Christopher Glyn

The first book of Kings recounts the lives of the kings of Israel and Judea over a period of 400 years after the death of King David. His son, Solomon, features heavily in these chapters, first to show God's generous blessings to a faithful king and, later, as an example of the consequences of turning away from God. This book also details the split of the northern and southern tribes of Israel, and the subsequent appointment of the prophet Elijah...

Similar to the other prophetic books, Zephaniah prophesies a cycle of judgment followed by repentance for the wayward Israelite people. Unlike the other prophets, Zephaniah was the grandson of a king and therefore offers a unique perspective into the corruption and sin that perpetrated many of the rulers of that era. In these passages, Zephaniah urges a return to godliness, so that the people of Israel might be saved from the approaching judgment...

The genre of Proverbs is mainly "Proverbs" as the name describes, there are also some Parables and Poetry. This book was written mainly by Solomon, the wisest king ever to rule, however some of the later sections are written by Lemuel and Agur. It was written during Solomon's reign 970-930 B.C. He asked God for wisdom to rule God's nation and He granted the request. The main purpose of this book is to teach wisdom to God's people. Proverbs are short...

The Prophetical books of the Old Testament are named for the many prophets chosen by God to warn the Israelite people of their waywardness and urge them to repent and stay faithful to Him. The majority of these books were written before the conquest of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, but several of the Minor Prophets detail the return to Jerusalem from their exile to rebuild the city. Along with the prophecies of judgment, this volume also contains...

Titus is an epistle written by Paul to the man of the same name who was a respected leader of the church in Crete and a close friend of Paul. This book contains detailed directions on how to live a life that exhibits the grace of God and produces good deeds. Paul also gives instructions on the proper roles of each group in the church to further the stability and growth of the Christian faith.

The book of Philippians was written to the church in Philippi by the Apostle Paul during his imprisonment by the Romans. As some of his most faithful followers and Christians, Paul wrote to the Philippians to express his appreciation for their support and to encourage them to continue in their firm belief. Philippians is an inspirational epistle to remind Christians that while following God may sometimes result in persecution and suffering, there...

In this sequel to 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul responds to accusations that his apostleship is not justified and genuine. Paul writes of his own suffering and relationship with God, and also condemns the false messengers of God for spreading division amongst the church. This book is an encouraging reminder that God allows affliction and suffering for a purpose and that His grace is always present during these times of difficulty.

Only one chapter long, Philemon is an epistle written by Paul to exhort a slave owner to forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus. As a close friend of Philemon, Paul encourages him to no longer see Onesimus as a slave, but as a fellow brother in Christ, whose forgiveness should be emulated by all His followers.

IMPORTANT - THIS IS THE WRONG TEXT - IT IS FOR 1 CHRONICLES. Reportedly written by the prophet Ezra after the Jewish return from captivity in Babylon, the first book of Chronicles recapitulates the history told thus far from Adam to Solomon. This book includes many genealogies, family histories and religious information, but the focus of these chapters is on King David's house. 1 Chronicles provides a different perspective through the eyes of a priest,...

There are only five Poetry and Wisdom books, but they contain some of the best-known songs and passages in the Bible. Whether they express praise to God, pearls of wisdom, or beautiful romantic poetry, each book in this volume is an essential companion to Christian life and showcases the truly outstanding lyrical and literary side of the Bible which may be mistakenly overlooked.