BIBLE
STUDY
HELPS
BIBLICAL
BACKGROUNDS
(A
Survey of Each Book)
GENESIS
- Genesis means birth or beginning. The book
of Genesis includes the following topics: The Creation; The Garden of
Eden; The Antediluvians, or people before the Flood; The Flood; The Tower of
Babel; The dispersion or Scattering of Races; the Lives of the Patriarchs
(Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph). The word “patriarch” means
father -governor. The patriarchal System is government by the head of the
family. Genesis has been called the “seedpod Book”
because all the other books seem to have their roots starting from it.
One of the five books of law, Genesis was
written by
Moses.
EXODUS
- Exodus means “going out”, referring to the going out from
Egypt of the Children of Israel. This book includes an account of the Birth and
Early Life of Moses; the Ten Plagues; the Journey from Egypt to Sinai; the
Giving of the Law; and a description of the
Tabernacle.
The Pilgrimage of the Children of
Israel from Egypt to Palestine or Canaan has often been likened to the
Christian’s journey through life.
The first
seventeen verses of the twentieth chapter of Exodus contain the Ten
Commandments, the basis of the moral code of civilization to this day.
Like Genesis, Exodus was written by
Moses.
LEVITICUS
- Leviticus and Levite are derived from Levi, the name of one of the
twelve sons of Jacob. The tribe descended from Levi and was the priestly tribe,
which had charge of the rites and ceremonies in the sacrifices, and of the
teaching of the law of Moses. The Book of Leviticus gives the ritual of
the Tabernacle services and the duties of the
priests.
Leviticus is the third book
written by Moses.
NUMBERS
- The Book of Numbers is so named because it records two numberings of
the Children of Israel. In its tenth
chapter it continues the narrative of the journey of
the Israelites from Egypt of Canaan, which was dropped in Exodus, Chapter
19.
The Israelites in their journey from Sinai had planned
to go northward and enter Canaan from its southern boundary, but were frightened
by the spies; reports of the size of the inhabitants. As a result, they
wandered forty years in the terrible wilderness and ultimately entered Canaan
from the east, crossing the river Jordan. The experiences of those wilderness
years are recorded in this fourth book of Moses.
DEUTERONOMY
- Deuteronomy means “second law”, or the second giving of the
law. Inasmuch as most of the adults who had received the law at Sinai had died
by this time in Israel’s history it was necessary to repeat the law for
the benefit of the new generation.
The last of the
five books of Moses, Deuteronomy is in the form of eight addresses by
Moses. The final chapter records his
death.
JOSHUA
- The Book of Joshua is named after one of the two spies who later became
Moses’ Successor. Joshua led the Israelites, or Sons of Israel (Jacob),
across the Jordan, attacked and conquered the Canaanites, and divided up the
land among his followers. In the later chapters is found an address by Joshua
in which he directs his people to high standards of personal conduct, and
admonishes them to honor God.
This book is
generally ascribed to
Joshua.
JUDGES
- Judges carries on the history of Israel from the death of Joshua to the
time of Samuel. This period, during which the people repeatedly disobeyed and
departed from God, is one of the darkest times in their history. As they
repeatedly repented of their sins and turned to God, He raised up leaders,
judges, who delivered them.
Although the writer of
this book is unknown for certain, it is believed to be the work of
Samuel.
RUTH
- The Book of Ruth is a love story of the time of the Judges. It gives a
remarkable picture of the life and customs of that early day. The story is told
in such a quaint and interesting way that you seem to see the characters as they
enter the picture. The passage 1:16 & 17 is one of the most beautiful and
pathetic in all literature. Ruth was David’s great-grandmother, and so
was in the earthly lineage of Christ.
See Matthew Chapter
1.
Although the
authorship is uncertain, evidence favors
Samuel.
1 and 2
SAMUEL - These two books are one in the Hebrew
Bible, and they relate in detail the closing days of the theocracy (in which God
ruled directly through the Judges), and the early days of the kingdom. Israel
rejected Jehovah, their God, and desired a king like other nations. Their first
king was Saul, a man of goodly appearance and a skillful warrior, but not a man
after God’s own heart. At Saul’s death, David, God’s own
choice as king, was proclaimed ruler. The life of David is covered, together
with an account of Samuel, the last of the
Judges.
The writer of these books is unknown.
Possibly it was Samuel, Nathan, or
Gad.
1 and 2 KINGS
- These two books, one in the Hebrew Bible, continue
the history of the people of Israel from the accession Solomon, David’s
son, to the carrying away of the people into captivity. They record the death
of David, the Accession of Solomon, and the Revolt
of Jeroboam and his Ten Tribes during the reign of Rehoboam, Solomon’s
son. From this time on the narrative intermingles the histories of the two
kingdoms until the captivity of each.
Elijah and
Elisha were the two great prophets of this period.
The writer of Kings is
unknown.
1 and 2
CHRONICLES - The two Books of
Chronicles duplicate to a large extent the books of Samuel and Kings.
These latter writings are supposed to have come from a source in the Northern
Kingdom, and Chronicles from one in the Southern Kingdom, and it
therefore emphasized the history of Judah and the temple
worship.
Chronicles is generally ascribed
to
Ezra.
