BIBLE OUTLINE & CONTENTS [66 books]

I. Old Testament [39 books]

A. LAW (5)

    GENESIS – Records the history of humanity from the beginning of creation, the call of

   Abraham, and the forming of the nation of Israel.

    EXODUS – God miraculously saves Israel from slavery in Egypt, and then enters into a

   special relationship with them giving them His Law.

   LEVITICUS – God gives instructions to the tribe of Levi for Israel’s temple worship and the

   sacrifices required to atone for sin.

    NUMBERS – Numbers relates the story of Israel’s rebellion and 40 year wilderness

   journeys from Mount Sinai to the border of Canaan.

   DEUTERONOMY – Moses teaches the surviving Israelites on what basis God will bless (and

   curse) them as they enter the Promised Land.

B. HISTORY (12)

   JOSHUA – The story of the conquest of the Promised land under Joshua and the

   inheritance distributed to the twelve tribes of Israel.

   JUDGES – Records God’s provision of Judges as deliverers when Israel wavered between

   apostasy and repentance from the death of Joshua to the rise of the kings.

    RUTH – The story of Ruth, a Gentile ancestor of King David (and Jesus) through a kinsman-

   redeemer from Judah.

     I SAMUEL – History of Israel under the priest-prophet Samuel and the induction of Saul,

    the first king of Israel.

    II SAMUEL – Records the rise of David, Israel’s greatest king, who was promised an

    everlasting kingdom and under whose reign the nation prospers.

    I KINGS – Traces the history from Solomon to the reigns of the kings of the divided

    kingdoms of Israel in the north and Judah in the south.  

     II KINGS – History of the kingdoms of Israel & its kings who ignore God and His prophets

    (especially Elijah & Elisha), until they fall captive to other world empires.

    I CHRONICLES – Record the tribal genealogies and the commissioning of the temple

    under King David and the nation’s history up to King Solomon.

     II CHRONICLES – After Solomon builds the temple, Israel’s kings continually reject God

    until the Babylonians take Judah captive and destroy the temple.

     EZRA – Record of the return of the Jews from captivity in Babylon to rebuild the temple in

    Jerusalem where Ezra teaches the people to obey God’s laws.

    NEHEMIAH – The obstacles encountered and overcome in rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls

   and re-establishing Israel’s Mosaic laws.

    ESTHER – Account of a Jewish girl who becomes queen of Persia and saves her people

   from extermination (Commemorated by the Feast of Purim). 

C. POETRY (5)

   JOB – The story of a righteous man’s search for God through a series of observations and

   debates by him and his friends during his acute suffering.

   PSALMS – A collection of 150 spiritual songs, poems, and prayers mostly composed by

   David and used by Israel in its worship of God.  

    PROVERBS – A collection of wise sayings written by Solomon to see life from God’s point

   of view and help people to live wisely and righteously.

    ECCLESIASTES – An examination by Solomon of the human pursuits experienced ‘under

   the sun’ on the pointless journey of life without God.

    SONG OF SOLOMON – A love song celebrating love, desire, and marriage as a picture of

   the kind of intimate relationship God longs for with a believer.

 PROPHETICAL BOOKS.

D.MAJOR PROPHETS (5)

    ISAIAH – God sends the prophet Isaiah to warn Israel of future judgment—but also to tell

   them about a coming suffering Servant and future reigning King.

   JEREMIAH – Jeremiah is treated with disdain as he warns Judah about their coming exile

   to Babylon. He predicts future restoration of the nation of Israel.

    LAMENTATIONS – The utterance of Jeremiah’s sorrow over the capture of the city of

   Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple.

   EZEKIEL – Messages of warning to the Jews in their captivity. He brings hope of Israel’s  

   restoration as he reveals the nation’s place in the millennium.

   DANIEL – Biography of Daniel living in exile unveiling God’s control over history with

   prophetic visions concerning Israel’s future in the Endtimes.

E. MINOR PROPHETS (12)

    HOSEA – Highlights the spiritual adultery and doom of Israel before its Assyrian captivity.

   Hosea prophesies future restoration and blessing.

    JOEL – Warns the people of Judah about God’s coming judgment. God promises future

   restoration and blessing that will come through Israel’s repentance.

   AMOS – Predicts that Israel and the neighbouring nations will be punished by

   conquerors from the north. Promises the establishment of a future kingdom.

   OBADIAH – The doom of the proud people of Edom and the final deliverance of the

   nation of Israel.

    JONAH – ‘Reluctant missionary’ to Nineveh is swallowed by a great fish. Shows God is

   moved by repentance regardless of the nation.

