Old Testament
I. The Law
Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
Written by Moses; history from creation to death of Moses.
1. Genesis “Beginnings.”
Ch. 1-11: First 2,000 years of human history!
Ch. 1: Creation of universe; re-creation; creation of man.
Ch. 2: Two trees.
Ch. 3: First lie; first sin by man; foundation of present evil world.
Ch. 4: First murder.
Ch. 6-9: Noah and the Flood.
Ch. 10-11: Nimrod, Tower of Babel; God separates the nations.
Ch. 12-50: Beginnings of Israel—from Abraham’s call up to Joseph’s death.
Ch. 12: God calls Abraham.
Ch. 19: Lot, destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Ch. 21: Birth of Isaac; beginning of Arab-Jew conflict (Ishmael and Isaac).
Ch. 22: Sacrificing Isaac.
Ch. 24: Rebekah.
Ch. 25: Esau and Jacob.
Ch. 29: Leah and Rachel.
Ch. 30: Jacob’s 12 sons—basis of 12 tribes.
Ch. 32: Jacob becomes Israel.
Ch. 37-47: How Joseph and family came to Egypt.
Ch. 49: End-time prophecy about 12 tribes.
2. Exodus “Going out.”
Ch. 1-19: Israel’s oppression in Egypt; God delivers them through Moses.
Ch. 20-40: God’s law given at Sinai.
Ch. 20: Ten Commandments.
Ch. 21-24: Civil law.
Ch. 24-31: Laws of the sanctuary.
Ch. 32: Golden calf.
Ch. 35-40: Tabernacle built; God comes to dwell among the Israelites.
3. Leviticus Main theme: holiness—instruction on how to remain in communion with God.
Ch. 1-7: Laws on offerings.
Ch. 8: Aaron’s ordination.
Ch. 11: Clean, unclean meats.
Ch. 16: Atonement.
Ch. 19: Laws of general conduct.
Ch. 23: Holy Days.
Ch. 25: Land Sabbath.
Ch. 26: Blessings and curses.
4. Numbers Named for two censuses at the beginning and end of book; Hebrew name = “in the wilderness.”
Ch. 1-10: Israel at Sinai.
Ch. 12: Miriam and Aaron murmur against Moses.
Ch. 13-14: 12 spies sent into Canaan; evil report; the people’s faithlessness; God’s judgment.
Ch. 16: Korah’s rebellion.
Ch. 17: Aaron’s rod.
Ch. 20: Moses’s failure at Meribah; Aaron’s death.
Ch. 22-24: Balak pressures Balaam to curse Israel.
5. Deuteronomy “Second law”—reiteration of the law; Hebrew title: “The Words”; three sermons from Moses right before Israel entered Promised Land.
Ch. 1-4: First sermon: History—how their fathers died in the wilderness.
Ch. 5-26: Second sermon: Law—review of God’s commands; Ch. 5: Ten Commandments.
Ch. 27-30: Third sermon: Prophecy; exhortation to obey; Ch. 28: Blessings and curses.
Ch. 31-34: Moses’s final blessing on Israel; Ch. 32: His parting song; Ch. 34: His death and burial.
II. The Prophets
Former Prophets: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings.
History from Israel entering Promised Land to the split kingdom in captivity; written on two scrolls: Joshua-Judges, and the Book of the Kingdoms.
6a. Joshua Israelites take Canaan; years of warfare; Joshua dies with job unfinished.
Ch. 5-6: Jericho.
Ch. 7: Achan’s sin.
Ch. 10-12: Conquest.
Ch. 13-21: Dividing the land.
6b. Judges Israel compromises, gets into idolatry; cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, deliverance; 13 judges recorded, including:
Ch. 4: Deborah,
Ch. 6-8: Gideon,
Ch. 11-12: Jephthah, and
Ch. 13-16: Samson.
7a. Samuel Israel’s transition from theocracy to monarchy.
- 1 Samuel Eli; Samuel; Israel rejects God.
Ch. 9-15: Saul becomes king, fails.
Ch. 16: David selected.
Ch. 17: David and Goliath.
Ch. 21-25: David’s flight.
Ch. 31: Saul dies.
- 2 Samuel David’s life as king over Israel.
Ch. 6: Ark brought to Jerusalem.
Ch. 7: Desire to build God’s house.
Ch. 11-12: Bathsheba.
Ch. 15-18: Absalom’s rebellion.
Ch. 18-24: David’s return.
7b. Kings From Israel’s golden age under Solomon to its division and descent into captivity.
- 1 Kings David dies, Solomon crowned.
Ch. 3: Prayer for wisdom.
Ch. 5-7: Building temple.
Ch. 10: Queen of Sheba.
Ch. 11: End of Solomon’s reign.
Ch. 12-14: Kingdom divided.