EZRA
- The Book of Ezra gives an account of the return of some of the Jewish
exiles from captivity in Babylon and the rebuilding of their ruined
temple.
The task of rebuilding the house of
worship, carried on in a hostile, heathen environment, was hampered further by
the spiritual condition of the people themselves.
Ezra may have been the author of this
book.
NEHEMIAH
- Largely biographical in nature, the book of Nehemiah is the last
historical book of the Old Testament.
As a
cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, Nehemiah enjoyed a high station in life. However,
upon learning of conditions in Jerusalem, he renounced his life of luxury to
return to the city of his forebears, where he rebuilt the walls.
Nehemiah, a man of action, was a strong leader
and under him, important religious and social reforms were
accomplished.
The author is not definitely
known.
ESTHER
- This book records a deliverance of the Jews, and is read by their modern
descendants in the synagogues at the Feast of Purim in commemoration of this
deliverance. It is a literary gem read alike with interest and pleasure by
young and old. It furnishes a good example of the providence of God; that is, a
seeing ahead of what is going to take place and arranging matters so that His
children are taken care of, or saved from
harm.
There is no certain evidence as to
authorship.
JOB
- Job is thought by many to be one of the oldest pieces of literature
known to man. The Patriarch Job, a righteous man, suddenly loses his property,
and also, one after another, the members of his family. And, as if this were
not enough, he himself is plunged into great physical suffering.
A goodly portion of the book is devoted to a
philosophical discussion of suffering came as a punishment for sin. Job
maintains that he is a Godly man, and that his suffering must have another
purpose. The last chapters relate how his prosperity
returned.
The author is
unknown.
PSALMS
- The Book of Psalms was the hymn book of the Hebrews. About 70 of the
Psalms are ascribed to King David, the remainder to others. A large number of
the hymns and anthems we use today are taken from the Psalms. The book is
composed of 150 lyrics, some of wonderful beauty of thought, imagery and
expression. Not a few pour forth the deepest devotion and the most lofty
sentiments of the human heart, and there is nothing finer in the world’s
literature. Of these, Psalms 1, 19, 22, 23, 90, 100, 103, are perhaps
the most
noteworthy.
PROVERBS
- A Proverb is a short sentence conveying a moral truth in a concise and
pointed form. Proverbial teaching originated in the East and is one of the most
ancient forms of instruction.
Most of the Proverbs
are ascribed to Solomon, and the essential message is that wisdom begins with
God.
ECCLESIASTES
- Ecclesiastes means preacher or speaker. The book seems to have been
written as a soliloquy, an old man talking to himself. According to Jewish
tradition Solomon was the author, but some scholars believe it was written after
his time. The word “vanity” which occurs many times in this book
does not have its customary meaning, but signifies transitoriness; that is, when
the author says that all things are vanity, he means that they will pass away.
The last chapter, very frequently quoted, is most interesting and instructive.
The symbolic references are to the parts of the human body, as the head, eye,
etc.
SONG OF
SOLOMON - This book is known also as the
“Song of Songs” and the “Canticles” and authorship is
ascribed to Solomon.
The story is of a deep,
pure love between a man and a woman. Solomon writes of the beauty and
sacredness of such devotion and love. The story symbolized the great love of
God for His
people.
ISAIAH
- This book was written in stirring times. The people were irreligious,
corrupt, and debased. The Prophet Isaiah predicted the captivity in Babylon of
both Israel and Judah, and from his home in the south he saw Israel made
captive.
But he prophesied also the return of the
exiles, and of the coming of the Messiah. In chapters 9, 11 and 53 will be
found wonderful descriptions of Christ and His Kingdom, written certainly more
than 500 years before Christ’s time, and perhaps more than
700.
The Book of Isaiah is one of the
world’s greatest masterpieces. Composed by an educated man in the purest
Hebrew, it is elevated in style, vehement in expression, fervent in feeling, and
vivid in its imagery. It is more widely quoted in the New Testament than any
other
book.
JEREMIAH
- Jeremiah, the Prophet, lived in a sorry time in the history of the
Hebrews. It was in his day that the people of the Southern Kingdom, or Judah,
were carried by Nebuchadnezzar into captivity in Babylon, though Jeremiah
himself was left in Jerusalem.
He wrote with
authority not only of the certainty of the judgment of God upon a sinful people,
but also of the greatness of His
love.
LAMENTATIONS
- Jeremiah, standing in the midst of the ruins of the city of Jerusalem and the
temple, grieves over its destruction which he had predicted. In the Hebrew,
this book is in the form of a series of poems describing the ruin of the city,
and the cause of its desolation.
This book has
been called the Funeral Dirge over
Jerusalem.
EZEKIEL
- As a young man Ezekiel was carried captive from Judah eleven years
before the destruction of Jerusalem.
The subjects
of his prophecy are the destruction of Jerusalem, judgment upon the people, and
finally, the return of the exiles and a glorious future for
Israel.
DANIEL
- The prophecy of Daniel is one of the most readable and interesting
books in the Bible. Its stories (Chap. 1-6) are vivid and exciting, and the
visions in the balance of the book (Chap.7-12) are most significant. The four
beasts of Daniel 7:3 are thought to be the four great world powers-the
Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, the Greco-Macedonian, and the Romans. The second
vision (Daniel 8:1) is thought to refer to the Greek Power under Alexander the
Great. The kingdom referred to in Chapter 9 is the Messianic or Christ’s
kingdom. The visions in Chapters 10-12 refer to the events of the latter
days.
