Part 3: The Bible - Its Contents (vi)

Not much of what but Who in the Bible

This is just an icon okay

God Himself became a man so that if we want to know how God work and think, what He does and will do, we can know it through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus appearance on the earth is the central event of all history. It is true that the Old Testament sets the stage for it, and the New Testament describes it. As a man, Jesus lived a perfect life. He died. He was buried. He rose again and as you read this – He is alive today! Dr. Hendrietta C. Mears writes, “He is not merely historical character but a living person – this is the most important fact of history and the most vital force in the world today. And He promises eternal life to all who come to Him. The whole Bible is built around the story of Christ and His promises of life everlasting to all. It was written only that we might believe and understand, know and love, and follow Him”.

Knowing that Christ is the main hero, character, and theme of the Bible, let us look at each book of the Bible about its own distinctive central themes.

The Bible

The Old Testament

Genesis: The start of God’s plan for His people

Exodus: God’s people are freed from slavery

Leviticus: Preparing God’s people for worship

Numbers: God’s people wander in the wilderness

Deuteronomy: God’s people called to obedience

Joshua: Success in the Promised Land

Judges: Failure in the Promised Land

Ruth: The story of a faithful daughter-in-law

1 Samuel: The emergence of Israel as a kingdom

2 Samuel: Israel’s greatest King – David

1 Kings: Solomon – the temple – the division

2 Kings: The divided kingdom, and the prophets

1 Chronicles: God’s faithfulness to His people

2 Chronicles: The fall of Israel as a nation

Ezra: The return from exile, and the new start

Nehemiah: Danger as Jerusalem is rebuilt

Esther: Esther’s courage to saves the exiled Jews

Job: Dialogues on the sufferings of a godly man

Psalms: Man’s honest respond to God

Proverbs: Wisdom for living

Ecclesiastes: The world’s philosophy exposed

Songs of Solomon: A poem of love

Isaiah: The prophet of hope

Jeremiah: The prophet of tragedy

Lamentations: Poem of sorrow

Ezekiel: The prophet of God’s glory

Daniel: The prophet of confidence in God

Hosea: The prophet of love

Joel: The prophet of the Day of the Lord

Amos: The prophet of justice

Obadiah: The prophet of doom

Jonah: The prophet of repentance

Micah: The prophet of restitution
Nahum: The prophet of retribution

Habakkuk: The prophet of doubt and faith

Zephaniah: The prophet of judgment

Haggai: The prophet of dedication

Zechariah: The prophet of restoration

Malachi: The prophet of expectation

The New Testament

Matthew: The teaching of the promised Messiah

Mark: The work of a serving Savior

Luke: The concern of a loving Savior

John: The belief in a personal Savior

Acts: The witness to a risen Savior

Romans: God’s righteousness upheld and applied

1 Corinthians: A church’s problems corrected

2 Corinthians: The ministry of the Church

Galatians: The gospel and Jewish law contrasted

Ephesians: Christ’s relationship with the Church

Philippians: The love and royalty of a Church

 Colossians: The person of Jesus exalted

1 Thessalonians: New converts encouraged

2 Thessalonians: The second coming of Christ

1 Timothy: Instructions for Church behavior

2 Timothy: The pastor of a Church encouraged

Titus: Christian self-control

Philemon: To the owner of a runaway slave

Hebrews: The greatness of Christ exalted

James: Practical instructions for a living faith

1 Peter: The suffering of the Church explained

2 Peter: The perils of the Church foretold

1 John: The reality of divine fellowship

2 John: Walking in the truth exhorted

3 John: Living in the truth practiced

Jude: Apostasy in the Church condemned

Revelation: The triumph of God over all evil

Please Note: The above themes are only guide. Each themes should not be seen the only theme of any particular book, but as a distinct emphasis of that book – and each book of the Bible should be read a whole, so that an overall view is gained of its contribution to God’s message to men.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.