Understanding The Bible |
W. W. Rugh, Bible Institute of Philadelphia
OUTLINE STUDY OF THE BIBLE AND ITS BOOKS
SUBJECT OF THE BIBLE
The Bible is the revelation of redemption, purposed and planned by the Father,
accomplished by the Son, and revealed by the Holy Spirit (John 3: 16; II Cor. 5:
18, 19; Col. 1:15, 16; Eph. 1:3; 3:11; I Peter 1:20; John 17:24; Rom. 11:36;
Heb. 1:1-3; 2:9-18; Acts 10:38-43; I Cor. 15:3, 4; II Peter 1:21; John
16:13-15).
PURPOSE OF THE BIBLE
The Bible has been written to teach, reprove, correct, and instruct in
righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, completely furnished unto
every good work (II Tim. 3:16, 17; 2:15; Ps. 119: 105; Isa. 55:11; Rom. 10: 17;
I Peter 1: 23).
DIVISIONS OF THE BIBLE
Old Testament
Subject — Revelation of redemption through type, promise, prophecy, and
psalm (Luke 24:25-27, 44-47; Heb. 1:1).
Purpose — To reveal the person and work of the Redeemer who was to come
(Rom. 16:4; I Cor. 10:11; Heb. 8:5; 9:10-12, 24; 10:1; Ps. 8:2-8; Heb. 2:5-9; I
Peter 1:10, 11).
New Testament
Subject — Revelation of redemption accomplished through the person and
work of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:1, 21, 23; Isa. 7: 14; 9: 6, 7; Luke 1: 31-33;
Heb. 9: 26, 24, 28).
Purpose — Written to make us wise unto salvation and service (II Tim. 3:
15; Eph. 2.8-10; Rom. 1:16, 17; II Cor. 8:9; 9:8; John 15:16; 17:18-20; Acts
1:8).
DIVISIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Law, or Pentateuch — Genesis to
Deuteronomy.
Subject — God’s ways in redemption as revealed in the beginning of His
work (Ps. 103: 7).
Purpose — To make known to us, from the beginning, the end of God’s
purpose and work of redemption (Isa. 46:9, 10; Gen. 1:28; 22:16-18; Heb.
6:13-16; Acts 15:18; Rev. 22:3-16).
Historical Books — Joshua to Esther.
Subject — God’s acts, or dealings with Israel to cause them to inherit
the promised land (Ps. 103:7; Gen. 13:15; 22:17, 18; Ex. 6:6-8; Deut. 4:37, 38;
Josh. 1:1-9).
Purpose — To illustrate for us how our Lord deals with us to cause us to
enjoy our place and blessings in the heavenlies (Josh. 1: 3; Eph. 1: 3, 21; Rom.
8:17; Heb. 4: 9; I Cor. 10:11).
Poetical Books — Job to Song of Songs.
Subject — Experience of God’s people in Old Testament times, as He sought
to reveal Himself to them and through them (Job 42:5, 6, 10; Ps. 1:1-3; 3:3;
11:4, 5; 23; 33:18-22).
Purpose — To reveal to us the experience of Christ and our experience in
Him (Col. 2:6; John 16:7).
Prophetical Books—Isaiah to Malachi.
Subject — God’s counsels concerning Christ, Israel, and the nations (Isa.
46: 9, 10; Dan. 9:24-27; Zech. 8:23).
Purpose — To give us a “light in a dark place” (II Peter 1:19).
DIVISIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
The Four Gospels
Subject — History of the birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of
Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:1; Mark 10:45; Luke 19:10; John 1:14).
Purpose — To reveal how God accomplished the work of redemption, and to
give us the foundation for the doctrine in the Epistles (Rom. 4:25; Gal. 4:4-6).
The Acts
Subject — What Jesus continues to do and teach by His Spirit, through
believers, since His ascension (Acts 1:1-5).
Purpose — Written to give us God’s purpose, plan, and power, for every
believer during this age (Acts 1: 8; 2: 33, 38, 39; 4: 31; 13: 2-4; Acts 15: 14;
20: 28; 26:16-18).
The Epistles
Subject — The doctrine, or teaching concerning what Jesus Christ has
done, is doing, and will do for all who will believe during this age (Heb. 9:26,
24, 28).