HOSEA
- The message of the prophet Hosea was principally to Israel. The first
three chapters give an account of his own domestic troubles, and are intended to
picture Israel’s sins and God’s love. The remainder of the book
contains denunciations of the people for their idolatry and
sins.
JOEL
- The book of Joel is divided into two parts. In the first, a great calamity
caused by an army of locusts is predicted in striking language. In the second
part is given God’s answer to the people’s
prayers.
The book of Joel contains a prophecy
frequently found in the writings of the prophets: that the Jews shall establish
a great nation in Palestine in later times. (The state of Israel became a
reality in
1949.)
AMOS
- Amos is one of the earliest of the prophetic books. The author
prophesied that God loves mercy and not mere formal sacrifices, such teaching
being like that of Christ. Amos was born 12 miles south of Jerusalem, but his
prophesies were directed to the Northern Kingdom (Israel). He taught that
Israel’s future greatness was not to be secured through power and wealth,
but through justice and
judgment.
OBADIAH
- Obadiah lived in Jerusalem after Judah’s deportation to Babylon.
He was God’s messenger announcing the doom of the Edomites, the
descendants of Esau, who had gloried over Judah’s downfall. He also
prophesied a future when the Jews should again rule over all the lands formerly
under David’s control.
We know little of the
author of this Book, the shortest of the Old
Testament.
JONAH
- The book of Jonah is quite the most readable of all the Minor Prophets.
Two views of it have been held. One regards it as a historical narrative, while
the other looks upon it as a symbolic story, teaching that as Jonah failed to do
his duty by the people of Nineveh, so Israel failed in its moral and religious
obligations to other nations. However, the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ
is conclusive that Jonah is a historical narrative
(Matthew
12:38-41).
MICAH
- Micah lived in the time of Isaiah. Like Isaiah he preached against the
sins of his time and especially against the oppression of the poor by the rich.
He prophesied the destruction of both Israel and Judah, just before that
punishment fell on
Israel.
NAHUM
- This Book prophesies the destruction of Nineveh, and is in two major
divisions. The first section presents the judge, and the second the judgment
upon this wicked city.
Very little is known about
Nahum. He lived about 505
B.C.
HABAKKUK
- Habakkuk prophesied in Judah during the reign of Jehoiakim. He wrote
of the wickedness of Israel and of its impending overthrow by the Chaldeans. He
also described the sinfulness of the Chaldean Conquerors and prophesied their
ultimate downfall. The book concludes with his prayer of
faith.
ZEPHANIAH
- Zephaniah lived in the time of Jeremiah, Habakkuk and Nahum, and
prophesied, as did they, against the sins of the people of his time. He
prophesied judgment upon Judah and surrounding nations. He also prophesied
blessings for a restored
Jerusalem.
HAGGAI
- The Book of Haggai contains four prophecies, all dealing with the
rebuilding of the temple under Zerubbabel. God raised up Haggai and Zechariah
to stir up the people to rebuild His house. For a picture
of the conditions during this period see the early
chapters of Ezra.
Haggai wrote in 520
B.C.
ZECHARIAH
- The message of Zechariah has been divided into two parts. The first
part (Chap. 1-8) deals with the restoration of the temple, and the last part
(Chap. 9-14) with the Messianic Kingdom.
The
authorship of Chapters 1-8 is ascribed to Zechariah (520 B.C.); there is
question as to the author of chapters
9-14.
MALACHI
- Malachi was the last of the Old Testament Prophets. He lived after the
temple had been rebuilt and worship restored, but he found the people to be
backsliding. He rebuked them for their spiritual condition and also predicted
the coming of the
Messiah.
MATTHEW
- Written particularly for the Jews, Matthew presents Jesus as the
Messiah promised in the Old Testament. Sometimes called the “Gospel of
the Kingdom,” it begins with a genealogy of Jesus (“the Son of
David”) and quotes frequently from Old Testament Scriptures.
It is ascribed to Matthew, The Publican
(tax-collector), who was one of the twelve disciples. The best evidence
available identifies it as the second oldest Gospel (Mark was written earlier),
and puts the time of its writing before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D.
70.
MARK
- Mark’s Gospel is taken generally to be the oldest of the Four
Gospels, and most scholars date it earlier than A.D.
70.
As Matthew’s Gospel was written to the
Jews, so Mark’s was written to the Romans. Unlike Matthew, he does not
refer to the Old Testament Prophets, for he is writing to people who are not
familiar with them.
A companion of Peter, Mark
doubtless heard his friend preach many times. Because of the close association
between Mark and the Apostle Peter, his Gospel reflects the influence of this
energetic and impulsive disciple.
He portrays
Christ in all His power and authority, and stresses His deeds. Christ depicted
as the Servant of the
Lord.
LUKE
- Luke was the author of both his Gospel and Acts. Unlike Matthew and
Mark, he was a Greek and an educated man, being also a physician. He had been a
companion of Paul, joining him at Antioch on the latter’s second
missionary journey, possibly acting as his physician and assistant. Intended
for the Greeks, this gospel portrays Christ as the perfect Man, the One who
surpasses the highest ideals of the Greeks. He presents Christ as the
“Son of Man” as well as the “Son of
God”.
