5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown. Moses wrote the first five books in the Bible, according to Jewish tradition. But most scholars today say they doubt it, and that the stories read like a beautifully edited compilation.

What’s it about? Beginnings: of the universe, humanity, sin, and the Jewish nation.

When did it take place? The date of Creation is unknown. Abraham, father of the Jews, lived about 2100 BC.

Where? Throughout the Middle East, including Iraq, Israel, and Egypt.

Why was it written? To show God is the source of life and founder of the Jewish nation.

Most famous quote

“It all started when God created the universe—everything on earth and in the sky” (Genesis 1:1).

Biggest scene

“Let there be light.”  Into the cosmic darkness of a starless void, God spoke those words. And there was light. “God said, ‘Lights.’ Lights came on. God liked the light. He gave it a place, separate from darkness. God called the light’s place ‘Day.’ He put darkness in its place, too. He called it ‘Night’” (Genesis 1:5).

Biggest ideas

God is the creator. Genesis isn’t a science book about the how of creation. It’s a religion book about the Who. Ancient stories said gods of Babylon created the world. But Genesis sets the record straight: the God of Israel is the creator.

God punishes sin. From sin number one, it’s clear in the Bible that God doesn’t tolerate it. He will forgive it when we repent. But he won’t let it continue unchecked and unpunished.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown. Jewish tradition says Moses.

What’s it about? The most famous event in 4,000 years of Jewish history: God freeing the Jews from Egyptian slavery.

When did it take place? Either in the 1400s BC or the 1200s BC. Scholars don’t agree.

Where? Egypt.

Why was it written? To show that God himself took the Jews—his Chosen People—and forged them into a nation uniquely devoted to him.

Most famous quote

“Let my people go” (Exodus 5:1). This is God’s command to the king of Egypt.

Biggest scene

Parting the Red Sea. Trapped between the advancing Egyptian chariot corps and a huge body of water, the fleeing Jewish refugees think they’re doomed. But at God’s command, Moses raises his walking stick and a wind blows all night, parting the water. “The people of Israel walked across the seabed on a strip of dry land” (Exodus 14:22). When the Egyptians follow the water rushes in on them, killing them all.

Biggest idea

God shows his true colors. God reveals what he’s like. His name is “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exodus 3:14). His nature is holy. His power is unlimited. And his plan is salvation—first for the Jews, but eventually for all who chose to serve him.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown, though Jewish tradition says Moses wrote it

What’s it about? Laws God gave Moses to govern the Jews

When did it take place? Either in the 1400s BC or the 1200s BC

Where? At the foot of Mount Sinai, probably in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula

Why was it written? To preserve Jewish law and the story of their birth as a nation

Most famous quote

“Be holy because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45.

Biggest scene

Ordaining Israel’s first priest. God selects Aaron, older brother of Moses, to become Israel’s first high priest. Moses “poured some of the oil on Aaron’s head, anointing him as the LORD’s priest. (Leviticus 8:12). Aaron and his sons lead the nation’s worship.

Biggest idea

Holiness. This word shows up 152 times in Leviticus. There are two kinds of holiness: God’s and ours. God’s holiness is pure goodness off the scale. Human holiness is devotion to this holy God. When Jews wanted to use a utensil in the worship center, such as a candle holder, they had to perform rituals to devote the tool for use in God’s service. That’s when the utensil became holy. And when Jews wanted to worship God, they had to perform rituals to devote themselves to him—such as sacrificing an animal. Then they became holy.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown. Joshua may have written it or at least supplied the information.

What’s it about? Jews taking back their homeland

When did it take place? 1400s BC or 1200s BC

Where? Canaan, in what is now Israel

Why was it written? To preserve the story of how God helped the Jews regain their homeland

Most famous quote

“Make your choice now. Decide for yourselves. Are you going to serve the gods of your ancestors across the Euphrates, or perhaps the gods of the locals, the Amorites? As for me and my family, we’re with the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). From elderly Joshua’s last speech to the Jews.

Biggest scene

Jericho walls come tumblin’ down. The border town of Jericho, near the Jordan River, is the first to fall. And it falls literally. Jewish soldiers march around the city walls once a day for six days. Then on the seventh, they march around it seven times and blow ram’s horn trumpets. The walls collapse—perhaps in a miracle of timing since the entire river valley sits on a massive, earthquake-producing rift in the earth’s crust.

Biggest idea

The land is God’s gift. The Jewish invasion isn’t a case of stealing land that belongs to people who have been living there for centuries. The land belongs to the Creator, and he gave it to the Jews: “Every piece of ground you step on will be yours for the taking, just as I promised Moses” (Joshua 1:3).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown. Jews in ancient times said the prophet Samuel compiled these stories.

What’s it about? Sins of the Jews making it impossible to find lasting peace in their homeland

When did it take place? From the 1400s BC or the 1200s BC until about 1050 BC

Where? Israel

Why was it written? Perhaps to show how Israel’s twelve tribes became alienated from God and from each other, to the point that they needed a king to reunite them politically and spiritually

Most famous quote

“Israel didn’t have a king at the time. So, everyone did whatever they wanted” (Judges 21:25). This one-sentence portrait of anarchy ends the sad book.

Biggest scene

Samson gets a haircut. Philistines hire Delilah to find the source of this muscleman’s strength. “If my head is shaved, I’ll become as weak as anyone else” he confides, before laying his locks on her lap and taking a nap (Judges 16:17). He wakes up with a buzz.

Biggest idea

God’s relentless love. There are twelve heroic judges in this stretch of Jewish history. A dozen times the Jews slip into idolatry, face punishing oppression, and then call on God for help. And God helps them—every time. The story feels like the parable of the Prodigal Son in a loop, with sinners leaving and then coming home to Papa over and over. Papa is always waiting with open arms. Love is like that.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown, but a masterful writer of one of the Bible’s best-crafted stories

What’s it about? A non-Jewish widow who becomes mother of Israel’s most famous family of kings

When did it take place? 1100’s BC

Where? In Moab (now Jordan) and in Bethlehem

Why was it written? To show that the royal family of David and Solomon began with a non-Jewish woman—perhaps to refute the argument that it was still wrong for Jews to marry non-Jews

Most famous quote

“I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth, speaking to her mother-in-law Naomi.

Biggest scene

Ruth sneaks under the covers of a man. When a rich farmer makes his bed outside to protect his crops at harvest time, Ruth bathes, puts on perfume and her best clothes, and then slips under his covers while he’s asleep. It’s not a setup. It’s custom—a way for Ruth to ask a relative of her dead husband to marry her. The Jewish welfare system encouraged men to marry and care for widows of their dead relatives. The man, Boaz, agrees to Ruth’s request: “I’ve got you covered” (Ruth 3:13).

Biggest idea

God loves outsiders. God repeatedly tells the Jews to take good care of widows, the poor, and strangers in the land. He practices what he preaches. Ruth—who was all the above—becomes mother of Israel’s greatest dynasty of kings.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown. Samuel may have written part of it since it seems he did write some history (1 Chronicles 29:29).

What’s it about? Israel’s transition from a loose-knit coalition of twelve tribes to a nation under one king

When did it take place? The stories begin with the birth of Samuel in about 1100 BC

Where? Israel

Why was it written? To preserve the story of how Israel became a nation ruled by kings

Most famous quote

“To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22, King James Version).

Biggest scene

Giant killer. Armed with just a slingshot, shepherd boy David takes on the Philistine champion Goliath, a giant armed with the best weapons of his day—including newly invented iron hardware. With the Jewish army cowardly watching from a distance, David drops Goliath, takes the giant’s sword, and cuts off the head of his victim (1 Samuel 17:51).

Biggest idea

It’s the thought that counts. “People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions” (1 Samuel 16:7, New Living Translation). That’s what God tells Samuel, when Samuel nearly chose David’s older, taller, and handsome brother as Israel’s next king. With God, it’s the spirit of the person that matters, not the looks.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown

What’s it about? David’s reign as king of Israel

When did it take place? David became king in about 1000 BC

Where? Israel

Why was it written? To preserve the story of King David’s life and leadership

Most famous quote

“How the mighty have fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:19, New King James Version). David’s reaction to the death of Saul and sons.

Biggest scene

David watches Bathsheba bathe. With at least seven wives of his own, King David walking on the flat roof of his palace sees the wife of a soldier bathing below—probably in her walled courtyard. David likes what he sees so he invites her to the palace and has sex with her. She gets pregnant. To cover up the adultery, David orders her husband to the front line of battle, where he gets killed. David marries Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11).

Biggest idea

God’s a forgiver. No sin is too big for God to forgive—not even adultery and murder. At least not for people like David, who sincerely repent (2 Samuel 12:13). Consequences for bad decisions are inevitable, but the loss of God’s love is not one of them.

Who wrote it? Unknown. Jews in ancient times said the prophet Jeremiah wrote 1 and 2 Kings, which were originally a single book.

