The Bible is the Word of God and the final authority in faith and life. Every word is inspired by God, and is without error in the original writings. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18; Romans 15:4).

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The Bible is unique. It was written by more than forty different authors from many walks of life, over a time period of approximately 1,500 years. The sixty-six books of the Bible were written in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek) on three different continents (Asia, Africa and Europe). The Bible reveals who God is, how we can be saved and how we can glorify God in our thoughts, words and actions.  It is divided into an Old Testament and a New Testament.

The Old Testament consists of thirty-nine books that record the creation of the universe and man, the fall (sin) of man, the flood, the life of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the deliverance of God’s people from slavery in Egypt, the birth of the nation of Israel,  the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, the conquest of Canaan (the promised land), the period of the Judges, the first kings (Saul, David, and  Solomon), the first temple (Solomon’s), the division of Israel into the northern kingdom (Israel) and  the southern kingdom (Judah), the captivity of Israel by the Assyrians, the destruction of  the temple and captivity of Judah by the Babylonians, the return of Judah  to Jerusalem and the  dedication of the second  temple (Zerubbabel’s). Most of the Old Testament focuses on God’s dealings with the people of Israel on the basis of the covenant he made with them on Mount Sinai. Throughout the Old Testament there extends a line of prophecies concerning a coming Deliverer-Savior, the Messiah, and the institution of a new covenant. The fulfillment of these prophecies is the story of the New Testament. There is a period of about 400 years between the last Old Testament prophet, Malachi and the birth of Messiah (Jesus).

The New Testament consists of twenty-seven books that were written from about 35 A.D. to 95 A.D. The New Testament describes the new relationship of God with men through Messiah on the basis of the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:14-20; 2 Corinthians 3:6-11). The Old Covenant revealed the holiness of God in the righteous standard of the Law and promised a coming Redeemer; the New Covenant shows the holiness of God in His righteous Son (Jesus). The New Testament, then, contains those writings which reveal the content of this New Covenant. The message of the New Testament centers around the Messiah, who gave his life as an offering for sin (Isaiah 53:10; Matthew 26:28) and the people (the church) who have received his salvation. Thus the central theme of the New Testament is salvation. The Gospels introduce the Savior (Jesus). The book of Acts describes the spread of the good news about his salvation. The rest of the New Testament gives details of the blessings of that salvation. 

Book Title – Theme – Helpful Verses

Four Gospels and Acts – Life of Christ, Birth of Church, Persecution of Christians, Spread of Christianity

• Matthew – Jesus the King – Birth 1-2, Baptism 3, Sermon on the Mount 5-7, Prayer 6:5-13, Anxiety 6:25-34, End Times 24-25, Crucifixion 27:27-66, Resurrection 28:1-10, Great Commission 28:19-20
• Mark – Jesus the Servant – 10:45, End Times 13, Crucifixion 15:21-47, Resurrection 16:1-8
• Luke – Jesus the Son of Man – 19:10, 24:46-48, Birth 1-2, Baptism 3:1-22, Unconditional Love 6:27-38, End Times 17:20-37, 21:5-36, Crucifixion 23:26-56, Resurrection 24:1-12
• John – Jesus the Son of God – 20:31, In the Beginning 1:1-18, Baptism 1:19-34, Crucifixion 19:17-42, Resurrection 20:1-18
• Acts – Birth, Growth and Persecution of Church – 1:1-11, Birth of Church 2, Persecution Begins 4, Stephen, First Believer Killed 6:8-8:3, Conversion of Paul 9:1-31, Conversion of Gentiles 9:32-10:48, Paul’s Arrest 21:27-22:29