The date of writing is not known
exactly, but it is certain from the first verses of Acts that this Gospel was
written before Acts, probably between A.D. 64 and A.D.
70.
JOHN
- John, the youngest of the twelve apostles, wrote his Gospel some time
after Matthew, Mark and Luke to supplement their
message.
The latter three are called the Synoptics
(Gk. “a view together”) because they present much the same general
view of the life and teaching of Christ.
The
Gospel of John is an extraordinary book. It deals with the deepest
questions of life, while singularly simple and direct style. John portrays
Jesus as the “Son of God”, the “Only Begotten of the
Father”. The sixteenth verse of the third chapter is often referred to as
“the heart of the
Gospel”.
ACTS
- Written by Luke while in Rome with Paul, Acts continues the narrative
of his Gospel, commencing with the events following the crucifixion of Christ.
Its record covers a period of about thirty years, beginning with A.D.
30.
It includes an account of the organization and
early history of the Christian Church, and is one of the most readable and best
organized books in the Bible. The central purpose of the book is to show that
Christ continues His work through the believers and the Church under the
direction of the Holy
Spirit.
ROMANS
- Paul was in Corinth in A.D. 58 when he wrote this stirring letter to the
Christians in the imperial city of Rome.
The Book
of Romans, considered by many to be Paul’s most important work, is
also one of the most important books of the Bible. Its major theme is
justification by faith.
A controversy had arisen
between the Jewish and Gentile Christians as to whether the Jews were to have
pre-eminence over the Gentiles in the Church. Paul points out that God is just;
and since “all have sinned” (both Jew and Gentile) the Jew would
have no preference in His eyes over the Gentiles. God loves men of all origins,
says Paul, and he calls upon men everywhere to attain salvation through
Christ.
1
CORINTHIANS - This epistle to the
Corinthians was written from Ephesus about a year after the
establish-ment of the church at Corinth (circa A.D.
55).
Corinth was a cosmopolitan city in an age
when moral restraints sat very lightly on men. Naturally there was difficulty
in establishing and keeping a church pure in such
surroundings.
Paul’s purpose in writing this
letter was twofold: to direct the church away from the error and disorder that
had evidenced itself, and to answer specific questions submitted to
him.
The Greeks, owing to their ways of thinking,
had much difficulty with the doctrine of the resurrection, and so Paul wrote of
it in Chapter 15.
Chapter 13 is one of the most
beautiful passages in the Bible and in all literature. The word
“charity” used in the King James Version does not have its present
usual meaning, but is used with its old meaning,
“love”.
2
CORINTHIANS - The Second Letter to the
Corinthians was written a few months after the First, to which it is a
sequel.
From Titus, Paul learned that his first
letter had borne fruit in that many of the church at Corinth had repented, but
he learned also that Judaizers had come there preaching a false gospel and
denouncing his authority.
This second epistle was
written not only to express pleasure at the reported repentance, but also to
warn against false teachers and to vindicate his
apostleship.
GALATIANS
- The Apostle Paul visited the Galatia region on his First Missionary journey
and established a church there. Some years later word came to him that
Judaizers had infiltrated the Galatian church, and that the people were being
led away from true Christianity by accepting Jewish rites and ceremonies as a
substitute for what they had been taught. Paul recognized the situation as a
crisis in the Galatian church and wrote accordingly. His emphasis is again upon
the fundamental Christian doctrine of justification by
faith.
Paul wrote this Epistle to the
Galatians between A.D. 48 and A.D.
58.
EPHESIANS
- This letter has been called the crown of St. Paul’s writings. Though
taking the form of a letter, it is really more in the nature of a discourse (as
are most of the epistles). Christ is the center and the church is united in
Him. The mystery of the ages is explained in
Christ.
This epistle was written about A.D. 62 or
A.D. 63 during Paul’s first imprisonment in
Rome.
PHILIPPIANS
- The church at Philippi was the first one organized in Europe (see
Acts
16:8-40). Philippians was written by Paul -
probably from Rome - near the end of his first imprisonment. The year was about
A.D. 62.
It is sometimes called the Epistle of
Christian Experience, for it deals with personal conduct rather than theology.
Although written by Paul while in prison, its predominant note is
joy.
COLOSSIANS
- Colosse was a city of Phrygia, a central province of Asia Minor. Judaizers
had worked in the Colossian church, and others had tried to introduce oriental
mysticism. Paul, writing from his last imprisonment in Rome, told the
Colossians that this mysticism meant nothing; that there is little of
value in mere rites and ceremonies. Christ is above all, he writes, and real
joy is gained by living the Christian
life.
1
THESSALONIANS - This letter to the church at
Thessalonica, established on Paul’s Second Missionary journey, was the
first of Paul’s Epistles, written from Corinth about the year A.D.
51.
Paul was pleased with the vitality of this
church, composed of converts from many different backgrounds. However, he felt
it necessary to correct some errors in their thinking, particularly in reference
to the Second Coming of Christ. Both this letter and 2 Thessalonians
present much on the doctrine of the Second
Coming.
