Bible Students

Pentateuch

Author: This book has two potential authors, either Moses (the traditionally held view) or a series of compilers around the Babylonian captivity (documentary hypothesis). Both views, however, require editors later than the time of Moses, who adjusted new place names. 

Date of Writing: 1800 BC, 400 BC

Original Audience: Israelites, either soon after the Egyptian captivity, or sometime during/after the Babylonian captivity. 

Occasion of Writing: With either date of composition, the book serves the same purpose. The nation of Israel had been kept in captivity (either in Egypt or Babylon), and eventually became a freed nation.

Type of Literature: A recounting of the marriage and vows between God and Israel (intertwined law and historical narrative). 

Genesis

Major Themes: God’s sovereignty over creation; God’s care for Israel; The Patriarch’s rebellions; Sexual misconduct and the need for the Law; The origin of Israel

Type of Literature: The first eleven chapters are primeval history, and has been interpreted both to be literal and a literary framework for more complicated historical events. The second thirty-nine chapters are historical narrative. 

Key Verse: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen. 1:1, NKJV) and “Now the Lord had said to Abram: “… I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.’” (Gen. 12:1-2). 

One-Sentence Summary: The book of Genesis provides Israelites with an origin story of both the world as they know it (the first eleven chapters) and the nation of Israel (the latter thirty-nine chapters).

Outline:

1. The Prelude to Israel (1-11)
   1. Creation and Its Nature (1-2)
   2. Sin and Its Nature (3-11)
2. The Patriarchs: Ancestors of Israel’s Faith (12-50)
   1. Abraham and Isaac (12-25)
   2. Jacob and His Twelve Sons (25:19-36:43)
   3. Joseph (37-50)

Exodus

Major Themes: God’s sovereignty over creation and Israel; God’s character revealed through the Law; Deliverance from physical and spiritual bondage. 

Key Verse: Exodus 33:16, “For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.” (NKJV)

One-Sentence Summary: The book of Exodus recounts the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage, as well as the marriage vows between God and Israel. 

Outline:

1. Oppression and Deliverance (1:1-15:21)
2. The Journey to Mount Sinai (15:22-19:2)
3. The Sinai Covenant (19:3-24:18)
4. Instructions for Israel’s Sanctuary (25:1-31:18)
5. Apostasy and Intercession (32:1-33:23)
6. The New Tablets (34:1-35)
7. Execution of Sanctuary Instructions (35:1-40:38)

Leviticus

Major Themes: God’s character and expectations for Israel; Cleanliness and uncleanliness; Sin and atonement

Key Verse: Leviticus 10:10, “that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean” (NKJV)

One-Sentence Summary: The book of Leviticus gives regulations for the Levites of Israel, regarding presenting Israel clean before God. 

Outline:

1. The Offerings (1:1-7:38)
2. The Priesthood (8:1-10:20)
3. Cleanness and Uncleanness (11:1-16:34)
4. The Holiness Code (17:1-27:34)

Numbers

Major Themes: God’s sovereignty over creation and Israel; God’s patience; Israel’s rebellion. 

Key Verse: Numbers 6:22-27, “22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 ‘Tell Aaron and his sons, “This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.’ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”’” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: The book of Numbers recounts Israel’s wanderings through the wilderness, especially their failure to uphold the marriage vows from Exodus and Leviticus. 

Outline:

1. At Sinai (1:1-10:10)
2. From Sinai to Edom (10:11-20:21)
3. From Edom to the Jordan (20:22-36:13)

Deuteronomy

Major Themes: God’s sovereignty over creation and Israel; God’s character revealed through the Law; God’s expectations for modern Israel. 

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (KJV)

One-Sentence Summary: The book of Deuteronomy gives the expectations for the new generation entering Israel, both from Egypt and from Babylon. 

Outline:

1. Prologue (1:1-5)
2. God’s Faithfulness (1:6-4:43)
3. The Covenant Way of Life (4:44-26:19)
4. Covenant Sanctions (27:1-31:30)
5. Appendixes (32:1-34:12)

Former Prophets

Author: All of the historical books are anonymous.