What’s it about? The united nation of Israel, rich and prosperous during Solomon’s reign, but splitting in two after he dies

When did it take place? This history covers about 120 years, from the beginning of Solomon’s reign in about 970 BC until about 850 BC

Where? Israel

Why was it written? To preserve highlights and dark days of Jewish history in both nations, north and south

Most famous quote

“Cut the living child in two and give half to each of these women!” (1 Kings 3:25, New Living Translation). See “Biggest scene” for more.

Biggest scene

A king, a sword, and a baby. In a court case, Solomon has to decide which of two women is actually the mother of a newborn son. Both women—who are prostitutes and roommates—delivered about the same time. But one accidentally rolled onto her son and suffocated him, then switched babies in the night. Solomon decides to slice the baby in two, dividing it among the mothers. One agrees, but the other says, “Please do not kill him!” (1 Kings 3:26, New Living Translation). Love link established as clearly as genetic links could ever be, Solomon returned the boy to his rightful mother.

Biggest idea

Getting what’s coming to you. Focusing on kings at both ends of the character scale—godly and evil—the writer emphasizes that God rewards obedience and punishes sin.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown. Jews in ancient times said Jeremiah wrote 1 and 2 Kings.

What’s it about? Death of the Jewish nation

When did it take place? From about 850 BC until 586 BC, when invaders destroyed the last Jewish nation

Where? The two Jewish nations: Israel in the north of modern-day Israel, and Judah in the south

Why was it written? To show how sin brought the punishment Moses said would come if Jews broke their agreement with God: “The LORD will scatter you among all the nations” (Deuteronomy 28:64).

Most famous quote

“He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight,” (2 Kings 3:2, New Living Translation). This phrase is used more than two dozen times to describe the Jewish kings and people.

Biggest scene

Jerusalem dies. Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar invades the last remaining Jewish nation for repeated rebellion. He levels one fortified city after another, saving Jerusalem for last. His army breaks through the walls, slaughters most of the people, levels the buildings, and takes survivors with him as prisoners. The Jewish nation becomes nothing but a tragic memory.

Biggest idea

God punishes persistent sin. Both Jewish nations continued sinning, no matter what God did to warn them of the consequences. Eventually, patience gives way to punishment. But it’s punishment with a purpose: to restore the Jewish nation as a godly people.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Uncertain. Jews in ancient times said a priest named Ezra wrote both books of Chronicles, which were originally one book.

What’s it about? Jewish history, mostly during the reigns of kings Saul and David

When did it take place? The story begins with a family tree starting at Adam. The book  ends with the death of King David in about 970 BC.

Where? Israel

Why was it written? To convince Jews returned from exile that they are still God’s chosen people and Israel is still their Promised Land

Most famous quote

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (1 Chronicles 16:34, New King James Version).

Biggest scene

Jerusalem becomes a sacred city. After David makes Jerusalem the political capital of Israel, he makes it the spiritual capital, too. He brings to town the most sacred Jewish object: the Ark of Covenant, a chest containing the Ten Commandments. And he does so, “dancing and leaping for joy” (1 Chronicles 15:29).

Biggest idea

God has restored Israel. Jews are back in their homeland, rebuilding cities destroyed during an invasion several decades earlier. God is the reason they are back. They have a future and a mission: “Sing to God, everyone . . . . Get out his salvation news . . . . Publish his glory among the godless nations” (1 Chronicles 16:23-24, The Message).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Uncertain. Jewish tradition says a priest named Ezra wrote it.

What’s it about? Jewish history from King Solomon to the Jewish return from exile

When did it take place? Spanning almost 500 years, from about 970 BC to 500 BC

Where? Israel, Iraq (called Babylon), Iran (Persia)

Why was it written? To convince Jews back from exile that they are still God’s chosen people and that Israel is still their Promised Land

Most famous quote

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, New Living Translation).

Biggest scene

Emancipation Proclamation for Jews. A people without a nation, Jews live as refugees in what is now Iraq and Iran for about fifty years—their homeland demolished by invaders. But a new empire rises to power. And its king, Cyrus of Persia, issues a decree freeing the Jews to go home (2 Chronicles 36:23).

Biggest idea

Failure isn’t final. Jews broke their agreement with God. Had they served him as they promised, he would have protected them—as he promised. But they failed him. Now, as they return to their decimated homeland, they want to know if they can have a fresh start—still the chosen people in the Promised Land. The writer’s reply from history: “The LORD will stay with you as long as you stay with him!” (2 Chronicles 15:2, New Living Translation).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown. Jews in ancient times said Ezra wrote it.

What’s it about? Jews returning from exile and rebuilding their nation

When did it take place? The first wave of Jews returns home in about 538 BC, with Ezra’s group following in about 458 BC

Where? The story begins in the empire of Babylon, in what is now Iraq, and ends in Israel

Why was it written? To preserve the story of God graciously allowing the Jews to come back to the Promised Land, even though centuries of Jews had broken their agreement to serve God. This is the story of forgiveness and a second chance.

Most famous quote

“He is good, For His mercy endures forever” (Ezra 3:11, New King James Version).

Biggest scene

A new temple. For seventy years, the Jews had no place to worship God. The only sacrifices they could offer were sacrifices of prayer and praise by reading their scriptures. Now home again, they rebuild the temple that invaders had leveled. As they lay the foundation, “all the people gave a great shout, praising the LORD” (Ezra 3:11).

Biggest idea

God is no spectator in human history. He can even get godless rulers involved in his plan—just as he stirred Persian King Cyrus to free the Jews (Ezra 1:1, New Living Translation).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown. Jews in ancient times said a priest named Ezra wrote it along with the books of 1, 2 Chronicles and Ezra.

What’s it about? A Jewish official in Persia—now called Iran— who returns to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls

When did it take place? Over a dozen years, between 445-433 BC

Where? Nehemiah served the Persian king in Susa, a city on Iran’s border with Iraq, but he became temporary governor of Judah, in what is now southern Israel.

Why was it written? To preserve the miraculous story of how Jerusalem’s walls were rebuilt in only fifty-two days.

Most famous quote

“The joy of the LORD is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10, New Living Translation).

Biggest scene

Armed builders. Non-Jews who settled in the land after the Jews were exiled aren’t happy to see the Jews come back and start rebuilding Jerusalem. Nehemiah, fearing those settlers will attack, orders his builders to work with one hand and to hold a weapon with the other (Nehemiah 4:17).

Biggest idea

The can-do God. Restoring the walls of Jerusalem in less than two months was such a remarkable feat that even the non-Jews who had tried to stop the project “realized that this work had been done with the help of our God” (Nehemiah 6:16, New Living Translation).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown. But the writer seems to have been a Jew in Persia (modern-day Iran) well acquainted with customs of Persians and Jews.

What’s it about? A Jewish queen who stops a Persian-led holocaust of Jews

When did it take place? Sometime during the twenty-one-year reign of Xerxes, from 486-465 BC

Where? Persian city of Susa, in Iran near the border with Iraq

Why was it written? To preserve the story of a near holocaust and the history behind the Jewish springtime festival called Purim, celebrating the holocaust missed

Most famous quote

“Who knows, you may have been chosen queen for just such a time as this” (Esther 4:14, New Century Version).

Biggest scene

A feast to die for. Queen Esther invites Haman to a royal banquet, which he thinks is to honor him. Instead, she reveals she’s a Jew—a target of his plot. Haman falls on her, pleading for mercy, but the king thinks he’s attacking her (Esther 7:8). So the king orders Haman hanged immediately.

Biggest idea

God at work behind the scenes. God’s name doesn’t even appear in this book. But many see him at work throughout the story in several more-than-a-coincidence events—such as putting Esther in the position to protect her people.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown.

What’s it about? A man who lost his children, health, and flocks—and who wants God to tell him why.

When did it take place? Clues in the story suggest it took place about the time of Israel’s founding fathers—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob—roughly 2000 BC.

Where? “In the land of Uz” (Job 1:1, New Living Translation). It’s unclear where Uz was.

Why was it written? To show that suffering isn’t always punishment from God. Sometimes it comes for reasons that only God knows.

Most famous quote

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return” (Job 1:21, New King James Version).

Biggest scene

Scraping boils. Livestock and children gone, and himself covered in itching boils, Job scratched his skin “with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes” (Job 2:8). Sitting in ashes is a way to express grief. Job’s wife advises him to curse God so God will kill him—putting Job out of his misery.

Biggest idea

Trust God even when we can’t understand him. Job asked God to explain why he would do something that seems so unjust—making a righteous man suffer like this. God answers with questions such as this: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much” (Job 38:4, New Living Translation). Job got the point.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Seventy-three songs are attributed to David, but in a vague way that could mean “by David,” “for David,” or “in the style of David.” Other songs are attributed to Solomon, Moses, and Asaph, one of David’s musicians.

What’s it about? Complaints, praise, prayer requests, promises—just about anything a person would say to God

When did it take place? The songs were probably written over many centuries, perhaps spanning nearly a thousand years from the time of Moses to the rebuilding of Jerusalem in the 500s BC

Where? The songs are set throughout the Middle East, from Persia (Iran) to Egypt.