2
THESSALONIANS - This letter was sent from
Corinth a few months after the writing of 1 Thessalonians.
Misunderstandings in reference to the first letter and the teaching on the
tribulation necessitated Paul’s writing this second
epistle.
1 and 2
TIMOTHY - First Timothy was written
after Paul’s release from his first imprisonment, probably about A.D. 63.
Second Timothy, the last epistle written by Paul, was sent from prison in
Rome, where he was awaiting execution. Probable date of writing was A.D. 64 or
65.
Timothy, the son of a Greek father and Jewish
mother, had been converted under Paul’s ministry, and subsequently became
a missionary companion of the great apostle. He was then pastor of the church
at Ephesus. Paul wrote as a spiritual father to this young pastor, instructing
him in matters of doctrine and life.
These
letters, unlike those preceding, because addressed to an individual rather than
to a congregation, are called pastoral
epistles.
TITUS
- The Epistle to Titus, like those to Timothy, is a pastoral epistle. A
Gentile, he was pastor of the church at Crete, a difficult
assignment.
The church there had been in a state
of disorder, and heresy was evident. Paul writes to encourage and counsel
Titus. Although written before the Epistles to Timothy, this letter is one of
Paul’s last
writings.
PHILEMON
- The shortest of the Pauline Epistles, this letter to Philemon is
private in nature. Onesimus, a slave who had belonged to Philemon, a
rich member of the Church at Colossae, had stolen from his master and run away
to Rome, where he was converted under the ministry of Paul. Paul asks that
Philemon forgive the crime and receive Onesimus as a brother in Christ.
This epistle was written during Paul’s
first imprisonment in
Rome.
HEBREWS
- This letter was written to a group of Jewish Christians, probably around A.D.
64.
The Jewish Christians (who had fallen under
persecution) were despairing of the faith and were tempted to return to Judaism.
To point out the superiority of the Christian faith and to encourage them, the
writer inscribed his epistle. He emphatically points out that Christ is greater
than the prophets, angels, Moses, Joshua, and Aaron. God had spoken through
each of these, but now He spoke through Christ, His
Son!
Next to Romans, Hebrews has exerted
the greatest influence on the thinking of succeeding generations of Christians.
It contains many passages marked by great strength and
beauty.
From early in the Christian era, the
question of authorship of this epistle has been under consideration. Some
students credited the writing to Paul, while others have claimed that it is the
work of another - perhaps Barnabas or Apollos.
JAMES
- James (along with the Epistles of Peter, John, and Jude) is called a
catholic or general epistle, because it is not addressed to a particular church
or individual, but to the church in general.
This
letter contains little of doctrine, but much of morals and ethics. Its emphasis
is upon works demonstrating faith.
Although there
are three different persons named James mentioned in the New Testament, the
writer is the James who was the half brother of
Jesus.
1
PETER - Another of the general epistles,
First Peter was sent to Christians in Asia Minor. It is mainly an
exhortation to them to stand fast under the persecutions then
prevailing.
The writer of this epistle was the
Apostle Peter, and the date of writing sometime between A.D. 62 and A.D.
69.
2
PETER - In contrast to First Peter, which was
written to encourage Christians under persecution, Second Peter warns of
false teachers. It has much to say in reference to the reality of the Second
Coming of Christ.
This book was one of the last to
be put into the Canon, or list of the books of the Bible. Although some
scholars have questioned its authorship, the traditional view ascribes it to
Peter.
1, 2 and 3
JOHN - The Epistles of John are unlike
the other general epistles in that the first is a homily on doctrine, while the
other two are primarily private letters to
individuals.
The First Epistle was written
to correct heresy and to extol the qualities of the Christian
Life.
The Second Epistle (probably
addressed to a Christian woman) lays emphasis upon the truth of the Gospel of
Christ. It advises the recipient not to receive false
teachers.
The Third Epistle, addressed to
Gaius, commends him for his treatment of his fellow
Christians.
Although some have suggested that
these letters were written by one other than the disciple, there is strong
evidence that he was the author. The date of writing is placed near the end of
the first century (A.D. 85 - A.D.
100).
JUDE
- The general Epistle of Jude is a plea to the Christian to remain
constant in faith and life. It points to the penalties of immorality, and
closes with a benediction, reminding that Christ can keep the believer from
yielding to the temptations of life.
Jude,
a brother of James - hence a half brother of Jesus - was the author of this
epistle. Time of writing is sometime between A.D. 70 and A.D.
80.
REVELATION
- Of all the New Testament writings, the Revelation is the most difficult
to interpret. There has been a divergence of opinion among scholars as to the
exact meaning of a major part of the most striking portions of the book.
Nevertheless its basic purpose remains clear: to reveal Jesus Christ as Lord,
triumphant over evil. Indeed, the first words of the first chapter read
“The Revelation of Jesus
Christ”.
Written by the aged disciple John
while a prisoner on the island of Patmos around A.D. 95, The Revelation
had been a source of comfort and inspiration to Christians of every
generation.
