Biblical Overview

Hebrews

Although some include the thus among the apostle Paul's writings, the certain identity of the author remains an enigma. A big issue with the audience being written to is that many of the early Jewish believers were slipping back into the rites and rituals of Judaism in order to escape the mounting persecution. This letter, then, is an exhortation for those persecuted believers to continue in the grace of Jesus Christ. Key Verses: - 1:1-2 - 2:3: - 4:14-16 -11:1 - 12:1-2 Christian's Note: In the 26th verse of the 10th chapter, the sin of apostasy is being addressed. The author is speaking to Jews about returning to the animal sacrifice, which is blasphemous since Christ had already came at this point. This is why later in the same chapter, the author speaks of how they have "trampled under foot the son of God." This was about them not trusting in the sacrifice of Christ and falling back into their Jewish rituals.

Job

The author of this book is anonymous. The book's namesake does not seem to be an Israelite, because he is said to be from the land of Uz, which most scholars suggest was to the southeast of ancient Israel. Because he is cited in the book of Ezekiel (Ezek. 14:14, 20), it seems best to date his story no later than Ezekiel's life (6th Century BC). Key Verses - 1:1 - 1:21 - 38:1-2 - 42:5-6 Christian's Note: It's helpful to closely read the arguments that are made and compare it to John 9:2(as well as other passages in the Gospels that deal with people sharing their attitudes about those with infirmities). Doing this helps show that although certain perspectives were wild, the mindsets they had were a reflection of a common theology that exists throughout scripture which heavily emphases the idea that we reap what we sew, without much consideration to complications and varied circumstances.

Haggai

The prophecy of this book came at a time when the people of Judah were extremely vulnerable. They had been humbled by their exile to Babylon, hopeful in their return to their Promised Land, and then so discouraged by opposition in their rebuilding of the temple that they had quit (Ezra 4:24). Now, sixteen years later, with Haggai blaming their lack of food, clothing, and shelter on their failure to rebuild the temple, the Jews were receptive to his message of rebuilding the Lord's house. Unlike most of the other prophets, This prophet explicitly dated his prophecies, down to the day. He gave four separate messages with dates mentioned in 1:1, 2:1, 2:10, and 2:20). These messages encouraged the people of Judah to finish building the temple and to have hope in God for the promise of blessings in the future. Key Verses: - 1:4 - 1:5-6 - 2:9 Christian's Note: Typically, there are several references made to NT events in the books of the prophet's additionally, Jesus, or other NT figures would quote a good amount of content from the OT. However, the only portion of this book mentioned in the NT is the 6th verse of the second chapter, which is quoted in Hebrews 12:26.

Habakkuk

Describe as an oracle from the Book's namesake, the book was likely written between 610 and 605 B.C. The prophet calls out the sins of Judah but grapples with the reality that God's chosen people will suffer at the hands of enemies who are even worse than them. This prophet actually asks questions, that God answers resulting in the prophet trusting in God's wisdom, sovereignty, and salvation. Key Verses: - 1:2 - 1:5 - 1:12 - 2:2-4 - 2:20 - 3:2 - 3:19 Christian's Note: The Apostle Paul quotes The 4th verse of the second chapter on two different occasions (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11) to reiterate that salvation is by grace through faith alone. This disproves the doctrine of dispensationalism, that teaches that people were saved in different ways at different periods of time. Salvations has ALWAYS been a gift received through faith in the Messiah.

Mark

The Gospel is widely accepted as being the first Gospel written, as well as probably being one of the first books written in the New Testament, probably around 55-59 AD. This Gospel appears to be targeted to the Roman believers, particularly Gentiles. The author wrote to Christians who previously had heard and believed the Gospel (Romans 1:8). He desired that they have story of Jesus Christ as Servant of the Lord and Savior of the world in order to strengthen their faith in the face of severe persecution and to teach them what it meant to be disciples. Key Verses: - 1:11 - 1:17 - 10:14-15 - 10:45 - 12:33 - 16:6 Christian's Note: The miracles in this Gospel usually have less details than the other Gospels and emphasize how effective they are(ex. "And Immediately he was healed.") The miracles are often followed by Jesus telling the person he healed not to tell anyone, Jesus also calls people to secrecy in regards to his teachings. This trend is known as the messianic secret, the reason is because Jesus had an appointed time for it to be revealed who he was and what he was doing. Additionally, it is commonly thought that the secrecy was done for the safety of Jesus and his Disciples.

Matthew

The most Jewish-centric of the four gospels. The apostle regularly invoked the writings of the Old Testament prophets in an effort to illustrate Jesus's identity as Israel's long-awaited Messiah. This particular Gospel of Jesus' ministry to show that Jesus was and is indeed the King, Israel's long-awaited Messiah. He reflected this concern in his opening line. Key Verses: - 5:17 - 5:43-44 - 6:9-13 - 16:26 - 22:37-40 - 27:31 - 28:5-6 - 28:19-20 Christian's Note: The genealogy in Chapter 1 is important as it ties Jesus' lineage back to Abraham & David. It is also helpful to understand the ways in which both Abraham and David picture Jesus in the OT.

Amos

This book was probably written between 760 and 753 B.C. It centers around a shepherd from the Judean village of Tekoa who God calls, despite his lack of an education or a priestly background. The prophet's mission is directed to his neighbor to the north, Israel. His messages of impending doom and captivity for the nation because of her sins are largely unpopular, because things hadn't been so good since the days of Solomon have times been so good in Israel. This prophet's ministry takes place while Jeroboam II reigns over Israel, and Uzziah reigns over Judah. Key Verses: - 2:4 - 3:7 -9:14 Christian's Note: There is debate about what the proper interpretation of what scripture is talking about in the 7th verse of the 8th chapter of this book when talking about "The Pride of Jacob." some suggest the Pride of Jacob is a reference to Israel's sins, in which the wicked did without care. Others suggest the Pride of Jacob is a title for God. The second is probably the better interpretation. The Pride of Jacob was the One to whom Jacob, the nation's forefather, looked to for strength and hope. Additionally, a similar title for is used in 1 Samuel 15:29, where God is referred to as "the Glory of Israel."

Psalms

The contents of this book were written as far back in history as Moses's time, through the time of David, Asaph, and Solomon, to the time of the Ezrahites who most likely lived after the Babylonian captivity, meaning the writing of the book spans one thousand years. Key Verses: - 13(Whole chapter is PHENOMENAL) - 19:1 - 22:16-19 - 23:1 - 29:1-2 - 51:10 - 116(Also phenomenal) - 119:1-2 - 139(Phenomenal and lots of great information through entire chapter( Christian's Note: For the portions written by David, it's VERY worthwhile to take the time to discover what was happening in David's life when he wrote each Psalm(ex. David wrote Psalm 51 after his encounter with Bathsheba, it would coincide with the events in 2 Samuel 12) Bonus Christian's Note: The contents of this book are to be sung, as instructed by scripture(Ephesians 5:19)

Song of Solomon

Solomon most likely wrote this during the early part of his reign. This would mean it was written around 965 B.C. The book is poem written to extol the virtues of love between a husband and his wife. The poem clearly presents marriage as God's design. A man and woman are to live together within the context of marriage, loving each other spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Key Verses: - 2:7 - 3:5 - 8:4 - 5:1 - 8:6-7 Christian's Note: When reading, it's helpful to use a highlighter or some other tool to distinguish who is speaking throughout the book. It's important to know when it's Solomon, when it's his wife, or when it is another party. An example is when the wife of Solomon's friends ask her a question in verse 9 of Chapter 5

Philemon

A slave named Onesimus had escaped from his owner, the book's namesake, and had run away from Colossae to Rome in the hope that he could disappear into that populous, urban environment. Once in Rome, Onesimus, either by accident or by his own design, came in contact with Paul, who promptly led the runaway slave to faith in Jesus Christ. Paul had already been planning to send a letter to the Colossian church by the hand of Tychicus. So in AD 60 or 61 from a prison cell in Rome, Paul wrote a personal letter to the book's namesake and sent Onesimus the slave back to Colossae. Paul's message was a simple one: based on the work of love and forgiveness that had been wrought in Philemon's heart by God, show the same to the escaped and now-believing slave Onesimus. The apostle's message would have had extra force behind it because he knew Philemon personally. Paul had explained the gospel to Philemon and had witnessed the profound result: new life blossoming in a once-dead heart (1:19). So Paul made a request. He wanted him to forgive Onesimus, to accept the slave as a brother in Christ, and to consider sending Onesimus back to Paul, as the apostle found him useful in God's service (1:11-14). Paul did not minimize Onesimus' sin. There was sacrifice required in this request, and because of that, Paul approached the topic with gentleness and care (1:21). His letter to Philemon presents in full color the beautiful and majestic transition from slavery to kinship that comes as a result of Christian love and forgiveness. Christian's Note: This is one of the later letters that Paul writes, which would make sense given the seeming sense of urgency he has for Onesimus to reconcile with the book's namesake. Paul in some of his other later letters, refers to the reality that he doesn't have much time left. This would make accomplishing his goal in this letter especially important.