Purpose — Written to give us the foundation for our faith for salvation,
service, and hope (Rom. 1:16, 17; 3: 21-26; 4: 5; 5: 1-11; 8: 23-25; 12; II Cor.-
6: 14, 16; Eph. 2; 10, I Thess, 4; 13-18, I Cor, 15; 51-58; Titus 2; 12-14).
Revelation
Subject — Prophecy concerning the Judgments of Jesus Christ, the
God-appointed Judge (Rev. 1:1-3; John 5:22, 27).
Purpose — To make known to us what shall be the end or consummation of
all of
God’s redemptive purpose (Num. 23:19; Titus 1:2; Isa. 55:11).
BOOKS OF THE LAW—PENTATEUCH
Genesis—“Beginnings”; Hebrew name—“In the beginning.”
Subject — God’s works and ways in restoring a wrecked earth in seven
days, and His ways in redemption with seven men (Gen. 1: 1 to 2: 3; 2: 4 to 50).
Purpose — Written to outline for us typically every step in God’s plan of
redemption, individually and dispensationally (Isa. 46: 9, 10; Acts 15: 18).
Outline—Gen. 1: 1—Original creation perfect (Isa. 45: 18).
Restoration of wrecked earth—
1st Day, Gen. 1: 2-5 — Light enters.
2d Day, Gen. 1: 6-8 — Separation of waters.
3d Day, first half, Gen. 1: 9, 10 — Earth raised up.
3d Day, second half, Gen. 1:11-13 — Earth made fruitful.
4th Day, Gen. 1: 14-19 — Earth illuminated from heaven.
5th Day, Gen. 1:20-23 — Living creatures of waters and air brought forth and blessed.
6th Day, Gen. 1: 24-28 — Animals of earth brought forth and God’s companion, co-laborer, and co-ruler created and blessed.
7th Day, Gen. 2: 1-3 — God’s rest.Redemption of seven men
Adam, Gen. 2:4 to 3: 24—“Light out of darkness.”
Abel, Gen. 4 and 5—Death, separation unto God.
Noah, Gen. 6-11—Out of the old into the new earth.
Abraham, Gen. 12-21—Fruitfulness in power of resurrection life.
Isaac, Gen. 22-26—Enjoying possessions in the land.
Jacob, Gen. 27-36—Disciplined and made a blessing.
Joseph, Gen. 37-50—A son, brother, servant, ruler, and saviour.
Exodus—Hebrew name—“These are
the names” (Ex. 1:1).
Subject—God’s ways in delivering Israel from bondage, bringing them near,
and into covenant relationship with Himself (Ex. 6:6-8; 19:4-8; 24:1-7; 25:8).
Purpose—To illustrate for us typically the necessity, method, and purpose
of God
in redeeming us (Eph. 2:1-10).
Outline
Ex. I—Names and bondage of Israel.
Ex. 2-18—Deliverer and deliverance of Israel from bondage.
Ex. 19-24—Brought near to God and under covenant of the law.
Ex. 25-40—Brought into the Lord’s sanctuary.
Leviticus—Hebrew name—“The Lord Called” (Lev. 1:1).
Subject—God’s way of acceptable approach into His holy presence for Israel,
and the holy life becoming them there (Lev. 1 to 16; 17 to 27).
Purpose—To reveal to us typically the acceptable way to come to God, and
the holy life becoming us who have been accepted in the Beloved (John 14: 6;
Eph. 1: 6; 5: 1-3).
Outline
Lev. 1-7—Acceptable offerings, the righteous basis for Israel’s acceptance
before God (John 1:29; Heb. 10:1-18).
Lev. 8-10—Acceptable Priests to represent Israel in God’s presence (Heb.
7:25-28; 9:10-12, 24).
Lev. 11-15—Sanctification required of Israel to come near to God (Eph. 5:26; ,1
John 1:9; 3: 21-22).
Lev. 16— God’s program for the great day of Atonement (Isa. 53; Rom. 3:21-26; I
Peter, 1:18, 19; 3:18; John 19:30; I Peter 2:24).
Lev. 17-22—The becoming life of Israel in love toward God and man (Rom. 12:1-3;
15:1-3; Phil. 2:4; Eph. 4:1-3; II Tim. 2:21).
Lev. 23—God’s program for Israel’s worship of Him (I Cor. 5:7, 8; Eph. 2:5, 6;
Col. 3:1, 2; I Peter 2:9; Rev. 4:10, 11; Isa. 9:6, 7).
