Understanding the Bible

Understanding How the Bible Is Organized

 Two Major Divisions

 The first (and largest) is the Old Testament.

 The Old Testament records the history and writings of Israel in the centuries prior the
coming of Jesus.
 It was written over centuries.
 The New Testament, by comparison, is smaller (fewer books) and covers a relatively
short period of time.
 The entire New Testament probably was written within a 70 year period or less.
Divisions of the Old Testament Books

 The Old Testament consists generally of four types of literature:

 Law,
 History,
 Poetry,
 and the Prophets
 The books of the Bible are typically grouped by these four types, with the
prophets being divided into the Major Prophets (they’re larger) and
Minor Prophets (they’re smaller).
The Books of the Law (5 books)

 The first five books of the Bible are referred to as the Books of the Law because
they are generally attributed to Moses and contain the Law of Moses.
 These books are
 Genesis,
 Exodus,
 Leviticus,
 Numbers,
 and Deuteronomy.
 These books contain a good deal of history (as much as anything) as well as
speeches and even songs, so it would be a mistake to imagine these are purely
legal documents.
 It is here we learn about creation, the flood, Babel, the patriarchs, the Exodus
from Egypt, Sinai, and the 40 year wilderness wandering.
The Books of History (12 books)

 The Books of History begin where the Books of the Law end and include
 Joshua,
 Judges,
 Ruth,
 1 & 2 Samuel,
 1 & 2 Kings,
 1 & 2 Chronicles,
 Ezra,
 Nehemiah,
 Here we read about
 the conquest of the Promised Land,
 the period of the Judges,
 the united kingdom,
 the divided kingdom,
 the Babylonian captivity
 and the restoration of the Israelite people to their homeland.
 It is at this point that Old Testament history essentially comes to a close.
The Books of Poetry (5 books)

 The Books of Poetry are so called because of their poetic nature.

 These books include
 Job,
 Psalms,
 Proverbs,
 Ecclesiastes,
 and the Song of Solomon (also called the Song of Songs).
 These books are distinctly Hebrew and consist of wisdom literature, songs, and
narratives.
The Major Prophets (5 books)

 Throughout their history, God spoke to His people through prophets.

 In the Old Testament, the prophets (as a group) weren’t primarily looking to the
future.
 They were most often calling the people to live godly lives NOW.
 The records of many of these prophets are contained in the prophetic books.
 Some of the prophetic books are simply longer and, consequently, take up a
more “major” portion of the Old Testament.
 The Major Prophets include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and
Daniel.
The Minor Prophets (12 books)

 The smaller prophet books are referred to as the Minor Prophets.

 Neither their size nor the title of the grouping (“Minor”) should suggest these
books are not important. They are merely smaller.
 These books include Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum,
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
Divisions of the New Testament Books

 The New Testament books can be grouped in different ways, but many identify
three broad categories that include
 History,
 letters (also called epistles),
 and prophecy.
 The historical books include the four Gospels and the Book of Acts.
 The letters are generally grouped by Paul’s letters and the “General” letters (all
the others).
 The only book labelled as “prophecy” is the Book of Revelation, but just as with
Old Testament prophecy, Revelation is not entirely about the future.
The Gospels (4 books)

 The four Gospels tell us about the life and ministry of Jesus.
 They include
 Matthew,
 Mark,
 Luke
 and John.
 Each Gospel is written from a different perspective with different purposes, so
they each give us different stories, even though they do contain overlapping
stories.
The Book of Acts (1 book)

 The Book of Acts tells us about the birth and early years of the Church.
 It helps us understand how the church went from being an exclusively Jewish
group of people to being largely Gentile.
 The Apostle Paul is the primary character in the book, but we also learn about
Peter and other early leaders in the church.
Paul’s Letters to the Churches (13 books)

 Paul spent much of his life planting churches on several missionary journeys.
 He later wrote letters to many of the churches and many of these letters have
been preserved in the New Testament.
 Paul’s letters (the Pauline epistles) include
 Romans,
 1 & 2 Corinthians,
 Galatians,
 Ephesians,
 Philippians,
 Colossians,
 1 & 2 Thessalonians,
 1 & 2 Timothy,
 Titus
 and Philemon.
General Letters to the Church (8 books)

 There were also letters written by people like Peter, John, and others.
 Each letter had a specific audience in mind as well as a reason for the letter.
 Each letter is, therefore, unique with its own flavour and lessons to be learned.
 The General Letters (Epistles) include
 Hebrews,
 James,
 1 & 2 Peter,
 1, 2 & 3 John,
 and Jude.
Prophecy (1 book)

 The Book of Revelation is also a letter in that it was written to be delivered to a

specific group of churches.
 It was also intended to encourage Christians in general.
 The Book of Revelation is prophetic in two ways.
 Like the prophets of the Old Testament, Revelation spoke to the people living in
that day and time.
 But, Revelation also gives us a glimpse into the future when Jesus ushers in a
new age and His kingdom is fully established.
Pentateuch or Torah
GENESIS

 Author: Moses
 Date: Around 1400 BC
 Recipients: Israel
 Events: The principle events of Genesis are the creation of the universe, the fall
into sin, the flood, the foundations of the world history, and the beginning of the
Hebrew nation.
 Themes in Genesis

 Sovereignty: God’s sovereignty is seen immediately in the first pages of the Bible by His creation of all that exists.
 Law: Laws were few and simple in the beginning before the fall into sin; every sin was a capital offence and merited the
death penalty.

