An Introduction to Each Book

Genesis—The creation of the world; the fall of man; the Flood; the Hebrew patriarchs.

Exodus—Moses leads the children of Israel out of Egypt; the Ten Commandments; the Sinai covenant.

Leviticus—Regulations for the priests and nation of Israel illustrating the plan of redemption.

Numbers—The forty years of wandering in the wilderness.

Deuteronomy—The law reviewed for the second generation of Israelites before they entered Canaan.

Joshua—The conquest of Canaan and the covenant renewed.

Judges—The turbulent years following the death of Joshua; the exploits of Gideon, Samson, and others.

Ruth—The story of a Moabite girl who would become the great grandmother of King David.

1 Samuel—The call and ministry of Samuel; Saul chosen as king; David and Goliath; the downfall of Saul.

2 Samuel—The reign of David.

1 Kings—The death of David; Solomon’s reign and death; the nation divided; the ministry of Elijah.

2 Kings—Elisha’s ministry; the decline and fall of Israel; the last kings of Judah; Jerusalem destroyed.

1 Chronicles—A genealogical history introduces the story of David’s reign.

2 Chronicles—Solomon and all the subsequent kings of Israel and Judah; the Babylonian captivity.

Ezra—The return from Babylon under the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes.

Nehemiah—The rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, with its difficulties.

Esther—The Jewish girl who becomes queen of Persia and saves her people from destruction.

Job—A righteous man whom Satan attempts to turn away from God through great affliction.

Psalms—Songs of experience and worship, written by David and others.

Proverbs—Thirty-one chapters of practical instruction for life, mostly by Solomon.

Ecclesiastes—Solomon’s conclusions about life, after experiencing both sides.

Song of Solomon—A human love song illustrating the relationship of the Lord to His people.

Isaiah—A major prophet of the 8th Century BC; addresses issues in his day and also foretells the Messiah.

Jeremiah—A major prophet during the 40 years leading up to the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians.

Lamentations—Jeremiah’s poetic response to Jerusalem’s destruction, to which he was an eyewitness.

Ezekiel—The visions of a prophet in captivity in Babylon with behind-the-scenes views of God’s sovereignty.

Daniel—A captive turned statesman under Babylonian and Persian kings; shown future world events.

Hosea—A prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel who expressed God’s love for His unfaithful people.

Joel—A prophet in Judah; spoke of the day of the Lord and of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Amos—An earlier 8th-century prophet who appealed to Israel to seek the Lord.

Obadiah—A single chapter foretelling the judgments of God upon Edom for their treatment of Israel.

Jonah—The story of a reluctant prophet whose message to Nineveh led them to a season of repentance.

Micah—A contemporary of Isaiah with a message of warning to Israel and Judah, and ultimately hope.

Nahum—A prophecy of the fall of Nineveh.

Habakkuk—In Judah’s closing years, this man finds the answer to God’s mysterious, sovereign purposes.

Zephaniah—A prophet in the days of Josiah’s reforms in Judah; foretold God’s judgments, yet with promise.

Haggai—In 520 BC, four visions that encouraged the returned Jewish exiles in the rebuilding of the temple.

Zechariah—Along with Haggai, his visions contained spiritual lessons for the reconstruction and beyond.

Malachi—God’s last word to the Jews for four centuries before Jesus’ birth; contains rebuke and promise.

Matthew—A Gospel account containing Jesus’ major discourses, recorded by an eyewitness.

Mark—The shortest Gospel account, emphasizing Jesus’ mighty works.

Luke—A Gospel account written by a Gentile who probably never physically met Jesus.

John—A Gospel account emphasizing Jesus’ spiritual message from the perspective of His closest disciple.

Acts—Stories of the Apostles and the rapid spread of the gospel throughout the Mediterranean world.

Romans—This epistle clearly outlines the gospel as the power of God to save both Jew and Gentile.

1 Corinthians—Paul addresses problems that had arisen in the church, charity, and the resurrection.

2 Corinthians—Describes the Christian as a new creature to whom is given the ministry of reconciliation.

Galatians—The proper role of the law in bringing us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.

Ephesians—The church as the united body of Christ, gifted for ministry, having the whole armor of God.

Philippians—Encouragement to have the mind of Christ and to rejoice in the Lord always.

Colossians—The mystery of Christ in you, in whom dwells all fulness; and your life is hid with Christ in God.

1 Thessalonians—A call to sanctification and quiet work. When the Lord comes, the dead in Christ will rise.

2 Thessalonians—Prediction of a falling away; the development of the mystery of iniquity.

1 Timothy—One God and one Mediator; qualifications of bishops, deacons, widows; the good fight of faith.

2 Timothy—Perilous times in the last days; know the holy scriptures given by inspiration; preach the word.

Titus—The blessed hope; not by works which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us.

Philemon—Paul’s appeal to a Colossian master to graciously receive back a runaway slave now converted.

Hebrews—Christ’s qualifications for the priesthood; the heavenly sanctuary; the new covenant; faith.

James—Pure religion; the law of liberty; the tongue; humility; misery coming to the rich; anointing the sick.

1 Peter—Born again by the word; suffering for conscience; wives, husbands, elders; grace to the humble.

2 Peter—Precious promises; the sure word of prophecy; false teachers; scoffers; the day of the Lord.

1 John—Walk in the light; keep God’s commandments; love your brother; believe on the Son of God.

2 John—A letter to the elect lady; warnings against deceivers who abide not in the doctrine of Christ.

3 John—A letter to the well-beloved Gaius, wishing him prosperity and health.

Jude—Exhortation to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints; woes to ungodly men.

Revelation—Seven churches, seals, trumpets, and plagues; a dragon, two women, two beasts, two cities.