Galatians

After arriving back in Antioch from his first missionary journey, Paul received a report that the churches he had started in Galatia had fallen into hard times—specifically, they had been infiltrated by false prophets. A group of Judaizers who sought to make living under the Mosaic Law a requirement of the Christian faith. These men had gained an influence in the Galatian churches. Paul wrote the book a few months before his attendance at the Jerusalem Council in AD 49, a meeting where the apostles would take up this very topic (Acts 15:1-30). Part of the problem that confronted the Galatians came in one of the arguments made by the Judaizers. These false teachers suggested that to live by grace and in freedom meant to live a lawless and therefore degenerate life. And so in the final chapters of the letter, Paul made clear that justification—an act of grace through faith—need not result in a sinful lifestyle. Because Christians have been freed from bondage to the sinful nature, we now have the path of holiness open to us. Key Verses: - 2:16 - 2:20 - 3:11 - 4:5-6 - 5:22-23 - 6:7 Christian's Note: Some have concluded based on how Paul refers to Peter & the Disciples in this book, that he disliked them or didn't respect their ministry. However, Paul's strong language and distancing himself from their authority can be attributed to the fact that the Disciples are Jewish and Paul is literally trying to teach the church of Galatia that their authority is God's word and not the Jews or their traditions.

Colossians

In AD 60-61, during his first imprisonment in Rome, Paul penned this letter to this church after he had received a report that they were struggling with heretics in the community. The report came from Epaphras, likely the leader of this church and a convert of Paul's from his more than two-year ministry in Ephesus. Epaphras had come to Rome in part to serve Paul during his imprisonment (Philemon 1:23) but also to confide in him regarding the dangerous teachings the Colossians were hearing. So Paul sent this letter, along with the letters to Philemon and to the Ephesians, with Tychicus, accompanied by Onesimus (4:7; Philemon 1:10-12). Tychicus was a coworker of Paul who would have been able to help the believers in this community understand and apply the apostle's teachings in the letter. In this book, the apostle Paul places a strong focus on Christ's preeminence and sufficiency in all things. Paul presented Christ as the center of the universe, not only as the active Creator but also as the recipient of creation—in His taking on of human flesh. Christ was and is the visible image of the invisible God, containing within Himself the fullness of Deity (2:9). Because of His divine nature, Jesus is sovereign, above all things with an authority given Him by the Father. As such, Jesus is also Head over the church. He has reconciled all things to Himself through His death on the cross, making believers alive to God and setting them on the path to right living. This proper view of Christ served as the antidote for the frequent heresy as well as a building block for Christian life and doctrine both then and now. Key Verses: - 1:15-16 — 2:8 - 3:12-13 - 4:5-6 Christian's Note: This letter is addressed to a church that Paul has never visited, which makes sense given how he emphasizes that he's "with them in spirit" throughout. He doesn't mean this solely in the way we do(not being there but supporting, etc), but more so that he is aligned with the church's core values, unlike the mystics and Jews spreading false doctrine in their community.

Hosea

In the book's opening verse, the prophet identified the kings that ruled during his prophetic ministry. The first four—Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah—reigned over the southern kingdom of Judah from 790 BC to 686 BC, while Jeroboam II ruled the northern kingdom of Israel from 782 BC to 753 BC. This indicates that Hosea lived in the middle to late eighth century BC (755-715 BC), making him a contemporary of the prophets Isaiah and Micah. The prophet directed the early portion of his prophetic warnings to Jeroboam II, a descendant of the house of Jehu whose son, Zechariah, would soon come to ruin (1:4; 2 Kings 15:8-12). Because this prophecy against the descendants of Jeroboam involved the birth of the prophet's children, we can conclude that he lived in the northern kingdom, where the names of his children would have had the greatest impact. Key Verses: - 1:2 - 2:23 - 6:6, - 14:2-4, Christian's Note: The book's namesake was commanded to marry an unfaithful wife in order to symbolize Israel's broken relationship with God. Israel had been chosen and loved by God yet had been unfaithful to the LORD because they committed idolatry. Just as the prophet redeemed his estranged wife and sought to continue his relationship with her, God promised to redeem Israel and renew their relationship with Him. The story of this prophet and his wife is an unforgettable picture of God's strong, unending love for His covenant people.

Romans

In this letter written around 56-58 AD, Paul writing to a church made up of both Jewish and Non-Jewish followers of Jesus. This became very important because of the sequence of events that took place within the community. After the development of the church, the Emperor kicked all the Jewish people out of Rome. 5 years later, these Jewish people returned. However, when these Jewish followers of Jesus came back, they were not happy with what they were seeing. During their absence, the Church of Rome had moved away from the Jewish customs and practices that had previously been established, these rituals that were so coveted and cherished had now been abandoned. This sparked a great deal of animosity and division as it led to a great deal of disagreement on how this whole following Jesus thing really worked. There was now debate about which traditions and sacraments should be continued and which should be left behind. Paul writes this letter seeking to press upon them the core message of the Gospel(1-11). as wel as the truth that regardless of all that was going on around them, they had responsibilities that they were held accountable for(12-16) Key Verses: - 1:16 - 3:9-11 - 3:21 - 3:23 - 5:8 - 6:23 - 8:9 -8:28 - 8:37-39 - 10:9-10 - 12:1 - 16:17 Christian's Note: The 5th verse of chapter 4 is an excellent example of why the concept of "Saving faith", which basically asserts that as Christians, that we are saved through faith alone, but that someone who truly has faith will live a Godly life is heresy. It clearly shows that the faith that justifies us isn't connected to the work that we do.

3 John

The Book of 3 was most likely have been written at about the same time as the author's other letters, between A.D. 85-95. There are three main purposes of this epistle is First, he to commend and encourage his beloved co-worker, Gaius, in his ministry of hospitality to the itinerant messengers who were going from place to place to preach the Gospel of Christ. Second, to warn and condemn the behavior of one Diotrephes, a dictatorial leader who had taken over one of the churches in the province of Asia, and whose behavior was directly opposed to all that the apostle and his Gospel stood for. Third, to commend the example of Demetrius who was reported as having a good testimony from all. Key Verses: 1:4 1:11 Christian's Note: It's very likely that the Gaius mentioned in verse 1 is referring to the same person mentioned in Acts 19:19 & 20:4, 1 Corinthians 1:14, and Romans 16:23, but that was a very common name during that time in the Roman Empire, so its not a certainty

Jeremiah

Jeremiah's ministry began in 627 BC and ended sometime around 582 BC with his prophecy to the Jews who fled to Egypt (Jeremiah 44:1). For the majority of this time, Jeremiah based his ministry out of Jerusalem. The southern kingdom of Judah fell during Jeremiah's prophetic ministry (586 BC), having been threatened for many years by outside powers—first Assyria and Egypt and then by their eventual conquerors, Babylon. Jeremiah found himself addressing a nation hurtling headlong toward judgment from God. The Israelites may have feared the future as the outside powers drew near, but rather than respond with humility and repentance, the people of Judah primarily lived as islands unto themselves, disregarding both the Lord's commandments and the increasing danger that resulted from their disobedience. The prophet prophesied in the final years of Judah before God's people were exiled to Babylon, it makes sense that the book's overarching theme is judgment. Indeed, the first forty-five chapters focus primarily on the judgment coming to Judah because of its disbelief and disobedience. However, an element of grace is also present in these events. Key Verses: - 1:5 - 17:9 - 29:10-11 - 52:12-13 Christian's Note: The context of the 11th verse of the 29th chapter is as follows: The verse is addressed to the exiles in Babylon. As punishment for the sins of Judah, God was going to send the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem and the temple and to carry away many of the people to Babylon. (See the 8th-14th verses of the 25th chapter for one example.) At the time of the events in Chapter 29, Nebuchadnezzar had already removed some Jews to Babylon (see verse 1), although the total destruction of Jerusalem and the temple was still to come. The author writes to the exiles to tell them that people would return to the land after 70 years (verse 10). Then he reassures them in verse 11 that God has not forsaken them. They will be restored.

Philipians

Of the four Prison Epistles, Paul likely wrote Philippians last, near the end of his Roman imprisonment in AD 61 or 62. Paul sent the other three Prison Epistles—Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon—by the hand of Tychicus, as their destinations were near one another. However, the letter to the Philippians was to be delivered by Epaphroditus, who had come to Paul in Rome with financial help from the church at Philippi (Philippians 2:25; 4:18). But during his time in Rome, Epaphroditus took ill, which delayed his return home and, therefore, the delivery of the letter (2:26-27). Of the four Prison Epistles, Paul likely wrote this letter last, near the end of his Roman imprisonment in AD 61 or 62. Paul sent the other three Prison Epistles—Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon—by the hand of Tychicus, as their destinations were near one another. However, the letter was to be delivered by Epaphroditus, who had come to Paul in Rome with financial help from this church (2:25; 4:18). But during his time in Rome, Epaphroditus took ill, which delayed his return home and, therefore, the delivery of the letter (2:26-27). Key Verses: - 1:21 - 3:7 - 4:4 - 4:6-7 - 4:13 Christian's Note: Paul speaks about his former life and status in chapter 3 of this book, before denouncing it as unimportant in relation to who he is in Christ. Paying close attention to this portion helps give insight on who Paul was prior to accepting Christ. Paul also speaks heavily of his former life in Galatians.

Nehemiah

Opens in the Persian city of Susa in the year 444 BC. Later that year, the book's namesake traveled to Israel, leading the third of three returns by the Jewish people following their seventy years of exile in Babylon. (The previous chapter on Ezra describes the earlier two returns.) Most of the book centers on events in Jerusalem. The narrative concludes around the year 430 BC, and scholars believe the book was written shortly thereafter. This is the last historical book of the Old Testament. Although the book of Esther appears after this one in the canon, the events in Esther occurred in the time period between Ezra 6 and 7, between the first and second returns of the people to Israel. The prophet Malachi was a contemporary of the book's namesake. Key Verses: - 1:3 - 1:11 - 6:15-15 Christian's Note: The book's namesake encounters three name adversaries: Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshemz these used various ploys in their attempt to disrupt the Jews' work. These three men sought to harm the central figure of the book. (6:2); intimidate him with false reports ( 5-6); deceive him with false prophets (6: 7-13); and influence the nobles of Judah(basically the authorities lol) (6:17-19). This is a parallels that the book's namesake has with Jesus, as Christ faced opposition in the form false prophets, false reports, and his adversaries trying to turn the authorizes against him

1 Corinthians

Paul had been in Ephesus for more than two years on his third missionary journey when he received a disturbing report of quarreling within the Corinthian church, a report he received from people associated with one of its members, Chloe ( 1:11). The church he had founded so recently (Acts 18:1-17) had already developed deep divisions, a situation that required immediate action. Paul penned his letter in AD 55, just as he was planning to leave Ephesus for Macedonia. This addresses reports that Paul received from Chloe's household, as well as a letter he received from the church itself (1 Corinthians 7:1). Key Verses: - 3:3 - 6:19-20 -10:31 - 12:7 - 13:4-7 - 15:3-4 Christian's Note: The 10th verse of the 13th chapter says, "When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." Perfect, in the KJV, means "complete"— in this context, what's being said is that the incomplete will be replaced by the complete.

1 Timothy

Paul had expected the Romans to release him from prison, something that likely happened near the end of AD 62 (Philippians 2:24). His release allowed him the opportunity to travel to Ephesus and eventually place this mentee in ministry at that church. Paul then went on to preach in Macedonia, where he heard reports of this mentee work at Ephesus that prompted him to write this letter, probably in AD 63. This book presents the most explicit and complete instructions for church leadership and organization in the entire Bible. This includes sections on appropriate conduct in worship gatherings, the qualifications of elders and deacons, and the proper order of church discipline. Paul advised This mentee on these practical matters in a way that would have helped the young pastor to emphasize the purity that should characterize Christian leaders and the gatherings they oversee. Key Verses: - 2:5 - 2:12 - All of chapter 3 - 4:9-10 - 6:12 Christian's Note: In the 9th & 10th verses of the 5th chapter, it's actually taught that if there is an elderly widow who has lived a life serving the LORD that has no family to take care of her in her old age, the church has the responsibility of taking care of her.

Leviticus

The Book of Leviticus was written between 1440 and 1400 B.C. The Israelites had been held captive in Egypt for 400 years, the concept of God had been distorted by the polytheistic, pagan Egyptians. The purpose of Leviticus is to provide instruction and laws to guide a sinful, yet redeemed people in their relationship with a holy God. There is an emphasis in Leviticus on the need for personal holiness in response to a holy God. Sin must be atoned for through the offering of proper sacrifices (chapters 8-10). Other topics covered in the book are diets (clean and unclean foods), childbirth, and diseases which are carefully regulated (chapters 11-15). Chapter 16 describes the Day of Atonement when an annual sacrifice is made for the cumulative sin of the people. Furthermore, the people of God are to be circumspect in their personal, moral, and social living, in contrast to the then-current practices of the heathen(Chapters 17-22) Key Verses: - 14:11 - 17:11 - 19:18 Christian's Note: In the 10th & 11th verses of the 17th chapter of this book, eating blood is forbidden and the scripture says that "Life is in the Blood." This teaching is opposite to the common medical practice of bloodletting, which wasn't discredited until the late 1800s. The practice consisted of allowing people to bleed when dying from illness due to the belief that people suffered from having too much blood in their bodies. Therefore, this book had insight on physical health that the medical world didn't have until a few hundred years ago.

1 Thessalonians

Paul wrote his first letter to this church from the city of Corinth around AD 51, shortly after having preached here on his second missionary journey. Paul, Silas, and Timothy fled from there to Athens after facing persecution. But after a short time in Athens, Paul sent Timothy back to serve and minister to the new believers there. Paul wanted to check on the state of the their faith, for fear that false teachers might have infiltrated their number. However, Timothy soon returned with a good report, prompting Paul to pen 1 Thessalonians as a letter of encouragement to the new believers. Paul taught the people that any spiritual growth would ultimately be motivated by their hope in the ultimate return of Jesus Christ. Paul was never interested in simply telling people to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, for he knew that what ultimately inspired change was a life of consistently walking in the power of God's Spirit. And so to a group of young Christians with questions and uncertainties, Paul offered the hope of Christ's return, providing both comfort in the midst of questions and motivation to godly living. Key Verses: - 3:5 - 3:7 - 4:14-17 - 5:16-18 Christian's note: Some scholars believe that Paul was concerned that this church would resent him for leaving amidst persecution. When Christianity was in its developing stages, there was a heavy emphasis put on martyrdom. People took Jesus' death on the cross as a sign that being a good Christian meant suffering for the sake of the faith. Due to this, it would make sense that those within the church of Thessaloniki would see Paul negatively for fleeing. Despite this, scripture indicates that Paul did the right thing(Matthew 10:23)

Titus

Paul wrote his letter to this mentee from Nicopolis in AD 63, after the apostle's release from his first Roman imprisonment. Upon leaving his other mentee in Ephesus to minister there, Paul went with This mentee to the island of Crete, where he wanted this mentee to lead and organize the island's churches in their early years of existence. The letter to this mentee is centered around producing right living through the careful attention to theological truth. Paul directed this mentee to establish a group of faithful elders to oversee the doctrinal purity and good conduct of the believers on Crete. Paul exhorted this mentee to speak the things which become sound doctrine(Titus 2:1), a clear direction that this should be the young pastor's primary role. However, Paul also understood that when a body of believers embraces sound doctrine, the result is changed believers who do good work( 2:7, 14; 3:8, 14). Paul gives instructions to this mentee about the roles of specific groups of people—older men, older women, young women, young men, and slaves—as well as general instructions to all believers about their conduct. Key Verses: - 1:5, - 1:16 - 2:15, - 3:3-6 Christian's Note: The 4th verse of chapter 1 implies that Paul got this mentee saved. Although the book's namesake is not mentioned in the book of Acts, he's mentioned multiple times in Galatians and 2 Corinthians.

Ephesians

Paul wrote the letter to this church around 60-61 AD, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon, as he sent all three letters by the hand of Tychicus, accompanied by Onesimus. It was during this time that Paul sat in Rome undergoing his first Roman imprisonment (3:1; 4:1), making this one of the four epistles commonly known as the Prison Epistles. The others are Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Paul was not responding to a particular theological or moral problem, he wanted to protect against future problems by encouraging the Church to mature in their faith. Key Verses: - 1:3 - 2:8-10 - 4:4-6 - 5:21 - 6:10-11 Christian's Note: This letter is very likely what's known as a circular letter, meaning that it was sent to other churches that Paul was affiliated with. This letter can be seen as a set of general principles and guidelines for Christians and churches to follow.

2 Thessalonians

Paul wrote this letter from Corinth in AD 51 within months of writing a first letter to this church. Several of Paul's references indicate that some in the church were deliberately misleading these new believers, even to the point of false teachers forging letters to make them look as if they had come from Paul. The apostle, therefore, took extra care in this letter to make sure the church understood not only his views on the end times but also what his handwriting looked like, so they would be able to identify letters as authentically his. Key Verses: - 1:6-7 - 2:13 - 3:3 - 3:10 Christian's Note: It is believed that in this letter that Paul is responding to a misconception from the previous letter he wrote to this church, in which he spoke about the return of Christ, which caused those in that church to lack motivation due to thinking Christ's return was going to be in the immediate future. There is no concrete evidence of this, but it would make sense given some of the instructions Paul gives(particularly in chapters 3-5).