 Grace: The grace of God is seen in the restoration of Adam and Eve, in God’s coming to them and preaching good news to
them when they were hiding from Him in pathetic coverings of their own design.

 Christ: Christ is the descendant foretold by the first evangelist in Genesis 3:15.
 He would come in the fullness of time and pay for the sins of the whole world, taking the sins of believing people onto
Himself and in exchange giving them His perfect holiness that is required to enter into the presence of God.
 Responsibility: While God is sovereign and rules every molecule of His universe, men and women are responsible.
EXODUS

 Author: Moses
 Date: Around 1400 BC
 Recipients: The nation of Israel
 Events: The exodus of Israel from slavery to Pharaoh in Egypt for fulfilment of
God’s promises to Abraham and the patriarchs.
 Themes in Exodus

 Sovereignty: God called an eighty-year-old shepherd who is wanted for murder in Egypt to return there and
deliver His people who were the enslaved workforce.
 Law: In addition to laws for civil and religious guidance, God gives moral law such as the Ten Commandments
written by His own hand.
 Grace: While Moses is on the mountain receiving instructions from God for the people, they turn to idolatry and
worship a golden calf. Yet God not only spares them from His wrath, He gives them His Commandments a
second time.
 Christ: Moses serves as a type of Christ delivering them from bondage through miraculous signs by the power
of God, teaches them how to worship God and treat others, shepherding them, and miraculously providing for
them. These foreshadows Christ who delivered us from bondage to Satan through many miracles.
 Responsibility: The Bible speaks of Pharaoh's hardened heart. The bible teaches us repeatedly that when we
hear His voice we must be careful not to harden our hearts.
 Leviticus

 Author: Moses
 Date: Around 1400 BC
 Recipients: The nation of Israel
 Events: The laws, priestly duties, and rules pertaining to tabernacle service in the Hebrew nation. The
primary emphasis in this book is Holiness- God’s and His people’s (Lev. 19:2; 22:16).
 Themes in Leviticus

 Sovereignty: The Lord reveals Himself to be holy and sovereignly requires that His people be so. He
reveals blessings for those seeking holiness and punishment for disobedience.
 Law: There are laws, rules, and regulations in Leviticus pertaining to the priesthood, sacrifices, offerings,
consecration of priests, designation of cleans and unclean animals, leprosy, cleansing of houses, diet,
treatment of others, festivals, property laws, and fulfilment of vows.
 Grace: The grace of God shines more brilliantly especially on the Day of Atonement (Lev.16) when the
priest would enter into the most holy place and atone for the sins of the people.
 Christ: Christ is seen in all the types of sacrifices and presents a picture of His sacrificial death for
believers.
 Responsibility: The Lord gave detailed laws and regulations to guide and order His people.
 Numbers

 Author: Moses
 Date: Around 1400 BC
 Recipients: The nation of Israel
 Events: The journey to the Promised Land
 Themes in Numbers

 Sovereignty: God’s sovereign power is shown as He delivered the nation of Israel out of Egypt,
disciplined their murmuring, and punished them for heeding their cowardice over His command to enter
the land.
 Law: God continues to give laws for priestly tabernacle service and civil regulations.
 Grace: God’s mercy and grace are seen as He spares the people of Israel through their countless
transgressions and refusals to trust and obey.
 Christ: The book presents a powerful type of Christ in the bronze serpent that Moses placed on the staff,
so that anyone who had been bitten by one of the snakes that God had sent among them because of their
grumbling and murmuring against Him could look and be healed.
 Responsibility: God provided laws for right living, a rich land for them to inhabit, and a leader to follow;
but they had to choose to follow.
Deuteronomy

 Author: Moses
 Date: Around 1400 BC
 Recipients: The generation of Israelites following the exodus whose parents had
died in the wilderness for disbelieving God’s promise.
 Events: The reiteration of the law for Israel.
 Themes in Deuteronomy

 Sovereignty: God determines the days of Moses’ life and death and designates a leader to succeed him.
 Law: This book is the second giving of the law of God since the ones who had heard and been taught the
law had all died in the desert as punishment for mistrusting God and refusing His will.
 Grace: Even though God punished the Israelites for their disobedience, He kept his hand on the children
and gave them His law and provided a new leader.
 Christ: In the Passover, Israel remembers the angel of death passing over their homes because of the
blood of the sacrificial lamb. This is a very powerful type of the deliverance that is ours through the
blood of the Lamb.
 Responsibility: God continues to provide and protect the Israelite, but He commands them to continue to
trust and obey Him.
 The Historical Books

 The twelve books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra,
Nehemiah, and Esther cover the time from the beginning of the conquest of the Promised Land all the
way through the exile and return. As history they should be read as narrative.
Joshua