    MICAH –Israel and Judah’s injustices will be punished. Micah prophesies that one day the

   Lord Himself will rule in perfect justice over the earth.

   NAHUM – The focal point of the entire book is the Lord’s destruction of Nineveh for her

   oppression, cruelty, idolatry, and wickedness.

    HABAKKUK – A dialogue between the prophet and God concerning injustice and

   suffering. He predicts the end of the Chaldeans.

   ZEPHANIAH – Predicts the overthrow of Judah for its idolatry and wickedness that

   ends in a vision of the future glory of Israel.

    HAGGAI – Call to the returned exiles to rebuild the temple. When the people give priority

   to God and His house, they are blessed.

    ZECHARIAH – A call for Judah to finish rebuilding the temple. Predicts the repentance

   and future reign of Israel with their Messiah.

    MALACHI – Challenge to the leaders to reform the sincerity of their worship before the

   coming of Messiah to bless and restore His people.

II. NEW TESTAMENT [27 Books]

A. HISTORY (5)

   MATTHEW – Portrays Christ as King of the Jews showing He fulfilled the Old Testament

   prophecies.

   MARK – Portrays Christ as Son of God to impress Romans with His servanthood and

   power.  

   LUKE – Portrays Christ as the Son of Man to impress Greeks with His care and wisdom

   with eyewitness accounts of witnesses.

   JOHN – Presents Jesus as the Word of God and selects ‘signs’ to prove that Jesus is the

   Son of God and Saviour of sinners.

   ACTS [OF THE APOSTLES] – The founding of the church under the apostle Peter and its

   growth under the apostle Paul until his imprisonment at Rome.

B. PAUL’S LETTERS TO CHURCHES (9)

    ROMANS – Explains justification by faith and its practical outworking. He unveils God’s

   plans to restore the people of Israel.

   I CORINTHIANS – A disciplinary letter written to a fractured church at Corinth

   that answers questions asked by them on how Christians should behave.

   II CORINTHIANS – Paul defends his own character and calling and highlights the

   credentials of a true servant of Christ.

    GALATIANS –Paul warns against false Jewish teachers and maintains that we are         

    justified by faith and not by religious rule-keeping.

    EPHESIANS – Explains God’s eternal plan of salvation that unites Jew and Gentiles in

   Christ and reveals our triumph over the powers of darkness.

    PHILIPPIANS – Shows that Paul followed the example of Christ in spite of his sufferings by

   showing that God’s provision is always sufficient.

    COLOSSIANS – Call to apply the benefits of Christ’s victory over sin to live our new life and

   not to get distracted by religious rites or speculation.

    I THESSALONIANS – Paul encourages the church to continue living the Christian life as

   they await their reunion with Christ and the saints.

   II THESSALONIANS – Paul challenges the church to stand firm until Christ’s return and

   warns against spiritual apathy.

C. PAUL’S LETTERS TO FRIENDS (4)

   I TIMOTHY – Paul gives his protegé Timothy instruction on how to lead a church with

    sound teaching and by godly example.

    II TIMOTHY – Paul is nearing the end of his life and encourages Timothy to continue being

   faithful in the Endtimes.

    TITUS – Paul advises Titus on how to lead orderly, counter-cultural churches on the island

    of Crete.

    PHILEMON – An appeal by Paul to a converted master named Philemon to receive a

   converted escaped slave, Onesimus, as a brother.

D. GENERAL EPISTLES (8)

    HEBREWS – Teaches the superiority of Christ over the demands of the old covenant

   encouraging Jews not to return to Judaism amid rejection.

    JAMES – A challenge to Jewish converts to match their faith with practical action in

   their fight against the devil.

    I PETER – A letter encouraging believers how to live as the church and a call to follow the

   example of Christ in the midst of suffering in the world.

    II PETER – A call to examine false teachers against the Scriptures and to expose scoffers

   while looking for the Lord’s return.

     I JOHN – A letter helping believers discern how to keep the commands of Jesus by loving

    God and one another and promising blessing to the obedient.

   II JOHN – A message on worldly error warning against false teachers and about walking in

   truth, love, and obedience.

   III JOHN – Letter of commendation written to encourage believers to support

  missionaries and encourage Christian fellowship and extend hospitality.  

   JUDE – A letter encouraging Christians to contend for the faith and warning of End Times

  apostasy and divine judgment on sinners.

E. PROPHETICAL (1)

   REVELATION – Closes the Bible with God’s Judgment of earth culminating in the 2^nd

    Coming of Christ and His millennial reign before describing our heavenly home.

Isaiah 34:16 – Seek and read from the book of the LORD.
Not one of these shall be missing.
None shall be without her mate.
For the mouth of the LORD has commanded,
and His Spirit has gathered them.