Some of the most important
matters
recorded in the book are as follows: (1) Moses recalls the great events
of the past forty years. He appeals to the people to remember how God
has led them through the wilderness and to be obedient and loyal to
God. (2) Moses reviews the Ten Commandments and emphasizes the meaning
of the First Commandment, calling the people to devotion to the Lord
alone. Then he reviews the various laws that are to govern Israel's
life in the promised land. (3) Moses reminds the people of the meaning
of God's covenant with them, and calls for them to renew their
commitment to its obligations. (4) Joshua is commissioned as the next
leader of God's people. After singing a song celebrating God's
faithfulness, and pronouncing a blessing on the tribes of Israel, Moses
dies in Moab, east of the River Jordan.
The great theme of the book
is that God has
saved and blessed his chosen people, whom he loves; his people are to
remember this, and love and obey him, so that they may have life and
continued blessing.
The covenant renewed at
Shechem
24.1-33
THE BOOK OF JUDGES
The
Book of Judges is
composed of stories from the lawless period of Israel's history between
the invasion of Canaan and the establishment of the monarchy. These
stories are about the exploits of national heroes called “judges”, most
of whom were military leaders rather than judges in the legal sense of
the word. One of the better known of them was Samson, whose deeds are
recorded in chapters
13-16.
The great lesson of the book
is that
Israel's survival depended on loyalty to God, while disloyalty always
led to disaster. But there was more than this: even when the nation was
disloyal to God, and disaster came, God was always ready to save his
people when they repented and turned to him again.
Outline of Contents
Various incidents
17.1—
21.25
THE BOOK OF RUTH
The peaceful story of Ruth is set in the violent times of the Book of Judges
Ruth,
a Moabite woman, is married to an Israelite. When he dies, Ruth shows
uncommon loyalty to her Israelite mother-in-law and deep devotion to
the God of Israel. In the end, she finds a new husband among her former
husband's relatives, and through this marriage becomes the
great-grandmother of David, Israel's greatest king.
The stories of Judges show the disaster that came
when God's people turned away from him. Ruth
shows the blessing that came to a foreigner who turned to Israel's God,
and so became part of his faithful people.
Outline of Contents
The
First Book of Samuel
records the transition in Israel from the period of the judges to the
monarchy. This change in Israel's national life revolved mainly around
three men: Samuel, the last of the great judges; Saul, Israel's first
king; and David, whose early adventures before coming to power are
interwoven with the accounts of Samuel and Saul.
The theme of this book, like
that of other
historical writings in the Old Testament, is that faithfulness to God
brings success, while disobedience brings disaster. This is stated
clearly in the Lord's message to the priest Eli: “I will honour those
who honour me, and I will treat with contempt those who despise me.” (
2.30)
The book records mixed
feelings about the
establishment of the monarchy. The Lord himself was regarded as the
real king of Israel, but in response to the people's request, the Lord
chose a king for them. The important fact was that both the king and
the people of Israel lived under the sovereignty and judgement of God (
2.7-10). Under God's laws the
rights of all people, rich and poor alike, were to be maintained.
Outline of Contents
The death of Saul and his
sons
31.1-13
THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL
The
Second Book of Samuel, the sequel to
1
Samuel, is the history of David's reign as king, first
over Judah in the south (chapters
1-4), and then over the whole
nation, including Israel in the north (chapters
5-24).
It is a vivid account of how David, in order to extend his kingdom and
consolidate his position, had to struggle with enemies within the
nation as well as with foreign powers. David is shown to be a man of
deep faith and devotion to God, and one who was able to win the loyalty
of his people. Yet he is also shown as being sometimes ruthless, and
willing to commit terrible sins to serve his own desires and ambitions.
But when he is confronted with his sins by the Lord's prophet Nathan,
he confesses them and accepts the punishment that God sends.
The life and achievements of
David
impressed the people of Israel so much that in later times of national
distress, when they longed for another king, it was for one who would
be “a son of David”, that is, a descendant of David who would be like
him.
Outline of Contents
d. The later years
21.1—
24.25
THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS
The
First Book of Kings continues the history of the Israelite
monarchy begun in the Books of Samuel.
It may be divided into three parts: (1) The succession of Solomon as
king of Israel and Judah, and the death of his father David. (2) The
reign and achievements of Solomon. Especially noteworthy is the
building of the Temple in Jerusalem. (3) The division of the nation
into the northern and southern kingdoms, and the stories of the kings
who ruled them down to the middle of the ninth century BC.