 Author: Joshua
 Date: Around 1406-1380 BC
 Recipients: Israel
 Events: The Conquest of Canaan
 Themes in Joshua

 Sovereignty: God stood the waters of a flood-stage Jordan River in a heap to allow His people through, reminiscence
of the parting of the Red Sea, made the walls of the impregnable city of Jericho fall, made the sun stand still during a
battle, and hardened the Canaanites’ hearts so they would come against Israel in battle and be devoted to
destruction without mercy.
 Law: God’s law was that all in Ai was given over to destruction, yet Achan coveted something more than the peace
with God that comes through obedience. As a consequence, Achan and his family experienced God’s judgment.
 Grace: The Lord spared the prostitute Rahab and her family because she hid the spies not only from the invading
Israelite army when they came but also from the walls of Jericho when they fell in. Although she was a Gentile, she
is celebrated in the roll call of the faithful (Heb. 11:31) and is listed in the genealogy of Jesus (Matt. 1:5).
 Christ: Joshua is often mentioned as a type of Christ.
 Responsibility: Responsibility requires action, trust, and risk.
Judges

 Author: Anonymous in itself and in tradition, although some attribute it to

Samuel.
 Date: 1380-1050 BC
 Recipients: Israel
 Events: First three hundred years in the Promised Land during the dark and
negative period of the judges when every man did what was right in his own
eyes.
 Themes in Judges

 Sovereignty: Even though God had commanded Israel to destroy the Canaanites, He sovereignly allowed
some to remain to test Israel, to give Israelites reason to learn warfare, and to know whether Israel
would obey the commands of the Lord.
 Law: Many take God’s commands so casually therefore bear the consequence of disobeying God which is
punishment for their sin.
 Grace: God’s grace is shown in a repeated cycle in the book of Judges.
 Christ: The appearance of God to man in a way that man could see and still live.
 Responsibility: The people understood that without the Lord’s help the battle was lost, yet they must still
fight the battle and follow their leaders.
 Ruth

 Author: Anonymous, but tradition considers Samuel.

 Date: 1200-1150 BC
 Recipients: Israel
 Events: The origin of the family of the Davidic Messiah through the line of the Moabite widow, Ruth,
and the Bethlehemite kinsman redeemer, Boaz.
 Themes in Ruth

 Sovereignty: God orchestrates the events such as the famine that led a Jewish family to sojourn in Moab,
then to return but after burying all male family members, and allows Ruth to glean in the field of Boaz,
which resulted in their marriage.
 Law: God’s laws and regulations provide order and guidelines that often do not make sense to modern
minds.
 Grace: Ruth is an example of a loving-kindness and compassion as she leaves her homeland to remain
with Naomi as she was returning to Israel so as to care for her widowed mother-in-law, even though she
was also a young widow.
 Christ: Boaz, as kinsman redeemer, is a type of Christ in this powerful and masterfully written story.
 Responsibility: God commands us to care for widows, orphans, and the needy among us.
 1 Samuel

 Author: Anonymous. Samuel surely wrote some portions of the book.

 Date: 1100-1010 BC
 Recipients: Israel
 Events: The organization of the kingdom, firmly establishing the Davidic covenant and kingdom, and the
selection of the holy city of Jerusalem as the future temple site.
 Themes in 1 Samuel

 Sovereignty: The return of the ark to Israel after the Philistines capture it can only be explained by the
sovereignty of God.
 Law: God had revealed detailed laws relative to sacrificial worship and priestly duties.
 Grace: On multiple occasions David could have easily killed his pursuer but showed him grace and mercy
and entrusted himself to God’s care, allowing Saul to live instead.
 Christ: In many ways David serves as a type of Christ.
 Responsibility: Saul was chosen to be king and was empowered with the Holy Spirit. As king of God’s
people, he was to maintain a godly nation, remembering that theirs was still a theocracy. He neglected
his responsibitiy.
 2 Samuel

 Author: Anonymous
 Date: 1010-971 BC
 Recipients: Israel
 Events: The reign of David enlarged the borders of Israel but saw great tragedy as well, especially after
the sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband.
 Themes in 2 Samuel

 Sovereignty: David suffered many attacks during the years of his reign, from without, from his own sons,
and from his own sinful desires: with Bathsheba, against Uriah, and in his prideful census. But God made a
covenant with David and sovereignly fulfils it by overcoming all attacks, including even David’s sinful
choices.
 Law: When David was bringing the ark back to Jerusalem, his heart was right, but the law was not obeyed.
 Grace: The loving-kindness and compassion of the Lord and merciful grace of God is revealed in the life of
David.
 Christ: God makes a covenant with David that his greater Son would establish the true Davidic throne.
 Responsibility: David’s failure to be responsible in his role as king.
 1 Kings

 Author: Anonymous
 Date: 971-853 BC
 Recipients: Israel
 Events: The division of the kingdom after Solomon’s reign and the ministry of Elijah.
 Themes in 1 Kings

 Sovereignty: The “God contest” on Mount Carmel between Elijah and the priests of Baal reveal their
religion to be empty worship of a false deity, and God shows Himself to be the sovereign God with
supernatural power. The book clearly teaches that God controls all of nature and all of history.
 Law: The kings disobeyed the law of God and bear the consequence of disobeying God and His law.
 Grace: In Solomon’s prayer of dedication of the temple, we see that God is always willing to respond to
a prayer for mercy and forgiveness when people turn to Him in repentance seeking reconciliation.
 Christ: Although Solomon’s heart is not as his father David’s was, and although the kingdom divides
after him, with northern kings being predominantly evil, the hope remained alive in the southern
kingdom that the Messianic line would continue and Christ would still come.
 Responsibility: Solomon’s wealth was incalculable, and there was peace on every border, but Solomon
neglected his responsibility to live as he should, and the result was national devastation.
 2 KINGS

 Author: Anonymous
 Date: 853-560 BC
 Recipients: Israel
 Events: The history of the divided kingdom and the ministry of Elisha
 Themes in 2 Kings

 Sovereignty: Before the book is over, God allows the northern and the southern kingdom to fall into enemy
hands and be taken into exile as their punishment.
 Law: The Israelites discovered the Law that had been hidden or neglected, and the King’s response was to rend
his garments, indicating his repentant and humbled heart.
 Grace: When Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, the prophet Isaiah came to tell him he would
die and to prepare himself for it. When he cried out to the Lord and wept bitterly, the Lord had mercy on him and
granted him healing with fifteen more years of life.
 Christ: At the time of Elisha’s ministry in Israel (850-798 BC), the Lord provided an abundance of oil for an
indebted widow. He also raised a Shunammite woman’s son from the dead. These miracles are illustrations of the
ministry and heart of Jesus.
 Responsibility: Josiah was only eight years old when he began to reign, but he took the responsibility to change
the course of his family legacy and followed the Lord.
Question 1: Who is considered to be the
author of the book of Joshua?
Question 2: What is the event of the book of
Joshua?
Question 3: Who is considered to be the author
of Judges?
Question 4: What is the event of the book
of Judges?
Question 5: Who is considered to be the
author of the book of Ruth?
Question 6: What is the event of the book of
Ruth?
Question 7: Who is considered to be the
author of the book of 1 Samuel?
Question 8: What is the event of the book of 1
Samuel?
Question 9: What is the Event of the book of 2
Samuel?
Question 10: What is the event of 1 Kings?
 1 Chronicles

 Author: 1 and 2 Chronicles originally formed one book, written after the exiles began to return from
Babylonia. Although it is anonymous, Ezra may have been the author of much of it.
 Date: 1010-971 BC
 Recipients: Returned exiles to encourage them to trust God’s faithfulness
 Events: The reign of David and its importance for Israel
 Themes in 1 Chronicles

 Sovereignty: The returning exiles found hope in the sovereignty of God and His power and faithfulness
to fulfil His promise to David. Although they received severe discipline for their sin, God preserved
them during exile and began to restore the nation again.
 Law: The extensive genealogies give the Israelites a sense of continuity with their former greatness and
divine blessing after suffering in exile as punishment for neglecting God’s law.
 Grace: In his prayer in the presence of all the assembly, David acknowledges that they are
underserving of God’s favour and blessing. All that they had came from God’s pure grace.
 Christ: The location where David offers the sacrifice to stop the pestilence sent in response to his
census is a precious piece of real estate. It is the location of Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac, David’s
offering in 1 Chronicles 21, Solomon’s temple, and the city where Jesus would be offered as the
ultimate Sacrifice for our sins.
 2 Chronicles

 Author: 1 and 2 Chronicles originally formed one book, written after the exiles began to return from
Babylonia. Although it is anonymous, Ezra may have been the author of much of it.
 Date: 971-539 BC
 Recipients: Returned exiles to encourage them to trust God’s faithfulness
 Events: Most of the book is concerned with the history of the southern kingdom, good kings there, and
the eventual decree that allowed them to return from exile.
 Themes in 2 Chronicles

 Sovereignty: God’s sovereign plan continuing unabated is the pervasive hope of the returning exiles.
 Law: Uzziah entered the temple to burn incense on the altar and was struck with leprosy for the rest of
his life as punishment.
 Grace: The southern king Manasseh repented at the end of a very wicked life but only after he had been
broken and put in chains. Still God heard his prayer and brought him again to his kingdom in Jerusalem.
 Christ: Forgiveness and healing is possible for us today through our Passover Lamb Jesus Christ.
 Responsibility: Hezekiah calls on the people not to be stiff-necked but to serve Him as He commands.
 Ezra

 Author: It is likely that it was Ezra.

 Date: 539-450 BC
 Recipients: Returning exiles from Babylonia
 Events: Continuing account that picks up after 2 Chronicles to tell of the return from captivity and exile
 Themes in Ezra

 Sovereignty: God’s sovereignty is seen as He changes the minds and hearts of unbelieving pagan kings to treat
His people with favour.
 Law: Ezra 7 teaches that God allowed them to accomplish everything safely because God’s good hand of favour
was on Ezra, and that it was on him because Ezra had dedicated himself to study the Law of God, to apply it to his
own life, and to teach God’s Law to others.
 Grace: In this mix of sinners in exile, God preserves a remnant of the faithful and grants grace to them through
His hand of favour to allow them to return, rebuild the temple, escape their enemies, and be restored.
 Christ: Everything that was precious to them pales in comparison with the Messiah their temple worship
foreshadowed.
 Responsibility: God sovereignly worked in the king’s heart to allow Ezra to return, and with favour. Still, Ezra had
to return. He had to trust God to protect them on the road, but they still had to step out in faith that He would
so.
 Nehemiah

 Author: Ezra is the likely author, though they may have drawn from Nehemiah’s records.
 Date: 445-410 BC
 Recipients: Israel after the third group of exiles return
 Events: The rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem
 Themes in Nehemiah

 Sovereignty: The Lord had worked in the minds and hearts of kings to allow these three waves of exiles to return,
kept them safe from road bandits on their travels without a guard, and preserved them from their enemies during
the vulnerable days when Jerusalem was without a wall of protection.
 Law: All the people gathered together, and Ezra read the book of the law of God to them from early morning to
midday, giving explanation so that the people could understand.
 Grace: The Israelites confessed their sin with fasting and in sackcloth and recounted their sins, and trusted as they
prayed.
 Christ: In the same way Nehemiah received great opposition to his work because it was a great work of God, and
was the recipient of death threats and lies, so Christ similarly suffered as He did great work for us.
 Responsibility: Nehemiah had a comfortable life as a cupbearer to the king and could have passively prayed that
someone else would do something about Jerusalem's situation. But being a godly man of action and concern, he
stepped out of his comfort zone and risked everything.
 Esther

 Author: Anonymous, but could have been written by Mordecai, Ezra, or Nehemiah
 Date: 483-474 BC
 Recipients: Israel to document the origin of Purim
 Events: Delivery of Israel from genocide
 Themes in Esther

 Sovereignty: Although God’s name is never explicitly mentioned, His sovereign care for and preservation of His
people is unmistakable throughout the book, which clearly reflects that God’s plans and purposes are
comprehensive and personal.
 Law: The law of God is never mentioned, read, or expounded upon in the whole of the book, but the reader
clearly sees the differences in the lives of those who are living by it.
 Grace: The mere fact that the king extends his scepter to Esther when she had not been summoned is illustrative
of this principle.
 Christ: Continuing the metaphor of the scepter, we have no right to approach a holy God who cannot share His
presence with sinful creatures, but He ‘extends His scepter’ to receive us as we approach Him in Jesus’ name.
 Responsibility: As a committed God-fearer, Esther chooses to risk all to take responsibility in the things that she
could do.
Question 1: Who is considered to be
the author of the books of 1 and 2
Chronicles
Question 2: When is 1 Chronicles
considered to be written?
Question 3: Who are the recipients of
1 Chronicles?
Question 4: What is the event of 1
Chronicles?
Question 5: What is the event of 2
Chronicles?
Question 6: Who are the recipients of
the book of Ezra?
Question 7: What is the event of the
book of Ezra?
Question 8: What is the event of the
book of Nehemiah?
Question 9: Who are the recipients of
the book of Esther?
Question 10: What is the event of the
book of Esther?
 The Writings: Poetry and Wisdom

– The five books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon
constitute about one-third of the Old Testament.
– These books are also called wisdom literature as they seek to instruct in
living life from God’s perspective, especially in the face of the philosophical
problem of pain.
– This is a crucial question that faces every culture of the world: How can
God be both omnipotent and good while there is pain and suffering in the
world?
Job

– Author: Anonymous
– Date: Unknown
– Recipients: Hebrews
– Events: Problem of pain and suffering
Psalms

– Authors: David, Solomon, Moses, Asaph, the sons of

Korah
– Date: Unknown
– Recipients: Israel, primarily serving as their hymnal
– Events: Worship hymnal and instruction manual
Proverbs

– Author: Solomon, Agur, and Lemuel

– Date: Unknown
– Recipients: Israel
– Events: Wisdom of Solomon and others
Ecclesiastes

– Author: The “Preacher,” probably Solomon

– Date: Unknown
– Recipients: Israel
– Events: Temporal nature of earthly life
Song of Solomon

– Author: Solomon is very likely the author

– Date: Unknown
– Recipients: Given to Israel to teach about love
– Events: Celebration of marital love as God intended
Question 1: Who is the author of the
book of Job?
Question 2: What is the main theme
of the book of Job?
Question 3: Who are the authors of
the book of Psalms?
Question 4: What is the main theme
of the Psalms?
Question 5: Who are the authors of
the Proverbs?
Question 6: What is the main theme
of the Proverbs?
Question 7: Who is the author of the
book of Ecclesiastes?
Question 8: What is the main theme
of the book of Ecclesiastes?
Question 9: Who is the author of the
book of Song of Solomon?
Question 10: What is the main theme
of the book of Song of Solomon?
Major Prophets

– The five books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel are the
Major Prophets.
– Taken together with the Minor Prophets, they cover about one-fourth of the
Bible.
– A prophet is one who forth-tells as well as foretells God’s word.
– A prophet is not merely one who predicts the future; he is also one who
proclaims the Word of God.
Isaiah