2 Timothy

Paul wrote this letter just before his death in AD 67. The Roman emperor Nero had been slowly descending into madness since his ascent to the throne in AD 54, a process exacerbated by the great fire of Rome in AD 64 that burned half the city. With the residents of Rome in an uproar, Christians became a convenient target for Nero, who used believers as scapegoats for his city's own lack of preparedness. Paul was one of those caught up in this persecution and was beheaded by Roman officials soon after writing this letter. This letter offers a picture of Paul at the end of his ministry, just before his death. Certain personal details in the letter reveal a man settling his accounts and preparing for the inevitable. At the close of the letter, Paul mentioned a significant number of people—some who had wronged him and others who had served faithfully alongside him ( 4:9-21). It 's like Paul is giving a "state of the church" address, updating this mentee on the current state of their acquaintances and friends so that the young pastor could carry on after Paul's departure. Key Verses: - 1:7 - 3:16-17 - 4:2 - 4:7-8 Christian's Note: Some scholars believe, based on Paul's emphasis on boldness that the person he is writing to was somewhat timid and hesitant in stepping into this calling. This can't be taken as fact, but would make sense given the high level of difficulty that came with serving in the ministry, as well as the persecution Christians faced at this time.

2 John

The Book was likely written at about the same time as the author's other letters, between A.D. 85-95. The Book is an urgent plea that the readers of the letter should show their love for God and His son Jesus by obeying the commandment to love each other and live their lives in obedience to the Scriptures. The Book of 2 John is also a strong warning to be on the lookout for deceivers who were going about saying that Christ had not actually risen in the flesh. Key Verses: - 1:6: "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." - 1:8-9 Christian's Note: When the author mentions the Elect Lady, it is possibly referring to an individual Christian woman that John wanted to warn and encourage by this letter. It's also possible the term might be a symbolic way of addressing this particular congregation. Furthermore, some believe that the author did not name did not name himself, the elect lady or her children by name because this was written during a time of persecution and he didn't want to implicate anyone by name in a written letter in case it was intercepted by the authorities.

Judges

The Book was likely written between 1045 and 1000 B.C. The content be divided into two sections, Chapters 1-16 give an account of the wars of deliverance starting with the Israelites' defeat of the Canaanites and ending with the defeat of the Philistines and the death of Samson and then Chapters 17-21. which is referred to as an appendix which is unrelatedto the previous chapters. These chapters are noted as a time when Israel had no King ( 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25)." Key Verses: - 2:16-19 - 10:15 - 21:25 Christian's Note: This book can be thought of as a cycle that takes place six times: Disobedience by Israel, Israel taken into captivity, leader chosen by God, leader brings Israel to freedom, repeat Bonus Christian's Note: This book is said to have originally a part of the Book of Judges, but in A.D. 450 it was supposedly removed to become a book of its own. This would make some sense based on Ruth's first verse, but this isn't universally confirmed to be true.

Joshua

The Book was likely written between 1400 and 1370 B.C. and it provides an overview of the military campaigns to conquer the land area that God had promised. Following the exodus from Egypt and the subsequent forty years of the wilderness wanderings, the newly-formed nation is now poised to enter the Promised Land, conquer the inhabitants, and occupy the territory. The overview that we have here gives abbreviated and selective details of many of the battles and the manner in which the land was not only conquered, but how it was divided into tribal areas. Key Verses: - 1:6-9 - 24:14-15 Christian's Note: In the 13th through 15th verse of the 5th chapter, a conversation is on display between the book's namesake and the commander of the army of the LORD. This commander appeared to Joshua near Jericho, before that fateful battle. The person held a sword and told Joshua that the place where he stood was holy ground. The person who appeared to the book's namesake was clearly a powerful being. We are told he fell on his face and gave him reverence. The central figure of the book addresses the man using a Hebrew word that means "master" or "lord." Joshua clearly had much respect for this being. I believe that this is an OT appearance of Jesus Christ, which happens often through scripture. This makes sense based on what he says to Joshua and how Joshua responds

Joel

The Book was likely written between 835 and 800 B.C. Judah, the setting for the book, is devastated by a vast horde of locusts. A terrible plague of locusts is followed by a severe famine throughout the land. Joel uses these happenings as the catalyst to send words of warning to Judah. Unless the people repent quickly and completely, enemy armies will devour the land as did the natural elements. Joel appeals to all the people and the priests of the land to fast and humble themselves as they seek God's forgiveness. If they will respond, there will be renewed material and spiritual blessings for the nation. But the Day of the Lord is coming. At this time the dreaded locusts will seem as gnats in comparison, as all nations receive His judgment. Key Verses: - 1:4 - 2:25 - 2:28 Christian's Note. Throughout the Old Testament when judgment for sin, individual or national, is spoken of, Jesus Christ is foreshadowed. The prophets of the Old Testament The prophet in this book tells us that God's ultimate judgment, which falls on the Day of the Lord, will be "great and terrible. Who can abide in it?" ( 2:11). This verse coincides with the teaching in Romans 6:23 that the "wages of sin is death." Just as the sin that Judah commits has a consequence that's too overwhelming for us, our sin has a consequence that we can't bear in our power. Of course, as the rest of Romans 6:23 says, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ's

Ecclesiastes

The Book was likely written towards the end of King's Solomon reign, approximately 935 B.C. The narrative of "the Preacher" reveals the depression that inevitably results from seeking happiness in worldly things. This book gives Christians a chance to see the world through the eyes of a person who, though very wise, is trying to find meaning in temporary, human things. Many forms of worldly pleasure is explored by the Preacher, and none of it provides a sense of meaning. In the end, the Preacher expresses that faith in God is the only way to find personal meaning. He decides to accept the fact that life is brief and ultimately worthless without God. The Preacher advises the reader to focus on an eternal God instead of temporary pleasure. Key Verses: - 1:2 - 1:18 - 2:1 - 2:11 - 12:13, Christian's Note: Two phrases are repeated often in Ecclesiastes. The word translated as "vanity" appears often, and is used to emphasize the temporary nature of worldly things.. The phrase "under the sun" occurs 28 times, and refers to the mortal world. When the Preacher refers to "all things under the sun," he is talking about temporary, human things. The first seven chapters of the book of Ecclesiastes describe all of the worldly things "under the sun" that the Preacher tries to find fulfillment in. He mentioons scientific discovery (1:10-11), wisdom, philosophy (1:13-18), mirth (2:1), alcohol (2:3), architecture (2:4), property (2:7-8), and luxury (2:8). T

Jonah

The Book was probably written between 793 and 758 B.C. Disobedience and revival are the key themes in this book. The prophet's experience in the belly of the whale provides him with a unique opportunity to seek a unique deliverance, as he repents during this equally unique retreat. His initial disobedience leads not only to his personal revival, but to that of the Ninevites as well. Many classify the revival which The book's namesake brings to Nineveh as one of the greatest evangelistic efforts of all time. Key Verses: - 1:3 - 1:17 - 2:2 - 3:10 Christian's Note: The events in chapter 2 of this book are mentioned in Matthew 12:40, which is some interpret to claim as evidence that Jesus went to hell during his death. I don't hold this position personally, but it's worth taking the time to study out and consider to form a belief Bonus Christian's Note: The 10th verse of the 3rd chapter mentions that God repents, serving as evidence that depended isn't exclusively related to turning from sin.