Why was it written? To express humanity’s deepest feelings about spiritual matters—from fear to faith

Most famous quote

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil” (Psalm 23:4, New King James Version).

Biggest scene

A near-death experience. In the face of imminent death, one notable poet compares God to a shepherd. The poet vows, “When I walk through the valley, toward the shadows of death, I won’t be afraid of evil ahead. You are with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). This comforting chapter is read at the bedside of the dying perhaps more than any other words ever written.

Biggest idea

Be honest to God. No feeling we experience—high or low—needs censored from God. We can be completely honest with him, telling him about our anger, fears, problems, and dreams. He can take it. And sometimes we need him to take it, because we can’t handle it on our own.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Solomon and other wise men

What’s it about? “Young people will get an education in knowledge and common sense” (Proverbs 1:4).

When did it take place? Solomon lived and wrote in the 900s BC.

Where? Israel.

Why was it written? To teach young men “how to behave yourself by living smart. I’m talking about treating others right, fairly, and impartially. Give everyone a fair shake.” (Proverbs 1:3).

Most famous quote

“Those who spare the rod hate their children” (Proverbs 13:24, New Revised Standard Version). This verse that spawned the saying, “Spare the rod, spoil the child” isn’t a command to beat kids. Shepherds used rods to gently nudge their straying sheep back to safety. This verse is a call to correct kids when they’re wrong.

Biggest scene

Treasure your wife. Saving some of the best advice for last, sages close the book by telling each young man to cherish his wife. “A truly good wife is the most precious treasure a man can find!” And when found, she deserves to hear these words: “There are some wonderful women out there, my dear, but you take the cake” (Proverbs 31:29).

Biggest idea

Trust God. “Trust the LORD, and go all-in.

Put everything you’ve got into it.
Don’t bank too much on your own judgment.
Make the LORD a part of your life, in everything you do.
And he’ll show you the way” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? “These are the words of the Teacher, King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem” (Ecclesiastes 1:1, New Living Translation), presumably Solomon.

What’s it about? The meaning of life

When did it take place? Solomon lived in the 900s BC

Where? Israel

Why was it written? As a reflection of one man’s attempt to discover what life is all about

Most famous quote

“Eat, drink, and be merry” (Ecclesiastes 8:15, New King James Version).

Biggest scene

Seasons of life. One of the most beautiful poems in the Bible begins: “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 8:1-2, New King James Version).

Biggest idea

Obey God. “Everything you were taught can be put into a few words: Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about” (Ecclesiastes 8:9; 12:13, Contemporary English Version).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? “This is Solomon’s Song of Songs” (Song of Songs 1:1), though it may have been written for him instead of by him.

What’s it about? A couple in love.

When did it take place? Solomon reigned from about 970-930 BC.

Where? Israel.

Why was it written? As a love song, perhaps to entertain wedding guests.

Most famous quote

“Your love is sweeter than wine” (Song of Songs 1:2).

Biggest scene

Anticipating the honeymoon. In sensually intimate love talk, the man tells the woman of his dreams:

“You stand straight and tall like a palm tree.
Those breasts of yours are clusters of sweet fruit.
I’m telling you this, I’m gonna climb that tree.
And I’m gonna to fill my hands with fruit” (Song of Songs 7:7-8).

Biggest idea

Sexuality is a gift of God. God gave us sexuality to express the intimate feelings we have for the person we’ve promised ourselves to for life.  

“Keep me close, like a necklace always near your heart,
Like a ring always near your touch.
Love outmuscles death,
It outlasts the grave.
Love is a flash fire,
Exploding in flames.
The fire of that love will never die.
Floods can’t quench it.
Rivers can’t wash it away.
Money can’t buy it” (Song of Songs 8:6-7).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Isaiah. Some scholars say he wrote only chapters 1-39, since 40-66 deal with later centuries. Others say he predicted those events.

What’s it about? A choice: repent or suffer a nation-decimating invasion

When did it take place? Isaiah ministered about 740-700 BC

Where? Israel, with exile in Babylon, now Iraq

Why was it written? To warn the Jews that if they didn’t repent, their nation would die

Most famous quote

“A child is born, We have a son. . . . His name is Wonderful Advisor, Powerful God, Eternal Father King of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

Biggest scene

God’s suffering servant. Of the many prophecies in this book pointing to Jesus, the most dramatic one describes him as God’s servant, suffering for others. 

“He was wounded by our mistakes.
He was crushed by our sinful choices.
We were wrong. He paid the price.
His bruises are the marks of our cure.

We’re all like sheep wandering away,
Nibbling ourselves into trouble.
But the LORD made him pay
For the trouble we caused
And the punishment we deserved.

He was tortured and injured.
But he didn’t complain.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
Like a sheep in silence at the hands of the shearer,
He chose not to make a sound.

Twisted justice ordered him killed.
Who could have predicted his future?
He was taken from the living,
Given to the dead,
For sins that God’s people committed.

They buried him in a graveyard of sinners
In a tomb that was made for the rich.
He was peaceful, non-violent, and honest” (Isaiah 53:5-9).

Biggest idea

Punishment with a purpose. Even in punishing people for sin, God’s goal is to restore the relationship. So though the Jews face exile for their sins, God promises to bring them home “You’ll celebrate the LORD then” (Isaiah 41:16).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Jeremiah dictated it to a writer, Baruch

What’s it about? The last years of Judah

When did it take place? Jeremiah prophesied about forty years, from 627-586 BC

Where? Israel and Babylon (Iraq)

Why was it written? To preserve the story of how sin caused the Jews to lose their homeland, and how God’s grace would restore it once they repented

Most famous quote

“Can a leopard change his spots?” (Jeremiah 13:23, New Living Translation.)

Biggest scene

Goodbye Jerusalem. After destroying walled cities throughout the Jewish nation, Babylonian invaders storm into the capital, Jerusalem. They slaughter many, level the buildings—including the 400-year-old temple Solomon built, and even tear down “the walls of the city” (Jeremiah 39:8, New Living Translation.). Then they march survivors into exile.

Biggest idea

The wages of sin is death. The Jewish national debt came due in 586 BC, after hundreds of years of persistent sin—with only an occasional righteous generation. “No amount of soap or lye can make you clean,” God told them. “You are stained with guilt that cannot be washed away” (Jeremiah 2:22, New Living Translation.). It didn’t have to be like that. “No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it,” God told them. “I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow” (Jeremiah 1:18, New Living Translation.). But they didn’t want a spiritual bath. So they ended up in a blood bath.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown, but it follows the book of Jeremiah because Jews in ancient times said Jeremiah wrote both books; the writing styles are similar

What’s it about? Mourning over the loss of Jerusalem

When did it take place? 500s BC

Where? Perhaps written in Babylonian exile in what is now Iraq

Why was it written? As an expression of grief and a prayer for God’s help

Most famous quote

“Great is Your faithfulness” (3:23, King James Version).

Biggest scene

Cannibal mothers. Surrounded by an army for about two and a half years, starving people inside Jerusalem turn barbaric. “Is it right for mothers to eat their children?” (Lamentations 2:20).

Biggest idea

Grief from A to Z. Not only are the lyrics sad, the book’s format dramatically reinforces this message. Most chapters contain twenty-two verses—the length of the Hebrew alphabet. Each verse starts with a different letter beginning with aleph—the Hebrew “a”—and working through the alphabet. The point: Jews have suffered grief from A to Z, many times over.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? “Ezekiel son of Buzi, a priest” (Ezekiel 1:1, New Living Translation.)

What’s it about? The end of the Jewish nation, with the promise of a new beginning

When did it take place? Ezekiel prophesied more than twenty years, from about 593-571 BC.

Where? “In the land of the Babylonians,” (Ezekiel 1:1, New Living Translation) now Iraq

Why was it written? To assure Jews who will find themselves refugees without a country that God will eventually bring them home

Most famous quote

“Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!” (Ezekiel 27:4, New King James Version).

Biggest scene

Dry bones come to life. God gives Ezekiel a vision that takes place in a sprawling valley filled with human bones. It looks like the site of a massacre long ago. Suddenly, detached bones start popping into place. Tendons, muscle, and skin erupt onto the skeletons. Then a wind blows life into fully formed lungs. The corpses stand, alive again. “These bones represent the people of Israel,” God says. “I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again” (Ezekiel 37:11-12, New Living Translation).

Biggest idea

Sin doesn’t stop God from loving us. God punishes us when we keep sinning—individually, and sometimes on a national scale. But his punishment isn’t vindictive. It’s intended to correct us, because he never stops loving us.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown. Daniel may have written parts of it.

What’s it about? God’s unstoppable power, and his willingness to use it to help his people

When did it take place? Daniel’s story begins in about 605 BC and continues for some sixty years.

Where? Babylon and Persia, now Iraq and Iran

Why was it written? To preserve stories of Daniel in exile and his prophecies about the future

Most famous quote

“God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths” (Daniel 6:22, New Living Translation).

Biggest scene

Daniel in the lion’s den. Palace officials jealous of Daniel decide to get rid of him. They convince the king to sign an irrevocable law, ordering people to pray only to him, or become lion bait. For praying openly to God, Daniel spends the night in a lion’s den—and survives. The king—who is fond of Daniel and angry about being manipulated by the others—throws his conniving officials to the lions, which “tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den” (Daniel 6:24, New Living Translation).

Biggest idea

God steps into human history. All creation belongs to God. He’s not limited to some heavenly, parallel dimension. When circumstances demand it, he steps into the physical world—sometimes into a lion’s den and sometimes into a furnace. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire,” the king declared after putting Daniel’s three friends in a furnace. “They aren’t even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like a divine being!” (Daniel 3:25, New Living Translation).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? “Hosea the son of Beeri” (Hosea 1:1)

What’s it about? Israel’s unfaithfulness by worshiping other gods

When did it take place? Hosea ministered from about 750-722 BC, when invaders overran Israel.

Where? The northern Jewish nation of Israel

Why was it written? To show God’s willingness to forgive

Most famous quote

“Plant a crop of wind, harvest a tornado” (Hosea 8:7)

Biggest scene

Do you take this prostitute as your wedded wife? Essentially, that’s the question God asked Hosea. “I want you to find a prostitute and marry her. Then raise the prostitute’s children. Here’s why I want you to do this. The people of your land are unfaithful. They’ve left the LORD” (Hosea 1:2). Hosea’s reply to God’s question: “I do.”

Biggest idea

If we repent, God forgives—no matter how bad the sin. For more than two centuries, Israel has been breaking the first and most important of the Ten Commandments: “You can’t have any gods but me” (Exodus 20:3). Even then, God is still willing to forgive.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? “Joel, who was the son of Pethuel” (Joel 1:1).

What’s it about? A military invasion that will decimate the Jewish nation

When did it take place? Unknown. Though Joel warns of an invasion, it’s not clear which one: Assyrians in the 700s BC, Babylonians in the 500s BC, or perhaps Alexander the Great with his Greek army in the 300s BC.

Where? Israel

Why was it written? To urge the Jews to repent so God wouldn’t send invaders to punish them

Most famous quote

“Hammer your plow blades into swords.
Beat your pruning blades into spears” (Joel 3:10).

Biggest scene

Locust tsunamis. Four tidal waves of locusts crash onto Israel—one after another. “Whatever crops the cutting locusts leave, swarming locusts will shred. Whatever they leave, hopping locusts will enjoy, and whatever they leave, destroying locusts will finish” (Joel 1:4).

Biggest idea

When the Day of the Lord means trouble. The “Day of the Lord” used to mean good news for the Jews—God coming to their rescue to punish Israel’s enemies. But Joel redefines that phrase. On this Day of the Lord the Jews are the enemies. And God is coming for them if they don’t repent.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Amos, who “breeds sheep in the town of Tekoa” (Amos 1:1)

What’s it about? Sin, especially injustice and exploitation of the poor

When did it take place? Amos seems to have lived in the mid-700s BC, before Assyrian invaders decimated Israel in 722 BC

Where? Amos lived in Tekoa, in the southern Jewish nation of Judah. He delivered his warning mainly to the northern Jewish nation of Israel.

Why was it written? To warn the Jews to repent

Most famous quote

“Get ready to meet your God” (Amos 4:12).

Biggest scene

“Listen to me, you pampered cows
Women grazing on Samaria’s hills,
Cheating the poor and stealing from people.
Who struggle to survive.
Yeah, it’s you women who say
To the man of the house,
‘I could use another drink about now.’
As sure as the LORD God is holy,
Your day is coming.
So are invaders who’ll drag you away
Like fish on a stinger,
The last of you still flopping in nets” (Amos 4:1-2).

Biggest idea

A nation without justice.  Rich Jews and political leaders:

“Abuse and exploit poor people,
Stomping their faces into the dirt,
And pushing them out of the way,
Off the road to prosperity.
Father and son have sex with the same woman,
Dragging my holy name in the mud” (Amos 2:7).

Judges take bribes. And poor people are sold into slavery to pay off debts no higher than the price of a pair of sandals.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? A prophet named Obadiah

What’s it about? God’s promise to destroy Edom

When did it take place? Uncertain. Perhaps shortly after invaders destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC

Where? Edom, in what is now Jordan

Why was it written? To assure Jews that God would punish Edom for killing so many of them and for looting Jewish cities

Most famous quote

“What you’ve done to others will be done to you” (Obadiah 15).

Biggest scene

Refugee killers. Jews run for their lives from invaders, escaping to the rock hills of neighboring Edom. But instead of welcoming the Jews, people of Edom kill many and arrest others, “turned them over to their enemies” (Obadiah 14).

Biggest idea

Payback. Though the Jews are powerless to avenge themselves, and to see it that the people of Edom get the punishment they deserve—God’s not powerless. Their chief city, Petra, is now a ghost town visited by tourists.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Bible experts can’t tell if Jonah wrote it or if someone wrote it about him

What’s it about? God sending a prophet to warn Assyrians they are about to be destroyed

When did it take place? Uncertain. A prophet with the same name, “Jonah son of Amittai,” lived during Assyrian times in the 700s BC (2 Kings 14:25).

Where? Nineveh, near what is now Mosul, Iraq along the northern border with Turkey

Why was it written? To show that God loves everyone—even non-Jews

Most famous quote

“The LORD sent a large fish to catch Jonah. The fish swallowed him into its belly” (Jonah 1:17).

Biggest scene

Fish bait. Sailors throw Jonah into the sea to calm a fierce storm that he caused by running from God. A big fish swallows him, and Jonah remains inside for “three days and nights” (Jonah 1:17).

Biggest idea

Mercy enough for everyone. Jonah was one of the Bible’s few successful prophets. He actually convinced an Assyrian emperor and the entire capital city to repent. But Jonah got so mad that God didn’t destroy Nineveh that he pouted and asked God to kill him. God replied with a question: “It’s not okay for me to care about this huge city of Nineveh?” (Jonah 4:11). This abrupt, unusual ending is one reason some Bible experts say the story is a parable, like those Jesus later told.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Micah

What’s it about? Sins of the two Jewish nations

When did it take place? Micah lived during the time of three kings reigning from 750-686 BC

Where? Micah lived in the hill-country village of Moresheth, about a day’s walk from Jerusalem

Why was it written? To warn that God would destroy both Jewish nations

Most famous quote

“People will hammer their swords into plow tips
And their spears into long pruning hooks.
Countries won’t go to war anymore” (Micah 4:3).

Biggest scene

Bethlehem’s prince of peace. Micah predicts that when Israel is dominated by her enemies, a Jewish ruler will be born in Bethlehem. He will be one whose story “started long ago, in very ancient times…The whole world will recognize him as leader of the peace.” (Micah 5:2, 5). Based on this verse, Jews expected that the messiah would come from this village—where Jesus was born.

Biggest idea

There’s hope on the other side of doom. Micah and other prophets are famous for preaching doom. But they also promised that after God punished the nations for sin, he would restore the survivors and give them a fresh start:

“Israel’s survivors will bless the nations
Like dew and rain will nourish the grass.
These blessings come from the LORD
And don’t need to wait on humans” (Micah 5:7).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Nahum

What’s it about? The end of the Assyrian Empire

When did it take place? The Assyrian capital fell to Babylonians in 612 BC

Where? Elkosh, a village probably somewhere in the southern Jewish nation of Judah

Why was it written? To assure Jews that God will punish the Assyrian Empire, known throughout the Middle East for its vicious cruelty

Most famous quote

“The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble” (Nahum 1:7, New International Version).

Biggest scene

Nineveh exposed. Assyria’s revered capital, Nineveh, is dishonored, exposed, and trashed: 

“I’ll lift up your dress, over your head.
I’ll show the world the naked you,
And the shame of what you’ve become.

With the whole world watching,
I’ll pelt you with trash
And treat you like trash,
To show how disgusted I am” (Nahum 3:5-6).

Biggest idea

God is the Man. There is no greater power. Period.

“He rides on winds of the storm.
He leaves clouds in his wake
As the dust from his feet.
He scolds the sea and dries it.
He drains the rivers into walking trails….
Mountains tremble in front of him.
Hills collapse and fall” (Nahum 1:3, 5).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Habakkuk

What’s it about? An invasion force God is sending to punish the Jews

When did it take place? Probably in the 600s BC, shortly before Babylonian invaders conquered the Jews in 586 BC

Where? The southern Jewish nation of Judah

Why was it written? As an expression of absolute faith in God no matter what happens

Most famous quote

“Good people get to keep their lives, as reward for their devotion” (Habakkuk 2:4). Alternate translation: “The righteous live by their faithfulness,” (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition). This verse helped start the Protestant movement, convincing a priest named Martin Luther that people are saved by faith in God, not through church rituals.

Biggest scene

Faith alive and well when everything else is dead. Invaders have decimated the land. But Habakkuk vows, “

When fig trees don’t blossom,
Grapes don’t grow,
When olive crops disappear,
Fields produce dirt,
When sheep are taken,
Cattle gone from their stalls,
What will I do?