Lev. 24-27—Rest and peace for accepted Israel (Eph. 1:3-14; Col. 1:9-12).
Numbers—Hebrew name—“In the wilderness” (Num. 1:1).
Subject—God’s ways with Israel in the wilderness.
Purpose—To teach us God’s ways and purpose in the trials of our faith (I
Cor. 10: 1-13; I Peter 1: 7; Prov. 17: 3).
Outline
Num. 1:1 to 10:10—Preparation for Israel’s journey toward Canaan (Rom. 8:16,
37-39; I John 5:13; Heb. 2:10; Eph. 6:10-18).
Num. 10:11 to 12— Israel’s journey from Sinai to Kadesh-barnea (Deut. 1:2; Heb.
4:9, 10; 12:1, 2).
Num. 13 to 20: 13—Kadesh-barnea to Kadesh-barnea, a circle of thirty-one burial
grounds (Rom. 7; 7-24; Rom. 14: 23; I John 2: 28).
Num. 20: 14 to 25—Kadesh-barnea to plains of Moab (Eph. 6:16; Heb. 2: 14; Matt.
7: 13, 14).
Num. 26 to 36—Preparation for entering Canaan (Heb. 4: 16; 6: 17-20; 10: 19,
20).
Deuteronomy—Hebrew name—“These are the words” (Deut. 1:1).
Subject—Review of God’s ways with Israel in the wilderness (Chs. 1 to 11),
precepts to guide them in the land (Chs. 12 to 27), and prophecy concerning
their future (Chs. 28 to 34).
Purpose—To help us to learn how our Lord works all things together for
our good, even though we often doubt His precious promises, to reveal principles
to guide into the enjoyment of our blessings in Christ, and to give us hope for
the future (I Peter 1: 7; Eph. 1:17-21; II Cor. 3:18; Rom. 8: 28-39; I Thess: 6:
24; Phil. 1: 6).
HISTORICAL BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Joshua
Subject—Israel’s entrance into, conquest of, and division of the land of
Canaan for their inheritance (Josh. 1-5, 6-12, 13-24).
Purpose—To illustrate for us typically how Jesus, our Joshua, leads us
into the place of blessing, the heavenlies, h6W He gives US victory over all the
principalities and powers there, and how He causes us to enjoy our blessings in
Him (Eph. 1: 21;
6:10-18; 3:16).
Outline
Josh. 1-5—Entrance into the promised land by the “Captain of our salvation”
going before us “three days” (Heb. 2:10; Eph. 2:5, 6; Rom. 4:25).
Josh. 6-12—Conquest of the land, our place of blessing, by the power of our
Captain who has “spoiled principalities and powers” (Col. 2:15; Eph. 6:10; 3:16;
Rom. 8:37).
Josh. 13-24—Division of the land, our blessings in Christ, for our possession
and enjoyment (Josh. 1:3; Eph. 1:3-14, “chosen,” “adopted,” “accepted,”
“redeemed,” “enlightened,” “enriched,” and “sealed,” Heb. 11:1, 33).
Judges
Subject—Failure of Israel to possess the promised land, and God’s
faithfulness _ in grace raising up judges, through whom He gave them victory
over their enemies (Judges 1 to 3:4; 3:5 to 16:31; 17:21).
Purpose—To teach us the cause and results of failure, to enter into the
realization of our blessings in Christ, and reveal the grace of God that
forgives, restores and encourages us to press toward the goal (Eph. 1: 3; I John
1: 9; Ps. 23: 3; Phil. 3:14).
Outline
Judges 1 to 3: 4—Israel’s failure to possess their land gave the enemies in
the land possession of them (Eph. 5: 1-11; Col. 3: 1-11; Ps. 84: 7; II Cor. 12:
9, 10; Heb. 2: 18).
Judges 3: 5 to 16: 31—Seven periods of captivity and oppression of Israel by
their enemies brought seven deliverances, when they cried to God (Ps. 72: 12;
68: 19, 20; Phil. 4: 13; I John 5: 4; Rom. 8: 13; I Cor. 9: 25-27).
Judges 17-21—Overcome by their enemies, Israel became lawless, “every man doing
what was right in his own eyes” (Prov. 16:25, 32; II Tim. 4:3, 4; Jas. 1:22-25;
Rev. 3:8).
Ruth
Subject—God’s dealings with the household of Elimelech in the time of the
Judges.
