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Answer
Here are brief summaries of the 66 books of the Bible:
Old Testament:
Genesis — God creates the universe and forms humans in His image, placing them in a perfect environment. The humans rebel against God and lose their paradise. The rebellion becomes severe, leading God to cleanse humanity with a flood, yet He mercifully saves Noah and his family. Subsequently, God selects and blesses the lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel), promising them a land for their numerous descendants. Through this lineage, God intends to send a Savior to reconcile the sinful world to Himself.
Exodus — The Israelites, residing in Egypt, endure slavery. God prepares Moses, an Israelite, to guide the people to freedom. The Pharaoh resists releasing the slaves, prompting God to send plagues upon the Egyptians. Moses leads the Israelites through the Red Sea, miraculously parted by God, to Mt. Sinai. While encamped at Sinai, the Israelites receive God’s Law, including the Ten Commandments. This Law forms the foundation of a covenant between God and the rescued people, with promised blessings for obedience. The people commit to honoring the covenant.
Leviticus — Within the Law, God institutes a sacrificial system for sin atonement and establishes festivals for Israel to observe as days of worship. God provides Moses with plans for a tabernacle, a tent for offering sacrifices and meeting with His people. God designates the family of Aaron, Moses’ brother, to oversee the rituals and ceremonies of the tabernacle.
Numbers — The Israelites reach the border of Canaan, the land promised to Abraham. However, those following Moses refuse to enter due to their lack of faith and fear of Canaan’s inhabitants. As a consequence, God sentences the Israelites to wander in the wilderness for 40 years, until
The unbelieving generation passes away, and a new generation takes their place. God sustains His rebellious people with miraculous provisions throughout their time in the wilderness.
Deuteronomy — The new generation of Israelites is now ready to take possession of the Promised Land. Moses gives a series of final speeches, in which he reiterates the Law of God and promises that one day God will send another Prophet reminiscent of the power and mission of Moses. Moses dies in Moab.
Joshua — Moses’ successor, Joshua, leads the children of Israel across the Jordan River (parted miraculously by God) and into Canaan. God overthrows the city of Jericho by knocking its walls down. Joshua leads the people in a successful campaign to conquer the whole of Canaan. With a few exceptions, the Israelites remain faithful to their promise to keep their covenant with God, and God blesses them with military victories. After the land is subdued, the Israelites divide Canaan into separate territories, giving each of the tribes of Israel a lasting inheritance.
Judges — Joshua dies, and almost immediately, the people begin to turn away from the God who had blessed them. Rather than driving out all the land’s inhabitants, they allow some of the Canaanites to survive, and the Israelites begin to worship the gods of the Canaanites. True to the terms of the covenant, God sends enemies to oppress His people. The suffering they endure causes them to repent, and God responds by sending leaders to rally the people and defeat the enemies, bringing peace to the land again. This cycle is repeated several times over a span of about 300 years.
Ruth — During the time of the judges, a famine strikes the land, and a man of Bethlehem takes his family out of Israel to live in Moab. There, he and his two sons die. His widow, Naomi, returns to Israel along with one of her daughters-in-law, a Moabitess named Ruth. Back in Bethlehem, the two women face hardship, and Ruth gathers what food she can by g
Leaning in a barley field owned by a man named Boaz. Ruth is noticed by Boaz, and he gives her extra help. Since Boaz is related to Naomi’s late husband, he has the legal opportunity to redeem the family property and raise up an heir in the name of the deceased. Ruth asks Boaz to do just that, and Boaz agrees. He marries Ruth and purchases the property that had belonged to Naomi. Boaz and Ruth become the great-grandparents of Israel’s greatest king, David.
1 Samuel — In answer to prayer, Samuel is born to a barren woman, who then dedicates her young son to the tabernacle. Samuel is raised by the judge and high priest, Eli. Early on, Samuel begins to receive messages from God and becomes known as a prophet. After Eli’s death, Samuel becomes Israel’s final judge. The people demand a king to make them more like other nations. Samuel advises against it, but the Lord directs Samuel to grant their request. Samuel anoints Saul as the first king. Saul starts out well, but he soon begins to act in pride and ignore God’s commands. God rejects Saul as king and instructs Samuel to anoint another person to take Saul’s place: that person is David, chosen while still a youth. David becomes famous in Israel for slaying the Philistine warrior Goliath, and Saul grows jealous to the point of madness. The king begins to pursue David, whose life is in constant danger as he takes refuge in the wilderness. Men loyal to David gather to him. Samuel dies, and, later, Saul and his sons are killed in a battle with the Philistines.