I will thank God that he is my Savior.
He gives me the strength to go on.
He gives me the sure-footed speed of a deer,
And to higher ground he leads on,” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

Biggest idea

In God we trust. Habakkuk trembles when he hears that invaders are coming. But he believes God knows what’s best. “I will thank God that he is my Savior. He gives me strength to go on . . . . And to higher ground he leads on” (Habakkuk 3:19).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Zephaniah, great-great grandson of Hezekiah—perhaps King Hezekiah

What’s it about? God punishing the Jews for continued sin, and then giving them a fresh start

When did it take place? During the reign of King Josiah, great-grandson of Hezekiah, from 640-609 BC

Where? The southern Jewish nation of Judah

Why was it written? To warn the Jews that these were their nation’s last days

Most famous quote

“I’ll kill all the people and animals, birds of the sky, and fish of the sea. And I’ll take down evil people….and erase them from the face of the earth” (Zephaniah 1:3).

Biggest scene

Creation rewind. God’s destruction of Judah will be so terrible that it’s described as a reversal of Creation. God created fish, birds, land animals, and humans—reported in that order in Genesis. Zephaniah’s order of destruction is exactly the opposite: 

“I’ll kill all the people and animals,
birds of the sky, and fish of the sea.
And I’ll take down evil people.
I’ll take down everyone.
And I’ll erase them from the face of the earth” (Zephaniah 1:3).

Biggest idea

Judgment Day. Rampant sin calls for dramatic judgment, as in the days of Noah’s flood and the fire at Sodom and Gomorrah. Sin was purged. The Jewish nation will experience a similar annihilation. “Judgment Day is about to take place” (Zephaniah 1:7).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Haggai

What’s it about? Rebuilding the Jewish temple

When did it take place? August through December, 520 BC

Where? Jerusalem

Why was it written? To urge the Jews to stop putting off the job of rebuilding the temple

Most famous quote

“You say it’s not yet time to rebuild the LORD’s house. But I’ve noticed it is time for you to live in nicely appointed houses paneled in wood” (Haggai 1:4).

Biggest scene

A pitiful harvest, caused by God. “I’ve ordered a drought, hot and dry… Why would I do something like that, asks the LORD of everyone? It’s because every day you hurry off to your houses. But you let my house remain a pile of busted rocks” (Haggai 1:11, 9). 

Biggest idea

Blessings on hold. God sometimes withholds happy events—like a huge harvest—to get people’s attention. That’s because many folks don’t give him much thought until they’re in trouble. So he sends a little trouble their way. In Haggai’s day, this gave him opportunity to tell the Jews what was wrong. Once they started rebuilding the temple, God promised, “I’m going to give you reasons to smile. I’ll bless the work you do” (Haggai 2:19).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Zechariah, a prophet who may also have been a priest

What’s it about? Rebuilding Israel

When did it take place? Autumn of 520 through December 518, and perhaps later

Where? Jerusalem

Why was it written? To assure the Jews that God would help them rebuild their nation, and then send a special ruler—a messiah—to lead them

Most famous quote

“Kill the shepherd, but let the sheep run away and scatter” (Zechariah 13:7). Jesus quoted this to predict what his disciples would do after he was arrested. “All of you will desert me” (Mark 14:27).

Biggest scene

A Jewish king rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. “Sing and shout, Jerusalem. Look, here comes your king, the good savior. Humbly riding a colt, the young foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9). Two Gospel writers said Jesus fulfilled this prophecy on Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:5; John 12:15).

Biggest idea

A savior is coming. Zechariah is bursting with predictions about a coming savior, or messiah. New Testament writers quote them, and then declare them fulfilled by Jesus. A few examples:

• Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15)
• This money is used to a buy potter’s field (Zechariah 11:13; Matthew 27:7)
• Stabbed (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34).

Who wrote it? A prophet named Malachi or a writer who described himself as malachi, a word meaning “messenger.”

5 W’s

What’s it about? Jews ignoring God’s laws

When did it take place? 400s BC

Where? Israel

Why was it written? To remind the Jews that God still punishes disobedience

Most famous quote

“I’m sending an advance person to prepare the path ahead of me” (Malachi 3:1). New Testament writers said this refers to John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus (Matthew 11:10).

Biggest scene

Diseased gifts for God. By law, sacrificial animals were supposed to have “nothing wrong with it” Leviticus 1:3). But the Jews started bringing defective livestock. Malachi scolds them: “Try giving animals like that to your governor. Would he be happy with you? Would he say, ‘Thank you very much for all these sick animals, I gratefully accept them?’” (Malachi 1:8).

Biggest idea

Obey God’s law. Malachi makes a list of the nation’s sins. Then he gives a stern warning from God: “So, remember the rules and guidelines for living that I gave my servant Moses at Mount Sinai. Those instructions are for everyone in Israel…If not, I’ll end it all for everyone. I’ll erase each one of them” (Malachi 4:4-6).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown. Church leaders in the AD 100s said it was written by Matthew, a tax collector who became one of Jesus’ twelve disciples

What’s it about? Jesus’ ministry and teachings

When did it take place? During Jesus’ ministry, from about AD 26-AD 30

Where? Israel (called Palestine by the Romans)

Why was it written? To prove that Jesus was the messiah whom prophets had said would set up God’s kingdom

Most famous quote

“Ask yourself what you’d like others to do for you. Then do it for them” (Matthew 7:12).

Biggest scene

Sermon on the Mount. In his most famous sermon, Jesus sums up his main teachings, many of which seem radical—like love your enemy and don’t worry about anything (Matthew 5—7).

Biggest idea

Kingdom of heaven. Jews were expecting a warrior messiah like King David—someone who would restore Israel to its former glory, free of Romans. Instead, they got a pacifist Jesus announcing the arrival of God’s kingdom and teaching that citizens of this spiritual kingdom should love their neighbors as they love themselves. This isn’t just a kingdom for the future in heaven, it’s a kingdom that begins here as people live the kind of lives Jesus spoke about in his teachings and parables.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown. Church leaders in the early AD 100s said the writer was John Mark, who drew from the insights of Peter, the leader of Jesus’ disciples.

What’s it about? Jesus’ ministry

When did it take place? During Jesus’ ministry, from about AD 26-AD 30

Where? Israel (called Palestine by the Romans)

Why was it written? Christians were being fed to the lions and persecuted in other ways by Romans and Jews. John Mark reminded Christians that Jesus suffered, too.

Most famous quote

“Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17, New King James Version).

Biggest scene

Dead Jesus. The messiah many believed would save Israel hangs dead on a Roman cross, executed at the insistence of Jewish leaders. They wanted to prevent what they feared would be doomed a rebellion against Rome, so they charged him with insurrection and claiming to be King of the Jews.

Biggest idea

Jesus suffering. Don’t expect to read much about the power and divinity of Jesus.

Expect to learn about his suffering, which takes up nearly half of this short book. First, Jesus is suffering through persistent debates with Jewish scholars furious with him for breaking their religious rules and for claiming to be God’s Son. Then comes his last week—the suffering and Crucifixion, which takes up the last six chapters of this sixteen-chapter book.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Early church leaders said a non-Jewish physician named Luke wrote this Gospel and its sequel about the beginning of the church: Acts.

What’s it about? The life and ministry of Jesus

When did it take place? During Jesus’ ministry, from about AD 26-AD 30

Where? Israel (called Palestine by the Romans)

Why was it written? For “ I’ll write this down for you, honorable Theophilus, organizing it as best I can. I’m doing this so you’ll know that everything you’ve been told is true” (Luke 1:1, 4). Theophilus may have been an official.

Most famous quote

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth” (Luke 11:2, King James Version).

Biggest scene

God’s newborn Son on a bed of hay. In Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus. “She wrapped him tightly, swaddling him in cloth. Then she laid him in a feeding trough—a manger—for his bed. She had no choice. There were no guest vacancies in the town” (Luke 2:7).

Biggest idea

Good news for the entire world—not just Jews. In dedicating newborn Jesus, Priest Simeon prays, “I have seen the Savior you have given to all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (Luke 2:30-32). The Gospel writer repeats this idea throughout the book—which makes sense if the writer was a non-Jew.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Scholars guess Jesus’ disciple, John, the only disciple not mentioned by name in the book

What’s it about? The teachings of Jesus

When did it take place During Jesus’ ministry, from about AD 26-AD 30

Where? Israel (called Palestine by the Romans)

Why was it written? “To help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God—and that by putting your trust in him, you can have a life that never ends” (John 20:31).

Most famous quote

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Biggest scene

Resurrection Sunday. On the first Easter Sunday morning, a resurrected Jesus meets Mary Magdalene. She’s crying near his empty tomb because she thinks someone stole his body (John 20).

Biggest ideas

Jesus is divine. Jesus created everything, the writer says—calling him “the Word.” Greek philosophers taught that the Word was the supreme force that created and manages the universe—a power through which “all things happen.” To Jews, the Word meant God’s message to people. The writer’s point: Jesus has God’s power and God’s message.