– Author: Isaiah
– Date: 739-685 BC
– Recipients: Israel and Judah
– Main theme: The ministry and message of the messianic prophet
Jeremiah

– Author: Jeremiah
– Date: 627-580 BC
– Recipients: Judah
– Main theme: The weeping prophet
Lamentations

– Author: Jeremiah is very likely the author

– Date: 586 BC
– Recipients: Judah
– Main theme: The prophet’s reflection on the destruction of Jerusalem
Ezekiel

– Author: Ezekiel
– Date: 539-570 BC
– Recipients: Exiles and people left behind in Judah
– Main theme: Prophecy from exile during Ezekiel’s twenty-three-year ministry
Daniel

– Author: Daniel
– Date: 605-530 BC
– Recipients: Judah
– Main theme: God’s use of and deliverance of His people even in captivity
Question 1: Who are the five major
prophets?
Question 2: What is the two roles of
the prophet?
Question 3: Who is the author of the
book of Isaiah?
Question 4: What is the main theme
of the book of Isaiah?
Question 5: Who is the main theme of
the book of Jeremiah?
Question 6: Who is the author of
Lamentations?
Question 7: What is the main theme
of the book of lamentations?
Question 8: What is the main theme
of the book of Ezekiel?
Question 9: Who is the author of the
book of Daniel?
Question 10: What is the main theme
of the book of Daniel?
Minor Prophets

– The twelve books of Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum,
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi are in a section referred
to as the Minor Prophets.
– They are called “Minor Prophets” because they are shorter, not because they
are less important.
Hosea

– Author: Hosea
– Date: 760-720 BC
– Recipients: Israel just before their fall and exile
– Main theme: The apostasy of Israel illustrated powerfully by God instructing
Hosea to marry a prostitute to symbolize the spiritual unfaithfulness of Israel
Joel

– Author: Joel
– Date: Unknown
– Recipients: Judah
– Main theme: Prophecies of the Day of the Lord and the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit
Amos

– Author: Amos
– Date: 760 BC
– Recipients: The northern and southern kingdoms
– Main theme: The universal reign of the kingdom of David
Obadiah

– Author: Obadiah
– Date: Unknown
– Recipients: Judah and Edom
– Main theme: The destruction of Edom for assisting in the destruction of Judah
and capture of the fleeing Israelites
Jonah

– Author: Jonah
– Date: 782 BC
– Recipients: Israel
– Main theme: Jonah’s calling and response to God’s heart for Assyria and its
capital- Nineveh
Micah

– Author: Micah
– Date: 737-690 BC
– Recipients: Judah
– Main theme: The prophecy of the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem
Nahum

– Author: Nahum
– Date: 650 BC
– Recipients: Nineveh
– Main theme: Another prophet preaches to Nineveh, but this time with a
destruction finale
Habakkuk

– Author: Habakkuk
– Date: 609 BC
– Recipients: Judah
– Main theme: Habakkuk’s prophecy and quandary (dilemma, difficulty), just
before the fall of Judah to Babylon, was how God could use such a wicked
nation to punish Judah’s sin.
Zephaniah

– Author: Zephaniah
– Date: 640 BC
– Recipients: Judah
– Main theme: The arrival of a “pure language”
Haggai

– Author: Haggai
– Date: 520 BC
– Recipients: Returned exiles
– Main theme: The rebuilding of the temple
Zechariah

– Author: Zechariah
– Date: 520 BC
– Recipients: Judah
– Main theme: The renewal of the covenant with God and rebuilding of the
temple
Malachi

– Author: Malachi
– Date: 433 BC
– Recipients: Returned exiles
– Main theme: The final message to a rebellious people and foretelling the
coming of John the Baptist and Jesus
1. Which of the following is not
included in the “Minor Prophets”?
– A. Haggai
– B. Malachi
– C. Daniel
– D. Zephaniah
2. Why are the “Minor Prophets”
called “Minor”?
– A. Because they are less important
– B. Because they are meaningless
– C. Because they are many in number
– D. Because they are shorter
3. Which of the following is the main
theme of Hosea?
– A. The return of Israel from captivity
– B. The Apostasy of Israel
– C. The coming of the Messiah
– D. The destruction of Babylon
4. Which of the following is the main
theme of Joel?
– A. Prophecies of the day of the Lord
– B. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit
– C. The return from captivity
– D. A and B can be the answer
5. Which of the following is the main
theme of Amos?
– A. The universal reign of the kingdom of David
– B. The destruction of northern kingdom
– C. The destruction of the Southern kingdom
– D. The building of the temple
6. Which of the following is the main
theme of Obadiah?
– A. The destruction of the northern kingdom
– B. The destruction of Edom
– C. The return from captivity
– D. The coming of the Messiah
7. Which of the following is not the
main theme of Jonah?
– A. The calling of Jonah
– B. The response of Jonah to the destruction of Assyria
– C. The response of Jonah to the destruction of Nineveh the capital city of
Assyria
– D. The answer is not given
8. Which one is the main theme of
Micah?
– A. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit
– B. The coming of the messenger
– C. The prophecy of the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem
– D. The reign of the kingdom of David
9. Which one of the following is not
among the main theme of Nahum?
– A. The destruction of Assyria
– B. The destruction of Nineveh
– C. The deliverance of Jonah
– D. God’s punishment for the sin of Assyrians
10. Which one of the following is the
main theme of Habakkuk?
– A. Habakkuk’s prophecy and dilemma just before the fall of Judah to Babylon
– B. The deliverance of southern kingdom
– C. The deliverance of the northern kingdom
– D. Habakkuk’s prophecy of the coming of the messiah and the deliverance of
Judah
Bonus Questions
Question 1: The main theme of Zephaniah is
‘the arrival of ‘pure language’’?

