Themes of the Bible
Themes of the Bible
The Old Testament
Genesis................................................................. Beginnings
Exodus................................................................... Deliverance
Leviticus................................................................ Instruction
Numbers................................................................ Journeys
Deuteronomy........................................................ Obedience
Joshua................................................................... Conquest
Judges................................................................... Deterioration and deliverance
Ruth........................................................................ Redemption
1 Samuel................................................................ Transition
2 Samuel................................................................ Unification
1 Kings................................................................... Disruption
2 Kings................................................................... Dispersion
1 Chronicles.........................................................
2 Chronicles.........................................................
Ezra........................................................................ Restoration
Nehemiah.............................................................. Reconstruction
Esther.................................................................... Preservation
Job.......................................................................... Blessings through suffering
Psalms................................................................... Praise
Proverbs................................................................ Practical wisdom
Ecclesiastes......................................................... All is vanity apart from God
Song of Solomon................................................. Love and marriage
Isaiah...................................................................... Salvation
Jeremiah................................................................ Judgment
Lamentations........................................................ Lament
Ezekiel................................................................... The glory of the Lord
Daniel..................................................................... The sovereignty of God
Hosea..................................................................... Unfaithfulness
Joel......................................................................... The day of the Lord
Amos...................................................................... Judgment
Obadiah................................................................. Righteous judgment
Jonah..................................................................... God’s grace to all people
Micah..................................................................... Divine judgment
Nahum.................................................................... Consolation
Habakkuk............................................................. Trusting a sovereign God
Zephaniah............................................................. The “great day of the LORD”
Haggai................................................................... Rebuilding the temple
Zechariah............................................................. God’s deliverance
Malachi.................................................................. Formalism rebuked
Matthew................................................................. The
Mark....................................................................... The Suffering Servant
Luke....................................................................... The Perfect Man
John....................................................................... The Son of God
Acts........................................................................ The spread of the gospel
Romans................................................................. The righteousness of God
1 Corinthians....................................................... Christian conduct
2 Corinthians....................................................... Paul’s defense of his apostleship
Galatians.............................................................. Freedom in Christ
Ephesians............................................................. Blessings in Christ
Philippians............................................................ The joy-filled life
Colossians........................................................... The supremacy of Christ
1 Thessalonians................................................. Concern for the church
2 Thessalonians................................................. Living in hope
1 Timothy.............................................................. Instructions for a young disciple
2 Timothy.............................................................. A charge to faithful ministry
Titus....................................................................... A manual of conduct
Philemon................................................................ Forgiveness
Hebrews................................................................ The superiority of Christ
James.................................................................... Genuine faith
1 Peter................................................................... Responding to suffering
2 Peter................................................................... Warning against false teachers
1 John.................................................................... Fellowship with God
2 John.................................................................... Christian discernment
3 John.................................................................... Christian hospitality
Jude....................................................................... Contending for the faith
Revelation............................................................ The unveiling of Jesus Christ Article adapted from The Bare Bones Bible Handbook: 10 Minutes to Understanding Each Book of the Bible by Jim George. (Harvest House Publishers © 2006) Jim George and his wife, Elizabeth George, are Christian authors and speakers. Jim, author of A Husband After God’s Own Heart (a Gold Medallion finalist) and The Bare Bones Bible Handbook, has M.Div. and Th.M. degrees from Talbot Theological Seminary. He has served in various pastoral roles for 25 years and on The Master’s Seminary staff for 10 years. Jim and Elizabeth have two married daughters and are grandparents.
Originally published January 30, 2007.