Jesus, the great “I Am.” When Moses asked God’s name, God answered, “I Am” (Exodus 3:14). Jesus said much the same in seven “I Am” statements: “I am the life-giving bread” (6:35), “the light in this world (8:12), “the gate” (10:7), “the good shepherd” (10:14), “the resurrection…the life of life” (11:25), “the way…the truth…the life” (14:6), “the Genuine Grapevine” (15:1).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Early church leaders said a non-Jewish physician named Luke wrote it as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke.

What’s it about? How the church got started

When did it take place? From about AD 30 to the mid-60s—from Jesus’ ascension to the end of Paul’s ministry

Where? The Roman Empire, including what is now Egypt, Israel, Syria, Turkey, Greece, and Italy.

Why was it written? To preserve the story of the church’s early years and perhaps to defend Christianity as a legitimate religion

Most famous quote

“You’re going to get the power to do incredible things once the Holy Spirit comes to you. After that happens, you’ll start telling my story to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria—to the whole world” (Acts 1:8).

Biggest scene

Jesus appears to Paul. On his way to arrest Jews in Damascus who believe Jesus rose from the dead, Paul is blinded by a light from heaven and then meets Jesus for himself (Acts 9).

Biggest ideas

The Holy Spirit is the church’s engine. After four accounts of Jesus’ ministry, we come to Acts: the book about the work of the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit is portrayed as the spiritual power behind the apostles.

Non-Jews are kosher. When the church started, all believers were Jews. But the Holy Spirit convinced the apostles that non-Jews who believed in Jesus were just as much God’s people as the Jews ever were (Acts 10).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Apostle Paul

What’s it about? Basic Christian beliefs

When did it take place? In about AD 57, near the end of Paul’s last missionary trip

Where? Paul wrote to Christians in Rome, probably from Corinth, Greece

Why was it written? Paul was preparing the way for his visit to Rome.

Most famous quote

“Everyone has sinned. Everyone falls short of the honorable standards God sets” (Romans 3:23, New International Version).

Biggest scene

Jesus dying for us. On the cross, Jesus took the punishment for the sins we committed. “We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us” (Romans 3:25).

Biggest ideas

How to get saved. Often called the Roman Road to Salvation, Paul’s outline for salvation includes recognizing we have all sinned, that sin is a capital offense in the eyes of a holy God, that God sent Jesus to take the punishment for humanity’s sin, and that by accepting this gift we are cleared of guilt and “made right with God” (Romans 10:10).

It’s believing—not doing—that saves us. Paul makes it clear that we can’t earn salvation by doing good deeds. Salvation is God’s gift to everyone. All we have to do is accept the gift. “In the good news, we can see the goodness of God, as he welcomes people of faith. Remember what our Bible says: good people will live because of their faith” (Romans 1:17).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Paul

What’s it about? Problems that erupted in the new church at Corinth

When did it take place? Paul started the church in about AD 50. He wrote the letter in about AD 55, a few years after leaving Corinth.

Where? Corinth, Greece was on a four-mile-wide isthmus, south of Athens. It had ports in two oceans, on both sides of the isthmus. That made Corinth a busy crossroads town.

Why was it written? Paul felt compelled to help the church he started settle their problems.

Most famous quote

“Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Biggest scene

Incest in the church. A member of the church was sleeping with his father’s wife, presumably a stepmother. Paul bluntly asked, “Shouldn’t you be crying about this and asking the man to leave?” (1 Corinthians 5:2)

Biggest ideas

The greatest spiritual gift: love. To a congregation squabbling over who had the greatest spiritual gift—such as preaching or speaking in heavenly languages—Paul pointed to one gift that would end all squabbling. “So what if I speak a bunch of languages—including tongues, the heavenly language of angels. If I don’t love others, the only noise I’m making is the sound of someone playing the cymbals at the wrong time” (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Church unity. “Work out your differences. Don’t let anything come between you. Find your common ground and reach an agreement on the judgments you make” (1 Corinthians 1:10).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? “Paul” (2 Corinthians 1:1).

What’s it about? Paul defending himself against critics who said he was a fake apostle

When did it take place? Paul probably wrote this letter a few months after he wrote 1 Corinthians in AD 55.

Where? Corinth, Greece

Why was it written? To keep traveling preachers from taking control of the church in Corinth

Most famous quote

“God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7, New King James Version).

Biggest scene

Bragging rights. Reluctantly, Paul defends himself by bragging about what he has suffered during his three missionary expeditions. “On five different occasions the Jews gave me their max beating: 40 lashes minus one. I got beaten with a rod three times. I got stoned once. Shipwrecked three times. I managed to survive 24 hours adrift at sea” (2 Corinthians 11:24-25).

Biggest ideas

Help the poor. Even criticism of pocketing church donations didn’t stop Paul from collecting an offering for the poor. Thinking positively, he wrote, “I know you’re ready to help” (2 Corinthians 9:2).

God’s message entrusted to frail humans. “We carry a treasure inside of these fragile clay containers we call our bodies. So you’ve got to understand that the incredible display of power you have seen from us belongs to God. It doesn’t come from the likes of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7, New Century Version).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Paul

What’s it about? Salvation through faith in Jesus, not through following Jewish laws

When did it take place? Paul probably wrote this in the mid AD 50s, after two missionary expeditions into Galatia.

Where? Galatia, a territory in what is now Turkey

Why was it written? To counter a heresy that tried to turn Christianity into just another branch of the Jewish religion

Most famous quote

You reap what you sow. “Whatever seeds you plant with your words and actions, that’s the crop you’ll harvest” (Galatians 6:7).

Biggest scene

Hypocrite Peter. Paul publicly calls Peter a hypocrite for refusing to eat with non-Jewish Christians. Peter stopped eating with them only after a delegation of Jews arrived from Jerusalem and convinced him to follow Jewish law that said it was wrong to mix with non-Jews. “If we could earn our spiritual goodness by obeying the law, the Messiah died for nothing” Paul argues (Galatians 2:21).

Biggest idea

Jewish religion is obsolete. Laws written on scrolls have been replaced by laws written on the heart. “Christ has set us free. . . . Now hold on to your freedom and don’t ever become slaves of the Law again.” On the other hand, Paul adds, “You’ve got a cordial invitation to freedom. But don’t go there thinking you’ve got a free pass to sin. This isn’t about lust. It’s about love, and about helping others” (Galatians 5:13, Contemporary English Version).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Paul

What’s it about? How to live like a Christian

When did it take place? Paul wrote from jail perhaps during his two-year arrest in Rome during the early AD 60s.

Where? Ephesus, a city on Turkey’s west coast

Why was it written? To encourage the church in Ephesus to “Let people see love when they look at you, just as we see the love in Christ who sacrificed himself for us” (Ephesians 5:2).

Most famous quote

Don’t go to bed angry. Or, “Don’t let your anger fester overnight. Deal with it the day it happens” (Ephesians 4:26).

Biggest scene

Suit up for spiritual battle. Paul said Christians fight spiritual battles against “otherworldly beings. These are spiritual forces: leaders, authorities, and rulers of spiritual darkness and evil in the heavenly dimension.” (Ephesians 6:12). Using the metaphor of battle gear, Paul tells believers to suit up: belt (truth); body armor (righteousness); shoes (peace); shield (faith); helmet (salvation).

 Biggest idea

Practical tips for living like a Christian. Paul gives a long list of practical advice for Christian living. Here’s a sampling.

• “Work out your differences in a loving way. Do everything you can to stay united, not just in behavior, but in spirit as well. Agree to keep the peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3).
• “Specialize in words that encourage people. Speak those helpful words whenever the opportunity arises” (Ephesians 4:29).
• “Don’t use filthy language, either. So don’t go around telling dirty jokes or saying things that make you look like a fool” (Ephesians 5:4).
• Husbands and wives, “Defer to one another. You know that’s what the Messiah would want you to do” (Ephesians 5:21).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Paul and his colleague Timothy

What’s it about? Holding onto the Christian faith in hard times

When did it take place? Paul and Timothy were in prison, perhaps during their two-year arrest at Rome in the early AD 60s.

Where? Philippi, Greece—hometown of the first known church in Europe

Why was it written? As a thank-you note for a gift to Paul and Timothy in prison—perhaps gifts of food, clothing, and money

Most famous quote

“At the very mention of the name ‘Jesus,’
Everyone in heaven, on earth, and underground should take a knee and bow” (Philippians 2:10).

Biggest scene

Run the race. Using a word picture from Greek Olympic Games, Paul cheers on Christians at Philippi, urging them to follow him to God’s finish line. “Christians here have seen what happened to me. As a result, they’ve gotten even more confident in the Lord. They’re openly talking about God more boldly than ever” (Philippians 3:14).

Biggest ideas

Suffering ahead. After three decades of suffering at the hands of Jews and Romans, Paul sees more of the same for Christians. Jesus suffered, too, he said. Paul adds that God puts our suffering to good use. “Because of my imprisonment, many of the Christians here have gained confidence and become more bold in telling others about Christ” (Philippians 1:14).