- 2 Kings Israel’s and Judah’s respective falls.
Ch. 9-16: Antagonism between Judah and Israel.
Ch. 17: Israel’s fall to Assyria (721-718 b.c.)
Ch. 18-25: Judah’s history, including Hezekiah and Josiah; fall to Babylon (585 b.c.).
Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel.
God’s messages to the divided kingdom.
8. Isaiah Warned both Israel and Judah; a “miniature Bible.”
Ch. 2: Jerusalem in Millennium.
Ch. 3: Upside-down roles.
Ch. 6: Isaiah’s calling.
Ch. 9:6-7: Christ’s birth and kingdom foretold.
Ch. 11: Animals tame.
Ch. 14: Lucifer’s fall.
Ch. 40: Voice in the wilderness.
Ch. 52:13 – Ch. 53: Christ our Passover.
Ch. 58: Fasting; Sabbath.
Ch. 65:17-25: Second Resurrection.
9. Jeremiah Sent to Judah; prophesied through reigns of Josiah, Jehoiakim, Zedekiah and after Judah’s fall.
Ch. 1: Jeremiah’s commission.
Ch. 17: Wicked human heart.
Ch. 29: 70 years prophecy.
Ch. 33: Two covenants.
Ch. 39: Jerusalem’s fall.
Ch. 45: Baruch.
Ch. 50: Destruction of beast power.
10. Ezekiel Captive in Babylon; began prophesying after being captive for five years.
Ch. 1: Vision of God.
Ch. 5: Israel’s destruction in thirds.
Ch. 16: Christ’s wife.
Ch. 23: German double-cross.
Ch. 28: Lucifer’s fall.
Ch. 33: Watchman.
Ch. 37: Second Resurrection.
Ch. 40-47: Millennial Temple.
Minor Prophets: The Twelve, Hosea through Malachi.
11. The Twelve
Hosea, Joel, Amos and Obadiah were sent to Israel; Jonah was sent to Nineveh.
Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah were sent to Judah before captivity. (Major Prophets Ezekiel and Daniel wrote during Judah’s captivity.)
Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi (“temple prophets”) were sent after Jews returned from captivity.
III. The Writings
Books of Truth or Books of Wisdom: Psalms, Proverbs, Job.
Different people divide these differently.
12. Psalms 150 songs; at least 90 written by David; in five books, mirroring Pentateuch:
Book I: 1-41; Book II: 42-72; Book III: 73-89; Book IV: 90-106; Book V: 107-150.
Ps. 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143: Psalms of Repentance.
Ps. 42-49: Psalms of the Sons of Korah.
Ps. 73-83: Psalms of Asaph.
Ps. 120-134: Songs of Degrees, or Ascents.
13. Proverbs Mostly written by Solomon: wisdom, instruction for simple, young, wise, etc.
Ch. 1:1-6: Purpose.
Ch. 1-9: Words of exhortation: seek wisdom, honor God, good conduct, beware lust.
Ch. 10-29: Solomon’s proverbs and words of the wise.
Ch. 31: The good wife.
14. Job God strongly corrects a very righteous man and gets remarkable results.
Five Scrolls or Festival Books: Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther.
15. Song of Songs Written by Solomon: God’s love song to the Laodiceans.
16. Ruth Pentecost story: typifies marriage of Christ and the Church.
17. Lamentations Written by Jeremiah: a warning to Judah, typifying U.S., Britain and Israel, that they had reached the point of no return—captivity was inevitable; five chapters—each a precisely structured poem; the Bible’s “most elegant poetry”; vividly describes conditions of the Great Tribulation.
18. Ecclesiastes Written by Solomon: insight into what really matters in life.
Ch. 3: Time for everything.
Ch. 12:13: “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole man.”
19. Esther Story of dispersed Jews’ struggles during time of Persian king Ahasuerus.
Ch. 1: Vashti demoted. Ch. 2: Esther promoted.
Ch. 3: Haman’s rage. Ch. 4-5:8: Esther’s stage.
Ch. 5:9-7:10: Haman liquidated; Ch.8-10: Mordecai (and Esther) elevated.
Restoration Books: Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles.
20. Daniel Generally categorized with “Writings,” but should be with prophets; during Jewish captivity in Babylon; the key to Revelation; one of the “college-level courses” we have in this end time.
Ch. 2: Image of Gentile kingdoms.
Ch. 5: Writing on wall.
Ch. 6: Lion’s den.
Ch. 7: Four-beast vision.
Ch. 8: Ram, he-goat, little horn.
Ch. 9: 70 weeks.
Ch. 10-11: Antiochus and end-time.
Ch. 12: The Daily.
21. Ezra-Nehemiah Jews return from captivity in Babylon to build Second Temple in Jerusalem.
22. Chronicles Written by Ezra; review of Israel’s history, emphasis on key of David.
- 1 Chronicles
Ch. 1-9: Genealogies.