In 1
and 2 Kings
each ruler is judged according to his loyalty to God, and national
success is seen as depending on this loyalty. Idolatry and
disobedience, on the other hand, lead to disaster. The kings of the
northern kingdom all fail the test, while the record of Judah's kings
is mixed.
Prominent in 1 Kings
are the prophets of the Lord, those courageous spokesmen for God who
warned the people not to worship idols and not to disobey God.
Especially notable is Elijah and the story of his contest with the
priests of Baal (chapter 18).
Outline of Contents
a. The revolt of the
northern tribes
12.1—
14.20 e. Jehoshaphat of Judah and
Ahaziah of Israel
22.41-53
THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS
The
Second Book of Kings continues the history of the two
Israelite kingdoms where 1 Kings
leaves off. The book may be divided into two parts: (1) The story of
the two kingdoms from the middle of the ninth century BC down to the
fall of Samaria and the end of the northern kingdom in 722 BC; (2) The
story of the kingdom of Judah from the fall of the kingdom of Israel
down to the capture and destruction of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar
of Babylonia in 586 BC. The book ends with an account of Gedaliah as
governor of Judah under the Babylonians, and a report of the release of
King Jehoiachin of Judah from prison in Babylon.
These national disasters took
place
because of the unfaithfulness of the kings and people of Israel and
Judah. The destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of many of the people
of Judah was one of the great turning points of Israelite history.
The prophet who stands out in 2 Kings is Elijah's successor
Elisha.
Outline of Contents
b. The kings of Judah and of
Israel
8.16—
17.4 d. The fall of Jerusalem
25.1-30
THE FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES
The Books of Chronicles are largely a retelling
of events recorded in the Books of Samuel
and Kings,
but from a different point of view. Two main purposes govern the
account of the history of the Israelite monarchy in the Books of Chronicles:
(1) To show that in spite of the disasters that had fallen upon the
kingdoms of Israel and Judah, God was still keeping his promises to the
nation and was working out his plan for his people through those who
were living in Judah. As a basis for this assurance, the writer looked
to the great achievements of David and Solomon, to the reforms of
Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah, and to the people who remained
faithful to God. (2) To describe the origin of the worship of God in
the Temple at Jerusalem, and especially the organization of the priests
and Levites, by which the worship was carried out. David is presented
as the real founder of the Temple and its ritual, even though it is
Solomon who builds the Temple.
Outline of Contents
b. Preparations for building
the Temple
22.2—
29.30
THE SECOND BOOK OF CHRONICLES
The
Second Book of Chronicles begins where 1
Chronicles
ends, starting with the account of the rule of King Solomon until his
death. After recording the revolt of the northern tribes led by
Jeroboam against Rehoboam, King Solomon's son and successor, the
account confines itself to the history of the southern kingdom of Judah
until the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC.
Outline of Contents
The revolt of the northern
tribes
10.1-19 The fall of Jerusalem
36.13-23
THE BOOK OF EZRA
The
Book of Ezra is a sequel to the Books of Chronicles,
describing the return of some of the Jewish exiles from Babylon and the
restoration of life and worship in Jerusalem. These events are
presented in the following stages: (1) The first group of Jewish exiles
returns from Babylonia at the order of Cyrus, the Persian emperor; (2)
The Temple is rebuilt and dedicated, and the worship of God restored in
Jerusalem; (3) Years later another group of Jews returns to Jerusalem
under the leadership of Ezra, an expert in the Law of God, who helps
the people reorganize their religious and social life in order to
safeguard the spiritual heritage of Israel.
Outline of Contents
The first return from exile
1.1—
2.70
The Temple is rebuilt and
dedicated
3.1—
6.22
Ezra returns with other
exiles
7.1—
10.44
THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH
The
Book of Nehemiah
may be divided into four parts: (1) The return of Nehemiah to
Jerusalem, where he has been sent by the Persian emperor to govern
Judah; (2) The rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem; (3) The solemn
reading of the Law of God by Ezra, and the people's confession of sin;
(4) Further activities of Nehemiah as governor of Judah.
A notable feature of the book
is the record of Nehemiah's deep dependence on God and his frequent
prayers to him.
Outline of Contents
Nehemiah returns to
Jerusalem
1.1—
2.20
The walls of Jerusalem are
rebuilt
3.1—
7.73
The Law is read and the
covenant is renewed
8.1—
10.39
The events of the Book of Esther,
which take place at the winter residence of the Persian emperor, centre
round a Jewish heroine named Esther, who by her great courage and
devotion to her people saved them from being exterminated by their
enemies. The book explains the background and meaning of the Jewish
festival of Purim.