Books by the Apostle Paul

• Romans – Salvation by Faith – Wrath of God 1:16-32, Righteousness 3:21-31, 5:1-21, Continue to Sin? 6, God’s Goodness 8:26-39, Salvation by Faith 10:1-17, Renew Your Mind 12:1-8
• 1 Corinthians – Correction – 6:19-20, Marriage 7, Temptation 10:12-13, 31, Spiritual Gifts 12:1-14:40, Love Defined 10:1-13, Gospel Defined 15:1-5, Rapture 15:51-58, Giving 16:2
• 2 Corinthians – Christian Ministry – 4:16-18, 13:5, 14, Assurance of Resurrection 5:1-9, Judgment Seat of Christ 5:10-13, Love of Christ 5:14-21, Giving 8:1-9:15, Paul’s Vision 12:1-10
• Galatians – Freedom from the Law – Salvation by Faith 2:16-4:31, Freedom 5:1-15, Fruit of the Spirit 5:16-26, Sinning Brother 6:1-5
• Ephesians – Building the Body of Christ – Chosen and Sealed 1:3-23, Saved by Grace 2:1-10, Body of Christ 2:11-4:6, Spiritual Gifts 4:7-16, Practice of Believers 4:17-6:9, Marriage and Family 5:22-6:4, Be Strong in the Lord 6:10-20
• Philippians – To Live is Christ – 1:6, 21, 3:8, Humility 2:1-18, Anxiety 4:6-8, Peace with Circumstances 4:10-23
• Colossians – Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ – Christ’s Character 1:15-23, Christ’s Commission to Paul 1:24-29, Exalted Christianity 2, Exalted Calling 3:1-4:6, Family Life 3:18-21
• 1 Thessalonians – Holiness While Waiting for the Coming of Christ – Growth in the Lord 3:9-13, Rapture and End Times 4:13-5:11, Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks, 5:16-18
• 2 Thessalonians – Steadfastness While Waiting for the Coming of Christ – End-Time Judgment and Relief 1:3-12, Man of Lawlessness 2:1-13, Stand Firm 2:13-17
• 1 Timothy – Leadership Manual and Behavior in Church – 1:5-6, Instructions on Worship 2:1-15, Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons 3:1-16, Widows and Elders 5:1-25, Money and Godliness 6:6-19
• 2 Timothy – Endurance in Ministry – 1:7, 3:16-17, Courage and Faithfulness 1:8-18, Soldier of Christ 2:1-26, Last Days 3:1-9, Persecution 3:10-15, Crown of Righteousness 4:6-8
• Titus – Conduct Manual – Elders in the Church 1:5-9, Grace 2:11-15, Saved by Grace 3:5-7
• Philemon – Forgiveness – Paul’s Plea for Onesimus 1:8-21

Books by Peter, John, James and Others

• Hebrews – Superiority of Christ – 4:12, 12:1-2, Melchizedek the Priest and the New Covenant 7:1-8:13, First Covenant and New Covenant 9:1-10:31, Faith Defined 11
• James – Faith that Works – Trials and Temptations 1:2-18, Listening and Doing 1:19-27, Faith and Works 2:14-26, Taming the Tongue 3:1-12, True Wisdom 3:13-18, Worldliness 4
• 1 Peter – Suffering for Christ – A Living Hope 1:3-12, Be Holy 1:13-25, Marriage 3:1-7, Suffering 3:13-4:19, Humility and Anxiety 5:5-7
• 2 Peter – Against False Teachers – One’s Calling and Election 1:3-11, Prophecy of Scripture 1:12-21, False Teachers 2, End Times 3
• 1 John – Fellowship – Characteristics of Fellowship 2:28-3:24, Cautions of Fellowship 4, Consequences of Fellowship 5
• 2 John – Avoid False Teachers – Love One Another 1:5-6, False Teachers 1:7-11
• 3 John – Fellowship with God’s Children – Influence of Gaius 1:2-8
• Jude – Contend for the Faith – Sin and Judgment of Ungodly People 1:3-16, Call to Persevere 1:17-23
• Revelation – Revelation of Jesus Christ – Messages to Seven Churches 2:1-3:22,  Seal Judgments 6, The 144,000 Jews 7:1-8, 14:1-5, Trumpet Judgments 8:1-9:21, 11:15-19, Two Witnesses (Prophets) 11, War on Earth and in Heaven 12, Beast and False Prophet 13, Bowl Judgments 15-16, Babylon the Great 17-18, Christ Returns to Earth 19, The Millennium 20, New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem 21:1-22:5, Epilogue 22:6-21

Book Title – Theme – Helpful Verses 

Pentateuch – Five Books of Moses (The Law or Torah)