Ch. 10-29: David’s reign.
- 2 Chronicles
Ch. 1-9: Solomon’s reign.
Ch. 10-36: Judah’s history after Solomon.
New Testament
IV. The Gospels
Four views of the life of Jesus Christ.
Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke.
1. Matthew Was a Jew, Publican, tax collector; addressed his Gospel to the Jews. Christ as King. Emphasizes O.T. prophecies of Christ. Most organized, systematic; records the most end-time prophecy.
Ch. 1: Christ’s genealogy through Joseph.
Ch. 4: Temptation in wilderness.
Ch. 5-7: Sermon on Mount.
Ch. 8-10: Healings.
Ch. 13: Parable of sower.
Ch. 16:18-19: Peter becomes chief apostle.
Ch. 17: Transfiguration.
Ch. 21: Money-changers.
Ch. 24: Olivet prophecy.
Ch. 26: Passover.
Ch. 27: Crucifixion.
Ch. 28: Resurrection.
2. Mark Addressed to Gentiles/Romans. Christ as a servant. Shortest Gospel; abrupt, colorful, vivid, a “moving picture”; focus on works, miracles.
Ch. 2: Christ Lord of Sabbath.
Ch. 13: Olivet prophecy.
Ch. 14: Passover.
Ch. 15: Crucifixion.
3. Luke Was a physician, intellectual; addressed to Greeks. Christ as a man. Longest Gospel; most comprehensive and beautiful; emphasis on doctrines.
Ch. 1:17: Elijah; v.31-33: Jesus to inherit David’s throne.
Ch. 3: Christ’s genealogy through Mary.
Ch. 14: Count the cost.
Ch. 21: Olivet prophecy.
Ch. 22: Passover, Gethsemane.
Ch. 23: Crucifixion.
4. John Written around a.d. 85-90—for the Church. John received unique insight from Christ; covers deep subjects no other Gospel does; understanding of “the Word,” God Family Vision, love. Christ as God.
Ch. 1: God and Word, That Prophet.
Ch. 3: Nicodemus.
Ch. 4: Samarian woman.
Ch. 6: Bread of life.
Ch. 7: Last Great Day.
Ch. 11: Lazarus.
Ch. 13-17: Passover.
Ch. 18-19: Trial, death.
Ch. 21: Feed my lambs.
V. The Acts
Written by Luke; history of the first-century Church.
5. Acts
Ch. 2: Founding of Church on Pentecost.
Ch. 3-12: Early days of Church.
Ch. 7: Stephen’s stoning.
Ch. 8: Simon Magus.
Ch. 9: Paul’s conversion.
Ch. 13-14: Paul’s first journey.
Ch. 15: Jerusalem council.
Ch. 15 – 18:22: Paul’s second journey; Ch. 18:23 – 21:16: Third journey.
Ch. 21:17 – Ch. 28: Paul to Rome.
VI. The Epistles
Letters from apostles to various people and congregations; tremendous source of Christian living instruction; also important history and prophecy.
Pauline Epistles: Romans through Hebrews.
Written by the Apostle Paul; first nine: to seven congregations.
6. Romans a.d. 55 to Jews and Gentile converts in Rome, center of Gentile civilization. Lange’s: “The epistle of the epistles,” “heart of doctrinal portion of N.T.” Explains human sin and reconciliation; addresses Jewish and Gentile self-righteousness; exhorts congregation to grow; answers their questions.
Ch. 6: Baptism.
Ch. 8: Holy Spirit.
Ch. 12: Christian living.
Ch. 13: Worldly government.
7. 1 Corinthians Spring of a.d. 55 to converts in pagan Corinth, ancient “San Francisco.” The most corrective letter in the N.T., addressing schisms, party spirit, lawsuits, fornication, alcohol abuse.
Ch. 1: Church division, “weak and base.”
Ch. 5: Incest and disfellowshipment.
Ch. 7: Family relations.
Ch. 10: Warnings from ancient Israel.
Ch. 12: Government.
Ch. 13: Love.
Ch. 15: Resurrection.
8. 2 Corinthians Fall of a.d. 55; Paul rejoices over their response to first letter; exposes false teachers.
Ch. 4:4: God of this world.
Ch. 7: Godly sorrow.
Ch. 8: Macedonians’ generosity.
Ch. 11: Upholding Paul’s office.
9. Galatians Probably a.d. 49 or 50 to converts in three congregations in Galatia. Addresses heresy that had crept in through Judaizers; explains law and grace.
Ch. 5: Fruits of the Spirit.
10. Ephesians a.d. 56-61 to church in Ephesus, where life revolved around Diana’s temple; shows grandeur of Christ’s office; teaches about true temple of God.