Outline of Contents
The Jews defeat their
enemies
8.1—
10.3
THE BOOK OF JOB
The
Book of Job is
the story of a good man who suffers total disaster — he loses all his
children and property and is afflicted with a repulsive disease. Then
in three series of poetic dialogues the author shows how Job's friends
and Job himself react to these calamities. In the end, God himself,
whose dealings with humanity have been a prominent part of the
discussion, appears to Job.
The friends of Job explain
his suffering
in traditional religious terms. Since God, so they assume, always
rewards good and punishes evil, the sufferings of Job can only mean
that he has sinned. But for Job this is too simple; he does not deserve
such cruel punishment, because he has been an unusually good and
righteous man. He cannot understand how God can let so much evil happen
to one like himself, and he boldly challenges God. Job does not lose
his faith, but he longs to be justified before God and to regain his
honour as a good man.
God does not give an answer
to Job's
questions, but he responds to Job's faith by overwhelming him with a
poetic picture of his divine power and wisdom. Job then humbly
acknowledges God as wise and great, and repents of the wild and angry
words he had used.
The prose conclusion records
how Job is
restored to his former condition, with even greater prosperity than
before. God reprimands Job's friends for failing to understand the
meaning of Job's suffering. Only Job had really sensed that God is
greater than traditional religion had depicted him.
Outline of Contents
The book of The Psalms
is the hymn book and prayer book of the Bible. Composed by different
authors over a long period of time, these hymns and prayers were
collected and used by the people of Israel in their worship, and
eventually this collection was included in their scriptures.
These religious poems are of
many kinds:
there are hymns of praise and worship of God; prayers for help,
protection, and salvation; pleas for forgiveness; songs of thanksgiving
for God's blessings; and petitions for the punishment of enemies. These
prayers are both personal and national; some portray the most intimate
feelings of one person, while others represent the needs and feelings
of all the people of God.
The psalms were used by
Jesus, quoted by the
writers of the New Testament, and became the treasured book of worship
of the Christian Church from its beginning.
Outline of Contents
The 150 psalms are grouped
into five collections, or books, as follows:
Psalms 1—41
Psalms 42—72
Psalms 73—89
Psalms 90—106
Psalms 107—150
THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
The
Book of Proverbs
is a collection of moral and religious teachings in the form of sayings
and proverbs. Much of it has to do with practical, everyday concerns.
It begins with the reminder that “To have knowledge, you must first
have reverence for the
Lord”
(
1.7),
and then goes on to deal with matters not only of religious morality,
but also of common sense and good manners. Its many short sayings
reveal the insights of ancient Israelite teachers about what a wise
person will do in certain situations. Some of these concern family
relations, others business dealings. Some deal with matters of
etiquette in social relationships, and others with the need for
self-control. Much is said about such qualities as humility, patience,
respect for the poor, and loyalty to friends.
Outline of Contents
Various sayings
31.1-31
ECCLESIASTES
Ecclesiastes
contains
the thoughts of “the Philosopher”, a man who reflected deeply on how
short and contradictory human life is, with its mysterious injustices
and frustrations, and concluded that “life is useless”. He could not
understand the ways of God, who controls human destiny. Yet, in spite
of this, he advised people to work hard, and to enjoy the gifts of God
as much and as long as they could.
Many of the Philosopher's
thoughts appear
negative and even depressing. But the fact that this book is in the
Bible shows that biblical faith is broad enough to take into account
such pessimism and doubt. Many have taken comfort in seeing themselves
in the mirror of Ecclesiastes,
and have
discovered that the same Bible which reflects these thoughts also
offers the hope in God that gives life its greater meaning.
Outline of Contents
The
Song of Songs is
a series of love poems, for the most part in the form of songs
addressed by a man to a woman, and by the woman to the man. In some
translations, the book is called The
Song of Solomon, because it is attributed to Solomon in
the Hebrew.
These songs have often been
interpreted by
Jews as a picture of the relationship between God and his people, and
by Christians as a picture of the relationship between Christ and the
Church.