Purpose—To reveal to us typically God’s dealings in grace with Israel,
typified by Naomi, and with the Church, typified by Ruth. The “nearer” kinsman
is a type of the law, which could not redeem Israel or the Church, and Boaz is a
type of Christ, the “near” kinsman having the right, power and desire to redeem
both Israel and the Church (Rom. 3:20; 4:15; Luke 19:10; II Cor. 8:9; Eph. 5:2).
Outline
Ruth 1—Naomi’s and Ruth’s decisions brought blessing to both—Israel restored
and Gentiles blessed, but now the Church is made a blessing to bereft Israel
(Rom. 11: 5, 11-14; 1: 16, 17).
Ruth 2—Meeting Boaz—“We love God because He first loved” us (I John 4:19; Rom.
5:8; Phil. 4:19).
Ruth 3—Rest at the feet of Boaz (Heb. 4: 9, 10; Matt. 11: 29, 30).
Ruth 4—Union with Boaz (Rom. 7: 4; Eph. 5; 25-32).
I Samuel
Subject—God’s dealings with Israel through Samuel as prophet, priest, and
judge, and through Saul and David as kings, to bless and make Israel a blessing
(Gen. 22:17).
Purpose—To picture to us typically God’s dealings with us through Christ
as Prophet, Priest, Judge, and King, in order to help us to know our Lord and to
live to make Him known (Deut. 18: 18; Ps. 110:4; Heb. 7:21, 22; John 5:22, 27; I
Tim. 1: 17; II Peter 3: 18).
Outline
I Sam. 1-8—God’s blessing upon Israel through Samuel—Christ revealing the
Father, offering Himself in priestly sacrifice, overliving to make intercession,
and judging His people by His word (John 17:6-8; Heb. 9:12; 10:10-12; 7:25; John
12: 48).
I Sam. 9-15—Saul, the people’s king, failing, and rejected of God; type of
Antichrist (II Thess. 2: 4; Isa. 14: 12-14).
I Sam. 16-31—David, God’s king, chosen, anointed, tested, envied, and exiled;
type of His Son Jesus Christ (Matt. 1: 1; Ps. 2: 6; Isa. 9:6, 7; Luke 1:32, 33;
Isa. 61:1; Luke 4:18-22; Matt. 3:16: 4:1-11; 27:18; 21:38).
II Samuel
Subject—God’s sovereign grace toward Israel through David, His king, who
obeyed Him in his official acts.
Purpose—To foreshadow the gracious victory and overflowing blessing which
is for every believer who enthrones Christ as Lord (I Peter 3: 15 R. V.; Eph.
6:’•10; Rom. 12: 1, 2); and to picture Christ’s rule of righteousness in the age
to come (Isa. 11: 1-9; 32:1, 17).
Outline
II Sam. 1-10—David subduing all the enemies of Israel, placing the Ark in
his capitol, and showing “the kindness of God”—Christ giving victory, ruling in
our hearts, and loving others through us (Rom. 6: 11, 13; 8: 13; II Cor. 5: 14,
1, 5).
II Sam. 11-21—David overcome by Satan, forgiven, and restored by “grace reigning
through righteousness” (Rom. 5:21; I John 1:9).
II Sam. 22-24—Christ the true King praised, predicted, and place prepared for
His rule (Ps. 23).
I Kings
Subject—God’s grace and glory manifest unto and through Israel, from time of
Solomon until Elijah, until the kings despised His grace and dragged His glory
into the dust by their sins.
Purpose—To reveal typically God’s thought concerning the Kingdom of
Israel under the reign of David’s Son, the One greater than Solomon, and also to
illustrate to us God’s unchangeable purpose and grace in Christ, in spite of sad
failure to enjoy our blessings in Him (Ps. 89:3, 4, 34-37; Isa. 9:6, 7; Matt.
12:42; Heb. 6:12-20; I Cor. 16:68; Rev. 3:20, 21).
Outline
I Kings 1-11—The eternal glory of the rule of Sun of Righteousness, compared
with the dim candle light of Solomon’s reign, pictures the glory for us, as
kings’ to enjoy with Christ (Mal. 4:2; Hab. 2:14; Rom. 8:17; Rev. 1:6,6; 6:9,
10; 3:21; Matt. 25:20, 21; John 17:22, 24).
I Kings 12-16—Division and decline of the kingdom—a divided heart can not enjoy
the fullness of the Lord’s blessing (Matt. 6:22; Col. 1:18; 3:1-11; II Cor. 6:
14 to 7:1).