Ch. 4: Church government.
Ch. 5: Marriage.
Ch. 6: Spiritual armor.
11. Philippians Probably a.d. 59-61 while in Roman prison, to congregation in Philippi, the one group that consistently supported Paul; known for great generosity. Thanks them; encourages to remain unified; warns of false “Christian” ministers.
12. Colossians Probably a.d. 59-61 while in Roman prison, to converts in Gentile city of Colosse and nearby congregation in Laodicea. Exhorts them to remain grounded; warns against philosophy and worldly scholarship. History shows that the Colossians heeded the warning, but the Laodiceans did not.
Ch. 2: Laodicean failures.
Ch. 3-4: Christian way of life.
13. 1 Thessalonians a.d. 51 to Gentile congregation. Encourages; explains resurrection; exhorts them to overcome trials and weaknesses.
14. 2 Thessalonians Written just a few weeks or months after 1 Thessalonians. Brethren had thought Christ was about to come—they even quit their jobs; Paul explains what must happen first; encourages them to keep their jobs.
Ch. 2: Warns of great apostasy.
15. Hebrews a.d. 65-67; only letter written specifically to the Jews. Encourages Jews in the face of national destruction; focuses on Christ as High Priest, superior to Levitical priesthood; explains New Covenant.
Ch. 1: Brilliance and power of Christ.
Ch. 2: Lowliness of man.
Ch. 4: Sabbath.
Ch. 4-5: Christ, our High Priest.
Ch. 7: Melchisedec, tithing.
Ch. 9-10: New Covenant.
Ch. 11: Faith.
Pastoral Epistles: 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon.
Written by the Apostle Paul to ministers.
16. 1 Timothy Around a.d. 64. Exhortation to not be carried away by false doctrines; guidelines on how to set up congregations and establish Church government.
Ch. 3: Qualifications of a minister.
17. 2 Timothy a.d. 68 to warn of coming apostasy, encourage Timothy, and ask him to come to Rome. Paul’s last epistle—he was killed in June a.d. 68. This was Paul’s most inspiring letter.
18. Titus Between a.d. 61-68 to give Titus guidelines on how to set up local congregations and establish Church government.
Ch. 1: Qualifications of a minister.
19. Philemon Before a.d. 61 to Philemon to plead for his forgiveness of Onesimus. Sheds light on Christ’s role as our Advocate and Intercessor.
General Epistles: James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, Jude.
All seven have been revealed in the “last hour” (1 John 2:18); all have an urgent message for Church at this time.
20. james Between a.d. 53-62, time of turmoil in the Church. Called the “Proverbs of the New Testament.” Strong end-time orientation, message to God’s people in Laodicean era. Focuses on overcoming self. Theme is faith—holding onto the truth and living it.
Ch. 1: Message to “exiles”; doers of the word, not hearers only.
Ch. 2: Dead vs. living faith.
Ch. 5: Anointing.
21. 1 Peter a.d. 66-67 to show how to face enemies outside the Church.
Ch. 3: How Christians should conduct themselves around those not called.
Ch. 5: Roles in government.
22. 2 Peter a.d. 66-67 to show how to face enemies within the Church.
Ch. 1: Cycle of character development.
Ch. 2: Strong warning of impending destruction of Jerusalem.
23. 1 John a.d. 85-90 to Church throughout Asia. Focuses on fellowship with the Father and Son.
Ch. 1: The Word.
Ch. 2: Last hour and antichrists.
Ch. 3: Vision; law.
Ch. 4-5: Love of God.
24. 2 John a.d. 85-90. Theme: Love is the first and most important quality of Christian fellowship.
25. 3 John a.d. 85-90. Contrast between faithful member (Gaius) and disloyal minister (Diotrephes).
26. Jude a.d. 68-69. Reveals how to go through trials and do the Work. Call to remembrance; copy of 2 Peter 2—reinforcing the warning of the chief apostle.
VII. Revelation
27. Revelation a.d. 85-90; written by John while exiled on Patmos. Most important book of prophecy; only book specifically attributed to God the Father—perhaps most important book in the Bible. Puts all end-time prophecy into a time sequence.
Ch. 1: Vision of Christ.
Ch. 2-3: Message to the seven churches.
Ch. 4-5: God’s throne room.
Ch. 6: Four horsemen.
Ch. 7: Two companies—144,000 and Great Multitude.
Ch. 8-9: Day of the Lord.
Ch. 10: Little book.
Ch. 11: Two witnesses; Christ’s return.
Ch. 12: Satan vs. the Church.
Ch. 13: The two beasts.
Ch. 16: The seven plagues.
Ch. 17-18: Holy Roman Empire.
Ch. 19: Marriage of the Lamb.
Ch. 20: Satan bound; three resurrections.
Ch. 21-22: New heaven, new earth.