Outline of Contents
The
Book of Isaiah is
named after a great prophet who lived in Jerusalem in the latter half
of the eighth century BC. This book may be divided into three principal
parts:
(1) Chapters
1-39
come from a time when Judah, the southern kingdom, was threatened by a
powerful neighbour, Assyria. Isaiah saw that the real threat to the
life of Judah was not simply the might of Assyria, but the nation's own
sin and disobedience to God, and their lack of trust in him. In vivid
words and actions the prophet called the people and their leaders to a
life of righteousness and justice, and warned that failure to listen to
God would bring doom and destruction. Isaiah also foretold a time of
worldwide peace and the coming of a descendant of David who would be
the ideal king.
(2) Chapters
40-55
come from a time when many of the people of Judah were in exile in
Babylon, crushed and without hope. The prophet proclaimed that God
would set his people free and take them home to Jerusalem, to begin a
new life. A notable theme of these chapters is that God is the Lord of
history, and his plan for his people includes their mission to all
nations, who will be blessed through Israel. The passages about “the
Servant of the Lord” are among the best-known in the Old Testament.
(3) Chapters
56-66
for the most part speak to a time when people were back in Jerusalem
and needed reassurance that God was going to fulfil his promises to the
nation. Concern is expressed for righteousness and justice, and also
for Sabbath observance, sacrifice, and prayer. A notable passage
is
61.1-2, words used by Jesus at the beginning of his ministry
to express his calling.
Outline of Contents
King Hezekiah of Judah and
the Assyrians
36.1—
39.8
Warnings and promises
56.1—
66.24
THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH
The prophet Jeremiah lived
during the latter
part of the seventh century and the first part of the sixth century BC.
During his long ministry he warned God's people of the catastrophe that
was to fall upon the nation because of their idolatry and sin. He lived
to see this prediction come true with the fall of Jerusalem to the
Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, the destruction of the city and the
Temple, and the exile to Babylonia of Judah's king and many of the
people. He also foretold the eventual return of the people from exile
and the restoration of the nation.
The
Book of Jeremiah
may be divided into the following parts: (1) The call of Jeremiah; (2)
Messages from God to the nation of Judah and its rulers during the
reigns of Josiah, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah; (3) Material
from the memoirs of Baruch, Jeremiah's secretary, including various
prophecies and important events from the life of Jeremiah; (4) Messages
from the Lord about various foreign nations; (5) A historical appendix,
giving an account of the fall of Jerusalem, and the exile to Babylonia.
Jeremiah was a sensitive man
who deeply
loved his people, and who hated to have to pronounce judgement upon
them. In many passages he spoke with deep emotion about the things he
suffered because God had called him to be a prophet. The word of the
Lord was like fire in his heart—he could not keep it back.
Some of the greatest words in
the book point
beyond Jeremiah's own troubled time to the day when there would be a
new covenant, one that God's people would keep without a teacher to
remind them, because it would be written on their hearts (
31.31-34).
Outline of Contents
Prophecies during the reigns
of Josiah, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah
2.1—
25.38
The fall of Jerusalem
52.1-34
LAMENTATIONS
Lamentations
is a
collection of five poems lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem in 586
BC, and its aftermath of ruin and exile. In spite of the mournful
nature of most of the book, there is also the note of trust in God and
hope for the future. These poems are used by the Jews in worship on the
annual days of fasting and mourning which commemorate the national
disaster of 586 BC.
Outline of Contents
The sorrows of Jerusalem
1.1-22
The punishment of Jerusalem
2.1-22
A prayer for mercy
5.1-22
THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL
The prophet Ezekiel lived in
exile in Babylon
during the period before and after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. His
message was addressed both to the exiles in Babylonia and to the people
of Jerusalem. The Book of Ezekiel
has six
principal parts: (1) God's call to Ezekiel to be a prophet; (2)
Warnings to the people about God's judgement on them and about the
coming fall and destruction of Jerusalem; (3) Messages from the Lord
regarding his judgement upon the various nations that oppressed and
misled his people; (4) Comfort for Israel after the fall of Jerusalem
and the promise of a brighter future; (5) The prophecy against Gog; (6)
Ezekiel's picture of a restored Temple and nation.
Ezekiel was a man of deep
faith and great
imagination. Many of his insights came in the form of visions, and many
of his messages were expressed in vivid symbolic actions. Ezekiel
emphasized the need for inner renewal of the heart and spirit, and the
responsibility of each individual for his own sins. He also proclaimed
his hope for the renewal of the life of the nation. As a priest, as
well as prophet, he had special interest in the Temple and in the need
for holiness.