Joy even in tough situations. This letter from prison is one of Paul’s most joyful. “The Lord gives you every reason to rejoice. So do it. I’ll say it again, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Paul

What’s it about? Warped religious teachings in the Colosse church

When did it take place? Paul may have written this about the same time he wrote Ephesians, perhaps in the early AD 60s while in prison at Rome.

Where? Colosse was a city in what is now Turkey

Why was it written? To steer Christians in Colosse away from a new religious movement full of distorted teachings

Most famous quote

“Whatever you say when you open your mouth and whatever you do wherever you go, do it all as a representative of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17, New King James Version).

Biggest scene

Jesus dying for our sins. Paul said we’re saved not because of anything we do, but because God’s Son “became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent” (Colossians 1:22, Contemporary English Version).

Biggest idea

It’s heresy to think we can earn salvation. Paul doesn’t say which false teachings threatened the church. But here are a few possibilities, based on his warnings. True Christians:

• Follow strict rules. “Don’t let anyone feed you their rules about what you should eat or drink on religious holidays, including the new moon or the Sabbath” (Colossians 2:16).

• Deprive themselves, to prove that their spirit is stronger than their body. “Stay away from this! Don’t eat that! Don’t even touch this . . . . they do nothing to help people overcome their sinful desires” (Colossians 2:21-23).
• Have secret knowledge. Christians already know “God’s secret message about Christ. Christ is where all knowledge and wisdom are safely kept” (Colossians 2:2-3).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Paul, with associates Silas and Timothy

What’s it about? Holy living during persecution

When did it take place? Written in about AD 51—just twenty years after the Crucifixion—making it perhaps the oldest piece of writing in New Testament

Where? Thessalonica, a busy seaside town in northern Greece

Why was it written? To encourage new converts to keep living for God, and to assure them that those who die before Jesus returns will be raised from the dead

Most famous quote

“The Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2).

Biggest scene

Second Coming. “”Jesus will descend from heaven, with an archangel’s voice shouting a command. The trumpet of God will blow and the dead who had put their faith in the Messiah will rise before anyone else. After that, those of us who are still alive will get lifted up into the clouds where we will join the others to meet the Lord in the air—and to stay with him forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Biggest idea

How to live the holy life. “Keep it quiet, mind your own business,” Paul writes. “It’s good for people outside the faith to see you living like this” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Paul, with associates Timothy and Silas

What’s it about? How to live like a Christian

When did it take place? Paul probably wrote this follow up letter to 1 Thessalonians in AD 51 or 52.

Where? The port city of Thessalonica, Greece

Why was it written? To encourage new converts who were being persecuted, and to correct misunderstandings about the Second Coming

Most famous quote

“Anyone who won’t work shouldn’t eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). That’s Paul’s advice about Christians who quit their jobs to wait on Jesus to come back.

Biggest scene

Waiting for Jesus. Some Christians are so sure that Jesus will return any day that they stop working and depend on charity. To them Paul writes, “Stop talking and start working. Eat your own food, which you earn from your work” (2 Thessalonians 3:12).

Biggest idea

End-time fever. New Christians in Thessalonica can’t stop thinking and talking about the Second Coming. To help them get over it and get busy spreading the good news about Jesus, Paul tells them about events that need to happen before the end time. “That day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Bible scholars have many theories about this rebel: he’s the Antichrist, or an evil religious leader, or a symbol for the Roman Empire that leveled Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Paul

What’s it about? How to lead a church

When did it take place? Paul probably wrote this in the AD 60s, shortly before his execution

Where? Ephesus, on Turkey’s west coast

Why was it written? To advise Timothy on how to run the church

Most famous quote

“The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10, New King James Version).

Biggest scene

Women silent in church. Paul advises Timothy, “Any women who want to learn need to keep quiet and listen. I don’t let women teach. And I don’t put them in positions of authority over men. The ladies need to keep quiet” (1 Timothy 2:11-12). Scholars debate why Paul said this, since in other churches women served as leaders and since Paul said men and women are equal in God’s eyes (Galatians 3:28). Some say Paul’s advice shows that men and women have different roles to fill. Others say Paul’s advice was limited to churches where women were causing trouble—in Ephesus and Corinth.

Biggest ideas

Qualifications of a church leader. Paul, in chapter 3, tells Timothy that a church leader should:

• Have a good reputation
• Be faithful to his wife
• Enjoy having guests in his home
• Be gentle
• Not love money
• Be respected by his children

Warped teachings. “Stay in Ephesus, and keep telling those certain folks who are spreading warped teachings to stop it. . . . . Myths and genealogies generate nothing but speculation. They don’t do a thing to help people express their faith in God” (1 Timothy 1:3-4).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Paul

What’s it about? How to keep the church healthy in tough times

When did it take place? Perhaps in the mid AD 60s, when Emperor Nero started killing Christians

Where? Paul wrote from prison in Rome to Timothy, pastor of a church in Ephesus, a city on Turkey’s west coast.

Why was it written? To give Timothy advice on pastoring, and to ask him to come and be with him at his execution

Most famous quote

“I fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

Biggest scene

Paul on death row. “I’m suffering here in prison, charged with a serious crime” (2 Timothy 2:9). Yet Paul remains joyful:

“If we die with him,
We’ll live with him” (2 Timothy 2:11).

Biggest idea

Trust the Bible. Paul warns that in the last days there will be an overdose of bizarre teachings. “I want you to hang onto what you learned and believed. You know who taught you. You grew up studying the sacred writings. They opened your eyes. They helped you see that having faith in the Messiah Jesus will save us” (2 Timothy 3:14-15).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Paul

What’s it about? How to lead churches

When did it take place? Uncertain. Acts, which reports Paul’s travels, never puts him in Crete. Paul may have gone there later, in the AD 60s, during an unreported fourth missionary trip.

Where? Crete, an island south of Greece

Why was it written? To give advice on how to build healthy congregations

Most famous quote

“The people of Crete are all liars; they are cruel animals and lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12). Politically incorrect today, Paul quotes a Cretan poet who said this. Then Paul agrees. Perhaps his point is to acknowledge that Titus has a tough job ahead.

Biggest scene

Qualifications for pastor.  “A church leader has to live a life that’s squeaky clean and above suspicion. He needs to be a one-woman man. His kids should be believers. And he shouldn’t have the reputation of a party animal with a rebel streak” (Titus 1:6).

Biggest idea

Be a do-gooder. “Stay alert for opportunities to do something good for someone. . . . always try to be peaceful, kind, and gentle” (Titus 3:1-2).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Paul

What’s it about? How to treat a Christian who’s at the bottom of the social barrel

When did it take place? Unknown. Paul was in prison, perhaps in Rome in the AD 60s.

Where? Colosse, a city in Turkey

Why was it written? To protect Onesimus from execution, the punishment for runaway slaves

Most famous quote

“He’s more than a slave. He’s a dear brother in the faith, especially to me” (Philemon 16).

Biggest scene

A runaway slave comes home. Onesimus delivers Paul’s letter, which contains not-so-subtle hints that Paul wants Onesimus freed. “I wanted to keep him with me while I’m in prison . . . . But I didn’t want to do anything without your permission” (Philemon 13-14). Freedom may have come. Fifty years later, Ephesus had a bishop named Onesimus.

Biggest idea

Mercy. Paul asked for something no runaway slave could ever expect—beyond forgiveness and freedom: mercy that made the slave an equal. “I became like a father to him . . . . If you consider me your partner, I’m asking you to welcome him just as you would welcome me” (Philemon 10, 17).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Unknown. Probably not Paul, since the writer implies he never met Jesus (Hebrews 2:3)

What’s it about? Christianity, as the next step in God’s plan to save humanity

When did it take place? Probably before AD 70, when Romans destroyed the Jerusalem temple. This news—not reported in Hebrews—would have fit nicely into the message that Jesus’ sacrifice made the Jewish sacrificial system obsolete.

Where? Perhaps a general letter circulated among the churches

Why was it written? To stop Jewish Christians from returning to synagogues

Most famous quote

“Faith is being sure what we hope for will happen. It’s knowing what we can’t see is real” (Hebrews 11:1).

Biggest scene

Jesus dead—sacrificed for everyone’s sins. Death is God’s punishment for sin. But God set up a system of animal sacrifice to allow people to get forgiveness. “Blood is what brings a body to life. I’ve given you blood to use exclusively on the altar. It atones for your sin—it gets rid of your guilt so you can stay on good terms with the LORD. Blood is the price of your sin” (Leviticus 17:11 God later sent his Son as a blood sacrifice. “ With just one sacrifice, Christ made God’s people holy. Those people devoted to God are now perfectly free of sin and guilt, forever” (Hebrews 10:14).

Biggest idea

God writes a new contract. Jewish laws about sacrifices, kosher food, and circumcision are outdated. That’s because God made a new covenant with humanity—as he said he would (Jeremiah 31:31-32). “God called this a new agreement. It replaced the old agreement, which became obsolete and is already on the verge of disappearing” (Hebrews 8:13).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? James, a servant of God. Christian writers a century later said he was the brother of Jesus. This James led the Jerusalem church until Jews stoned him to death in the late AD 60s.