2 Samuel — David is crowned king by his tribesmen in Judah, and they make the city of Hebron the capital of Judah. After a brief civil war, all the tribes of Israel unite under the leadership of David, God’s choice. The capital is moved to Jerusalem. God makes a promise to David that a son of his will rule on the throne forever. David seeks to follow God’s will, and God blesses David with victories over foreign enemies. Sadly, David falls into the sin of adultery and tries to cover his.
Sin by having the woman’s husband killed. God pronounces judgment on David’s house, and trouble begins. David’s daughter is raped by her half-brother, who is then killed by Absalom, another of David’s sons, in revenge. Absalom then plots to overthrow David and take the throne. He gains a following, and David and those loyal to him are forced to flee Jerusalem. Absalom is eventually killed in battle, and David returns home in sorrow. Near the end of his life, David disobeys God and takes a census of the people, a sin for which God sends judgment on the nation.
1 Kings — King David dies. His son Solomon takes the throne, but his brother Adonijah challenges him for it. After repeated attempts to usurp authority from his brother, Adonijah is executed. King Solomon is blessed by God with great wisdom, riches, and honor. He oversees the building of the temple in Jerusalem and dedicates it to the Lord in a grand ceremony. Later in life, Solomon forsakes the path of righteousness and serves other gods. After Solomon’s death, his son Rehoboam takes the throne, but his foolish choices lead to a civil war, and the nation is fractured in two. Rehoboam remains king of the southern kingdom, and a man named Jeroboam is crowned king of the ten tribes to the north. Both kings practice idolatry. Through the years, David’s dynasty in the southern kingdom occasionally produces a godly king; most of the kings are wicked, however. The northern kingdom is led by an unbroken series of wicked rulers, including the idolatrous Ahab and his wife Jezebel, during whose reign God sends a drought to punish Israel, along with a mighty prophet, Elijah, to point the people back to God.
2 Kings — Elijah is translated to heaven, and Elisha takes his place as God’s prophet in Israel. Jehu becomes Israel’s king and wipes out the wicked family line of Ahab. In Judah, Ahab’s daughter becomes queen and attempts to kill all of David’s heirs, but she fails. Wicked kings rule in both nations, with the exception, in Judah, of a few.
Reformers such as Hezekiah and Josiah. Israel’s persistent idolatry finally exhausts God’s patience, and He brings the Assyrians against them to conquer the people of Israel. Later, God brings the Babylonians against Judah as a judgment, and Jerusalem is destroyed.
1 Chronicles — A genealogy traces God’s people from Adam to the kingdom years, with a focus on David’s family. The rest of the book covers much of the same material as 1 and 2 Samuel, with an emphasis on the life of David.
2 Chronicles — This book covers much the same material as 1 and 2 Kings, with an emphasis on David’s dynasty in Judah. The book begins with the construction of the temple under Solomon, and it ends with the destruction of the temple by the Babylonians, with a proclamation, in the last few verses, that the temple would be rebuilt.
Ezra — After 70 years of captivity in a foreign land, the people of Judah are allowed to return to their homeland to rebuild. A descendant of David named Zerubbabel, together with some priests, begins to rebuild the temple. Political opposition to the rebuilding forces a halt in construction for about 15 years. But then the work continues, encouraged by two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah. About 57 years after the temple is completed, Ezra the scribe arrives in Jerusalem, bringing with him about 2,000 people, including priests and Levites to serve in the temple. Ezra finds that the people living in Judah have lapsed into sin, and he calls the people to repentance and a return to the law of God.
