Summary of the Bible

The Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) 
39 books
Recognized by Jews and Christians ( although the Jewish ordering is different)

These can be classified as follows:

The New Testament (all Christians)

Summary of Books of Old Testament

1. Genesis - Creation, the Fall, the Flood, spread of the nations, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Enslavement in Egypt.
2. Exodus - Enslavement of Israelites in Egypt, Moses, 10 plagues on Egypt, Passover, Leaving Egypt, Red Sea Crossing, Mt. Sinai and the 10 commandments
3. Leviticus - Instructions on sacrificial system and the priesthood. Instructions on moral purity.
4. Numbers - 40 years wandering begins.
5. Deuteronomy - Moses' discourses on God's Acts for Israel the Decalogue, the ceremonial, civil, and social Laws, and covenant ratification.

Historical Books

Joshua to Samuel

1. Joshua - 7 year conquest of the Land of Promise. Partitioning the Lands to the people.
2. Judges - Time of Judges. 7 cycles of foreign oppression, repentance, and deliverance.
3. Ruth - Speaks of righteousness, love, and faithfulness to the Lord.
   

1. First Samuel - Samuel carries Israelites from judges to King Saul
2. Second Samuel - David as King, adultery, and murder.
3. First Kings - Reign of Solomon. Israel is powerful. Solomon dies in 931 B.C., then division of tribes.
4. Second Kings - The Divided Kingdom. All 19 kings of Israel were bad; captivity in Assyria (722 B.C.). In Judah, 8 of 20 rulers were good but went into exile too.
5. First Chronicles - A recounting of the history of Israel to the time of the captivities.
6. Second Chronicles - continued recounting of the life of Solomon, building of temple. History of Judah only.
   

1. Job - a righteous man tested by God. Deals with suffering and God's sovereignty.
2. Psalms - Worship in song. Large variety of subjects. Widely used in Christian worship.
3. Proverbs - Practical wisdom in everyday affairs.
4. Ecclesiastes - All is vanity. The wisdom of man is futility.
5. Song of Solomon - A song between Solomon and his bride displaying the love between a man and a woman.
   

1. Isaiah - Looks at the sin of Judah and proclaims God's judgment. Coming restoration and blessing.
2. Jeremiah - Called by God to proclaim the news of judgment to Judah, which came. God establishes a New Covenant.
3. Lamentations - Describes the defeat and fall of Jerusalem.
4. Ezekiel - Captivity in Babylon. Description of the end of times.
5. Daniel - Many visions of the future for the Gentiles and the Jews.
   

   Minor Prophets

6. Hosea - Represents God's love and faithfulness and Israel's spiritual adultery. Israel will be judged and restored.
7. Joel - Proclaims a terrifying future using the imagery of locusts. Judgment will come but blessing will follow.
8. Amos - Warning Israel of its coming judgment. Israel rejects God's warning.
9. Obadiah - Prophecy of the  destruction of Edom, a neighboring nation of Israel.
10. Jonah - Proclaims a coming judgment upon Nineveh. But they repented and judgment was spared.
11. Micah - Description of the complete moral decay in all levels of Israel. God will judge but will forgive and restore.
12. Nahum - Nineveh has gone into apostasy (approx.. 125 years after Jonah) and will be destroyed.
13. Habakkuk - Habakkuk asks God why He is not dealing with Judah's sins. God says He will use the Babylonians. Habakkuk asks how God can use a nation that is even worse than Judah.
14. Zephaniah - The theme is developed of the Day of the Lord and His judgment with a coming blessing.
15. Haggai - The people failed to put God first, by building their houses before they finished God's temple. Therefore, they had no prosperity.
16. Zechariah - Zechariah encourages the Jews to complete the temple. Many messianic prophecies.
17. Malachi. - God's people are lax in their duty to God. Growing distant from God. Moral compromise. Proclamation of coming judgment.
    

Summary of Books of New Testament

1. Matthew - Presents Jesus as the Messiah. Fulfillment of O.T. prophecy.
2. Mark - First Book. Presents Jesus as the Servant. Description of the last week of His life.
3. Luke - Presents Jesus as the Son of Man to seek and save the lost. Largest of the gospels.
4. John - Presents Jesus as God in flesh, the Christ, so that you might believe. Last of the books.
5. Acts - Historical account from Jesus’ ascension to travels of Paul in his missionary journeys.

Pauline Epistles

1. Romans - Examines the justification, sanctification, and glorification and the God’s plan for the Jews and the Gentiles.
2. 1 Corinthians - Deals with factions and corrections due to immorality, lawsuits, and abuse of the Lord’s Supper.
3. 2 Corinthians - Paul defends his apostolic position.
4. Galatians - Examines the proper place of grace in the Christian’s life.
5. Ephesians - The believer’s position in Christ and information on Spiritual warfare.
6. Hebrews - Demonstrates the superiority of Jesus over the O.T. system. Mentions the Melchizedek priesthood. (Hebrews may be of non-Pauline origin.  There is much debate on its authorship). 
7. Philippians - The imprisonment of Paul. Paul exhorts Philippians to godliness and warns them of legalism.
8. Colossians - The preeminence of Jesus in creation, redemption, and godliness.
9. 1 Thessalonians - Teachings on purity and the return of Christ.
10. 2 Thessalonians - Corrections on the Day of the Lord.
11. 1 Timothy - Proper leadership and dealings with false teachers, the role of women, prayer, and requirements of elders and deacons.
12. 2 Timothy - Encourages to be strong.
13. Titus - Requirements for elders.
14. Philemon - Forgiveness.

1. James - How to live a Christian life evidencing regeneration. James urges self examination of the evidence of the changed life.
2. 1 Peter - Encourages the reader in the light of their suffering and be humble in it. Mentions baptism.
3. 2 Peter - Deals with the person on an inward level, warnings against false teachers, and mentions the Day of the Lord.
4. 1 John - The true fellowship of the believer with other believers and with God. God is described as light and love. Encourages a holy Christian walk before the Lord. Mentions Christian love.
5. 2 John - Praise for walking in Christ and a reminder to walk in God’s love.
6. 3 John - Kindness to God’s people.
7. Jude - Exposes false teachers and uses O.T. allusions to demonstrate the judgment upon them.
8. Revelation - A highly symbolic vision of the future rebellion, judgment, and consummation of all things.