Date of Writing: The books may have been written soon after the recorded events finished, or later compiled and curated some time during the exile. 

Original Audience: Depending on the date of composition, the audience may have been Israelites in Israel pre-exile, or the exilic/post-exilic Jews. 

Occasion of Writing: These books are largely political. The need for a righteous ruler (possibly a king) is prevalent throughout the books. Even Ruth, which does not center on mainstream politics of the time, centers on the ethnic struggle between Jews and Gentiles. 

Major Themes: Sovereignty, rebellion, faithfulness, God’s love, the need for a righteous king.

Type of Literature: Historical narrative, with some poetry. Political polemic.

One-Sentence Summary: God’s workings through the history of Israel and the need for a righteous ruler.

Joshua

Author: Probably Joshua, due to eyewitness accuracy, though possibly Samuel compiling earlier documents closer to the events.

Date of Writing: Around 1380 (Joshua) or 1050 (Samuel).

Original Audience: The first audience is likely the people of Israel before the kingship.

Occasion of Writing: The Israelites needed reminding of God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises. 

Major Themes: Taking of the Promised Land, the fulfillment of God’s promises

Type of Literature: Historical narrative. 

Key Verse: Joshua 21:44-45, “The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: God uses Joshua to take the Israelites into the Promised Land. 

Outline:

1. Israel Conquers the Land (1:1-12:24)
2. Israel Divides the Land (13:1-21:45)
3. Israel Begins to Settle into the Land (22:1-24:33)

Judges

Author: Unknown, possibly Samuel.

Date of Writing: If Samuel, then possibly around 1050.

Original Audience: The Israelites before the kingship. 

Occasion of Writing: The Israelites needed reminding of God’s deliverance of them from enemy oppression, as well as a reminder of God’s faithfulness in their recent past. 

Major Themes: No kingship in Israel, unruliness of Israel, God’s care for Israel

Type of Literature: Historical narrative. 

Key Verse: Judges 21:25, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: Israelite history before central leadership consisted of cycles of rebellion, oppression, and God’s deliverance. 

Outline:

1. The Incomplete Conquest (1:1-2:5)
2. Covenant Disobedience and Judgment (2:6-16:31)
3. The Collapse of Society (17:1-21:25)

Ruth

Author: Unknown. 

Date of Writing: Unknown. Possibly around the time of Nehemiah, though likely between 1000 and 500. 

Original Audience and Occasion of Writing: Unknown, though the themes of the book suggest a time when a large portion of Israelites disliked non-Jews. 

Major Themes: God’s care for Gentiles, redemption.

Type of Literature: Historical narrative.

Key Verse: Ruth 4:14, “The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: Ruth, a Gentile, was redeemed through a relative and brought into the ancestry of David. 

Outline:

1. Introduction (1:1-5)
2. Return to Bethlehem (1:6-22)
3. Ruth Encounters Boaz (2:1-23)
4. Ruth Visits the Threshing Floor (3:1-18)
5. Boaz Redeems and Marries Ruth (4:1-17)
6. Concluding Genealogy (4:18-22)

Samuel

Author: Unknown, could not be Samuel, as he died less than mid-way through. 

Date of Writing: Possibly around 950, during a time of political unrest in Israel. 

Original Audience: Unknown, though likely to an audience of political unrest. 

Occasion of Writing: The themes of this book suggest a mixed audience of pro- and anti-Davidic rulership, likely after the divide of Israel and Judah. 

Major Themes: David’s right to the throne, God’s defense and protection of David.

Type of Literature: Historical narrative. 

Key Verse(s): 1 Samuel 18:7, “7 As they danced, they sang: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.’” (NIV) and 2 Samuel 7:16, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: God chose a man after His own heart to lead His nation and preserved him through strong opposition. 

Outline:

1 Samuel

1. A Period of Transition (1:1-15:35)
2. David’s Rise and Saul’s Decline (16:1-31:13)

2 Samuel

1. David’s Rise to Power in Judah (1:1-4:12)
2. David’s Reign over All Israel (5:1-24:25)

Kings

Author: Unknown, possibly Jeremiah.