Outline of Contents
A vision of the future
Temple and land
40.1—
48.35
THE BOOK OF DANIEL
The
Book of Daniel
was written during a time when the Jews were suffering greatly under
the persecution and oppression of a pagan king. Using stories and
accounts of visions, the writer encourages the people of his time with
the hope that God will bring the tyrant down and restore sovereignty to
God's people.
The book has two main parts:
(1) Stories
about Daniel and some of his fellow-exiles, who through their faith in
God and obedience to him triumph over their enemies. These stories are
set in the time of the Babylonian and Persian Empires. (2) A series of
visions seen by Daniel, which in the form of symbols present the
successive rise and fall of several empires, beginning with Babylonia,
and predict the downfall of the pagan oppressor and the victory of
God's people.
Outline of Contents
d. The time of the end
12.1-13
THE BOOK OF HOSEA
The prophet Hosea preached in
the northern
kingdom of Israel, after the prophet Amos, during the troubled times
before the fall of Samaria in 721 BC. He was especially concerned about
the idolatry of the people and their faithlessness towards God. Hosea
boldly pictured this faithlessness in terms of his own disastrous
marriage to an unfaithful woman. Just as his wife Gomer turned out to
be unfaithful to him, so God's people had deserted the Lord. For this,
judgement would fall on Israel. Yet in the end God's constant love for
his people would prevail, and he would win the nation back to himself
and restore the relationship. This love is expressed in the moving
words: “How can I give you up, Israel? How can I abandon you?...My
heart will not let me do it! My love for you is too strong.” (
11.8)
Outline of Contents
Hosea's marriage and family
1.1—
3.5
A message of repentance and
promise
14.1-9
THE BOOK OF JOEL
Little is known about the
prophet Joel, and
it is not clear just when he lived. But it seems likely that the book
comes from the fifth or fourth century BC during the time of the
Persian Empire. Joel describes a terrible invasion of locusts and a
devastating drought in Palestine. In these events he sees a sign of the
coming day of the Lord, a time when the Lord will punish those who
oppose his righteous will. The prophet conveys the Lord's call to the
people to repent, and his promise of restoration and blessing for his
people. Noteworthy is the promise that God will send his Spirit upon
all the people, men and women, young and old alike.
Outline of Contents
The day of the Lord
2.28—
3.21
THE BOOK OF AMOS
Amos was the first prophet in
the Bible
whose message was recorded at length. Although he came from a town in
Judah, he preached to the people of the northern kingdom of Israel,
about the middle of the eighth century BC. It was a time of great
prosperity, notable religious piety, and apparent security. But Amos
saw that prosperity was limited to the wealthy, and that it fed on
injustice and on oppression of the poor. Religious observance was
insincere, and security more apparent than real. With passion and
courage he preached that God would punish the nation. He called for
justice to “flow like a stream” (
5.24),
and said, “Perhaps the Lord will be merciful to the people of this
nation who are still left alive.” (
5.15)
Outline of Contents
Judgement on Israel's
neighbours
1.1—
2.5
Five visions
7.1—
9.15
THE BOOK OF OBADIAH
This short book comes from
some undetermined
time after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC, when Edom, Judah's age-old
enemy to the south-east, not only rejoiced over the fall of Jerusalem,
but took advantage of Judah's plight to loot the city and help the
invader. Obadiah prophesied that Edom would be punished and defeated,
along with other nations that were the enemies of Israel.
Outline of Contents
The punishment of Edom
1-14
The day of the Lord
15-21
THE BOOK OF JONAH
The
Book of Jonah is
unlike other prophetic books of the Bible in that it is a narrative,
describing the adventures of a prophet who tried to disobey God's
command. God told him to go to Nineveh, the capital of the great empire
of Assyria, Israel's deadly enemy. But Jonah did not want to go there
with God's message, because he was convinced that God would not carry
out his threat to destroy the city. After a series of dramatic events,
he reluctantly obeyed, and finally sulked when his message of doom did
not come true.
The book portrays God's
absolute
sovereignty over his creation. But above all it portrays God as a God
of love and mercy, who would rather forgive and save even the enemies
of his people, than punish and destroy them.
Outline of Contents
Jonah's call and
disobedience
1.1-17
Jonah's repentance and
deliverance
2.1-10
Jonah's message against
Nineveh
3.1-10
God's mercy on Nineveh
4.1-11
THE BOOK OF MICAH
The prophet Micah, a
contemporary of Isaiah,
was from a country town in Judah, the southern kingdom. He was
convinced that Judah was about to face the same kind of national
catastrophe that Amos had predicted for the northern kingdom, and for
the same reason—God would punish the hateful injustice of the people.