HARMONY OF THE LIFE
OF CHRIST
Birth of John the Baptist
Foretold..........Luke
1:5
Birth of Jesus
Foretold..........Luke 1:26; Matthew
1:18
Birth and Naming of
John..........Luke
1:39
Birth of
Jesus..........Luke 2:1; John
1:1-14
Genealogies..........Matthew
1:1; Luke 3:23
Circumcision and Naming of
Jesus..........Luke
2:21
Presentation of Jesus in the
Temple..........Luke
2:22
Coming of the Wise
Men..........Matthew
2:1
Flight to Return From
Egypt..........Matthew
2:19
The Lad Jesus in the
Temple..........Luke
2:41
John the Baptist’s
Ministry..........Matthew 3:1; Mark
1:1, Luke 3:1; John 1:6, 15
The Baptism of
Jesus..........Matthew 3:13; Mark 1:9;
Luke 3:21
The Temptation of
Jesus..........Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12;
Luke 4:1
Jesus Begins His
Ministry..........Matthew 4:12; Mark
1:14; Luke 4:14
John’s Witness of
Jesus..........John
1:15
Call of First
Disciples..........John 1:35; Matthew
4:18; Mark 1:16; Luke 5:1
Jesus’ Sermon
on the Mount..........Matthew 5, 6, 7;
Luke 6:17
Jesus First
Miracle..........John
2:1
Jesus at
Jerusalem..........John
2:13
Nicodemus Visits
Jesus..........John
3:1
The
Twelve..........Matthew 10:2; Mark
3:13; Luke 6:13
The Twelve Commissioned and
Sent Forth..........Matthew 10:1; Mark
3:13; Luke 9:1
The Twelve
Return..........Mark 6:30; Luke
9:10
John the Baptist’s
Death..........Matthew 14:1; Mark 6:14;
Luke 9:7
Peter’s Confession of
Christ..........Matthew 16:13; Mark
8:27; Luke 9:18
Jesus Foretells His Own
Death..........Matthew 16:21; Mark
8:31; Luke 9:22
The Transfiguration (of
Jesus)..........Matthew 17:1; Mark 9:2;
Luke 9:28
The Seventy Sent Out and Their
Return..........Luke
10:1
The Raising of
Lazarus..........John
11:1
Jesus Journeys to
Jerusalem..........Matthew 20:17; Mark
10:32; Luke 18:31
The Jews’ Council Plots
Jesus’ Death..........John 11:47;
Matthew 26:3
Jesus’ Arrival at
Bethany..........John
12:1
Jesus Enters
Jerusalem..........Matthew 21:1; Mark
11:1; Luke 19:29; John 12:12
Jesus Cleanses the
Temple..........Matthew 21:12; Mark
11:15; Luke 19:45
Jesus Teaches in the
Temple..........Matthew 21:23; Mark
11:27; Luke 20:1
Judas’ Treacherous
Plot..........Matthew 26:14; Mark
14:10; Luke 22:3
Preparation for the
Passover..........Matthew 26:17; Mark
14:12; Luke 22:7 17
The Supper of the Last
Evening..........Matthew 26:20; Mark
14:7; Luke 22:14
Jesus Washes His
Disciples’ Feet..........John
13:1
The Betrayer
Revealed..........John
13:10
Jesus’ Last Discourses to His
Disciples..........John 13:31; John
17
Jesus Institutes “The Lord’s
Supper”..........Matthew 26:26;
Mark 22; Luke 22:19
Peter’s Three Denials
Foretold..........Matthew 26:34; Mark
14:30; Luke 22:34; John 13:38
Jesus’
Agony in Gethsemane..........Matthew
26:36; Mark 14:32; Luke 22:39; John 18:1
The
Betrayal and Arrest..........Matthew
26:47; Mark 14:43; Luke 22:47; John 18:2
Jesus
Taken to Annas..........John
18:13
Before Caiaphas the High
Priest..........Matthew 26:57; Mark
14:53; Luke 22:54; John 18:19
Peter’s
Three Denials..........Matthew 26:69;
Mark 14:66; Luke 22:54; John 18:15
Jesus Before
the Council..........Matthew 27:1; Mark
15:1; Luke 22:66
Jesus Before
Pilate..........Matthew 27:2, 11; Mark
15:1; Luke 23:1; John 18:28
Pilate Declares
Jesus Innocent..........Luke 23:4; John
19:4
Pilate Sends Jesus to
Herod..........Luke
23:7
The Jews Reject
Jesus..........Matthew 27:21, 25; Mark
15:6; Luke 23:18; John 18:40 & 19:15
Pilate
Condemns Jesus to
Death..........Matthew 27:26; Mark
15:15; Luke 23:24; John 19:16
Jesus Mocked by
the Soldiers..........Matthew 27:27;
Mark 15:16; John 19:2
Jesus Led Away to be
Crucified..........Matthew 27:31; Mark
15:20; Luke 23:33; John 19:18
The Crucifixion of
Jesus..........Matthew 27:35; Mark
15:24; Luke 23:33; John 19:18
Jesus on the
Cross..........Matthew 27:36; Mark
15:25; Luke 23:34; John 19:19
The Death of
Jesus..........Matthew 27:50; Mark
15:37; Luke 23:46; John 19:30
The
Centurion’s
Witness..........Matthew 27:54; Mark
15:39; Luke 23:47
The Burial of
Jesus..........Matthew 27:57; Mark
15:42; Luke 23:50; John 19:38
The Resurrection
of Jesus..........Matthew 28:1; Mark
16:1; Luke 24:1; John 20:1
APPEARANCES OF JESUS
AFTER THE RESURRECTION
To Mary
Magdalene..........Matthew 16:9; John
20:11
To the
Women..........Matthew
28:1
To the
Eleven..........Mark 16:14; John
20:19
To Two Going to
Emmaus..........Mark 16:12; Luke
24:13
To the Eleven (a week
later)..........John
20:26
To the Apostles in
Galilee..........Mark 16:14; John
21:1
To
Peter..........Luke 24:34; 1
Corinthians 15:5
To Five Hundred Brethren in
Galilee..........1 Corinthians
15:6
To
James..........1 Corinthians
15:7
To
Paul..........1 Corinthians
15:8
Jesus’ Commission to the
Apostles..........Matthew 28:19; Mark
16:15; Luke 24:44
Jesus Talks With
Peter..........John
21:15
The Ascension of
Jesus..........Mark 16:9; Luke 24:50;
Acts 1:4
The Descent of God the Holy
Spirit..........Acts
2:1
THE MIRACLES OF OUR
LORD
The First Miracle: Water Made Into
Wine..........John
2:1
Many
Healings..........Matthew 4:23, 8:16
& 15:30; Mark 1:32; Luke 4:40;
etc.