1 John

The Book was probably written between A.D. 85-95. The book seems to assumes the readers' knowledge of the gospel as written by John and offers certainty for their faith in Christ. The first epistle indicates that the readers were confronted with the error of gnosticism, which became a more serious problem in the second century. As a philosophy of religion it held that matter is evil and spirit is good. The solution to the tension between these two was knowledge, or gnosis, through which man rose from the mundane to the spiritual. In the gospel message, this led to two false theories concerning the person of Christ, Docetism—regarding the human Jesus as a ghost—and Cerinthianism—making Jesus a dual personality, at times human and at times divine. The key purpose of 1 John is to set boundaries on the content of faith and to give believers assurance of their salvation. Key Verses: - 1:9 - 3:6 - 4:4 - 5:13 Christian's Note: In the 18th verse of the 4th chapter, what's meant is that the fear" that perfect loves casts out is the fear of God's judgment. We know that Judgment Day is coming, but those who are in Christ know the love of God, which drives away fear of condemnation. The dismissal of the fear of judgment is one of the main functions of God's love. The person without Christ is under judgment and has plenty to fear (John 3:18), but, once a person is in Christ, the fear of judgment is gone. He is reconciled to God, and "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

Exodus

The Book was written between 1440 and 1400 B.C. The name of the book means departure. In God's timing, the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt marked the end of a period of oppression for Abraham's descendants (Genesis 15:13), and the beginning of the fulfillment of the covenant promise to Abraham that his descendants would not only live in the Promised Land, but would also multiply and become a great nation (Genesis 12:1-3, 7). The purpose of the book may be expressed as tracing the rapid growth of Jacob's descendants from Egypt to the establishment of the theocratic nation in their Promised Land. Key Verses: - 1:8 - 2:24-25 - 12:27 - 20:2-3 Christian's Note: In the 30th verse of the 25th chapter, the bread of the Presence is spoken of. This was special bread always present on a table in the tabernacle (and later in the temple). The bread could only be eaten by Aaron and his sons in a holy place and was set out every Sabbath day. In 1 Samuel 21, the Priest actually allows David to eat this bread, technically breaking this law since he wasn't a Priest. However, Jesus in the NT refers to this incident when he's called out for of breaking the sabbath, with his message being that the LORD is the sabbath and these ritual practices don't outweigh the importance of human life.

Jude

The Book was written somewhere between A.D. 60 and 80. The author's purpose in his letter was twofold: he wanted to expose the false teachers that had infiltrated the Christian community, and he wanted to encourage Christians to stand firm in the faith and fight for the truth. The author recognized that false teachers often did damage unnoticed by the faithful, so he worked to heighten the awareness of the believers by describing in vivid detail how terrible dissenters actually were. More important than simply raising awareness, the author thought it important that believers stand against those working against Jesus Christ. Believers were to do this by remembering the teaching of the apostles, building each other up in the faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, and keeping themselves in the love of God (1:17, 20-21). Key Verses: 1:3 1:17-19 1:24-25 Christian's Note: Verses The doxology in verses 24 & 25 of chapter 1 are commonly quoted in certain sects of the Black Church tradition. Many say to talk about the protection and redemption that we, as believers, receive through Christ. This is a fine application, however, a large part of the keeping us from falling and presenting is faultless actually refers to how Christ is able to protect believers from falling away and being coerced into false doctrine and misguided spirituality.

Zephaniah

The Book's Namesake prophesied during the reign of Josiah, the king of Judah from 640 to 609 BC (1:1). This book mentions the day of the Lord more than does any other book in the Old Testament, clarifying the picture of Judah's fall to Babylon and the eventual judgment and restoration of all humanity in the future. In this case, it refers primarily to God's impending time of judgment on the nation of Judah. The prophet saw in the day of the Lord the destruction of his country, his neighbors, and eventually the whole earth (1:2, 4; 2:10). The prophet wrote that the day of the Lord was near (1:14), that it would be a time of wrath (1:15), that it would come as judgment on sin (1:17), and that ultimately it would result in the blessing of God's presence among His people (3:17). Like the writings of many of the prophets, the book follows a pattern of judgment on all people for their sin followed by the restoration of God's chosen people. The prophet's primary target for God's message of judgment, the nation of Judah, had fallen into grievous sin under the reign of their king, Manasseh. The prophecy scored out for godliness and purity in a nation that was wilding out. The people of Judah had long since turned their backs on God, not only in their personal lives but also in their worship. This reflected the depth of their sin and the deep need for God's people to be purged on their path to restoration. Key Verses: - 1:18 - 2:3 - 3:17 Christian's Note: Having a clear understanding of 2 Kings 22 & 23 will help understand what's going on when this book takes place, as the prophecy happens between those two chapters and is speaking about what's going on and what will happen in chapters 24 & 25.

Revelation

The apostle John wrote this book around the year AD 95 from his exile on the island of Patmos. He addressed his work to seven Asian churches—Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Because John worked in Ephesus for so many of his later years, it would have been natural for him to communicate this vision to the churches under his immediate care and influence. Each of those seven churches received a message directed specifically to them (chapters 2 and 3) before John launched into his account of the future which he received in his vision from God. The book provides the clearest biblical portrait of the events of the tribulation, dealing with the specifics. Key Verses: - 1:19 - 13:16-17 - 19:11 - 20:11 - 21:1 -21:8 -22:19 Christian's Note: It's good to understand how Paul stalks about the churches mentioned when reading.(ex. church of Laodicea is talked about in Colossians, as the letter Paul writes actually goes to that church. The church is later identified as having even worse issues in revelation). Bonus Christian Note: The last four chapters are crucial in understanding the book as a whole.

Isaiah

The author prophesied from 739-681 BC to a nation that had turned a deaf ear to the Lord. Instead of serving Him with humility and offering love to their neighbors, the nation of Judah offered meaningless sacrifices in God's temple at Jerusalem and committed injustices throughout the nation. The people of Judah turned their backs on God and alienated themselves from Him, which created the need for Isaiah's pronouncements of judgment—declarations made in the hope that God's chosen people would return to Him. Key Verses: - 6:8 - 7:14 - 9:6 - 14:12-13 - 53:5-6 - 65:25 Christian's Note: This book has 66 Chapters, just as the Bible contains 66 books. It can be a helpful reading method to see how each chapter parallels with the coinciding book of the Bible(ex. Isaiah Chapters 40-43 as it parallels with the four Gospels)

2 Peter

The author wrote this letter from Rome soon after writing a first in AD 64-66. From the contents of the letter, it appears that the author had received reports of false teachers in and among the churches in Asia Minor. The apostle warned them about the insidious presence of those who spread heresies among the people (2:1), marking such difficulties as a sign of the last days (3:3). The author wanted encourages his audience to stand firm and to instruct them on how best to do that. The churches of Asia Minor were not just struggling with the persecution and suffering addressed in author's first letter; they also had strife and dissension within their ranks. In an effort to stem the tide of heresy and false teaching among the Christians, the author emphasizes the importance of learning and clinging to the proper knowledge of God. In fact, this concept was so important to him that the word knowledge appears—in one form or another—some fifteen times in the span of this short, three-chapter letter. Key Verses: - 1:3-4 - 3:9 - 3:18 Christian's Note: In the 7th verse of the 2nd chapter of this book, the phrase "And delivered just Lot" is saying that Lot was a saved man, not that only Lot was delivered. The phrases just and justified Re used frequently in the KJV to refer to people who are saved.

Acts

The book can be neatly divided into two sections, the first dealing primarily with the ministry of Peter in Jerusalem and Samaria (1-12) and the second following Paul on his missionary journeys throughout the Roman Empire (13-28). The book is significant for chronicling the spread of the gospel, not only geographically but also culturally. It records the transition from taking the gospel to an exclusively Jewish audience—with Peter preaching to a small group in the Upper Room—to the gospel going out among the Gentiles, primarily under the ministry of the apostle Paul. Key Verses: - 1:8 - 2:4 - 4:12 - 4:19-20 - 9:3-6 - 16:31 Christian's Note: In the 15th & 16th verses of the 5th Chapter, the Bible is NOT saying that Peter's shadow healed people. What we can takeaway is as follows; People had a high regard for Peter, Peter had healing power, and the people ultimately were healed. However, this is not necessarily conclusive evidence that it was his shadow, that's just what the people did in hope of being healed.

Nahum

The book mentions the recent fall of No-amon, or Thebes, which happened in 663 BC (3:8), as well as the coming destruction of Nineveh, which happened in 612 BC (1:1; 3:11-15). After allowing approximately two hundred years of powerful Assyrian kings and rulers, God announced through , through this prophet, His plans to judge the city of Nineveh. While the book as a whole clearly shows God's concern over sin, His willingness to punish those guilty of wickedness, and His power to carry out His desire for judgment, it also contains rays of hope shining through the darkness. Most significant, the people of Judah would have immediately taken hope in the idea that Nineveh, their primary oppressor for generations, would soon come under judgment from God. Also, a small but faithful remnant in an increasingly idolatrous Judah would have been comforted by declarations of God's slowness to anger (1:3), His goodness and strength (1:7), and His restorative power (2:2). Key Verses: - 1:7 - 1:14 - 1:15 - 2:13 - 3:19 Christian's note: The second half of chapter two gives insight as to a possible explanation for why Jonah didn't want to visit Nineveh. Jonah isn't mentioned in the book and neither this book nor the Book of Jonah confirm it as fact, but it could be seen as a likely reason.

