Below of helpful introductions to get your Bible study started with historical context.
The Old Testament
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah-
The people of God had been conquered by the King of Babylon for sinning against God.
They did not care for the poor or seek justice. They worshipped FAKE God’s and they pursued sexual immorality. They didn’t allow the land to rest as God had commanded them. Israel was mostly destroyed while a remnant remain.
Soon the King of Babylon was destroyed for his own sins and God used the King of Persia.
Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the King when he recieved distressing news from back home. Things were going terrible.
Nehemiah wept and then sought God in prayer. Then He went before the King of Persia and respectfully asked to go help rebuild the wall to protect the city in Jerusalem. He was given permission and became the governor of the area, much to the anger of others who were already there.
This book is about rebuilding the wall. Standing up to haters.
Seeking God again after grievous sin, repenting and finding his grace more than enough.
Esther
Job-
Job is thought to be the oldest written book of the Bible. Some believe that Moses was actually consigned by God to write it, but the author is unknown. Consider Job’s life that is blessed because of his heart for God, then see what happens to him. God actually terrorizes him. But Job didn’t sin to deserve this. The book of Job flies in the face of proverbial wisdom that says God only curses the evil and blesses the good. Here in this case, God allows the devil to hurt Job even though he has not sinned. Friends, you can follow God and still suffer. Job suffers BECAUSE he follows God.
A few things to notice:
-Look how the devil shows respect for God. Do not make him more powerful than God in your eyes. He is a mere servant here.-Notice how Job’s friends REALLY get it right at first. When someone suffers, presence and silence are often the best solace.
-While much of what Job’s friends say is “proverbially” correct, they are wrong here. He is righteous.
-God causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust, sometimes natural things around us do not make sense in the supernatural.
-While Job is mostly righteous in this story, God still has to put Him in his place.
Psalms-
The Psalms are poetry and songs. Many of them were written to be sung.
While many were written by king David, others were written by poets, priests and other kings of Israel. Some are anonymous.
1/3 of them are simply lament. Don’t skip over them! It is good for the church to lament and cry in our pain.
You will also notice sections were there is a call for God to destroy someone. Consider the context if you know it is written by David who was hunted down by king Saul and even his own son Absalom. Try to put yourself in his shoes for those texts and consider if you would be as fair as he is.In music you often have choruses, verses and bridges. Look for them. Also in music you will often see repetition used. Look for themes.
And also remember poetry uses poetic language and hyperbole. It is good to take the Bible literally most times, but sometimes it is good to ask in poetry and song if there are metaphors or similes being used because they are a part of gorgeous writing.Proverbs -
Proverbs is a book of “proverbial wisdom,” meaning these things are often or usually true. It’s good advice.
But because it’s usually true means there will be times it is not true. Sometimes those who are evil thrive, even still we know their time will be up. Sometimes we don’t see consequences for sin in this life, but they will come. If you read proverbs like good advice, you will thrive.Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon-
A song between a loving husband and wife. This book get’s a bit, uh…racy at times. Probably not a great Bible study for a group unless it’s spouses. But who knows? One encouragement is to consider the love between Jesus and His Bride, the church. He loves the church as a bridegroom loves the bride.Isaiah-
The book of Isaiah was written about 700 years before the birth of Christ. It was written during a turbulent and sinful period in the nation of Israel. Many were worshiping false gods and even killing their children as acts of worship to these fake God’s. One king even killed his own child in the fire in his sinful act of idolatry. When we reject God, it is apparent in other sinful ways. In particular Israel had been oppressing the poor and mistreating them. Their prayers reached God’s ears and he was angry. Isaiah’s job was to tell sinful Israel about their sins and call them to repentance, knowing they would eventually not listen. While King Hezekiah actually listened, repented and was spared, he still sinned toward the end of His life and guaranteed the exile of his people. Chapters 40 and beyond are after their 70 year exile to Babylon begins, where we have the promise that God will rescue them from their oppressors. But even more we have a promise of a coming messiah, who will rescue Israel from her sins.Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea-
Like other times. Israel has rejected their God and so he will turn them over to their false gods. And still God calls them home again and again. The image of Gomer is a beautiful image for those who have run from God and strayed again and again. No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, God makes a way for you. God pays the way for you to return. Gomer strays, just like Israel and still Hosea loves her. He actually buys her back. In the same way, not matter how much we stray, Jesus purchases us with His blood so He might be the perfect husband to his bride. (That’s us the church.) There are many warnings in Hosea, calling God’s people back to him. But as you know, Israel, like us rarely listens.Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah-
God called Jonah to share a message of repentance with his enemies, the Assyrians. But knowing God might forgive, Jonah rebelled and went the opposite way. It’s easy for us to judge Jonah, but we must understand. Assyria at the time was known to be the most brutal regime. But make no mistake, Jonah was wrong in wanting to see the Assyrian’s destroyed. But at the time Nineveh was one of the largest cities in the world and God had compassion for the people of the city. God calls us to share good news with our enemies, not because he wants them destroyed, but because he wants them to repent and be reconciled to them.Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
The New Testament
Matthew
Mark
Luke -
Luke is a narrative (story) of the life of Christ, written by a doctor named LUKE to his friend or sponsor named. Theophilus. Theophilus was most likely a non Jewish leader in the Roman government and may have even paid Luke to compile the book, as well as the book of Acts.
Luke states his purpose of writing in chapter 1: “So that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.”
The book of Luke is often called the “Gospel for the oppressed” or the “Gospel for women” because it not only shows the suffering of Israel for many years as they waited for Jesus the messiah, but it also shows God’s love for those who found themselves at the bottom of society.
While Luke was not present for the events we read, he has compiled it from many eye witnesses who saw the life and work of Jesus Christ. This gives Luke the unique advantage of being able to write out the prayers and thoughts of those who were actually there.John
Acts (of the Apostles) - Written by Luke as well and sent off to Theopholis. Luke is hoping to help him understand the beauty of belonging to Jesus. Acts has been called the story of the church. It has also been called the story of the Holy Spirit. It is surely both. It also dispels the myth that following Jesus means you will be blessed materially. Following Jesus often can mean suffering, but God also gives us JOY to suffer well.
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews-
The book of Hebrews was written by an unknown author. While many believe it to be the apostle Paul, it is still a mystery.
Hebrews was written most likely to Jewish believers who converted and followed Jesus as the Messiah, or Jewish folks who had yet to decide who they thought Jesus was. The author makes a point about how everything in the Old Testament was pointing to the greater version in Jesus. The tabernacle or tent of worship was a shadow when compared to the true temple. In the same way, a sacrificial lamb was only pointing to the final sacrificial lamb in Jesus. A high priest with his own sins was only a shadow when compared to the GREAT and perfect high priest in Jesus. King David was a shadow when compared to the GREAT king Jesus who would sit on the throne forever. Much of the book speaks of Judiasm pointing to Jesus. Jesus, Himself made a point much like this after his resurrection when he taught the disciples how the whole Bible was about Him!
See Luke 24:27
“ Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.”
Extra note:
Hebrews is a beautiful book but when you get stumped on Melchizedek it’s okay to find outside sources to help you understand.
Your pastoral leadership can help or can recommend books.James-
It is widely agreed this letter was written by James, the Brother of Jesus. This letter is a general epistle, which means it wasn’t written to any specific church. Because honestly, these problems apply to all of us. James points out that faith shows itself true through our actions. And while actions do not EARN our salvation with Jesus, they do reveal the nature of our faith. And if our actions or “works” are a sign of our faith then it should influence the way we treat the poor, the way we treat others in the church, the way we suffer through trials and the way we live out our faith in the public eye. For how can we hear the word of God and not obey in all areas?1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation