The Old Testament

Genesis

"Generation" or "origin;" comes from the Greek translation of chapter 2, verse 4. Contains the record of the origin of the universe, the human race, family life, nations, sin, redemption, etc. Chapters 1-11 deal with primeval or pre-patriarchal times (Hebrew history from Adam to Abraham). Chapters 12-50 are about God's dealings with the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob's son, Joseph. The book closes with these "Chosen People" in Egypt.

Exodus

"Going out" or "departure." Events include the oppression of the Chosen People in Egypt, the flight and call of Moses, the exit of the Israelites from Egypt, God's covenant with Israel at Mt. Sinai, the giving of the Ten Commandments (secular laws included in this book as well), and an elaborate description of the Ark of the Covenant and its tabernacle.

Psalms

A poetical book containing 150 separate songs. Its Hebrew name is "The Book of Praise." Authors include David, Solomon, Moses, Asaph, and anonymous others. Almost every aspect of man's relation to God is depicted: simple trust, sense of sin, appeals to a higher power in times of trouble, and the conviction that the world is in the hands of a loving God.

Proverbs

A poetical book full of short, pithy sayings with practical implications. Subjects include chastity, control of the tongue, laziness, knowledge, relations with others, and justice. There is an assertion that the source of true wisdom is fear of the Lord. This book was inspired by Solomon, but he did not write the entire thing.

Ecclesiastes

A poetical book whose title in English means "Preacher." This book is about Solomon. The purpose of the author is to prove the vanity of things under the sun.

Song of Solomon

A poetical book with love as its sole them, it is a collection or cycle of marriage songs about Solomon. It is didactic and moral in its purpose and has traditionally been interpreted as showing God's love for His Chosen People and Christ's love for His bride, the Church.

Job

A poetical book. Named for its chief character, this book deals with the question of human suffering (particularly the affliction of the righteous). This book's principal aim is to refute the popular belief that all suffering was a result of sin in the life of the sufferer.

Ruth

An historical book. A striking contrast to the book of Judges, but its story is from the same period. The story of this Moabite woman and her devotion to her Hebrew mother-in-law, Naomi, presents us with the nobler side of Hebrew life during this time period.

Judges

An historical book. Named after the heroic leaders of Israel. This book covers from the death of Joshua to the birth of Samuel during what is called the "dark ages" of Hebrew history. On the human side it is a story of disobedience and disaster. On the divine side it is a story of direction and deliverance. Of the 13 great leaders, only 3 are well known: Deborah, Gideon, and Samson.

Esther

An historical book. This book has its setting in the palace of Shushan, or Susa, one of the three capitals of the Persian Empire. It provides a vivid picture of the Jews in exile, the hostility of their non-Jewish enemies in Persia and how the woman this book is named for became the queen of Ahasuerus (Xerxes), risking her life to save her people from destruction. God's providential care of His people is magnified throughout, but His name is never mentioned.

Joshua

An historical book. This is the connecting link between the Pentateuch and the other historical books. Its name is derived from its principle character (who takes the place of Moses). Chapters 1-23 describe the conquest of the land and division among the tribes of Israel. Chapters 23 and 24 consist of a farewell address that exhorts the people to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses and challenges them to renew their covenant commitment to God.

Hosea

Called the "Prophet of Divine Love," his wife was unfaithful. The author came to fathom God's love for His erring children and pleads with his people to repent and avail themselves of God's divine compassion and a love that will not let Israel go.

Joel

Called the "Prophet of Pentecost" because his prophecy of the outpouring of the Spirit is quoted in Acts. His message was a devastating locust plague which he interpreted as foreshadowing the Day of the Lord when God would directly punish His people for their sins. This prophet calls upon the people of Judah to repent, promising that repentance will bring God's blessing, both material and spiritual.

I and II Chronicles

In the Hebrew canon these two historical books formed a single volume called "Things of the Days" (i.e., annals). The Greek word for the title is "Paraleipomena" meaning "things left over." These books are a summary of the Hebrew history that duplicates much of the history from the two other duos of history books.

Deuteronomy

The Greek word for the name of this book means "second law" or "law repeated." This is Moses' farewell address(es) to a new generation in which he summons them to hear the law of God, to be instructed in the application of its principles and to renew intelligently the covenant God made with their fathers - a covenant that must be faithfully observed as the condition of God's blessings upon them in the Promised Land.

I and II Kings

These two historical books are a continuation of the history of the Hebrew nation. They relate the history of Israel from the last days of David to the destruction of Israel (the northern kingdom) in 721 BC and the fall of Judah (the southern kingdom) in 586 BC. This is the period of Israel's glory, division, decline, and fall.

Ezra and Nehemiah

These two historical books describe the return of the Jewish exiles after more than a half-century of bondage in Babylon and the restoration of Jerusalem and the Temple and its walls. These two books contain nearly all of the direct information known of the post-Exilic period of Hebrew history.

I and II Samuel

These two historical books were named after the prophet who anointed Saul and David as kings. These books cover from this prophet's birth to the close of the reign of David. The first presents the transition from Israel's judges to monarchy. The second deals with the history of David and paints a picture of the theocratic monarchy in which the king represents God's rule over the people.

Leviticus

This book includes the laws of service and worship that had special importance to the tribe bearing this book's name. It has been called the "Handbook of Priests." Many basic precepts of the New Testament are foreshadowed, such as the seriousness of sin in God's sight, the necessity of atonement for sin, the holiness of God, and the necessity of a mediator between God and man.

Lamentations

This book is composes of five poems that mourn the siege and destruction of Jerusalem around 586 BC. The poet, also author of another book, makes sincere confession of sin on behalf of the people and leaders, acknowledges complete submission to the will of God, and prays that God will restore His people to their homeland.

Obadiah

This is the shortest prophetic book, containing only 21 verses. It is a scathing denunciation of the Edomites (descendants of Esau) who were hostile to Israel. The message is one of destruction and doom for Edom. The latter part of the prophecy is concerned with the Day of the Lord when judgment will be upon all nations and the promise that the "kingdom shall be the Lord's."

Amos

This prophet was "rustic" just like Elijah and John the Baptist. He was a shepherd and a native of Judah and was called to prophesy to Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II. He fearlessly announces the impending judgment of God.

Jeremiah

This prophet was God's spokesman during the decline and fall of Judah. He stood alone for God in the midst of the apostasy of his people and bares his soul to his readers. He announce the coming destruction of Judah, but also looked beyond this judgment to a day when religion would no longer be national, but individual and spiritual. This new religion would result from God's new covenant with His people.

Micah

This prophet was a young contemporary of Isaiah. This man's message is very similar to that of Amos. He announced God's certain judgment of sin and also spoke of a sure deliverance to come through the Messiah, whose place of birth he predicts.

Ezekiel

This prophet was carried into the Babylonian exile. He had a dual role of prophet and priest and was known as a "watchman" over his people. The book contains 48 chapters divided at the halfway point by the fall of Jerusalem. Before Jerusalem's fall is the message of condemnation upon Judah for her sin and after the fall of the city, the prophet speaks to the helpless people about the hope and certainty of restoration to their homeland and of worship again in the Temple.

Malachi

This prophet's name means "My Messenger" and the book is about the Judaean Jews during the Persian period. Two predominant themes are the sin and apostasy of Israel in chapters one and two and the coming judgment upon the faithless, with blessings promised for those who repent in chapters three and four. This prophet announces the coming of God's "Messenger of the Covenant," by whose coming Israel will be purified and judged and the return on the prophet Elijah who will proclaim the Day of the Lord.

Nahum

This prophetic book is a vivid prediction of the approaching downfall of Ninevah, one of the most warlike of the ancient heathen nations. This prophet's name means "consolation" or "comfort." His purpose was to comfort his people with the promise that Assyria would soon meet destruction at God's hand.

Zephaniah

This prophetic book is brief and comprehensive. It embraces the themes of judgment and salvation extending to all nations. This prophet exhorts the people to repent and assures them that God will dwell in the midst of a righteous remnant following repentance.

Habakkuk

This prophetic book is constructed as a dialogue, with the prophet's complaints and God's replies to them. Through this, the prophet discovers the doorway leading from questioning to affirmation.

Zechariah

This prophetic book is sometimes called the "Apocalypse of the Old Testament." Chapters 1-8 are primarily concerned with the rebuilding of the Temple, but the language is highly symbolical. Chapters 9-14 deal with "last things," the "end time." Many messianic references are found and the writer foresees the Day of the Lord when Israel will be restored, the nations judged, and God's kingdom triumphant.

Jonah

This prophetic book is the Old Testament equivalent of John 3:16 and declares the universality of God's love that embraces even the pagan nations. Christ Himself, in the New Testament, alludes to this book when speaking of His death and Resurrection.

Haggai

This prophetic book is the first among the writings of the post-exilic prophets. It consists of four prophecies delivered within the space of four months, 15 years after the return of the first exiles to Jerusalem. Work on the second temple has begun after they return, but was delayed for almost two decades. This prophet challenges the people to respond wholeheartedly to the noble task of rebuilding the House of God.

Isaiah

This prophetical book is named for its author whose message is that of judgment on Judah for sins in chapters 1-39 and comfort and hope for the exiled people in chapters 40-66. This book contains some of the most graphic portrayals of the Messiah in the Old Testament.

Numbers

Two censuses are taken in this book; the first at Mt. Sinai in the second year out of Egypt and another on the plains of Moab opposite Jericho in the 40th year out of Egypt. The Hebrew title for this book "Bemidhbar" means "In the Wilderness." In the events of this book, the writer sees the guiding hand of God sustaining, delivering and keeping covenant with His people as he prepares them for entrance into the land first promised to Abraham.

Daniel

Written by a prophet under the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes during the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BC, this book is considered apocalyptic. This book presents a view of history in which God rules and prevails over men and nations to achieve ultimate victory for the saints of God.