Nehemiah — About 14 years after Ezra’s arrival in Jerusalem, Nehemiah, the king’s cupbearer in Persia, learns that the walls of Jerusalem are in a state of disrepair. Nehemiah travels to Jerusalem and oversees the construction of the city walls. He is opposed by enemies of the Jews, who try to thwart the work with various tactics, but the wall is finished with God’s blessings in time to observe the Feast of Tabernacles. Ezra reads the book of the law publicly.
And the people of Judah rededicate themselves to following it. The book of Nehemiah begins with sadness and ends with singing and celebration.
Esther — Some exiled Jews have chosen not to return to Jerusalem and have remained in Persia instead. Xerxes, the king of Persia, selects as his new queen a young woman named Esther. Esther is a Jewess, but she keeps her ethnicity a secret at the request of her cousin Mordecai, who raised her. A high-ranking official in the kingdom, a man named Haman, devises a genocide against all the Jews in the kingdom, and he obtains the king’s permission to execute his plan—neither he nor the king aware that the queen is Jewish. Through a series of divinely guided, perfectly timed events, Haman is killed, Mordecai is honored, and the Jews are spared, with Queen Esther playing a crucial role in it all.
Job — A righteous man named Job experiences a series of terrible tragedies that strip away his wealth, his family, and his health. Even after losing everything, Job does not curse God. Three friends come to sympathize with Job, but they eventually share their thoughts about the situation, suggesting that God is punishing Job for some hidden sin. Job refutes any wrongdoing on his part, yet in his agony, he pleads to God for explanations—he has faith in God, but he also desires God to clarify Himself. Ultimately, God appears and overwhelms Job with His majesty, wisdom, and power. God restores Job’s wealth, health, and family, but the reason for Job’s suffering remains unanswered by God.
Psalms — This compilation of songs comprises praise to the Lord, pleas from the needy, worshipful adoration, sorrows, gratitude, prophecy, and the entire range of human emotions. Some of the songs were composed for specific occasions, such as journeys to the temple or the coronation of a new king.
Proverbs — A compilation of moral teachings and general insights about life, this book is aimed at those seeking wisdom. Topics include love, sex, marriage,
Money, work, children, anger, strife, thoughts, and words.
Ecclesiastes — A wise elderly man who identifies himself as the Preacher reflects on life, reflecting on the lessons learned from his experiences. The Preacher, who lived without God, recounts the emptiness of various unfulfilling paths. Nothing in this world brings satisfaction: wealth, pleasure, knowledge, or labor. Without God, everything is meaningless.
Song of Solomon — A king and a modest maiden express their love and commitment to each other during their courtship, culminating in a joyful and affirming consummation of their marriage on the wedding night. The song also portrays some of the challenges faced by the bridegroom and bride in their married life, always emphasizing the longing they have for each other and the enduring power of love.
Isaiah — Isaiah is appointed as a prophet in Judah and conveys God’s messages to various kings. God denounces Judah for their religious hypocrisy. The prophet also issues warnings to other nations, such as Assyria, Babylon, Moab, Syria, and Ethiopia. Despite God’s wrath towards His people in Judah, He miraculously saves Jerusalem from an Assyrian invasion. Isaiah foretells the downfall of Judah by Babylon but also assures a restoration to their land. Isaiah looks even further into the future to the promised Messiah, who will be born of a virgin, rejected by His people, and killed while bearing their sins—yet the Messiah, God’s righteous Servant, will reign over the world from Jerusalem in a kingdom of peace and prosperity.
Jeremiah — Jeremiah, living during the Babylonian invasion of Judah, prophesies about Babylon’s triumph over Judah, a message that brings him much sorrow due to the arrogant kings and false prophets in Jerusalem. Continuously urging God’s people to repent, Jeremiah is consistently disregarded and even persecuted. Through Jeremiah, God pledges that one day He will establish
Establish a new covenant with Israel. The prophet lives to witness the fall of Jerusalem and predicts that the people’s captivity in Babylon will last 70 years.
Lamentations — In a lengthy acrostic poem, Jeremiah weeps over the devastation of the land of Judah. The reproach and shame of God’s people are overwhelming, and all appears lost. However, God is just in His discipline, and He is merciful in not annihilating the rebellious nation entirely; God’s people will yet experience God’s compassion.