1 Kings

The book opens describing the final days of King David (around 971 BC) and the people who try and manipulate their way to the throne once he steps down. When David died ( 2:10), his son Solomon ascended the throne and established himself as a strong and wise leader. In the early years of Solomon's reign, Israel experienced its "glory days." Its influence, economy, and military power enjoyed little opposition; its neighbors posed no strong military threat. Shortly after Solomon's death in 931 BC (11:43), the kingdom was divided into northern (Israel) and southern (Judah) entities. First Kings follows the history of this divided kingdom through the year 853 BC. Key Verses: - 1:30 - 9:3 - 12:16 - 12:28 - 17:1 Christian's Note: In Matthew 16:14, the Disciples fell Jesus that some people said that he was Elijah the Prophet, who is focused on heavily from chapters 17-19. Because of this, it's worthwhile to study out Elijah's life and find simplifies to Christ. A few parallels I've found are: - Elijah's prophecy about the drought is rejected by many just like Jesus's prophecy about his crucifixion and resurrection - The authorities of the land that both men live in want to kill them - Both depart earth through an ascension rather than death

Ezra

The book records two separate time periods directly following the seventy years of Babylonian captivity. Chapters 1-6 covers the first return of Jews from captivity, led by Zerubbabel—a period of twenty-three years beginning with the edict of Cyrus of Persia and ending at the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem (538-515 BC). Chapters 7-10 picks up the story more than sixty years later, when Ezra led the second group of exiles to Israel (458 BC). The book could not have been completed earlier than about 450 BC (the date of the events recorded in 10:17-44). The events in this book are set in Jerusalem and the surrounding area. The returning exiles were able to populate only a tiny portion of their former homeland. Key Verses: - 3:11 - 7:6 Christian's Note: The book begins with King Cyrus of Persia offering Jews the freedom to return to Jerusalem(1:5-6). Despite being offered freedom not all the Jews went back home. Some of them took advantage of Cyrus' decree and left Babylon, while others stayed in Babylon and helped by donating gold, silver, and other materials There are several factors were involved in the decision to remain in Babylon. A few are as follows: - Some Jews would have been too old to return. It had been 70 years since the destruction of Jerusalem, and there were many who would have been unable to endure the journey of approximately 900 miles. The same is true for families with young children and those who were sick or disabled. - Some of the Jews probably refused to move due to the comforts of Babylon. Many of the Jews were born in Babylon during the exile, and they knew nothing else. Additionally, many Jews had attained significant status during the reign of Cyrus And we're comfortable. - Another reason some Jews would not have returned to Jerusalem was based on personal safety. The road to Jerusalem and the land of Judea itself were fraught with danger. - Some of the Jews elected not to return was the amount of work it would take to reestablish the nation there. Jerusalem would have to be rebuilt. It was not an easy challenge to rebuild an entire city, including the city wall.

John

The book was lonely written between 85—90 AD. This gospel has always been referred to as the fourth gospel, it is widely accepted as being composed after the other three. The Johannine Community: Group in exile, expelled from the synagogues, audience was already Christian, Jewish-Christian Community. While the other three gospels portray Jesus as the King, the Servant, and the Son of Man, John portrays Jesus as the Son of God. The author stated his theme very clearly and it's . He wrote so that his readers might "believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God," so that they may have life in His name (20:31). Key Verses: - 1:1-14 - 1:29 - 3:16 - 5:47 - 6:29 - 10:10 - 10:28 - 11:25-26 - 13:35 - 14:6 - 14:9 - 17:17 - 19:30 - 20:29 Christian's Note: This Gospel speaks more to divine identity than the other Gospels(I and Father are one, I am the resurrection and the life, I am the bread that comes from Heaven, I am the light of the world). Additionally, this book hebailt emphasizes that Jesus has agency and understanding over his own crucifixion ("My hour has not yet come," "Father the hour has come. Glorify me.," etc. It is finished, then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Powerful presence: "'I am He.' They backed up and fell to the ground.")

Deuteronomy

The book was written around 1406 BC, at the end of the forty years of wandering endured by the nation of Israel. At the time, the people were camped on the east side of the Jordan River, on the plains of Moab, across from the city of Jericho (1:1; 29:1). They were on the verge of entering the land that had been promised centuries earlier to their forefathers (Genesis 12:1, 6-9). The children who had left Egypt were now adults, ready to conquer and settle the Promised Land. Before that could happen, the Lord reiterated through Moses His covenant with them. Key Verses: - 4:2 - 6:4-7 - 32:46-47 Christian's Note: In the 40th verse of the 4th chapter. God gave the Israelites this command: "Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever." This verse is sometimes falsely interpreted to claim that Israel is God's chosen Nation for all eternity(this ideology is commonly known as Zionism). However, this passage makes a offer. Israel would have the Promised Land as they kept God's instructions and commands...which they didn't. The Israelites had to obey God's statutes in order to remain in the land. The content throughout the OT reveals that the Israelites often disobeyed, resulting in temporary times of exile from their land.

Ezekiel

The book's namesake lived among the Jewish exiles in Babylon at a settlement along the river Chebar called Tel-abib (3:15), less than one hundred miles south of Babylon. The invading Babylonians brought about ten thousand Jews to the village in 597 BC, including this prophet and the last king of Judah, Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:8-14). The prophecy began five years into his time at Tel-abib (1:2), and he continued to prophesy among the people for at least twenty-two years (29:17). Because he spoke to a people whom God had exiled due to their continued rebellion against Him, a majority of this's prophet's message communicates judgment for sins committed (1:1-32:32). However, like all the prophets, he also provided his people, now without a land of their own, some hope for the future (33:1-48:35). The message in this book pronounces judgment on both Israel and surrounding nations, but it also provides a vision of the future millennial kingdom that complements and adds to the vision of other Old and New Testament texts. Not only does the book present a striking picture of the resurrection and restoration of God's people (Chapter 37), it also offers readers a picture of the reconstructed temple in Jerusalem, complete with the return of God's glory to His dwelling place (40:1-48:35). This latter section of this prophecy looks forward to the people's worship after Christ's return in the end times, when He will rule Israel and the nations from His throne in Jerusalem during His thousand year reign. Christian's Note: This book's namesake got his initial vision from the LORD on his 30th birthday. This is important because this is the year that he would've been installed as a Priest in Jerusalem had it not been invaded(invasion documented in 2 Kings 24-25)

2 Corinthians

The church addresses in this letter had recently been struggling with divisions and quarrels. But for a majority of the believers, the problem had been solved by the time Paul wrote this letter. Many had repented of their sinful ways and had come back into unity with one another and with the leadership of Paul. However, Paul still felt the need to articulate a defense of his apostleship and his message. Some in the church had apparently taken his meekness among them to be a sign of moral weakness or lack of authority (10:1-2). These accusations led Paul to defend himself by arguing that he was on the same level of importance as the other apostles, that he had deep knowledge of the Christian faith, that he had suffered profound physical punishment in the name of Christ, and that he had received visions and revelations from God Key Verses: - 3:5 - 3:18 -5:17 - 5:21 - 10:5 - 13:4 Christian's Note: In 4:4, The phrase "god of this world" referring to the devil. This indicates that Satan is the preeminent influence on the ideals, opinions, goals, hopes, and views of society. His influence also encompasses the world's philosophies, education, and commerce. This disproves the common notion that satan is currently in hell.

Esther

The events in the book took place from around 483 BC to 473 BC, during the first half of the reign of King Xerxes. During this time period, the first remnant of Jews who had returned to Judah were struggling to reestablish temple worship according to the Law of Moses. But many other Jews, had chosen not to make the trek back to Judah. They seemed content to stay in Susa, the capital city of Persia, in which the story is set. The book was written no earlier than 470 BC and probably no later than 424 BC, during the reign of Xerxes' son Artaxerxes. It's the only book in the Bible not to mention the name of God. Key Verses: - 2:15 - 4:14 - 6:13 - 7:3 Christian's Note: It has been claimed that the reason Queen Vashti refuses to follow King Ahasuerus' order in the 11th verse of chapter 1 because he wanted her to be physically exposed to a large group of people. However, there is no internal evidence that proves definitely proves this. The King's request is said to have been made to settle an argument among the men at the feast as to which country had the most beautiful women, with Ahasuerus wanting settle the issue by putting his wife the queen on public display. However, this doesn't necessarily mean she would've even presented in an immodest way.

Numbers

The events of the book began in the second year after the Israelites departed Egypt, as they camped at Mount Sinai around 1444 BC ( 1:1). The narrative ends thirty-eight years later "in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho" (36:13) in 1406 BC. Numbers records the people's long wandering in the desert of Sinai, their time at the oasis of Kadesh-barnea, and their eventual arrival at the banks of the Jordan River across from the Promised Land. The Lord directed the message of this book toward the younger generation, children of the former slaves who escaped through the Red Sea. Except for Joshua, Caleb, and Moses, the older generation—everyone twenty years old or older at the time of the first census—died before the completion of Numbers, due to their disobedience and disbelief (14:22-30). Moses completed the book before his death Key Verses: - 6:24-26 - 12:6-8 - 14:30-34 Christian's Note: In chapter 6, verses 1-21, what's known as the Nazarite vow is discussed. Samson, from the book of Judges, is a Nazarite. Reading this portion of this book and comparing it with Samson's actions in Judges 14:8-9, will make it clear that Samson broke this vow, and give deeper understanding into his story.

