the Alpha and the Omega - the Alpha in
Genesis, and the Omega in Revelation.
John writes what God showed him of the consummation of human history.
God controls human history.
God is the beginner of it, the sustainer of it, and the end of it.
Jesus Christ 1:1-8
Church 1:9-3:22
Tribulation 4:1-19:21
Chapters about the Jews 7:1-17; 10:1-11:14; 14:1-3; 16:13-16; 20:1-22:21
There are SEVEN messages to Churches represented by the seven-fold Lampstand of
the Tabernacle:
Seals
Trumpets
Personages
Vials
Seven Dooms
Seven "New" Things
2021-08-27