I Kings 17-22—God’s gracious effort, through Elijah, to restore northern Israel
to fellowship with Him—those who wholly follow the Lord, like Elijah, may be
used to restore many to fellowship (Eph. 6:18; Gal. 6:1).
II Kings
Subject—God’s dealings with Northern Israel and Judah in grace and
righteousness, finally giving them up to judgment because they refused His grace
(II Kings 17:18-23; Hosea 11:7, 8).
Purpose—To teach us typically the cause and results of the apostasy, the
falling away from faith in God of the professing church (I Tim. 4:1-3; II Tim.
3:1-7; II Thess. 2:11, 12; Heb. 4:9-11).
Outline
II Kings 1-13—Testimony of God’s righteousness and grace to backsliding
Israel and Judah, through the ministry of Elijah and Elisha—a “light in a dark
place, where unto we do well to take heed in our hearts” (II Peter 1:19; Isa.
61: 1-3; II Cor. 4: 6).
II Kings 14-17—Northern Israel carried into captivity by the Assyrians, because
they turned from God to idols—turning from Christ to the “god of this world”
results in captivity to Satan (II Cor. 4:4; Eph. 6:12; I John 2:16; Col. 3:1-3).
II Kings 18-26—God’s great mercy and grace neglected and rejected by Judah,
resulting in the Babylonian captivity—mercy and grace neglected or rejected
leaves nothing but God’s wrath (John 3:36; Heb. 2:3).
I Chronicles
Subject—God’s mercy and grace toward men as His co-rulers, from Adam to
David, especially toward Israel through David. Kings record God dealing with
Israel from the throne, but Chronicles from the sanctuary (I Sam. 13:14; Ex.
26:8).
Purpose—To reveal God’s marvelous grace foreshadowing the preparation of
His Son, who is preparing a building, to be “fitly framed together,” for a
habitation of God in the Spirit (Rom. 1: 3; 9: 6; Zech. 6: 12, 13; Eph. 2:
19-22).
Outline
I Chron. 1-9—Record of God’s guarding the lineage of Christ from Adam to
David—just so He watches over His “incorruptible seed” to beget kings after His
own heart who will rule with Christ (I Peter 1:23; Jer. 1:12 R. V.; Isa. 66:11).
I Chron. 10-16—When David was enthroned. He put the Ark—God’s throne in
Jerusalem, His capitol in Israel—such are kings who enthrone Christ in their
hearts as Lord (I Peter 3:16; Rom. 12: 1, 2; I Cor. 6: 19, 20).
I Chron. 22-27—Preparation for building the Temple and for the ministries
therein—humility, delight in God’s will, prepares for Christ’s indwelling and
ministry in us by His Spirit (Matt. 11:29, 30; Ps. 40: 7,8; John 7: 17; Phil. 2:
13; Isa. 67: 16).
I Chron. 28-29—The Spirit given pattern of God’s house to be built by David’s
son—will be fulfilled by his greater Son, his Lord, who began a good work in us
and will perfect it (Ezek. 40-46; Zech. 6: 12; Rev. 21:9-23; Phil. 1:6; Rom.
8:29).
II Chronicles
Subject—God’s gracious and righteous dealings with the rule of David’s house
from the building of the Temple by Solomon until it was destroyed by
Nebuchadnezzar (Ps. 77:13; I Sam. 7: 14).
Purpose—To teach us that our Lord is just as faithful in chastening as in
blessing His children (Rom. 8: 28; Heb. 10: 23; 12: 6-13). His love makes His
holiness merciful, and His holiness makes His love unchangeable.
Outline
II Chron. 1-20—Causes of the failure of the rule of David’s house introduced
by the wisest king who ever ruled among men—the reign of the King in whom are
“hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” will never fail (I Kings 3: 12;
II Chron. 9:23; I Kings 11:1-8; Col. 2:3; Ps. 89:19; 8:4-6; Heb. 2:6-9; I Cor.
15: 26-28).
II Chron. 21-36—The light in David’s house sustained by the “Light of the
world,” though for a “small moment” hidden—the Lord will perfect that which
concerneth us, though we may not always see His face (II Chron. 21:17; Isa. 64:
7, 8; 69:2; Ps. 138:8).
Price 5 cents
By W. W. RUGH, Associate Dean, Bible Institute
of Pennsylvania
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