What’s it about? Putting faith into action

When did it take place? Perhaps in the AD 50s or 60s, just two or three decades after the Crucifixion.

Where? “The 12 tribes scattered everywhere” (James 1:1). The Jews.

Why was it written? To encourage believers to act like Christians

Most famous quote

If faith “doesn’t get to work doing good things for others, it’ll die” (James 2:17).

Biggest scene

Running off at the mouth. Like a small rudder that controls a massive ship, or a six-inch steel bit that can steer a one-ton horse, a single flail of a tiny tongue can change the course of a life—for better or worse (James 3:3-5).

Biggest ideas

Practice what you preach. There’s no such thing as private religion when it comes to Christianity—no keeping it to ourselves. “The faith we have when we believe can’t survive trapped inside us. It has to get out and get busy” (James 2:17).

Don’t play favorites with rich folks. From James’ perspective, it’s wrong to treat rich people like VIPs just because they’re rich. “If you do this, aren’t you discriminating against the poor man?” (James 2:4).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Peter with Silas’ help

What’s it about? Living as Christians even when Christians are being arrested and executed

When did it take place? Uncertain. Perhaps during Nero’s empire-wide persecution of Christians in AD 64, or during Jewish persecution earlier.

Where? Peter wrote from “Babylon,” a code name for Rome. He wrote to Christians throughout what is now Turkey.

Why was it written? “I wrote because I wanted to encourage you to hang onto your faith and to remind you of the kindness of God” (1 Peter 5:12).

Most famous quote

“Give your fear to God because you matter to him” (1 Peter 5:7).

Biggest scene

Christians fed to lions. Though Peter doesn’t identify exactly what kind of “hardships” (1 Peter 4:12) Christians are facing, he lived long enough to see Romans execute Christians in many creative ways—including as entertainment in arenas: fed to lions or forced to fight gladiators.

Biggest ideas

Suffer in silence.  “If you suffer for doing good, consider yourself blessed. . . . Christ…. suffered for our sins once and for all….He got killed for it. But he rose from the dead, through the Spirit’s power” (1 Peter 3:14, 18).

Submit to your nation’s leaders. “Honor God by obeying your leaders in this world. I’m talking about the king, who’s the boss of the land” (1 Peter 2:13).

Be holy. “God is the Holy One, devoted to goodness. Live your life like that, holy and devoted to everything pure and good” (1 Peter 1:15).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1).

What’s it about? Heretics at work in the church

When did it take place? Uncertain. But Peter said “It won’t be much longer. My body is going to get set aside” (2 Peter 1:14), and church leaders in the AD 100s said Romans crucified him in the 60s.

Where? Peter said this was his second letter, possibly following 1 Peter, which was written from Rome to Christians in Turkey.

Why was it written? To tell Christians how to deal with false teachers, and how to grow spiritually.

Most famous quote

“With the Lord, one day is like a thousand years; and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8). Peter said this to Christians wondering why Jesus hadn’t come back yet.

Biggest scene

Heretics on the loose in church. The brand of heretic that Peter warned about separates spirituality from behavior. “They do whatever they want, and they do it in broad daylight…They keep adultery on their minds and in their prowling eyes” (2 Peter 2:13-14).

Biggest idea

Prescription for spiritual growth. 

“To your faith, add good morals.
And to morals, add some knowledge.
To knowledge, add self-control.
And to self-control, add patience.
To patience, add respect for God.
And to respect for God, add respect for people.
To respect for people, add love” (2 Peter 1:5-7).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Probably Jesus’ disciple John, because the style and message so closely match those of John’s Gospel, along with 2 and 3 John

What’s it about? A warped brand of Christianity

When did it take place? Church leaders in the AD 100s said John wrote this letter in the 90s.

Where? John is said to have moved to Turkey’s west coast, in the city of Ephesus

Why was it written? To expose false teachers “who want to lead you astray” (1 John 2:26).

Most famous quote

“If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong” (1 John 1:9).

Biggest scene

Spotting a heretic.  “Don’t believe everyone who claims to have the Spirit of God. Test them all to find out if they really do come from God. . . . His Spirit says that Jesus Christ had a truly human body. But when someone doesn’t say this about Jesus, you know that person has a spirit that doesn’t come from God” (1 John 4:1-3, Contemporary English Version).

Biggest idea

Antichrist. “You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. . . . These people left our churches because they never really belonged with us” (1 John 2:18-19). For John, an antichrist is anyone opposed to Christ.

5 W’s

Who wrote it? The writer identifies himself only as a church leader, but most experts agree it was Jesus’ disciple, John.

What’s it about? Heretics in the church

When did it take place? The letter was probably written in the AD 90s.

Where? John is said to have lived in Ephesus, a city on Turkey’s west coast.

Why was it written? To advise Christians to shoo away people teaching warped ideas about Jesus and Christianity

Most famous quote

“Love one another” (2 John 5).

Biggest scene

Heretic at the front door. Though it was customary for Christians to welcome traveling missionaries as guests in their homes—providing free room and lodging—John advises against treating heretics with the same hospitality. “Don’t invite him into your house or encourage him in any way” (2 John 10).

Biggest ideas

Love others and obey God. “I ask you that we all love each other. And love means living the way God commanded us to live. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is this: Live a life of love” (2 John 5-6, New Century Version).

Don’t encourage people who teach distorted Christianity. “Once you engage this person, you open the door to evil. You and evil become partners” (2 John 11).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? The writer says only that he’s a church leader, but most experts say he was Jesus’ disciple, John.

What’s it about? Welcoming traveling ministers

When did it take place? John probably wrote this near the end of his life, in the AD 90s.

Where? John is said to have lived his final years in Ephesus, a city on Turkey’s west coast.

Why was it written? To encourage a Christian named Gaius to keep showing hospitality to traveling ministers

Most famous quote

“Don’t do what evil does. Do good instead. God’s children act like it; they do what’s good. Folks who do what’s wrong have never met God.” (3 John 11).

Biggest scene

A pastor brought up on charges. Protecting his power is job one for a dictatorial pastor named Diotrephes. So when traveling ministers come to town, Diotrephes refuses to welcome them—and he boots out of his church any Christians who do otherwise. In the early church there was no earthy authority higher than an apostle—a disciple of Jesus who had learned from Jesus himself. Apostle John vows to play his trump card, and come to town to “address the problem” (3 John 10).

Biggest idea

Support Christian ministers. “We ourselves should support them so that we may become partners with them for the truth” (3 John 8).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? Jude, a nickname for Judas. He also identifies himself as brother of James. Jude may have been a brother of Jesus because Jesus’ brothers were James and Jude. What’s it about? A new heresy threatening the Christian faith

When did it take place? Unknown. Paul wrote about the same problem in the AD 60s.

Where? This was an open letter to all Christians.

Why was it written? As a warning. “I was planning to write you about that. Instead, I need to urge you to keep working hard for the faith and for the message that was delivered to all God’s people–once and for all. Some people snuck into your church. These are bad people, condemned long before their time.” (Jude 3-4).

Most famous quote

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 24-25, New King James Version).

Biggest scene

Sodom and Gomorrah on fire. To counter the argument that God’s forgiving nature allows us to sin as much as we like, Jude reminds Christians that the twin sin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire and “got a taste of the coming eternal fire” (Jude 7).

Biggest idea

Trust the authentic Christian message. There’s no such thing as a new and improved Christianity. “Strengthen yourselves in your devotion to God and pray through the guidance of the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20).

5 W’s

Who wrote it? John. Later church leaders said it was Jesus’ disciple.

What’s it about? The end of human history and the beginning of eternity with God

When did it take place? Most Bible experts say this prophecy was written in the AD 90s.

Where? Patmos, a prison island—a bit like Alcatraz—off the west coast of Turkey

Why was it written? Jesus told John to write down everything he saw.

Most famous quote

“I’m the A and the Z—the start and the finish. I’m the one who was and is and is to come” (Revelation 1:8).

Biggest scene

A glimpse of heaven. John sees a heavenly city. He tries to describe what may be indescribable to physics-bound humans. Drawing from the most precious objects on earth, John talks about jasper walls, golden streets, and pearl gates. “New Jerusalem doesn’t have a sun or a moon. Doesn’t need them. God himself lights the city. The Lamb of God is the light” (Revelation 21:23).

Biggest ideas

Satan loses, God wins. “The devil who had tricked these people into war got himself thrown into the lake of fire with its burning sulfur…to suffer that torture forever” (Revelation 20:10).

God’s people enjoy heaven forever. “In a loud voice, the one who sat on the throne said, ‘Look at that! God has moved in with people! He’s going to live right there with them. They’ll be his family—people devoted to him. He’ll be the head of the family—their God devoted to them. God will wipe away every teardrop from every eyeball. Death will be dead and gone. It’ll take with it all the pain, tears, and grief. It’ll all be gone, along with the first heaven, earth, and sea” (Revelation 21:3-4).