– A. True
– B. False
Question 2: The main theme of Haggai
is ‘the rebuilding of the temple?

– A. True
– B. False
Question 3: ‘The renewal of the covenant with God and
rebuilding of the temple’ is the main theme of Zechariah?

– A. True
– B. False
Question 4: ‘The final message to a rebellious people and
foretelling the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus’ is the
main theme of Malachi?

– A. True
– B. False
 The Gospels

– The first four books of the New Testament are the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and
John.
– The concentrate on the public ministry and teachings of Jesus and the events of Passion
Week.
– These Gospels were written with more of an evangelistic intention to explain who Jesus is
and what He taught.
– The first three gospels are known as the Synoptic Gospel since they “see together” i.e. they
present many of the same teachings, parables, miracles, and chronological order, and from
virtually the same point.
– John’s Gospel was the last one written and reflects more a theological emphasis and
includes components of Jesus’ life and teachings not found in the first three Gospels.
 Matthew

– Author: The Apostle Matthew, a tax-collector

– Date: AD 50s or 60s
– Recipients: Hebrew background readers
– Main theme: Matthew is the most “Jewish” of the four Gospels, emphasizing
that Jesus is the Messiah, which makes it the perfect segue Gospel from the Old
Testament into the New Testament.
 Mark

– Author: Mark is the author, but he leans heavily on the Apostle Peter’s
perspective, so sometimes this is called Peter’s Gospel. The Gospel of Mark was
probably the first Gospel written.
– Date: AD 50s or 60s
– Recipients: Written for Gentile Christians in a very fast-paced, action-oriented
style
– Main theme: Mark presents Jesus as the Son of Man and presents Him
manifesting every human emotion.
 Luke

– Author: Dr. Luke, a physician and fellow traveller of Paul on his missionary
journeys
– Date: AD 60s
– Recipients: The longest of the Gospels was written to Theophilus. He was
possibly Luke’s friend or patron, though some say the Gospel is written to all
Christians, considering the meaning of the name (Theophilus= lover of God)
– Main theme: Luke stresses Jesus’ teaching, ministry to the poor and
marginalized and His coming to seek and save the lost.
 John

– Author: The Apostle John

– Date: Around AD 85
– Recipients: John wrote to persuade readers to believe that Jesus is the Christ
and that by believing they can have life in His name. He focuses on the deity of
Christ and the eternal life we have through Him.
– Main theme: John’s Gospel is the most reflective and theological presentation
of the Gospel accounts.
 History

– The book entitled the Acts of the Apostles (often referred to simply as Acts)
follows the four Gospels and tells the story of the beginnings of Christianity’s
expansion from Jerusalem as it spread throughout the Roman Empire.
– The book of Acts also includes biographical elements of the lives of several men
such as Peter and Paul and segments that are masterful narrative.
 Acts

– Author: Dr. Luke, in the second volume of his two-part work that he began in
the Gospel of Luke
– Date: Around AD 62-70
– Recipients: This is the second volume to Theophilus, written to explain the
origin of the early church.
– Main theme: Beginning with a reiteration of the Great Commission and the
coming of the Holy Spirit to empower the expansion of Christianity throughout
the world, Luke presents a narrative of how the church spread throughout the
Roman Empire.
Answer the following questions
Question 1: Name the four books of
the Gospel in the New Testament?
Question 2: What do the four gospels
concentrate on?
Question 3: Explain the main theme
of the gospel according to Matthew?
Question 4: Explain the main theme
of the gospel according to Mark?
Question 5: Explain the main theme
of the gospel according to Luke?
Question 6: Explain the main theme
of the gospel according to John?
Question 7: What is the main theme
of the book of Acts?
Question 8: Who did Luke wrote the
book of Acts?
Question 9: The book of Acts is
written between BC 62-70?
– A. True
– B. False
Question 10: The recipient of the
book of Acts is Timothy.
– A. True
– B. False
Pauline Epistles

– The letters of Paul are the biblical books of Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians,
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2
Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
– While the Gospels teach about the life of Christ
– The book of Acts teach about the expansion of Christianity
– The Epistles teach churches what they are to believe, how they are to be led, and
what they are to do.
Romans

– Author: The Apostle Paul

– Date: AD 57
– Recipients: To the church in Rome that Paul had never visited before
– Main Theme: It focuses on the gospel and its power to save all sinners, both
Jews and Gentiles
1 Corinthians