A
Leper..........Matthew 8:1-4; Mark
1:40; Luke 5:12
The Centurion’s
Servant..........Matthew 8:5; Luke
7:1
Peter’s Wife’s
Mother..........Matthew 8:14; Mark
1:29; Luke 4:38
The Tempest
Stilled..........Matthew 8:23; Mark
4:35; Luke 8:22
Two
Demoniacs..........Matthew 8:28; Mark
5:1; Luke 8:26
A Palsied
Man..........Matthew 9:1; Mark 2:1;
Luke 5:18
The Twelve-Year Afflicted
Woman..........Matthew 9:20; Mark 5:25;
Luke 8:43
Raising Jairus’
Daughter..........Matthew 9:23; Mark
5:22; Luke 8:41
Two Blind
Men..........Matthew
9:27
A Dumb
Demoniac..........Matthew 9:32 &
12:22; Luke 14
A Man With a Withered
Hand..........Matthew 12:10; Mark 3;1;
Luke 6:6
Five Thousand
Fed..........Matthew 14:15; Mark 6:35;
Luke 9:12; John 6:1
Jesus Walks on the
Sea..........Matthew 14:22; Mark 6:47;
John 6;16
The Syrophenician’s
Daughter..........Matthew 15:21; Mark
7:24
Four Thousand
Fed..........Matthew 15:32; Mark
8;1
The Epileptic
Boy..........Matthew 17:14; Mark 9:14;
Luke 9:37
Two Blind Men
(Jericho)..........Matthew
20:30
Man With an Unclean
Spirit..........Mark 1:23; Luke
4:33
A Deaf
Mute..........Mark
7:31
A Blind Man
(Bethesda)..........Mark
8:22
Blind
Bartimaeus..........Matthew 20:30; Mark
10:46; Luke 18:35
Drought of
Fishes..........Luke
5:4
Raising of Widow’s
Son..........Luke
7:11
An Infirm
Woman..........Luke
13:11
A Dropsical
Man..........Luke
14:1
Ten
Lepers..........Luke
17:11
Malchus’ Ear
Healed..........Luke
22:50
A Nobleman’s
Son..........John
4:46
A Cripple
(Bethesda)..........John
5:1
A Man Born
Blind..........John
9:1
Raising of
Lazarus..........John
11:38
A Great Haul of
Fishes..........John
21:1
THE PARABLES OF OUR
LORD
The
Builders..........Matthew 7:24-27; Luke
6:47-49
The
Sower..........Matthew 13:3; Mark 14:1;
Luke 8:4
The Wheat and the
Tares..........Matthew
13:24-30
The Mustard
Seed..........Matthew 13:31; Mark 4:30;
Luke 13:18
The
Leaven..........Matthew 13:33; Luke
13:20
The Hidden
Treasure..........Matthew
13:44
The Pearl of Great
Price..........Matthew
13:45
The
Net..........Matthew
13:47
The Unmerciful
Servant..........Matthew
18:23-35
The Laborers in the
Vineyard..........Matthew
20:1-16
The Two
Sons..........Matthew
21:28-32
The Wicked
Husbandmen..........Matthew 21:33-46;
Luke 20:9-18
The Marriage
Feast..........Matthew
22:1-14
The Fig
Tree..........Matthew
24:32
The Ten
Virgins..........Matthew
25:1-13
The
Talents..........Matthew
25:14-30
The Seed Growing
Secretly..........Mark
4:26-29
The Good
Samaritan..........Luke
10:25-37
The Rich
Fool..........Luke
12:13-21
The Fruitless Fig
Tree..........Luke
13:6-9
The Great
Supper..........Luke
14:16-24
On Counting the
Cost..........Luke
14:25-33
The Lost
Sheep..........Luke
15:3-7
The Lost
Coin..........Luke
15:8-10
The Lost
Son..........Luke
15:11-32
The Dishonest
Steward..........Luke
16:1-14
The Rich Man and
Lazarus..........Luke
16:19-31
The Importunate Widow and Unjust
Judge..........Luke
18:1-8
The Pharisee and
Publican..........Luke
18:8-14
The
Pounds..........Luke
19:11-27
FAVORITE BIBLE
STORIES
God’s Work of
Creation..........Genesis, Ch.