• Genesis – Beginnings – Beginning of Creation 1-2, The Fall 3:1-24, Noah and the Flood 6-9, Tower of Babel 11:1-9, History of Abraham 11:27-25:11, Call of Abram 12:1-9, LORD’s Covenant with Abram 15:1-21, History of Isaac 21-25,  Jacob and Esau 25:19-36:43, Jacob’s Twelve Sons 29-50, History of Joseph 37-50
• Exodus – Deliverance from Egypt – Israel in Egypt: Bondage 1:1-12:36, Preparation and Call of Moses 2-4, God Sends Moses to Pharaoh 5:1-7:13, Plagues 7:14-12:36, First Passover 12:1-36, Departure from Egypt 12:37-51, Israel’s Journey to Sinai 12:37-18:27, Giving of the Law 19-24, Tabernacle 25-31, 35-40, Breaking of the Law 32-34
• Leviticus – Holiness – Sacrifice 1-17, Sanctification 18-27
• Numbers – Wanderings –  Israelites Complain 11-12, Spies to Canaan 13, Israel Rebels 14, Discipline from God 15-20
• Deuteronomy – Covenant –  Ten Commandments 5:6-21, Shema 6:4-9, Promise of Blessings and Curses 28, Palestinian Covenant 29-30, Death of Moses 34  

Books of History – Twelve Books

• Joshua – Conquest and Division – 1:8-9, Entering the Land of Canaan 1-5, Conquering the Land of Canaan 6-12, Dividing the Land of Canaan 13-24
• Judges – Cycles – Deborah and Barak 4-5, Gideon’s Deliverance 6-8, Jephthah 10:6-12:7, Samson 13-16
• Ruth – Kinsman-Redeemer – Ruth’s Commitment 1:16-17, Boaz as Kinsman-Redeemer 2-4
• 1 Samuel – Samuel, Saul, David – Samuel, Last Judge 1-8, Saul, First King of Israel 9-31, David Chosen 16, David Defeats Goliath 17, Rise of David Over Saul 17-31
• 2 Samuel – David – David Becomes King Over Israel 5, David’s Sin 11, Rebellion of Absalom 14-18 
• 1 Kings – Division of the Kingdom – Solomon Becomes King of Israel 1:1-3:1, Solomon’s Wisdom, Administration and Fame 3:2-4:34, 9:1-9, Temple of Solomon 5-8, Downfall of Solomon 11, Divided Kingdom (Israel and Judah) 12-22, Elijah 17-19, 21
• 2 Kings – Decline and Captivity of Israel and Judah – Divided Kingdom 1-17, Elisha 2-9, Assyria Defeats Israel, Exiled 17, Reign of Hezekiah 18-20,  Babylon Defeats Judah (Is Exiled) and Destroys Temple 24-25
• 1 Chronicles – Reign of King David – David’s Anointing and Reign 10-29, Solomon Becomes King and Death of King David 29:22-30
• 2 Chronicles – Priestly View of Judah – 7:14, 16:9, Reign of Solomon 1-9, Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom 1:7-12, Dedication of Solomon’s Temple 5-7, Kings of Judah 10-36
• Ezra – Temple – Judah Returns Under Zerubbabel 1-6, Temple (Second) Construction 3-6, Return Under Ezra 7-10
• Nehemiah – Jerusalem Walls – Rebuilding the Walls Under Nehemiah 1-7, Renewing the Covenant Under Ezra 8-10
• Esther – Providence – 4:14, Discovery of Esther 2:1-20, Mordecai’s Devotion 2:21-23, Haman’s Decree 3, God’s People Delivered 6-10

Books of Poetry – Five Books

• Job – Sovereignty – Disasters of Job 1-2, Debates of Job 3-37, Job’s Deliverance 38-42
• Psalms – Worship – Key Chapters 1, 22, 23, 24, 37, 72, 100, 119, 121 and 150
• Proverbs – Wisdom – 2:6, 3:5-6, 8:13, 9:10, 15:1, 17:22, 22:6, 23:7, 27:17, Purpose of Proverbs 1:1-7, Proverbs to Youth 1:8-9:18, Proverbs of Solomon 10-29, Wife of Noble Character 31:10-31
• Ecclesiastes – Vanity – All is Vanity 1:1-3, Enjoy Life, It is a Gift from God 3:12-13, 3:22, 5:18-19, 8:15, 9:7-9, Fear God and Keep His Commandments 12:13-14
• Song of Solomon – Love – Courtship 1-3, Solomon Praises His Bride 4:1-15, Broadening of Love 5:2-8:14