Ruth

The events of the occurred sometime between 1160 BC and 1100 BC, during the latter period of the judges 1:1). These were chaotic days, full of suffering brought about by the Israelites' disobedience. Part of the judgments God brought upon His sinful people included famine and war. Key Verses: - 1:16 - 3:9 - 4:17 Christian's Note: The genealogy at the end of the book is EXTREMELY important. It shows how the son of the book's central figure is an ancestor of David(and ultimately Jesus).

Genesis

The first eleven chapters of this book paint the early history of the human race in broad strokes. After the great flood, the focus narrows to God's dealings with one family living in Mesopotamia, a family headed by Abram, later called Abraham. From the Euphrates River (in modern-day Iraq) over to what is now Syria, events move south into Canaan (modern-day Israel) and Egypt. The book covers the most extensive period of time in all of Scripture, longer than the other books in the Bible combined! While the ancient history recounted in the first eleven chapters gives no indication of time span, Abram's story begins around 2091 BC (12:1), and the book ends with Joseph's death. Key Verses: - 1:1 - 3:15 - 12:2 - 50:20 Christian's Note: Below is a chart that's summarizes the contents of the book. It may help to be able to track what's being covered throughout the book. - Creation (chapters 1-2) - Fall of man (chapters 3-5) - Flood(chapters 6-9) - The dispersion (chapters 10-11) - The Patriarchs a. Abraham(12-25:8) b. Isaac (21:1-35-29) c. Jacob (25:21-50:14) d. Joseph (30:22-50:26).

Obadiah

The majority of the book pronounces judgment on the foreign nation of Edom, making the prophet one of only three prophets who pronounced judgment primarily on other nations. While others of the prophetic books contain passages of judgment against Edom and other nations, the prophet's singular focus points to a significant, albeit difficult, truth about humanity's relationship with God: when people remove themselves from or place themselves in opposition to God's people, they can expect judgment, rather than restoration, at the end of life. The book also focuses heavily on pride and what comes as a result. Key Verses: - 1:4 - 1:12 - 1:15 Christian's Note: Reading 1 Kings 22 will help give an idea of what was going on when the prophet's message in this book was shared. Additionally, the book's namesake actually comes up in 1 Kings 18:4.

1 Chronicles

The time frame covered in this book coincides with the books of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings. The author focused on David's reign, including and omitting different events recorded in the other biblical histories, so that his document recorded those events significant to his purpose. The book was most likely written during the time of Ezra or Nehemiah, while the Jews were dispersed throughout Persia, some having returned to Israel. Key Verses: - 11:1-2 - 21:13 - 29:11 Christian's note: The Genealogy from Chapters 1-9 is VERY important. It summarizes a lot of the OT and names significant figures, definitely shouldn't skim or skip over this section.

James

This Book is probably the oldest book of the New Testament, written perhaps as early as A.D. 45, before the first council of Jerusalem in A.D. 50. James was martyred in approximately A.D. 62, according to the historian Josephus. Some believe this epistle was written in response to an overzealous interpretation of Paul's teaching regarding faith. This extreme view, called antinomianism, held that through faith in Christ one is completely free from all Old Testament law, all legalism, all secular law, and all the morality of a society. The Book is directed to Jewish Christians scattered among all the nations. The author was writing to Jews to encourage them to continue growing in this new Christian faith. James emphasizes that good actions will naturally flow from those who are filled with the Spirit and questions whether someone may or may not have a saving faith if the fruits of the Spirit cannot be seen, much as Paul describes in Galatians 5:22-23. Key Verses: - 1:2-3 - 1:19 - 2:17-18 - 3:5 - 5:16 Christian's Note: It's very easy to misunderstand the teachings of this book, particularly chapter 2. It's important to remember that James is writing to believers in this book and isn't attempting to tell them how to be saved, but rather how to live an effective Christian life.

Lamentations

This Book was likely written between 586 and 575 B.C., after Jerusalem's fall. As a result of Judah's continued and unrepentant idolatry, God allowed the Babylonians to besiege, plunder, burn, and destroy the city of Jerusalem. Solomon's Temple, which had stood for approximately 400 years, was burned to the ground.Afterwards, an eyewitness to these events, wrote the Book of Lamentations as a lament for what occurred to Judah and Jerusalem. Key Verses: - 2:17 - 3:22-23 - 5:19-22 Christian's Note: The she/her references in chapter 1 are because that portion is written from the perspective of a woman a figure called Lady or Daughter Zion who expressing her grief over what has happened in Jerusalem. It is NOT because the author is female, it's almost certain that the the entire Bible was written by men, just based on the atmosphere of the cultures that the events took place in.

Luke

This Gospel likely written between A.D. 58 and 65. As with the other two synoptic gospels—Matthew and Mark—this book's purpose is to reveal the Lord Jesus Christ and all He "began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven" (Acts 1:1-2). The Gospel of Luke is unique in that is a meticulous history—an "orderly account" (1:3) consistent with the Luke's medical mind—often giving details the other accounts omit. Luke's history of the life of the Great Physician emphasizes His ministry to—and compassion for—Gentiles, Samaritans, women, children, tax collectors, sinners, and others regarded as outcasts in Israel. Key Verses: - 2:4-7 - 3:16-18 - 4:18-19, 21 - 18:31-32 - 23:33-34 - 24:1-3 Christian's Note: The name "Theophilus" that is used in the introduction literally means "loved by God" and carries the idea of "friend of God." This has led some to believe that "Theophilus" is just a generic title that applies to all Christians. However, based on the context of Luke and Acts, it appears clear that Luke is writing to a specific individual, even though the message is universally intended.

2 Samuel

This book chronicles the establishment of the and reign of David as King, as well as the expansion of Israel under God's chosen leader. The book opens as David learned of Saul's death. His lament over the deaths of Saul and of Jonathan (1:19-27), David's unlikely best friend, demonstrated David's personal grief over their demise. The Lord soon set David over the tribe of Judah (2:4) and then over all Israel as His anointed king (5:3), uniting all twelve tribes into a tight-knit nation. The first ten chapters show David as victorious in battle, praised by the people, compassionate to the sick and poor, and righteous in God's sight. We see David dance before the Lord in the streets of Jerusalem as his men brought the ark of the covenant back home (6:12-16). We also meet Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan to whom David extended grace, "for the sake of [his] father Jonathan" (9:7). Key Verses: - 7:16 - 19:4 - 22:2-4 Christian's Note: The 7th verse of the 14th chapter is saying that what takes place happens after 40 years of David's reign, not that Absalom had been standing outside the gate for 40 years. Many modern versions change the verse to say 3 years, which is incorrect information

2 Kings

This book continues the history of the divided kingdom, picking up the story around 853 BC. In 722 BC, the powerful nation of Assyria invaded the northern kingdom, scattering and taking captive the people of Israel. Only Judah remained intact. But then Assyria suffered a stunning fall to the Babylonians, who took the Assyrian capital of Nineveh in 612 BC. By 605 BC Babylon dominated Judah, had taken some captives away, and in 586 BC Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and took additional prisoners into captivity. Many people who were considered valuable to the invaders, such as the prophet Daniel and members of the royal family, were taken to Babylon early on. By the end of Kings, the people of God no longer inhabited their Promised Land. Many areas of the country had been rendered virtually uninhabitable due to the razing, burning, and other destructive tactics of the Babylonian army, while the people had been enslaved, scattered, and decimated by their enemies. Key Verses: - 17:7-8 - 8:19 - 22:1-2 - 24:2 The book ends with an epilogue of sorts, giving a peek into the good fortune of Jehoiachin—Judah's last true ruler before a series of puppet kings were installed by Babylon. If Jeremiah did write much of Kings, he could not have written this section, set in Babylon, for he had been taken away to Egypt years earlier. Christian's Note: Chapters 12, 15, 16, 17, 19,2 22, and 24 are important in understanding the context for the message of many of the prophets. Examples are as follows: The events of Chapter 12 and the prophecies of the book of Joel take place in the same year Chapter 16 precedes the beginning of the book of Isaiah by about 3 year Chapter 19 precedes the book of Nahum by about 4 years Chapter 22 precedes Zephaniah by about 2 years The book of Daniel begins between chapters 23 and 24

2 Chronicles

This book covers the time from Solomon's ascension to the throne (971 BC) until the southern kingdom of Judah was finally carried into exile in Babylon in 586 BC. The focus of the book is on Judah. The author was more concerned with telling the story of David's descendants, who reigned over Judah, than with the history of the northern kingdom of Israel. The centrality of Jerusalem, where the temple was located, falls in line with the book's overarching focus on the priesthood as well. Book was probably written in the fifth century BC, "following the return of a small group of Jews to Judah following the fall of the Babylonian Empire. Intent on rebuilding the temple and resettling the Holy Land, the little community soon found itself in a struggle simply to survive."1 The Jews eventually rebuilt the temple but languished for years in their fight to reclaim the land. Against this backdrop, the chronicler portrayed Jewish history, focusing on the blessings God bestowed when leaders were faithful to His Law. Key Verses: - 2:1 - 29:1-3 - 36:14 - 36:23 Christian's Note: Some day that the 14th verse of the 5th Chapter of this book teaches the idea of being slain in the Spirit? The concept of Slaying" people in the Spirit is the practice of laying hands on a person who then loses control of his body to the extent that he falls to the ground, supposedly overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit. This behavior mainly occurs in Charismatic and Pentecostal circles. The person that's "slain" may lie on the floor for minutes or hours, convulsing, crying out in ecstatic utterances, or simply laying in silence. However, this requires making an assumption and ignoring the definition of the word stand in this context. The word here does not mean "to remain upright"; it means "take one's place."

Daniel

This book was probably written between 540 and 530 B.C. In 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon had conquered Judah and deported many of its inhabitants to Babylon, which included the book's namesake and his two friends. This individual served in the royal court of Nebuchadnezzar and several rulers who followed Nebuchadnezzar. The Book records the actions, prophecies, and visions of its central figure Key Verses: - 1:19-20 - 2:31 - 3:17-18 - 4:34-35 - 9:25-27 Christian's Note: Chapter 11 of this book is one of the hardest in the entire Bible. The chapter focuses on the prophecy of the career and destruction of the Antichrist, and the following chapter 12 speaks of the salvation of Israel. It takes a great deal of study and research to full grasp chapters 7-12, but 11 is especially tricky.

Proverbs

This book was written around 900 B.C. During Solomon's reign as king. During this time, the nation of Israel reached its pinnacle spiritually, politically, culturally, and economically. As Israel's reputation soared, so did King Solomon's. Foreign dignitaries from the far reaches of the known world traveled great distances to hear the wise monarch speak (1 Kings 4:34). In this book, the author reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings. Key Verses: - 1:5 - 1:7 - 4:5 - 8:13-14 Christian's Note: The word fool is used VERY often in this book to describe people who do a variety of things. Here is a list of where several the mentions in the book are: - 10:8 - 10:10 - 10:14 - 10:18 - 10:23 - 12:15 - 13:16 - 13:20 - 14:16 - 15:5 - 26:11

1 Peter

This epistle focuses on the importance of believers bearing up under unjust suffering yet continuing to live well (1 Peter 2:20). In this way, 1 Peter might be called the Job of the New Testament, providing encouragement for the true believer to continue on in the way that Jesus has laid out for all His followers. The endurance Peter called these believers to is similar to Job's, a man who suffered despite his righteousness. Peter maintained that this was the kind of true perseverance that God expects from His people. Key Verses: - 1:3 - 2:9 - 2:24 - 5:8-9 Christian's Note: The author makes many mentions of Old Testament law and prophets enabled him and explains several of the passages in light of the life and work of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. In 1:16, he quotes Leviticus 11:44: "Be ya holy, for I am holy." However, he explains that holiness is not achieved by keeping the law, but by the grace bestowed upon all who believe in Christ (v. 13). Further, the also explains the reference to the "cornerstone" in Isaiah 28:16 and Psalm 118:22 as Christ, who was rejected by the Jews through their disobedience and unbelief. Additional Old Testament references include the sinless Christ (2:22 / Isaiah 53:9) and admonitions to holy living through the power of God which yields blessings (13:10:12; Psalm 34:12-16; 1 Peter 5:5; Proverbs 3:34).

1 Samuel

This focuses on the establishment a monarchy in Israel. The people demanded a king, similar to the kings of the surrounding nations. Much of the book follows David's exploits as a young musician, shepherd, and warrior. We witness his underdog victory over Goliath his deep friendship with a Jonathan, and his growing military prowess. He waited patiently for the throne, often pursued and driven into hiding by Saul. The book concludes with Saul's death. Key Verses: - 8:6-7 - 13:13-14 - 15:22-23 Christian's Note: Some major themes to pay attention to are trust(or lackthereof) in God, how obedience/disobedience affect the human journey, and the impact of strong/weak leadership.

Micah

This prophet prophesied during the momentous years surrounding the tragic fall of Israel to the Assyrian Empire (722 BC), an event he also predicted (Micah 1:6). The prophet states in his introduction to the book that he prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah, failing to mention the simultaneous string of dishonorable kings that closed out the northern kingdom of Israel. Much of the book revolves around two significant predictions: one of judgment on Israel and Judah (chapters 1-3), the other of the restoration of God's people in the millennial kingdom (chapterJudgment and restoration inspire fear and hope, two ideas wrapped up in the final sequence of Micah's prophecy, a courtroom scene in which God's people stand trial before their Creator for turning away from Him and from others (6:1-7:20). In this sequence, God reminds the people of His good works on their behalf, how He cared for them while they cared only for themselves. But rather than leave God's people with the fear and sting of judgment, the book of Micah concludes with the prophet's call on the Lord as his only source of salvation and mercy (7:7), pointing the people toward an everlasting hope in their everlasting God. Christian's Note: In Micah 4:13, the Daughter of Zion is mentioned. The "daughter of Zion" is mentioned several times in the Old Testament, usually in prophecy and once in poetry. The "Zion" is referring here to Jerusalem and, later, Israel as the people of God. "Daughter of Zion" then, does not refer to an individual. It's a metaphor for Israel and the loving, caring, patient relationship God has with His chosen people. This is the perspective from which Lamentations 1 is written. Here are other mentions of Daughter of Zion in scripture: - 2 Kings 19:21 - Isaiah 1: - Jeremiah 4:31 - Isaiah 62:11 - Micah 4:13 - Zechariah 9:9

Malachi

This prophet wrote to the people of Judah (1:1; 2:11), but the historical setting becomes clearer in the 8th verse of the 1st chapter. Here the prophet used the Persian word for governor, indicating a time period between 538-333 BC, when the Persian Empire ruled the Promised Land. The prophet also wrote about the corruption of the temple sacrifices, meaning that he likely delivered his message many years after the Israelites rebuilt the temple in 515 BC. The prophet's concerns mirror those of Nehemiah's, suggesting that the book's namesake prophesied to the people while Nehemiah left the city for several years, beginning in 432 BC (Nehemiah 13:6). The people of Judah began to be exiled from the Promised Land in 605 BC, returning from Babylon seventy years later. By the time of this prophet, they had been back in the land for more than a hundred years and were looking for the blessings they expected to receive when they returned. Though the temple had been rebuilt, the fervor of those early returning Israelites gave way to a thorough apathy for the things of God. This led to rampant corruption among the priesthood and a spiritual lethargy among the people. The prophet came along at a time when the people were struggling to believe that God loved them(1:2). The people focused on their unfortunate circumstances and refused to account for their own sinful deeds. So God pointed the finger back at them, and through this prophet, God told the people where they had fallen short of their covenant with Him. If they hoped to see changes, they needed to take responsibility for their own actions and serve God faithfully according to the promise their fathers had made to God on Mount Sinai all those years before. Key Verses: - 1:6 - 3:6-7 Christian's Note: In the 16th verse of the 2nd chapter, when the Bible says "putting away" in the KJV, it is referring to divorce. Therefore, this verse is saying that God hates divorce.

Zechariah

a young man, especially when compared to his contemporary Haggai, came alongside the older prophet to deliver messages from the Lord to the Jewish remnant recently returned from Babylon. While Haggai's overall message had more of a cautionary tone to it (pointing out the Jews' sin and self-focus), The prophet emphasized a tone of encouragement to the struggling Israelites trying to rebuild their temple. The prophet dated visions and messages in chapters 1-8 all take place in the same general time period as Haggai's, beginning in October-November 520 BC with a call for the people of Judah to repent (1:1). He then received eight visions on the restless night of February 15, 519 BC (1:7), followed by four messages that he preached on December 7, 518 BC (7:1). Though his final messages in chapters 9-14 go undated, the mention of Greece in 9:13 suggests the prophecies came much later in his life, presumably sometime in the 480s BC, before Ezra (458 BC) and Nehemiah (444 BC) arrived to again revitalize the Jewish people. Key Verses: - 1:3 - 7:13 - 9:9 - 13:9 Christian's Note: : The 12th and 13th chapter of the 11 chapter give an account account about a matter regarding 30 silver coins, which pictures the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot. The New Testament identifies this as a Messianic prophecy, which found its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. It's worth comparing this passage to what scripture tells us about Judas selling Jesus out in the Gospels.