1
Adam and
Eve..........Genesis, Ch.
2
Noah and the
Ark..........Genesis, Ch.
6
God’s Covenant (Promise) with
Noah..........Genesis, Ch.
9
Tower of
Babel..........Genesis, Ch.
11
God’s Call to
Abram..........Genesis, Ch.
12
The Story of
Lot..........Genesis Ch.
19
Abraham and
Isaac..........Genesis, Ch.
22
Isaac and
Rebekah..........Genesis, Ch.
24
Jacob’s Vision of a
Ladder..........Genesis, Ch.
28
Jacob Wrestles with an
Angel..........Genesis, Ch.
32
Joseph and His
Brothers..........Genesis, Ch,
37
Joseph Interprets Pharoah’s
Dream..........Genesis, Ch.
41
The Baby
Moses..........Exodus, Ch.
2
The Burning
Bush..........Exodus, Ch.
3
The First
Passover..........Exodus, Ch.
12
The Crossing of the Red
Sea..........Exodus, Ch.
14
The Quails and
Manna..........Exodus, Ch.
16
The Ten
Commandments..........Exodus, Ch.
20
The Battle of
Jericho..........Joshua, Ch.
6
Joshua’s Long
Day..........Joshua, Ch.
10
The Sword of the Lord and
Gideon..........Judges, Ch.
7
The Exploits of
Samson..........Judges, Ch.
15
Samson and
Delilah..........Judges, Ch.
16
Ruth and
Naomi..........Ruth, Ch.
1
Ruth Gleans in the
Field..........Ruth, Ch.
2
Samuel and
Eli..........1 Samuel, Ch.
3
David and
Goliath..........1 Samuel, Ch.
17
David and
Jonathan..........1 Samuel, Ch.
19
Saul Consults the Witch of
Endor..........1 Samuel, Ch.
28
David’s Psalm of
Thanksgiving..........2 Samuel, Ch.
22
Solomon’s
Wisdom..........1 Kings, Ch.
3
Solomon Builds the
Temple..........1 Kings, Ch.
6
The Queen of Sheba Visits
Solomon..........1 Kings, Ch.
10
Elijah and the Prophets of
Baal..........1 Kings, Ch.
18
Job’s Prosperity
Restored..........Job, Ch.
42
The Shepherd
Psalm..........Psalm
23
Wisdom and Her
Rewards..........Proverbs, Ch.
8
The Soft
Answer..........Proverbs, Ch.
15
A Good Name is Better Than
Riches..........Proverbs, Ch.
22
The Prince of
Peace..........Isaiah, Ch.
9
Ezekiel’s Vision of Cherubim and
Wheels..........Ezekiel, Ch.
10
The Parable of the Dry
Bones..........Ezekiel, Ch.
37
The Fiery
Furnace..........Daniel, Ch.
3
The Writing on the
Wall..........Daniel, Ch.
5
Daniel in the Lion’s
Den..........Daniel, Ch.
6
Jonah and the Big
Fish..........Jonah, Ch.
1
The Temptation of
Jesus..........Matthew, Ch.
4
Jesus Calls Peter and
Andrew..........Matthew, Ch.
4
The Lord’s
Prayer..........Matthew, Ch.
6
The Golden
Rule..........Matthew, Ch.
7
The Transfiguration of
Jesus..........Matthew, Ch.
17
The Last
Supper..........Matthew, Ch.
26
Jesus Stills the
Storm..........Mark, Ch.
4
Jesus and the
Children..........Mark, Ch.
10
Jesus Clears the
Temple..........Mark, Ch,
11
The Birth of
Jesus..........Luke, Ch.
2
The Feeding of Five-Thousand..........Luke,
Ch. 9
The Good
Samaritan..........Luke, Ch.
10
Seventy
Disciples..........Luke, Ch.
10
The Prodigal
Son..........Luke, Ch.
15
The Story of
Zaccheus..........Luke, Ch.
19
Peter’s
Denial..........Luke, Ch.
19
Resurrection of
Jesus..........Luke, Ch.
24
The Miracle of Water Into
Wine..........John, Ch.
2
Jesus Talks to
Nicodemus..........John, Ch.
3
The Woman at the
Well..........John, Ch.
4
Jesus Walks on the
Sea..........John, Ch.
6
Lazarus Raised From the
Dead..........John, Ch.
11
Triumphal Entry Into
Jerusalem..........John, Ch.
12
The Ascension of
Jesus..........Acts, Ch.
1
Coming of the Holy
Spirit..........Acts, Ch.
2
Peter’s
Sermon..........Acts, Ch.
3
Philip Talks with an
Ethiopian..........Acts, Ch.
8
Conversion of
Saul..........Acts, Ch.
9
Faith and
Work..........James, Ch.
2
The Bridled
Tongue..........James, Ch.
3
Good News
Bible
Church
718 Riverspring
Dr.
Prentice, WI
54556
(715)
428-2075
www.oocities.org/gnbc_2000
gnbc@hotmail.com