Date of Writing: If Jeremiah, around 560.

Original Audience: If Jeremiah, Israelites in exile. 

Occasion of Writing: The book ends after the exile of Israel and Judah, so this book likely serves as an encouragement to the exiles of God’s sovereignty throughout Israel’s theocratic history. 

Major Themes: God’s sovereignty and superiority, the retributive principle, evil and righteous kings, the superiority of Judah over Israel

Type of Literature: Historical narrative.

Key Verse: 1 Kings 11:35-36, “I will take the kingdom from his son’s hands and give you ten tribes. I will give one tribe to his son so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put my Name.” (NIV) and 2 Kings 17:22-23, “The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them until the Lord removed them from his presence, as he had warned through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: Though God cares deeply for Israel, the kingship continues to fall further into idolatry until they are sent into exile, showing the need for a righteous ruler. 

Outline:

1 Kings

1. The United Kingdom under Solomon (1:1-11:43)
2. The Divided Kingdom (21:1-22:53)

2 Kings

1. The Divided Kingdom–continued from 1 Kings (1:1-17:41)
2. The Kingdom of Judah Alone (18:1-25:30)

Chronicles

Author: Unknown, possibly Ezra.

Date of Writing: If Ezra, around 450. The book ends after the return from exile to Jerusalem.

Original Audience: Exiles returning to Israel, exiles in Persia. 

Occasion of Writing: After returning from the pagan exile, Israel needed a theological understanding of Israel’s history. 

Major Themes: Proper priesthood, God’s sovereignty and care.

Type of Literature: Historical narrative. 

Key Verse: 1 Chronicles 28:4, “Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.” (NIV), 2 Chronicles 7:1, “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” (NIV), 2 Chronicles 36:19, “They set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: God’s sovereignty through Israel’s history, the righteous priesthood, and the need for a proper priest to represent Israel before God. 

Outline:

1 Chronicles

1. Genealogies (1:1-9:44)
2. The Reign of David (10:1-29:30)

2 Chronicles

1. The Reign of Solomon (1:1-9:44)
2. The Kingdom of Judah (10:1-36:23)

Ezra/Nehemiah

Ezra and Nehemiah were likely originally one book, so are treated as one composition.

Author: Unknown, possibly Ezra.

Date of Writing: If Ezra, around 430.

Original Audience: Israelites returning from exile, or shortly after.

Occasion of Writing: The Israelites had returned from exile.

Major Themes: God’s restoration of Israel and continual care, the fulfillment of God’s promises, the return of God’s presence to the Temple.

Type of Literature: Historical narrative, and legal documents. 

Key Verse: Ezra 6:16, “Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.” (NIV) and Nehemiah 6:15, “So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: God delivered the Israelites from exile back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and city walls. 

Outline:

Ezra

1. First Return (1:1-2:70)
2. Restoration of the Temple (3:1-6:22)
3. Second Return (7:1-8:36)
4. Intermarriage (9:1-15)
5. Confession and Separation (10:1-44)

Nehemiah

1. A Pathetic Report (1:1-11)
2. Nehemiah’s Commissioning (2:1-20)
3. Jerusalem’s Wall and Gates (3:1-7:3)
4. The Exiles (7:4-73)
5. Spiritual Renewal (8:1-10:39)
6. Residents, Priests, and Levites (11:1-12:26)
7. Dedication of the Wall (12:27-47)
8. Final Reforms (13:1-31)

Esther

Author: Unknown, possibly Mordecai due to eye-witness details. 

Date of Writing: If Mordecai, around 465.

Original Audience: Likely exiles in Persia, though could also be a story taken to Jerusalem.

Occasion of Writing: If in Persia, Israelites in need of encouragement and the reminder of God’s sovereignty and love for them. If in Jerusalem, Israelites in need of reminder of God’s care for all of Israel, even exiles. 

Major Themes: God’s sovereignty and deliverance. 

Type of Literature: Historical narrative. 

Key Verse: Esther 4:14, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: God saves the Jewish people from extermination in Persia through his servants Esther and Mordecai. 

Outline:

1. Vashti’s Refusal (1)
2. Esther’s Accession (2:1-18)
3. Mordecai’s Service (2:19-23)
4. Haman’s Plot (3)
5. Mordecai’s Request (4)
6. Esther’s Request (5)
7. Mordecai’s Reward (6)
8. Haman’s Punishment (7)
9. The King’s Edict (8)
10. The Jews’ Triumph (9)

Writings

Authors: Largely anonymous or from a great multitude of authors, compiled into one piece.

Original Audience: Either compiled for Israelites in the divided kingdom or in exile for encouragement and wisdom in order to live a God-fearing life. 

Occasion of Writing: All of the writings were written to the Israelites for their day to day life in order to navigate their world, themselves, and their relationships. 

Major Themes: Wisdom, lament, love, praise, righteousness, folly, seduction. 

Type of Literature: Largely wisdom and poetry. 

One-Sentence Summary: The righteous man seeks the Lord. 

Job

Author: Unknown.

Date of Writing: Possibly around 950, during the time of other wisdom literature. 

Original Audience: Unknown specific audience, though religiously Israelite. 

Occasion of Writing: God’s people wrestled with the problem of suffering. 

Major Themes: Suffering, retribution, destruction of the wicked, God’s sovereignty, God’s power. 

Type of Literature: Wisdom and narrative. 

Key Verse: Job 1:21, “and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.’” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: Job, an upright man who lost everything, wrestles through the problem of suffering with his unhelpful friends. 

Outline:

1. Prologue (1:1-2:13)
2. Dialogue (3:1-27:23)
3. Hymn on Wisdom (28:1-28)
4. Job’s Oration (29:1-31:40)
5. Elihu’s Speeches (32:1-37:24)
6. The Lord’s Speeches (38:1-42:6)
7. Epilogue (42:2-17)

Psalms

Author: Unknown compiler, many original authors.

Date of Writing: Likely finally compiled around 400. 

Original Audience: Israelites throughout the ages, though specifically those who returned from exile. 

Occasion of Writing: God’s people needed direction for worshiping and remembering God. 

Major Themes: Destruction of the wicked, salvation of the righteous, supremacy of God, sorrow, joy, anger, fear, love. 

Type of Literature: Poetry, lament, wisdom, praise. 

Key Verse: Psalm 150:6, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: The people of God had returned to His land, and pulled from the music of Israel’s history to form a theological hymn-book. 

Outline:

1. Book I (1-41)
2. Book II (42-72)
3. Book III (73-89)
4. Book IV (90-106)
5. Book V (107-150)

Proverbs

Author: Unknown compiler, contributions from Solomon and a few other kings. 

Date of Writing: Original content written around 900-750. Compilation unknown. 

Original Audience: Israelites in the divided kingdom or exile.

Occasion of Writing: These individuals needed wisdom for living a life honoring to God in a world who did not honor Him. . 

Major Themes: Life, death, adultery, wisdom, foolishness, righteousness, deceit. 

Type of Literature: Wisdom literature. 

Key Verse: Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: The right life consists of following God in all areas. 

Outline:

1. Title and Prologue (1:1-7)
2. Wisdom and Some Opponents (1:8-9:18)
3. The Proverbs of Solomon (10:1-22:16)
4. Sayings of the Wise Men (22:17-24:34)
5. Proverbs from Hezekiah’s Collection (25:1-29:27)
6. Sayings of Agur (30:1-33)
7. Sayings of Lemuel (31:1-9)
8. Postscript: The Excellent Wife (31:10-31)

Ecclesiastes

Author: Unknown, possibly Solomon. 

Date of Writing: If Solomon, at the end of his reign, around 935. 

Original Audience: The united or divided kingdom of Israel. 

Occasion of Writing: Israel needed wisdom for living a life honoring to God. 

Major Themes: Vanity, purpose, death, godlessness, wisdom, righteousness. 