Micah's message, however, contains more clear and notable signs of hope
for the future.
Passages especially worth
noting are the picture of universal peace under God (
4.1-4);
the prediction of a great king who would come from the family line of
David and bring peace to the nation (
5.2-5a);
and, in a single verse, the summary of much that the prophets of Israel
had to say: “What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to
show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.” (
6.8)
Outline of Contents
Judgement on Israel and
Judah
1.1—
3.12
Message of warning and hope
6.1—
7.20
THE BOOK OF NAHUM
The
Book of Nahum is
a poem celebrating the fall of Nineveh, the capital city of Israel's
ancient and oppressive enemy, the Assyrians. The fall of Nineveh, near
the end of the seventh century BC, is seen as the judgement of God upon
a cruel and arrogant nation.
Outline of Contents
The fall of Nineveh
2.1—
3.19
THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK
The words of the prophet
Habakkuk come from
near the end of the seventh century BC, at a time when the Babylonians
were in power. He was deeply disturbed by the violence of these cruel
people, and asked the Lord, “So why are you silent while they destroy
people who are more righteous than they are?” (
1.13).
The Lord's answer was that he would take action in his own good time,
and meanwhile “those who are righteous will live because they are
faithful to God.” (
2.4)
The rest of the book is a
prophecy of doom on
the unrighteous, with a concluding psalm celebrating the greatness of
God and expressing the undying faith of the poet.
Outline of Contents
Habakkuk's complaints and
the Lord's replies
1.1—
2.4
Doom on the unrighteous
2.5-20
Habakkuk's prayer
3.1-19
THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH
The prophet Zephaniah
preached in the latter
part of the seventh century BC, probably in the decade before King
Josiah's religious reforms of 621 BC. The book contains the familiar
prophetic themes: a day of doom and destruction is threatened, when
Judah will be punished for her worship of other gods. The Lord will
punish other nations also. Although Jerusalem is doomed, in time the
city will be restored, with a humble and righteous people living there.
Outline of Contents
The day of the Lord's
judgement
1.1—
2.3
The doom of Israel's
neighbours
2.4-15
Jerusalem's doom and
redemption
3.1-20
THE BOOK OF HAGGAI
The
Book of Haggai is
a collection of brief messages that came from the Lord through the
prophet Haggai in 520 BC. The people had returned from exile and had
lived in Jerusalem for some years, but the Temple still lay in ruins.
The messages urge the leaders of the people to rebuild the Temple, and
the Lord promises prosperity and peace in the future for a renewed and
purified people.
Outline of Contents
The command to rebuild the
Temple
1.1-15
Messages of comfort and hope
2.1-23
THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH
The
Book of Zechariah
has two distinct parts: (1) Prophecies from the prophet Zechariah,
dated at various times in the years from 520 to 518 BC. These are
largely in the form of visions, and deal with the restoration of
Jerusalem, the rebuilding of the Temple, the purification of God's
people, and the messianic age to come (chapters
1-8).
(2) A collection of messages about the expected Messiah and the final
judgement (chapters
9-14).
Outline of Contents
Messages of warning and hope
1.1—
8.23
Judgement on Israel's
neighbours
9.1-8
Future prosperity and peace
9.9—
14.21
THE BOOK OF MALACHI
The
Book of Malachi
comes from some time in the fifth century BC after the Temple in
Jerusalem was rebuilt. The prophet's main concern is to call priests
and people to renew their faithfulness to their covenant with God. It
is clear that there is laxity and corruption in the life and worship of
God's people. Priests and people are cheating God by not giving him the
offerings that are rightly due to him, and by not living according to
his teaching. But the Lord will come to judge and purify his people,
sending ahead of him his messenger to prepare the way and to proclaim
his covenant.
Outline of Contents
Outline of Contents
Genealogy and birth of Jesus
Christ
1.1—
2.23
The ministry of John the
Baptist
3.1-12
The baptism and temptation
of Jesus
3.13—
4.11
The last week in and near
Jerusalem
21.1—
27.66
Jesus' public ministry in
Galilee
1.14—
9.50
The last week in and near
Jerusalem
11.1—
15.47
The resurrection of Jesus
16.1-8
There are two sections
(chapters
1-2
and
9-19)
which contain much material that is found only in this Gospel, such as
the stories about the song of the angels and the shepherds' visit at
the birth of Jesus, Jesus in the Temple as a boy, and the parables of
the Good Samaritan and the Lost Son. Throughout the Gospel great
emphasis is placed on prayer, the Holy Spirit, the role of women in the
ministry of Jesus, and God's forgiveness of sins.
