Christopher Glyn
1) 1 Kings
Author
Language
English
Description
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...
2) 2 Kings
Author
Language
English
Description
The second book of Kings depicts Israel as a land divided, being ruled by wicked kings who lead the Israelite people only further into idolatry and sin. Throughout this period, the prophets, notably Elijah and Elisha, bring hope for repentance and reformation by performing astounding miracles and spreading the word of God. Their efforts to lead the Israelites from their stubborn and disobedient path are chronicled in 2 Kings and, once again, God shows...
3) Zephaniah
Author
Language
English
Description
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...
4) 2 Samuel
Author
Language
English
Description
The second book of Samuel follows the rule of King David, after the death of King Saul, and his establishment of Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel. 2 Samuel shows both the shortcomings and successes of David as king, but also the forgiveness of God after true repentance. Notable stories include David's adultery with Bathsheba, the overthrow of King David by his son Absalom, and the journey of the Ark to Jerusalem.
5) Proverbs
Author
Language
English
Description
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...
6) Jude
Author
Language
English
Description
Only one chapter long, the book of Jude is an epistle written by the half-brother of Jesus, who became a Christian only after His crucifixion. This book uses examples from the Old Testament to show the importance of obeying God and following His teachings. Jude condemns the false teachers and urges the Christians to unite and strengthen each other's faith in order to withstand their deception.
Author
Language
English
Description
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...
8) Zechariah
Author
Language
English
Description
After the return of the Jews to Jerusalem, the people struggled to restore their city to its former glory. Similar to Haggai, the book of Zechariah was written at this time to urge the Judeans to rebuild their temple and redeem themselves with God. Zechariah has a more encouraging and hopeful tone than Haggai, and contains some of the most descriptive and beautiful Messianic prophecies in the Bible.
9) Titus
Author
Language
English
Description
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.
10) Nehemiah
Author
Language
English
Description
The book of Nehemiah recounts the struggle of the Jewish people's return to Jerusalem after being held in captivity for 70 years. Unfortified and disorganized, the Jews look to Nehemiah, their temporary governor, to help them rebuild their city walls before the surrounding enemies attack. Nehemiah is an important example of the astounding successes that a good leader can achieve if he puts his trust in God.
11) Philippians
Author
Language
English
Description
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...
12) 1 Samuel
Author
Language
English
Description
The author of this book is widely regarded to be the man of the same name, the prophet Samuel, who was appointed by God to be the last judge of Israel and usher in the age of kings. This book recounts both his miraculous life and the crowning of two kings, King Saul and his successor, King David. There are many well-known stories in these chapters, including the story of Samuel and Eli as well as David and Goliath. 1 Samuel conveys a stark comparison...
13) 2 Corinthians
Author
Language
English
Description
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.
14) 2 Peter
Author
Language
English
Description
Written shortly after 1 Peter, 2 Peter addresses the Christian believers and condemns the teachings of false prophets who entwined other theologies into the Christian faith. 2 Peter teaches that in order not to be swayed by the insidiousness of the false doctrines, it is essential to study the word of God and to develop a close relationship with His Son, Jesus.
15) Philemon
Author
Language
English
Description
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.
16) Joshua
Author
Language
English
Description
The conquest of Canaan, the Promised Land, by the Israelites is recounted in the book of Joshua, as well as the subsequent division of the land amongst the various tribes. The battle stories depicted here, notably the battle of Jericho, portray both the astounding victories of the Israelites due to their faith in God, and the consequences of disobedience and disbelief.
17) Ezra
Author
Language
English
Description
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,...
18) 2. Mark
Author
Language
English
Description
The gospel of Mark focuses on the adult life of Jesus during His ministry up to His death and resurrection. As the shortest of the gospels, Mark emphasizes the briefness of Jesus' life and the ever-present recognition that His time on Earth was both to serve mankind and to give the ultimate sacrifice of His death.
Author
Language
English
Description
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.
20) 3 John
Author
Language
English
Description
The shortest book in the New Testament, the book of 3 John is only one page long and was written by the Apostle John during his exile on Patmos. This epistle uses an example of a false teacher to illustrate the importance of staying faithful to Jesus and his sincere followers.