Type of Literature: Wisdom literature. 

Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 1:2, “‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher.‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.’” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: Humans can do nothing of meaning apart from God. 

Outline:

1. Title and Theme (1:1-11)
2. Wisdom Reflections (1:12-4:16)
3. Admonitions and Observations (5:1-12:8)
4. Conclusion (12:9-14)

Song of Songs

Author: Unknown, possibly Solomon. 

Date of Writing: If Solomon, possibly at the beginning of his reign, around 965. 

Original Audience: Israelites in the united or divided kingdom. 

Occasion of Writing: The people of God needed wisdom and guidance for living a life honoring to God. 

Major Themes: Love, marriage, enjoyment, faithfulness. 

Type of Literature: Poetry

Key Verse: Song of Songs 6:3, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine; he browses among the lilies.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: Two lovers celebrate the journey to marriage and the loving union which follows. 

Outline:

1. Love’s Strong Desire (1:1-2:7)
2. Love Lost and Found (2:8-3:5)
3. Celebration and Consummation (3:6-5:1)
4. Love’s Anxiety and Consummation (5:2-8:4)
5. Love’s Affirmation and Consummation (8:5-14)

Latter Prophets

Author: Prophetic books were written either by the prophet themselves or a later compiler of the prophet’s original writings. 

Audience and Occasion of Writing: The original audience for most of these books was likely the contemporaries of the prophets themselves, with the books written down and distributed in order to make the prophetic words known. The shared occasion is the prophecies themselves and the need for them to be made known to the people. 

Major Themes: Rebellion, idolatry, judgment, repentance, mercy, salvation.

Type of Literature: Prophetic works consist of two main types of literature: biography (often in the form of recounting both visions and historical events) and poetry (recounting visions or God’s words).

One-Sentence Summary: Turn from the Lord and face destruction, but turn to the Lord and find salvation. 

Isaiah

Author: Likely Isaiah, though possibly a later compiler of Isaiah’s words. 

Date of Writing: If Isaiah, around 680.

Original Audience: Individuals in Judah and surrounding nations. 

Occasion of Writing: If Judah did not repent, God would send them into exile in Babylon. 

Major Themes: Trust in God, obedience, the suffering servant.

Type of Literature: Biography, poetry (prophecy).

Key Verse: Isaiah 1:19-20, “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: If Judah did not repent they would be sent into exile, but even in this darkness a suffering servant would come from God to save them. 

Outline:

1. Opening Words to Judah (1:1-31)
2. God’s Judgment Revealed (2:1-5:30)
3. Isaiah’s Call (6:1-13)
4. Sign of Immanuel (7:1-17)
5. The Coming Assyrian Invasion (7:18-8:22)
6. Description of the Messianic Era (9:1-7)
7. Judgment Against Israel (9:8-10:4)
8. Judgment against Assyria (10:5-34)
9. Further Description of the Messianic Era (11:1-12:6)
10. Oracles against the Nations (13:1-23:18)
11. The “Little Apocalypse” (24:1-27:13)
12. Oracles of Woe (28:1-33:24)
13. Eschatological Summation (34:1-35:10)
14. Historical Interlude: Highlights and Lowlights from Hezekiah’s Reign (36:1-39:8)
15. Comfort, O Comfort My People (40)
16. The Coming Deliverance (41)
17. The Role of the Lord’s Servant (42)
18. Israel’s Redemption from Babylon (43-45)
19. Judgment against Babylon (46:1-47:15)
20. Israel’s Release and Exaltation (48:1-52:12)
21. The Suffering Servant (52:13-53:12)
22. Celebrating the Return (54-59)
23. The Climax of God’s Restoration (60-66)

Jeremiah

Author: Likely Jeremiah.

Date of Writing: If Jeremiah, around 680.

Original Audience: Likely Jeremiah’s contemporaries and groups in surrounding nations. 

Occasion of Writing: God’s people were about to be sent into exile, but God was not done with them. 

Major Themes: Exile, God’s judgment, God’s deliverance, repentance, sin. 

Type of Literature: Biography, poetry (prophecy).

Key Verse: Jeremiah 31:31, “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.’” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: Captivity would come, but God would save His people in the future if they turn back to Him. 

Outline:

1. God Calls Jeremiah to Service (1)
2. Jeremiah Describes Judah’s Sad Condition (2-10)
3. Jeremiah Wrestles with People and with God (11-20)
4. Jeremiah Challenges Rulers and Prophets (21-29)
5. The Book of Comfort (30-33)
6. The Failure of Jerusalem’s Leadership (34-39)
7. Jerusalem after Its Fall (40-45)
8. Oracles about the Nations (46-51)
9. Jerusalem’s Fall Revisited (52)

Lamentations

Author: Unknown, possibly Jeremiah, likely a witness to the fall of Jerusalem. 

Date of Writing: Soon after 586. 

Original Audience: Those who resonated with the dirge would likely be the witnesses to the fall of Jerusalem in exile. 

Occasion of Writing: The exiles needed theological guidance to understand what God was doing with the fall of Jerusalem.

Major Themes: Lament, destruction, hope in God, repentance. 

Type of Literature: Lament. 

Key Verse: Lamentations 1:1, “How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: God’s city, Jerusalem, had been destroyed, but God had not been defeated, nor had He abandoned Israel. 

Outline:

1. Jerusalem’s Lament (1)
2. Jerusalem’s Angry God (2)
3. Judah’s Lament (3)
4. Judah’s Utter Ruin (4)
5. Judah’s Plea (5)

Ezekiel

Author: Possibly Ezekiel

Date of Writing: If Ezekiel, around 570.

Original Audience: The contemporaries of Ezekiel. 

Occasion of Writing: The Temple was destroyed, and the presence of God left Israel, but God was not done with them. 

Major Themes: God’s sovereign destruction of Jerusalem, salvation, a new and better Temple.

Type of Literature: Prophecy, biography. 

Key Verse: Ezekiel 38:23, “And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: It is God who will destroy the Temple, but He will rebuild it more perfectly in His timing.

Outline:

1. Oracles and Events Relating to Ezekiel’s Call (1-5)
2. The Day of the Lord (6-7)
3. God’s Glory Departs (8-11)
4. The Judgment against Jerusalem (12-24)
5. Oracles against the Nations (25-32)
6. Israel’s Restoration (33-39)
7. Israel’s New Temple (40-48)

Daniel

Author: Possibly Daniel.

Date of Writing: If Daniel, around 530. 

Original Audience: Israelites in Babylon.

Occasion of Writing: Israelites in Babylon needed wisdom for living and encouragement of God’s sovereign rule. 

Major Themes: Wisdom, faithfulness, God’s sovereignty, battle of different kingdoms. 

Type of Literature: Prophecy and historical narrative. 

Key Verse: Daniel Daniel 4:3, “How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: Daniel’s God is sovereign outside of Israel, even over the whole world. 

Outline:

1. The Preparation of Daniel and His Friends (1)
2. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream and Daniel’s Interpretation (2)
3. The Fiery Furnace (3)
4. Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream and Daniel’s Interpretation (4)
5. The Writing on the Wall (5)
6. The Lion’s Den (6)
7. Vision of the Four Beasts (7)
8. Vision of the Two Kingdoms (8)
9. Daniel’s Prayer and Visions of the Seventy Weeks (9)
10. Message of Encouragement (10-11)
11. Troubles and Victory (12)

Hosea

Author: Possibly Hosea.

Date of Writing: Around 715

Original Audience: Contemporaries of Hosea, Israelites in the northern Kingdom.

Occasion of Writing: God was displeased with the unfaithfulness of Israel and wanted her to repent. 

Major Themes: Unfaithfulness, reconciliation, grace and mercy. 

Type of Literature: Biography and prophecy. 

Key Verse: Hosea 1:10, “Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: Through the parallelism of Hosea and his adulterous wife Gomer, God communicates His displeasure with Israel’s unfaithfulness. 