Books of Prophecy – Seventeen Books

• Isaiah – Salvation – Prophecies of Condemnation 1-39, Suffering and Triumph of Messiah 52:13-53:12, Prophecies of Comfort 40-66
• Jeremiah – Judah’s Last Hour – Call of Jeremiah 1, New Covenant 31:31-34, Prophecies to Judah 2-45, Prophecies to Gentiles 46-51, Fall of Jerusalem 52
• Lamentations – Lamentations – Destruction of Jerusalem 1, Anger of God 2, Prayer for Mercy 3, Siege of Jerusalem 4, Prayer for Restoration 5
• Ezekiel – Restoration of Israel – Commission of Ezekiel 1-3, Judgment on Judah 4-24, Judgment on Gentiles 25-32, Restoration of Israel 33-48
• Daniel – God’s Plan for Israel – Daniel’s History 1, Fiery Furnace 3, Lion’s Den 6, Prophetic Plan for the Gentiles 2-7, Prophecy of 70 Weeks 9, Prophetic Plan for Israel 8-12
• Hosea – God’s Loyal Love for Israel – Adulterous Wife and Faithful Husband 1-3, Adulterous Israel and Faithful Lord 4-14
• Joel – The Day of the Lord – Desolation 1:2-2:17, Deliverance 2:18-3:21
• Amos – Judgment of Israel – Prophecies of Amos 1:3-2:16, Sermons of Amos 3-6, Visions of Amos 7-9
• Obadiah – Judgment of Edom – Judgment of Edom 1:1-18, Restoration of Israel 1:19-21
• Jonah – Revival in Nineveh – First Commission of Jonah 1-2, Great Fish Swallows Jonah 1:17, Second Commission of Jonah 3-4
• Micah – Judgment and Restoration of Judah – 6:8, Prediction of Judgment 1-3, Prediction of Restoration 4-5, Plea for Repentance 6-7
• Nahum – Judgment of Nineveh – Judgment of Nineveh Decreed 1, Destruction of Nineveh Described 2, Destruction of Nineveh Deserved 3
• Habakkuk – Faith – Habakkuk’s Problems 1-2, Habakkuk’s Praise 3
• Zephaniah – Judgment and Restoration in the Day of the Lord – Prophecies of Judgment 1:2-3:8, Prophecies of Blessing 3:9-20
• Haggai – Reconstruction of the Temple – Call to Construction of the Temple (Second) 1, Glory of Latter Temple 2:1-9, Present Blessings of Obedience 2:10-19, Future Blessings of Promise 2:20-23
• Zechariah – Preparation for the Messiah – Call to Repentance 1:1-6, Visions of Zechariah 1:7-6:15, Burdens Concerning the Future 9-14
• Malachi – Appeal to Backsliders – God’s Compassion for Israel 1:1-5, God’s Complaint Against Israel 1:6-3:15, God’s Condemnation of the People 3:16-4:6

• God Created the Heavens and the Earth, Genesis 1-2
• The Fall (Sin) of Man, Genesis 3
• Noah and the Flood, Genesis 6-9
• Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, Genesis 11-50
• Deliverance of God’s People from Slavery in Egypt, Exodus 1-12
• Birth of the Nation of Israel, Exodus 12
• Giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, Exodus 19-24
• Conquest of Canaan (the Promised Land), Joshua 6-12
• Period of the Judges in Israel, Judges 1-21, 1 Samuel 1-9
• Samuel, Last Judge, 1 Samuel 1-25
• King Saul (First King) Begins His Reign, 1 Samuel 10
• King David Begins His Reign, 2 Samuel 1-5
• King Solomon Begins His Reign, 1 Kings 1-3
• First Temple (Solomon’s) Dedicated in Jerusalem, 1 Kings 8
• Period of the Prophets, Isaiah to Malachi
• Israel Divided (Israel in the North, Judah in the South), 1 Kings 12
• Captivity of Israel by the Assyrians, 2 Kings 17
• Destruction of the Temple and Captivity of Judah by the Babylonians, 2 Kings 24-25
• Return of Judah to Jerusalem, Ezra 1-10
• Second Temple (Zerubbabel’s) Dedicated, Ezra 6
• Malachi, Last Old Testament Prophet, Malachi 1-4
• Messiah (Jesus) Born in Bethlehem, Matthew 2:1-12
• Jesus Crucified, Buried and Resurrected, John 19:18, 20:1-18 
• Birth of the Church (Pentecost), Acts 2
• ​Spread of Christianity, Acts 3-28