Just as it’s helpful to know something about the culture and history of Jane Austin before you read Pride and Prejudice, it’s helpful to know the culture and history of each book of the Bible. These resources will give you the big picture.
I need a quick history lesson:
A Simple overview of biblical history
Old Testament books in Chronological order
Intertestamental Period Introduction
New Testament History from Alexander to Titus
Why is the New Testament in Greek?
What is each book of the Bible about?
Book by Ray Stedman: Adventuring Through the Bible: A Comprehensive Guide to the Entire Bible
Ray Stedman: Highlights of the Bible : Genesis to Nehemiah
Ray Stedman: Highlights of the Bible : poets and prophets
Audio series by Ray Stedman: Panorama of Scripture
Blog posts by John MacArthur: An Introduction to each book of the Bible
Dust to Glory by RC Sproul; gives the basic structure of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
What’s in the Bible? by RC Sproul; for the person who has never had a simple introduction to the Bible.
What’s in the Bible : the story of God through time & eternity (free online)
Brief Summary
Old Testament
From Eden to wilderness
- Genesis – Beginnings
- Exodus – Escape from Egypt
- Leviticus – Ceremonial laws
- Numbers – Wilderness years
- Deuteronomy – Moses’ farewell
From conquest to King Saul
- Joshua – Taking the land
- Judges – Living among enemies
- Ruth – David’s ancestors’ love story
- 1 Samuel – Prophets versus Kings
From King David to exile
- 2 Samuel – Uniting the Kingdom
- 1 Kings – Dividing the kingdom
- 2 Kings – End of Israel & Judah
- 1 Chronicles – Retelling 1 & 2 Samuel
- 2 Chronicles – Retelling Judah’s Kings
Return and faith on trial
- Ezra – Return from exile
- Nehemiah – Rebuilding Jerusalem
- Esther – Surviving in exile
- Job – Understanding suffering
Worship and wisdom
- Psalms – Songs of worship
- Proverbs – Understanding society
- Ecclesiastes – Understanding life
- Song of Solomon – Understanding love
Major Prophets
- Isaiah – Judgement brings hope
- Jeremiah – Warnings of Judgement
- Lamentations – Jerusalem’s destruction
- Ezekiel – Judgement brings new life
- Daniel – Witnessing in exile
Minor (brief) Prophets
- Hosea – Acting out God’s love
- Joel – Day of the Lord
- Amos – Judgement is inescapable
- Obadiah – Judgement on Edom
- Jonah – Anyone can repent
- Micah – Judgement’s restoration
- Nahum – Judgement on Nineveh
- Habakkuk – Judgment on evil
- Zephaniah – Judgment’s remnant
- Haggai – Rebuilding the temple
- Zechariah – Repentance after exile
- Malachi – God is coming
New Testament
Life of Jesus
- Matthew – Jesus is King and Messiah
- Mark – Jesus is the Servant of the
- Luke – Jesus is the Son of Man
- John – Jesus is the Son of God
- Acts – Church growth
Pauline letters to churches
- Romans – Paul’s theology
- 1 Corinthians – Church problems
- 2 Corinthians – Leadership problems
- Galatians – Freedom from Law
- Ephesians – Church unity
- Philippians – Encouragement
- Colossians – Christian lifestyle
- 1 Thessalonians – Expecting the End
- 2 Thessalonians – The End delayed
Pauline letters to individuals
- 1 Timothy – False teachings
- 2 Timothy – Paul’s farewell
- Titus – A difficult ministry
- Philemon – Slaves as brothers
Letters from others
- Hebrews – Jewish Christianity
- James – Trials of faith
- 1 Peter – Persevering under suffering
- 2 Peter – The Importance of the Second Coming
- 1 John – Discerning the True Gospel
- 2 John – Love each other
- 3 John – Practical love
- Jude – Deserters
Prophecies for the future
- Revelation of John – Visions of the End
Where should I start reading?
For someone brand new who has never read the Bible, RC Sproul suggests reading through the Bible in this order:
The Old Testament Overview:
- Genesis (the history of Creation, the fall, and God’s covenantal dealings with the patriarchs)
- Exodus (the history of Israel’s liberation and formation as a nation)
- Joshua (the history of the military conquest of the Promised Land)
- Judges (Israel’s transition from a tribal federation to a monarchy)
- 1 Samuel (Israel’s emerging monarchy under Saul and David)
- 2 Samuel (David’s reign)
- 1 Kings (Solomon and the divided kingdom)
- 2 Kings (the fall of Israel)
- Ezra (the Israelites’ return from exile)
- Nehemiah (the restoration of Jerusalem)
- Amos and Hosea (examples of minor prophets)
- Jeremiah (an example of a major prophet)
- Ecclesiastes (Wisdom Literature)
- Psalms and Proverbs (Hebrew poetry)
The New Testament Overview:
- The Gospel of Luke (the life of Jesus)
- Acts (the early church)
- Ephesians (an introduction to the teaching of Paul)
- 1 Corinthians (life in the church)
- 1 Peter (an introduction to Peter)
- 1 Timothy (an introduction to the Pastoral Epistles)
- Hebrews (Christology)
- Romans (Paul’s theology)
How did the Bible come to be?
Old Testament Canon: Why these books?
New Testament Canon: Why these books?
Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash
