BIBLE BOOKS
BACKGROUND & SUMMARY ON EACH BIBLE BOOK
This section gives the background to each of the Bible's books, so we know who wrote it, when, why and to whom. Letters with a * also have a short-phrase (a shortened paraphrase) of each chapter. This helps make the core message and flow of thought easy to follow.
The largest portion of the Bible belongs to the Old Testament. But this contains all the written instructions, not for Christianity, but for the Jewish religion. So that begs a question:
HOW SHOULD CHRISTIANS APPROACH THE OLD TESTAMENT?
Christianity and Judaism form two separate phases of the same God's work with mankind. For that reason, the Old Testament contains many lessons for the Christian. There we discover the nature of God and the rich promise of the coming Saviour. In the Old Testament, God's thoughts and reactions to sin are outwardly expressed, righteous men are rewarded, the unrighteous are punished. We don't see this play out in the New Testament the same way – so the Old then gives us a glimpse of how God thinks and feels towards sin, and how He will eventually deal with unrighteousness at the last judgement, after this season of grace is over. Fundamental to understanding the purpose of the Old Testament is the subject of the covenants. Every Christian will be enriched by a deeper appreciation of this topic.
The Law
GENESIS
EXODUS
LEVITICUS
NUMBERS
DEUTERONOMY
History Books
The Poetic Books
JOB
PSALMS
PROVERBS
ECCLESIASTES
SONG OF SONGS
Major Prophets
ISAIAH
JEREMIAH
LAMENTATIONS
EZEKIEL
DANIEL
Minor Prophets
HOSEA
JOEL
AMOS
OBADIAH
JONAH
MICAH
NAHUM
HABAKKUK
ZEPHANIAH
HAGGAI
ZECHARIAH
MALACHI