THEMES OF THE BIBLE BOOKS MADE EASY
Simplified in one or two sentences
God reveals himself through his Word. When he speaks, he teaches us what he is
like, how he acts, and how he desires us to respond. As a whole, the Bible is about
God. It’s about God the Father displaying his glory through God the Son by the
power of God the Holy Spirit.
The Bible is one book made up of 66 books. Each book has a major theme that
emphasizes an aspect of God’s character or a way he is working to carry out his
perfect plan. What follows is an attempt to capture these themes. These themes
are certainly simplified but I hope you’ll be helped by considering them.
For those wanting to dig deeper in Bible Book Theme study go here.
Bible: God of Jesus
Old Testament: Anticipation
Gospels: Manifestation
Acts: Proclamation
Epistles: Explanation
Revelation: Consummation
OLD TESTAMENT
The Pentateuch
Genesis: God of Promise – Beginnings
Describes the creation; gives the history of the old world, and of the steps
taken by God toward the formation of theocracy.
Exodus: God of Power – Deliverance
The history of Israel's departure from Egypt; the giving of the law; the
tabernacle.
Leviticus: God of Purity - Instruction
The ceremonial law.
Numbers: God of Perseverance – Journeys
The census of the people; the story of the wanderings in the wilderness.
Deuteronomy: God of Preparation – Obedience
The law rehearsed; the death of Moses.
History
Joshua: God of the Land – Conquest
The story of the conquest and partition of Canaan.
Judges: God of the Rebels – Deterioration and Deliverance
The history of the nation from Joshua to Samson.
Ruth: God of Redemption – Redemption
The story of the ancestors of the royal family of Judah
1 Samuel: God of the Heart – Transition
The story of the nation during the judgeship of Samuel and the reign of
Saul.
2 Samuel: God of the Throne – Unification
Story of the reign of David.
1 Kings: God of Israel – Disruption
1 Kings & 2 Kings contain the history of the nation from David's death and
Solomon's accession to the destruction of the kingdom of Judah and the
desolation of Jerusalem.
2 Kings: God of Israel –Dispersion
1 Chronicles: God of Judah – Israel’s Spiritual History
1 & 2 Chronicles are so called as being the record made by the appointed
historiographers of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel; they are the official
histories of those kingdoms.
2 Chronicles: God of Judah – Israel’s Spiritual Heritage
Ezra: God of the Temple – Restoration
The story of the return of the Jews from the Babylon captivity, and of the
rebuilding of the temple.
Nehemiah: God of the Wall – Reconstruction
A further account of the rebuilding of the temple and city, and of the
obstacles encountered and overcome.
Esther: God of the Gallows – Preservation
The story of a Jewess who becomes queen of Persia and saves the Jewish
people from destruction.
Wisdom
Job: God of Pain – Blessings Through Sufferings
The story of the trials and patience of a holy man of Edom.
Psalms: God of Praise – Praise
A collection of sacred poems intended for use in the worship of Jehovah.
Chiefly the productions of David.
Proverbs: God of Prudence – Practical Wisdom
The wise sayings of Solomon.
Ecclesiastes: God of Purpose – All is Vanity Apart from God
A poem respecting the vanity of earthly things.
Song of Solomon: God of Passion – Love and Marriage
An allegory relating to the church.
Major Prophets
Isaiah: God of Glory – Salvation
Prophecies respecting Christ and his kingdom.
Jeremiah: God of Weeping – Judgment
Prophecies announcing the captivity of Judah, its sufferings, and the final
overthrow of its enemies.
Lamentations: God of Faithfulness – Lament
The utterance of Jeremiah's sorrow upon the capture of Jerusalem and the
destruction of the temple.
Ezekiel: God of Visions – The Glory of the Lord
Messages of warning and comfort to the Jews in their captivity.
Daniel: God of History- The Sovereignty of God
A narrative of some of the occurrences of the captivity, and a series of
prophecies concerning Christ.
Minor Prophets
Hosea: God of the Unfaithful – Unfaithfulness
Prophecies relating to Christ and the latter days
Joel: God of the Locusts – The Day of the Lord
Prediction of woes upon Judah, and of the favor with which God will receive
the penitent people.
Amos: God of the Oppressed – Judgment
Prediction that Israel and other neighboring nations will be punished by
conquerors from the north, and of the fulfillment of the Messiah's kingdom.