– Author: The Apostle Paul

– Date: AD 53-55
– Recipients: To the church in Corinth
– Main theme: Paul speaks to many issues that were causing divisions in the
church and calls for unity.
2 Corinthians

– Author: The Apostle Paul

– Date: AD 55-56
– Recipients: Church in Corinth
– Main theme: Paul writes appealing to the Church in Corinth to stand with him
against the undermining attacks of his enemies i.e. the false teachers.
Galatians

– Author: The Apostle Paul

– Date: AD 48-58
– Recipients: The churches in South Galatia to counter a heretical belief that
Christians must keep the Old Testament laws to be saved
– Main theme: Paul writes to stress that there is joy in the gospel and freedom
from legalism, though godly living is still our goal.
Ephesians

– Author: The Apostle Paul

– Date: AD 62
– Recipients: Written from a Roman prison to the churches in Asia Minor
– Main theme: Paul is writing to address God’s eternal plans for all humanity.
Philippians

– Author: The Apostle Paul

– Date: AD 62
– Recipients: To the church in Philippi, to thank them for a gift they had sent to
him
– Main theme: A division had occurred in the body of Christ in Philippi, and Paul
writes to encourage peace and agreement, calling on others to assist them. This
is an epistle of peace and joy written in hard place to people living in difficult
times.
Colossians

– Author: The Apostle Paul

– Date: AD 62
– Recipients: Church in Colossae
– Main theme: Paul rebukes false teachers and writes to correct their heresy.
1 Thessalonians

– Author: The Apostle Paul

– Date: AD 49-51, one of his first letters
– Recipients: To the church in Thessalonica to encourage and exhort them in the
faith
– Main theme: Paul sends a letter of instruction and exhortation.
2 Thessalonians

– Author: The Apostle Paul

– AD 49-51 Church in Thessalonica
– Recipients: Paul writes to teach them
– Main theme: Paul writes to teach them further about the coming of the Lord
and to warn against idleness.
1 Timothy

– Author: The Apostle Paul

– Date: AD 62-64
– Recipient: Timothy, pastor of the church at Ephesus
– Main theme: Paul is writing to instruct the young pastor on proper church order
and leadership, how to refute the false teachers among them, and exhorting
him to live a life worthy of imitation.
2 Timothy

– Author: The Apostle Paul

– Date: AD 64-67, as he awaits execution in a Roman jail
– Recipient: Timothy
– Main theme: Paul writes this last letter of his life to his young disciple Timothy,
reminding him of the importance of the Word, sound doctrine, living a godly
life, and his solitude since others had abandoned him.
Titus

– Author: The Apostle Paul

– Date: AD 62-64
– Recipients: To Titus, whom he had left in charge of establishing churches on
Crete
– Main theme: Paul writes to the young pastor to remind him to be faithful to his
task of establishing elders, explaining what kind of men they should be,
exhorting him to teach sound doctrine and teach believers to live godly lives.
Philemon

– Author: The Apostle Paul

– Date: AD 62
– Recipient: Philemon
– Main theme: Paul writes to his friend to inform him that his runaway slave had
come to the Lord and was returning. Paul appealed to Philemon to receive him
as a brother.
Question 1: What is the main theme
of 1 Thessalonians?
Question 2: What is the main theme
of 2 Thessalonians?
Question 3: What is the main theme
of 1 Timothy?
Question 4: What is the main theme
of 2 Timothy?
Question 5: What is the main theme
of Titus?
Question 6: What is the main theme
of Philemon?
Question 7: Who are the recipients of
1 and 2 Thessalonians?
Question 8: Who is the recipient of 1
and 2 Timothy?
Question 9: Who is the recipient of
Titus?
Question 10: Who is the recipient of
Philemon?
Hebrews

– Author: One of the most disputed issues in New Testament studies- we don’t
know! A student of Paul, Apollos, Barnabas or Luke?
– Audience: Hebrews- Jewish Christians
– Date: 60-90 AD
– Main theme: The Supremacy of Jesus
James

– Author: James, the brother of Jesus

– Audience: Jewish Christians
– Date: 62 AD
– Main theme: Instructions on Christian living
Peter

– Author: Peter, the disciple of Jesus

– Audience: Jewish/ Gentile Christians
– Date: 68 AD
– Theme of 1 Peter: Encouragement to believers to live holy lives, distinctive lives,
and to persevere in a time of severe trial and persecution
– Theme of 2 Peter: Living faithfully in this world until the Lord returns
John

– Author: John, the disciple of Jesus

– Audience: Churches of Asia minor
– Date: 90-120 AD
– Theme of 1 John: Encouragement to believers to walk in the light, to love one
another, and a warning against being led astray
– Theme of 2 John: Continue in the truth of Christ
– Theme of 3 John: Proper behaviour in church
Jude

– Author: Jude- a servant of Jesus and brother of James

– Audience: Jewish Christians
– Date: 55-80 AD
– Theme of Jude: Stay true to the gospel of Christ, don’t fall or turn away
Revelation

– Author: John, the Apostle

– Audience: The seven churches of Asia Minor facing oppression and persecution
– Date: AD 95-96
– Theme: The Lamb has Overcome!