Ezekiel — This is a book of prophecies penned in Babylon by Ezekiel, a priest-turned-prophet. Ezekiel addresses the reason for God’s judgment against Judah, which is idolatry and the dishonor Judah had brought upon God’s name. Ezekiel also prophesies judgment against other nations, such as Edom, Ammon, Egypt, and Philistia, and against the city of Tyre. Ezekiel then promises a miraculous restoration of God’s people to their land, the rebuilding of the temple, and God’s sovereignty over all the nations of the earth.
Daniel — As a young man, Daniel is taken captive to Babylon, but he and three friends remain faithful to the Lord’s commands, and God blesses them with honor and high rank in the Babylonian Empire. They face adversaries, however: Daniel’s three friends are cast into a fiery furnace, and Daniel into a den of lions, but God preserves their lives in each instance and bestows even greater honor upon them. Daniel survives the fall of Babylon and continues to prophesy into the era of the Persian Empire. Daniel’s prophecies are extensive, accurately foretelling the rise and fall of many nations and the future reign of God’s chosen king, the Messiah.
Hosea — Hosea’s mission is to urge Israel to repentance, as God is ready to judge them for their corruption and idolatry. At God’s instruction, Hosea marries a wife who proves unfaithful to him, and then he must redeem her from prostitution. This distressing experience serves as an analogy of Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness and the reality that a loving God is still pu
Pursuing them to redeem and restore them to their proper place.
Joel — Joel ministers in Judah during a time of drought and a locust plague, events that are signs of God’s judgment on the nation. Joel uses the current judgment to point the people to the future, worldwide judgment of the Day of the Lord, and he calls on everyone to repent. Joel’s final promise is that the Lord will dwell with His people in Zion and bring great blessing to the restored land.
Amos — Amos begins by pronouncing judgment against Damascus, Tyre, Edom, and Gaza, among other places. The prophet travels north from Judah to Israel to warn that nation of God’s judgment. He lists their sins and extends God’s invitation to repent and be forgiven. After the destruction of Israel, God promises that there will be a time of restoration.
Obadiah — From their seemingly secure, rock-bound homes, the Edomites had rejoiced at Judah’s fall, but Obadiah brings God’s sobering message: Edom, too, will be conquered, and that without remedy. God’s people will be the ultimate victors.
Jonah — Jonah, a prophet in Israel, is instructed by God to go to the Assyrian capital of Nineveh to prophesy against it. Jonah disobeys, attempting to travel away from Nineveh, but God intercepts him at sea. Jonah is thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish. In the belly of the fish, Jonah repents, and the fish spits him back on dry ground. When Jonah prophesies in Nineveh, the Assyrians humble themselves before God and repent, and God does not bring judgment upon them. Jonah is angry that God has forgiven the people he hates, and God reasons with his obstinate prophet.
Micah — In a series of three messages, Micah calls on both Judah and Israel to hear the word of God. He prophesies of coming judgment on both kingdoms and foresees the blessed kingdom of God, ruled by a king who would be born in Bethlehem. Micah ends his book with a promise that God’s anger will turn and that God’s people will be restored.
Nahum — The prophecy of Nahum focuses on the downfall of Nineveh. Nahum explains the reasons for it and declares God’s judgment on this nation that had previously instilled fear in the world. In contrast to God’s judgment on Israel, the punishment of Nineveh will be relentless, and there will be no restoration after its destruction.
Habakkuk — The prophet questions God regarding something he cannot comprehend: how God could employ the wicked Babylonians to discipline His own people, Judah. The Lord responds by reaffirming His sovereignty and faithfulness, emphasizing that in this world, the righteous will live by faith.
Zephaniah — Zephaniah warns about the impending Day of the Lord, a prophecy partially fulfilled by the Babylonian invasion and ultimately at the end of days. Besides Judah, other nations such as Philistia, Moab, Cush, and Assyria are also cautioned about the impending judgment. Jerusalem is urged to repent, and the book concludes with God’s promise to restore His people to grace and splendor.
Haggai — Haggai ministers during the era of Zerubbabel and Zechariah. Although the temple reconstruction had commenced, opposition from the enemies of the Jews had stalled the progress for approximately 15 years. Haggai delivers a series of four sermons to motivate the people to resume work and complete the temple.
Zechariah — A contemporary of Haggai and Zerubbabel, Zechariah encourages the inhabitants of Jerusalem to finalize the temple reconstruction, which had been stagnant for around 15 years. Through eight visions, God’s ongoing plan for His people is revealed. The promise of judgment on Israel’s adversaries is made, alongside blessings for God’s chosen ones. The book also contains various messianic prophecies foretelling the arrival of the Messiah, His suffering, and His eventual triumphant glory.
Malachi — Ministering to the Israelites post-exile, Malachi calls upon God’s people to repent. The prophet denounces sins such as divorce, offering impure sacrifices, withholding tithes, and showing disrespect.
meaning God’s name. The book, and the Old Testament, ends with a description of the Day of the Lord and the promise that Elijah will come before that dreadful day.
New Testament:
Matthew — The ministry of Jesus Christ is presented from the point of view that Jesus is the Son of David and thus the rightful king to rule from Israel’s throne. Jesus offers the kingdom to His people, but Israel rejects Him as their king and crucifies Him. Jesus rises again and sends His disciples into all the world to proclaim His teaching.
Mark — The ministry of Jesus Christ is presented from the point of view that Jesus is the Righteous Servant of God. Jesus obeys the Father’s will and accomplishes all He had been sent to do, including dying for sinners and rising again from the dead.
Luke — The ministry of Jesus Christ is presented from the point of view that Jesus is the Son of Man who came to save the whole world. Jesus shows the love of God to all classes of people, regardless of race or gender. He is unjustly betrayed, arrested, and murdered, but He rises again.
John — The ministry of Jesus Christ is presented from the point of view that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus speaks at length of His nature and work and the necessity of faith, and He proves that He is the Son of God through a series of public miracles. He is crucified and rises again.
Acts — This sequel to the life of Christ follows the ministry of the apostles following Jesus’ ascension. The Holy Spirit arrives to fill and empower Jesus’ followers, who begin to preach the gospel in the midst of mounting persecution. Paul, a former enemy of the Christians, is converted and called by Christ as an apostle. The church begins in Jerusalem, expands to Samaria, and spreads to the Roman world.
Romans — This theological treatise, written by Paul on one of his missionary journeys, examines the righteousness of God and how God can declare guilty sinners to be righteous based on the sacrifice.
of Jesus Christ. Having been justified by faith, believers live in holiness before the world.
1 Corinthians — The church in Corinth faces various issues, and the apostle Paul writes to provide them with God’s guidance on handling problems such as sin and division in the church, marriage, idolatry, spiritual gifts, the future resurrection, and the conduct of public worship.
2 Corinthians — The challenges in the Corinthian church have mostly been resolved, prompting Paul to write this letter to offer encouragement, explain the love gift he is collecting for Judean Christians, and defend his apostleship against critics who oppose him.
Galatians — False teachers have infiltrated the Galatian churches, wrongly suggesting that works of the law (specifically circumcision) must supplement faith in Christ for salvation to be genuine. Paul strongly denounces the blending of law and grace, emphasizing that salvation and sanctification are entirely by grace. Christ’s salvation has liberated us, and we depend on the Spirit’s work, not our own.
Ephesians — Salvation is a result of grace through faith in Christ, not our own efforts. The life given by Jesus, to both Jew and Gentile, leads to a transformed heart and conduct in this world. The church represents the Body of Christ, and marriage symbolizes Christ and the church. God has provided spiritual armor for engaging in spiritual warfare.
Philippians — Penned from a Roman prison, Paul expresses gratitude to the Philippians for the love gift they sent him. Despite challenges, the gospel of Christ is spreading globally, bringing joy to Christians. We are encouraged to emulate Christ’s humility, foster unity, and strive towards pleasing the Lord in all aspects.
Colossians — Contrary to false teachings, Jesus Christ is the Savior, Lord, and Creator of all things. In Him, all believers find life and wholeness; they do not need to seek fulfillment through any other means.
Submit themselves to man-made regulations or the mandates of the Old Testament law. The new life we have in Christ will affect our relationships with spouses, parents, children, masters, and servants.