Obadiah: God of the Mountain – Righteous Judgement
Prediction of the desolation of Edom.
Jonah: God of Compassion – God’s Grace to All People
Prophecies relating to Nineveh.
Micah: God of Justice – Divine Judgment
Predictions relating to the invasions and the birth of the Messiah in
Bethlehem.
Nahum: God of Wrath – Consolation
Prediction of the downfall of Assyria.
Habakkuk: God of Sovereignty – Trusting a Sovereign God
A prediction of the doom of the Chaldeans.
Zephaniah: God of Judgment – The “Great Day of the Lord”
A prediction of the overthrow of Judah for its idolatry and wickedness.
Haggai: God of Renewal – Rebuilding the Temple
Prophecies concerning the rebuilding of the temple.
Zechariah: God of Restoration – God’s Deliverance
Prophecies relating to the rebuilding of the temple and the Messiah.
Malachi: God of Worship – Formalism Rebuked
Prophecies relating to the calling of the Gentiles and the coming of Christ.
THE NEW TESTAMENT
Gospels
Matthew: God of the Jews – The Kingdom of God
A brief history of the life of Christ.
Mark: God of the Romans – The Suffering Servant
A brief history of the life of Christ, supplying some incidents omitted by St.
Matthew.
Luke: God of the Outcast – The Perfect Man
The history of the life of Christ, with especial reference to his most
important acts and discourses.
John: God of the World – The Son of God
The life of Christ, giving important discourses not related by the other
evangelists.
History
Acts: God of Power – The Spread of the Gospel
The history of the labors of the apostles and of the foundation of the
Christian Church.
Pauline Epistles
Romans: God of Righteousness – The Righteousness of God
On the doctrine of justification by Christ.
1 Corinthians: God of Holiness – Christian Conduct
A letter from St. Paul to the Corinthians, correcting errors into which they
had fallen.
2 Corinthians: God of Weakness – Paul’s Defense of his Apostleship
Paul confirms his disciples in their faith, and vindicates his own character.
Galatians: God of Justification – Freedom in Christ
Paul maintains that we are justified by faith, and not by rites.
Ephesians: God of Unity – Blessings in Christ
On the power of divine grace.
Philippians: God of Joy – The Joy Filled Life
The beauty of Christian kindness.
Colossians: God of Preeminence – The Supremacy of Christ
Paul warns his disciples against errors, and exhorts to certain duties.
1 Thessalonians: God of Encouragement – Concern for the Church
Paul exhorts his disciples to continue in the faith and in holy conversation.
2 Thessalonians: God of Admonishment – Living in Hope
Paul corrects an error concerning the speedy coming of Christ the second
time.
1 Timothy: God of Godliness – Instructions for a Young Disciple
Paul instructs Timothy in the duty of a pastor, and encourages him in the
work of the ministry in 1 & 2 Timothy.
2 Timothy: God of Endurance – A Charge to Faithful Ministry
Titus: God of Works – A Manual of Conduct
Paul encourages Titus in the performance of his ministerial duties.
Philemon: God of Reconciliation – Forgiveness
An appeal to a converted master to receive a converted escaped slave with
kindness.
General Epistles
Hebrews: God of Fulfillment – The Superiority of Christ
Paul maintains that Christ is the substance of the ceremonial law.
James: God of Trials – Genuine Faith
A treatise on the efficacy of faith united with good works.
1 Peter: God of the Persecuted – Responding to Suffering
Exhortations to a Christian life, with various warnings and predictions in 1 &
2 Peter.
2 Peter: God of Patience – Warning Against False Teachers
1 John: God of Love – Fellowship with God
Respecting the person of our Lord, and an exhortation to Christian love and
conduct.
2 John: God of Truth – Christian Discernment
John warns a converted lady against false teachers.
3 John: God of Discernment – Christian Hospitality
A letter to Gaius, praising him for his hospitality.
Jude: God of Protection – Contending for the Faith
Warnings against deceivers.
Prophecy
Revelation: God of Eternity – The Unveiling of Jesus Christ
The future of the Church foretold.
Looking for more Theme Bible Book Summary.
Our Theme Bible Book Paragraph Summary of each Bible Book starting at Genesis
and finishing at Book of Relation. For those wanting to dig deeper in a theme study
go here.
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