Outline of Contents
Birth and childhood of John
the Baptist and of Jesus
1.5—
2.52
The ministry of John the
Baptist
3.1-20
The baptism and temptation
of Jesus
3.21—
4.13
Jesus' public ministry in
Galilee
4.14—
9.50
After an introduction that
identifies the
eternal Word of God with Jesus, the first part of the Gospel presents
various miracles which show that Jesus is the promised Saviour, the Son
of God. These are followed by discourses that explain what is revealed
by the miracles. This part of the book tells how some people believed
in Jesus and became his followers, while others opposed him and refused
to believe. Chapters
13-17
record at length the close fellowship of Jesus with his disciples on
the night of his arrest, and his words of preparation and encouragement
to them on the eve of his crucifixion. The closing chapters tell of
Jesus' arrest and trial, his crucifixion and resurrection, and his
appearances to his disciples after the resurrection.
The story of the woman caught
in adultery (
8.1-11)
is placed in brackets because many manuscripts and early translations
omit it, while others include it in other places.
John
emphasizes the gift
of eternal life through Christ, a gift which begins now and which comes
to those who respond to Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. A
striking feature of John is
the symbolic use
of common things from everyday life to point to spiritual realities,
such as water, bread, light, the shepherd and his sheep, and the
grapevine and its fruit.
Outline of Contents
John the Baptist and the
first disciples of Jesus
1.19-51
The last days in and near
Jerusalem
13.1—
19.42
The resurrection and
appearances of the Lord
20.1-31
The Acts of the Apostles is a
continuation of
Luke.
Its chief purpose is to tell how Jesus' early followers, led by the
Holy Spirit, spread the Good News about him “in Jerusalem, in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. (
1.8)
It is the story of the Christian movement as it began among the Jewish
people and went on to become a faith for the whole world. The writer
was also concerned to reassure his readers that the Christians were not
a subversive political threat to the Roman Empire, and that the
Christian faith was the fulfilment of the Jewish religion.
Acts
may be divided
into three principal parts, reflecting the ever widening area in which
the Good News about Jesus was proclaimed and the Church established:
(1) The beginning of the Christian movement in Jerusalem following the
ascension of Jesus; (2) Expansion into other parts of Palestine; (3)
Further expansion, into the Mediterranean world as far as Rome.
An important feature of Acts
is the activity of the Holy Spirit, who comes with power upon the
believers in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost and continues to guide
and strengthen the Church and its leaders throughout the events
reported in the book. The early Christian message is summarized in a
number of sermons, and the events recorded in Acts
show the power of this message in the lives of the believers and in the
fellowship of the Church.
Outline of Contents
Preparation for the witness
1.1-26
a. Jesus' last command and
promise
1.1-14
The witness in Jerusalem
2.1—
8.3
The witness in Judea and
Samaria
8.4—
12.25
b. The conference in
Jerusalem
15.1-35
Paul then develops this
theme. The whole human
race, both Jew and Gentile, needs to be put right with God, for all
alike are under the power of sin. People are put right with God through
faith in Jesus Christ. Next Paul describes the new life in union with
Christ that results from this new relation with God. The believer has
peace with God and is set free by God's Spirit from the power of sin
and death. In chapters
5-8
Paul also discusses the purpose of the Law of God and the power of
God's Spirit in the believer's life. Then the apostle wrestles with the
question of how Jews and Gentiles fit into the plan of God for
humanity. He concludes that the Jewish rejection of Jesus is part of
God's plan for bringing the whole human race within the reach of God's
grace in Jesus Christ, and he believes that the Jews will not always
reject Jesus. Finally Paul writes about how the Christian life should
be lived, especially about the way of love in relations with others. He
takes up such themes as service to God, the duty of Christians to the
state and to one another, and questions of conscience. He ends the
letter with personal messages and with words of praise to God.
Outline of Contents
Sexual morality and family
life
5.1—
7.40 The resurrection of Christ
and of believers
15.1-58 The offering for the
Christians in Judea
16.1-4
Paul and the church at
Corinth
1.12—
7.16 The offering for the
Christians in Judea
8.1—
9.15 Paul's defence of his
authority as an apostle
10.1—
13.10
Paul's authority as an
apostle
1.11—
2.21
Christian freedom and
responsibility
5.1—
6.10
In the first part of Ephesians
the writer develops the theme of unity by speaking of the way in which
God the Father has chosen his people, how they are forgiven and set
free from their sins through Jesus Christ the Son, and how God's great
promise is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit. In the second part he appeals
to the readers to live in such a way that their oneness in Christ may
become real in their life together.
Several figures of speech are
used to show
the oneness of God's people in union with Christ: the church is like a
body, with Christ as the head; or like a building, with Christ as the
cornerstone; or like a wife, with Christ as the husband. This letter
rises to great heights of expression as the writer is moved by the
thought of God's grace in Christ. Everything is seen in the light of
Christ's love, sacrifice, forgiveness, grace, and purity.
Outline of Contents
Paul's personal
circumstances
1.12-26
Plans for Timothy and
Epaphroditus
2.19-30
Warnings against enemies and
dangers
3.1—
4.9
Paul and his Philippian
friends
4.10-20
The nature and work of
Christ
1.9—
2.19
Exhortation to Christian
conduct
4.1-12 Instructions about the
coming of Christ
4.13—
5.11 The apostle emphasizes the
need for his
readers to remain steady in their faith in spite of trouble and
suffering, to work for a living as did Paul and his fellow-workers, and
to persevere in doing good.
Outline of Contents
Praise and commendation
1.3-12 Instructions about the
coming of Christ
2.1-17 Exhortation to Christian
conduct
3.1-15
Instructions concerning the
church and its officers
1.3—
3.16
In all this, Timothy is
reminded of the example
of the writer's own life and purpose — his faith, patience, love,
endurance, and suffering in persecution.
Outline of Contents
First,
Titus is reminded of the kind of character that church leaders should
have, especially in view of the bad character of many Cretans. Next,
Titus is advised how to teach the various groups in the church, the
older men, the older women (who are, in turn, to teach the younger
women), the young men, and the slaves. Finally, the writer gives Titus
advice regarding Christian conduct, especially the need to be peaceful
and friendly, and to avoid hatred, argument, and division in the
church.
Duties of various groups in
the church
2.1-15
Exhortations and warning
3.1-11
The Letter to the Hebrews
was written to a group of Christians who, faced with increasing
opposition, were in danger of abandoning the Christian faith. The
writer encourages them in their faith primarily by showing that Jesus
Christ is the true and final revelation of God. In doing this he
emphasizes three truths: first, Jesus is the eternal Son of God, who
learnt true obedience to the Father through the suffering that he
endured. As the Son of God, Jesus is superior to the prophets of the
Old Testament, to the angels, and to Moses himself. Secondly, Jesus has
been declared by God to be an eternal priest, superior to the priests
of the Old Testament, and thirdly, through Jesus the believer is saved
from sin, fear, and death; and Jesus, as High Priest, provides the true
salvation, which was only foreshadowed by the rituals and animal
sacrifices of the Hebrew religion.
Christ's superiority over
the angels
1.4—
2.18
The superiority of Christ's
priesthood
4.14—
7.28
The superiority of Christ's
covenant
8.1—
9.22
The superiority of Christ's
sacrifice
9.23—
10.39
The Letter from James
is a collection of practical instructions, written to “all God's people
scattered over the whole world”. The writer uses many vivid figures of
speech to present instructions regarding practical wisdom and guidance
for Christian attitudes and conduct. From the Christian perspective he
deals with a variety of topics such as riches and poverty, temptation,
good conduct, prejudice, faith and actions, the use of the tongue,
wisdom, quarrelling, pride and humility, judging others, boasting,
patience, and prayer.
Warning against
discrimination
2.1-13
The Christian and his tongue
3.1-18
The Christian and the world
4.1—
5.6
Along with his encouragement
in time of trouble, the writer also urges his readers to live as people
who belong to Christ.
Outline of Contents
Reminder of God's salvation
1.3-12 The Christian's
responsibilities in time of suffering
2.11—
4.19 Christian humility and
service
5.1-11 Outline of Contents
Children of God and children
of the Devil
3.1-24
Warning against false
doctrine
7-11
Diotrephes is condemned
9-10 Demetrius is commended
11-12
Character, teaching, and
doom of the false teachers
3-16
Admonition to keep the faith
17-23
Opening vision and the
letters to the seven churches
1.9—
3.22
The scroll with seven seals
4.1—
8.1
The seven bowls of God's
anger
16.1-21
The destruction of Babylon,
and the defeat of the beast, the false prophet, and the Devil
17.1—
20.10
The new heaven, the new
earth, the new Jerusalem
21.1—
22.5