1 Thessalonians — Paul reviews the start of the church in Thessalonica, and he commends them for their steadfast faith. Believers are encouraged to live pure lives and to maintain the hope that Jesus will return. When Christ comes again, He will resurrect believers who have died and will rapture those still living to be with Him forever. The Day of the Lord is coming, which will result in the judgment of this world.
2 Thessalonians — The church of Thessalonica is enduring persecution, and some believers wonder if the Day of the Lord had already arrived. Paul assures them that what they are experiencing is not God’s judgment. Before that terrible day comes, there must be a worldwide rebellion, a removal of the Restrainer, and the rise to power of the man of lawlessness. But God will protect His children. Until the time that Christ returns, keep doing what is right.
1 Timothy — Timothy, the pastor of the church in Ephesus, is the recipient of this letter from Paul. A pastor must be qualified spiritually, be on guard against false doctrine, pray, care for those in the church, train other leaders, and above all faithfully preach the truth.
2 Timothy — In this very personal letter at the end of his life, Paul encourages Timothy to hold fast to the faith, focus on what is truly important, persevere in dangerous times, and preach the Word of God.
Titus — Titus, an overseer of churches on the island of Crete, has the job of appointing elders in the churches there, making sure the men are qualified spiritually. He must beware of false teachers, avoid distractions, model the Christian life, and enjoin all believers to practice good works.
Philemon — In this short letter to Philemon, a believer in Colossae, the apostle Paul urges him to show the love.Love of Christ and be reconciled to a runaway, thieving slave. Under Roman law, the slave could face severe punishment, but Paul urges grace for the sake of Christ. Philemon should welcome his slave back into the household, not as a slave now but as a beloved brother in Christ.
Hebrews — There are Jewish members of the church who are tempted to return to the Jewish law. The author of this epistle urges them not to look back but to move on to full spiritual maturity, by faith. Jesus Christ is better than angels and better than Moses, and He has provided a better sacrifice, a better priesthood, and a better covenant than anything in the Old Testament. Having left Egypt, we must enter the Promised Land, not continue to wander aimlessly in the wilderness.
James — In this very practical book, James shows what faith lived out looks like. True, saving faith will affect our prayer life, our words, our response to trials, and our treatment of others.
1 Peter — The apostle Peter writes to believers under persecution in Asia Minor, addressing them as “God’s elect, exiles scattered” «Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, », (1 Peter 1:1). He reminds them of the grace of God, assures them of their heavenly home, teaches them to exhibit holiness, instructs them on marital relations, and encourages them as they face suffering.
2 Peter — With his death impending, Peter writes the churches, exhorting them to follow the Word of God, identify and avoid false teachers, and live in holiness as they await the second coming of Christ.
1 John — God is light, love, and truth. Those who truly belong to Christ will seek fellowship with His redeemed; walk in the light, not in darkness; confess sin; obey God’s Word; love God; experience a decreasing pattern of sin in their lives; demonstrate love for others.
1 John — Believers are encouraged to love one another, live as obedient Christians, and experience triumph in their Christian journey.
2 John — The Christian life involves a harmonious blend of truth and love. We must not abandon truth in the guise of love, nor should we stop loving due to a misguided idea of upholding the truth.
3 John — Two individuals are compared: Gaius, who demonstrates his dedication to truth and love through hospitality, and Diotrephes, who exhibits his spite and arrogance by lacking hospitality.
Jude — The gospel’s message remains unchanged. However, there are individuals who try to distort the message, teaching false doctrines for their own gain and leading people astray. These individuals must be opposed with the truth.
Revelation — Jesus is the Head of the church, and He is aware of the state of each local congregation. The end times will be characterized by an increase in wickedness, the emergence of the Antichrist’s global rule, and Satan’s rage against God’s people on earth. God unleashes His judgment on a rebellious and unrepentant world through a series of escalating plagues. Ultimately, the Lamb of God returns to earth with the heavenly armies, conquering the evil forces aligned against Him and establishing His peaceful kingdom. Satan, the Antichrist, and all evildoers are cast into the lake of fire, while Christ’s followers inherit a new heaven and a new earth.
