Encouragement, warning and exhortation. These three books include all of the above and more. What makes 1, 2, and 3 John unique? Although 1 John is called a letter, it does not have many of the features of a typical Greek letter (e.g., it lacks the formal… Read More

Revelation was written to a church facing intense persecution. What did the author of the letter want the church to know? That Jesus is all-powerful, worthy of worship and is in control of the world. What makes Revelation unique? The word translated as “revelation” (1:1) comes from the Greek… Read More

This book could be called the Bible’s “how to” guide for Israelite priests. But Leviticus does not just contain a collection of rules. It explains why obedience and faithfulness to God are important for every individual. What makes Leviticus special? The name of this book in the Hebrew Scriptures… Read More

Numbers follows the Israelites as they wander in the desert. Numbers has… numbers. But it also includes the story of a talking donkey, water flowing from a rock and quail raining out of the sky. What makes Numbers special? The title “Numbers” comes from the Greek ( Arithmoi )… Read More

The last words are often the most important. Deuteronomy is a collection of Moses’ last words to the Israelites before he died and they entered the Promised Land. What makes Deuteronomy special? The name Deuteronomy comes from a Greek word meaning “second law.” Those who prepared the Greek version… Read More

Home sweet home. In the book of Joshua, the Israelites finally reach their home, the Promised Land of Canaan. Led by Joshua, the tribes conquer and settle their new land. What makes Joshua unique? At the close of the book of Deuteronomy, Moses and the people of Israel were… Read More

From Deborah, the first female judge, to Samson, the man with supernatural strength, the book of Judges tells the story of the nation of Israel before they united under a king. What makes Judges special? Judges is part of the great story, from Deuteronomy through 2 Kings, that tells… Read More

In this Gospel, John tells the account of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection from a theological perspective. Through using the metaphor of light and the idea of the Word (logos), John communicates deep spiritual truths. What makes John unique?It is only in John’s Gospel that Jesus is presented… Read More

The final nine books of the New Testament are written in a number of styles by different writers. The first eight (Hebrews through Jude) are often referred to as the “General Letters.” Some of these are clearly written in letter form, similar to the style of Paul’s letters. The… Read More

The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) present various accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Acts gives a detailed report of what happened to some of Jesus’ early followers as they carried the message about Jesus from Jerusalem to the other areas of the Roman Empire. Read More