Outline:

1. Adulterous Wife and Faithful Husband (1:1-3:5)
2. The Adulterous Israel and Faithful Lord (4:1-14:9)

Joel

Author: Possibly Joel.

Date of Writing: Either around 900 or 500, during the divided kingdom or the return from exile. 

Original Audience: Judahites in Jerusalem after or during a famine. 

Occasion of Writing: A plague of locusts had ravaged Judah.

Major Themes: Famine, destruction, God’s judgment. 

Type of Literature: Poetry, historical commentary

Key Verse: Joel 1:4, “What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten; what the great locusts have left the young locusts have eaten; what the young locusts have left other locusts have eaten.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: A plague of locusts destroyed Judah, but God’s judgment on the Day of the Lord would far surpass this if the nations did not repent. 

Outline:

1. The Day of the Lord in Retrospect (1:1-20)
2. The Day of the Lord in Prospect (2:1-3:21)

Amos

Author: Possibly Amos. 

Date of Writing: If Amos, around 750. 

Original Audience: Many nations, including Judah, but mostly northern Israel. 

Occasion of Writing: Idolatry in the nations, which God was displeased with

Major Themes: Idolatry, God’s judgment, restoration

Type of Literature: Historical commentary, poetry

Key Verse: Amos 5:24, “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: God was displeased with the idolatry of many nations and reward them with judgment for sin but restoration for repentance. 

Outline:

1. Introduction to Amos (1:1-2)
2. The Eight Judgments (1:3-2:16)
3. The Three Sermons of Judgment (3:1-6:14)
4. The Five Visions of Judgment (7:1-9:10)
5. The Five Promises of the Restoration (9:11-15)

Obadiah

Author: Possibly Obadiah.

Date of Writing: Around 585-550.

Original Audience: Edomites of Seir and Judahites of Zion. 

Occasion of Writing: God was displeased with the pride of Edom and Judah. 

Major Themes: Pride, violence, and judgment.

Type of Literature: Poetry

Key Verse: Obadiah 1:15, “The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: Edom’s pride and violence would be its downfall. 

Outline:

1. The Predictions of Judgment on Edom (1-9)
2. The Reasons for the Judgment on Edom (10-14)
3. The Results of the Judgment on Edom (15-18)
4. The Possession of Edom by Israel (19-21)

Jonah

Author: Unknown, likely Jonah due to eye-witness details. 

Date of Writing: Around 780.

Original Audience: Likely Israelites and Judahites. 

Occasion of Writing: This book acts as a correction and polemic to God’s people of God’s care for Gentile nations and the absurdity of hating who God does not hate. 

Major Themes: God’s rightful love, man’s hatred, God’s sovereignty. 

Type of Literature: Biography

Key Verse: Jonah 4:11, “And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: God reaches the Ninevites through His unwilling and stubborn servant Jonah. 

Outline:

1. The First Commission of Jonah (1:1-2:10)
2. The second Commission of Jonah (3:1-4:11)

Micah

Author: Possibly Micah. 

Date of Writing: Around 700. 

Original Audience: Judahites mainly, but also Israelites. 

Occasion of Writing: Judah must repent from idolatry or go into exile. 

Major Themes: Repentance, idolatry, God’s love, God’s judgment. 

Type of Literature: Poetry, historical commentary.

Key Verse: Micah 3:8, “But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: Judah must repent of its idolatry or go into exile. 

Outline:

1. The Prediction of Judgment (1:1-3:12)
2. The Prediction of Restoration (4:1-5:15)
3. The Plea for Repentance (6:1-7:20)

Nahum

Author: Possibly Nahum. 

Date of Writing: Around 650. 

Original Audience: Nineveh mainly, but also Israelites who were oppressed by Nineveh. 

Occasion of Writing: Nineveh was an oppressive nation, especially exerting force on Israel. God was displeased with this. 

Major Themes: God’s displeasure, judgment, destruction, extreme wickedness.

Type of Literature: Prophecy.

Key Verse: Nahum 1:2, “The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: Nineveh must repent from its oppression of other nations or be destroyed and never rise again. 

Outline:

1. The Destruction of Nineveh is Decreed (1:1-15)
2. The Destruction of Nineveh is Described (2:1-13)
3. The Destruction of Nineveh is Deserved (3:1-19)

Habakkuk

Author: Possibly Habakkuk. 

Date of Writing: Around 610. 

Original Audience: Judahites, though applicable to northern Israelites as well. 

Occasion of Writing: Habakkuk and the Judahites wondered about God’s justice and the nature of evil and punishment in light of the Assyrian exile of Israel. 

Major Themes: Evil, punishment, justice, rejoicing. 

Type of Literature: Dialogue, prophecy.

Key Verse: Habakkuk 2:4, “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright—but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: Habakkuk questions God about the nature of evil and punishment, but the prophet eventually rejoices in God. 

Outline:

1. The Problems of Habakkuk (1:1-2:20)
2. The Praise of Habakkuk (3:1-19)

Zephaniah

Author: Possibly Zephaniah. 

Date of Writing: Around 625. 

Original Audience: Unrepentant Judahites. 

Occasion of Writing: The Judahites were in rebellion to God, and God warned them of the Day of the Lord and the coming judgment.

Major Themes: Judgment, God’s rule, Day of the Lord. 

Type of Literature: Prophecy, historical commentary. 

Key Verse: Zephaniah 3:17, “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: Judah must repent or face judgment on the Day of the Lord. 

Outline:

1. The Judgment in the Day of the Lord (1:1-3:8)
2. The Salvation in the Day of the Lord (3:9-20)

Haggai

Author: Possibly Haggai. 

Date of Writing: Around 520. 

Original Audience: Citizens of Jerusalem, after the return from exile. 

Occasion of Writing: The returned exiles were discouraged from their building of the Temple and needed encouragement to return. 

Major Themes: Faithfulness, God’s promises, building anew, glory. 

Type of Literature: Prophecy, historical commentary. 

Key Verse: Haggai 1:8, “‘Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,’ says the Lord.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: God commanded the citizens of Jerusalem to continue to rebuild the Temple and promised glory for the Temple. 

Outline:

1. The Completion of the Latter Temple (1:1-15)
2. The Glory of the Latter Temple (2:1-9)
3. The Present Blessings of Obedience (2:10-19)
4. The Future Blessings Through Promise (2:20-23) 

Zechariah

Author: Possibly Zechariah. 

Date of Writing: Around 518. 

Original Audience: Citizens of Jerusalem after the return from exile. 

Occasion of Writing: The citizens needed encouragement to continue to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. 

Major Themes: Building anew, God’s faithfulness, man’s faithfulness, prosperity, future King.

Type of Literature: Prophecy, historical commentary

Key Verse: Zechariah 8:3, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.’” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: God commanded the people to continue to build the city of God, which would prosper and bring a new and greater King. 

Outline:

1. The Call to Repentance (1:1-6)
2. The Eight Visions of Zechariah (1:7-6:8)
3. The Crowning of Joshua (6:9-15)
4. The Question of Fasting (7:1-3)
5. The Four Messages of Zechariah (7:4-8:23)
6. The Two Burdens of Zechariah (9:1-14:21)

Malachi

Author: Possibly Malachi. 

Date of Writing: 450 or 420. 

Original Audience: Judahites after the return from exile. 

Occasion of Writing: God’s people were not following the Law or anticipating the coming Messiah. 

Major Themes: Salvation, disobedience, preparation, anticipation.

Type of Literature: Prophecy.

Key Verse: Malachi 1:11, “‘My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (NIV)

One-Sentence Summary: God’s people were violating the Law, but a messenger would come and make the Lord’s path straight. 

Outline:

1. The Privilege of the Nation (1:1-5)
2. The Pollution of the Nation (1:6-3:15)
3. The Promises to the Nation (3:16-4:6)

Bibliography

Arnold, Bill T. and Bryan E. Beyer. Encountering the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing, 2008.

B&H Editorial Staff. Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference Publishers, 2012.