OUTLINE OF THE BIBLE

OUTLINE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

THE BOOK OF GENESIS

❖ Ancient stories from the mists of time (1:1–11:32)
➢ The story of creation (1:1–2:3)
➢ Adam and Eve (2:4–25)
➢ The fall (3:1–24)
➢ Cain and Abel (4:1–26)
➢ From Adam to Noah (5:1–6:8)
➢ Noah and the flood (6:9–9:17)
➢ The spread of nations (10:1–32)
➢ The tower of Babel (11:1–32)
❖ The stories of the patriarchs (12:1–50:26)
➢ Abraham (12:1–25:11)
➢ The descendants of Ishmael (25:12–18)
➢ Isaac (Abraham’s son) (25:19–26:35)
➢ Jacob (Abraham’s grandson) (27:1–35:29)
➢ The descendants of Esau (36:1–43)
➢ Joseph (Abraham’s great-grandson) (37:1–50:26)

THE BOOK OF EXODUS

❖ The slavery of the Israelites and the birth of Moses (1:1–2:25)
❖ God calls Moses (3:1–4:31)
❖ The great escape (5:1–15:21)
❖ The desert journey (15:22–18:27)
❖ The giving of the law (19:1–24:18)
❖ The tabernacle and the priests (25:1–31:18)
❖ Rebellion and judgment (32:1–34:35)
❖ The climax of Exodus (35:1–40:38)

THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS

❖ Instructions for priests (1:1–16:34)
❖ Everyday holiness (17:1–27:34)

THE BOOK OF NUMBERS

❖ The tribes at Mount Sinai (1:1–9:23)
❖ The journey from Sinai to Moab (10:1–21:35)
❖ Events in Moab (22:1–32:42)
❖ A log of the journey (33:1–56)
❖ Preparing for settlement (34:1–36:13)

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THE BOOK DEUTERONOMY
❖ The wilderness years (1:1–4:49)
❖ God’s law and other instructions (5:1–26:19)
❖ Blessings and curses (27:1–28:68)
❖ Israel renews the covenant (29:1–30:20)
❖ Farewell, Moses (31:1–34:12)

THE BOOK OF JOSHUA

❖ Israel prepares to invade Canaan (1:1–5:12)
❖ The conquest of Canaan (5:13–13:7)
❖ The land is divided (13:8–22:34)
❖ Epilogue (23:1–24:33)

THE BOOK OF JUDGES

❖ The partial conquest of Canaan and the death of Joshua (1:1–3:6)
❖ The great deeds of the judges (3:7–16:31)
❖ Israel in decline (17:1–21:25)

THE BOOK OF RUTH

❖ Naomi and Ruth travel to Bethlehem (1:1–22)
❖ Ruth meets Boaz, a local farmer (2:1–3:18)
❖ Boaz and Ruth are married (4:1–22

THE BOOKS OF 1ST & 2ND SAMUEL

❖ Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1–7:17)
❖ Saul (1 Samuel 8:1–15:35)
❖ David (1 Samuel 16:1–31:13)
❖ David becomes king (2 Samuel 1:1–10:19)
❖ David’s weaknesses and failures (2 Samuel 11:1–18:33)
❖ The final period of David’s reign (2 Samuel 19:1–24:25)

THE BOOKS OF 1ST & 2ND KINGS

❖ The reign of King Solomon (1 Kings 1:1–11:43)
❖ The kingdom is divided (1 Kings 12:1–16:34)
❖ The prophets Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 17:1–2 Kings 8:15)
❖ The rulers of Judah and Israel (2 Kings 8:16–16:20)
❖ The fall of Israel, the northern kingdom (2 Kings 17:1–41)
❖ Judah, the southern kingdom, until the fall of Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:1–25:30)

THE BOOKS OF 1ST & 2ND CHRONICLES

❖ The family lines of Israel (1 Chronicles 1:1–9:44)
❖ The reign of King David (1 Chronicles 10:1–29:30)
❖ The reign of King Solomon (2 Chronicles 1:1–9:31)
❖ The kings of Judah (2 Chronicles 10:1–36:23)

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THE BOOK OF EZRA
❖ The return from exile and rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 1:1–6:22)
❖ Ezra’s return and leadership (Ezra 7:1–10:44)
❖ The rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:1–7:73)

THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH

❖ Ezra reads the law and the people agree to obey it (Nehemiah 8:1–10:39)
❖ Resettlement and Nehemiah’s reforms (Nehemiah 11:1–13:31)

THE BOOK OF ESTHER

❖ Esther becomes queen (1:1–2:18)
❖ Mordecai saves the king’s life (2:19–23)
❖ The plot to destroy the Jews (3:1–7:10)
❖ The Jews are allowed to defend themselves (8:1–17)
❖ The origin of the Feast of Purim (9:1–32)
❖ The greatness of Mordecai (10:1–3)

THE BOOK JOB

❖ Job’s troubles (1:1–3:26)
❖ The three rounds of discussion (4:1–31:40)
❖ The first round of discussion (4:1–14:22)
❖ The second round of discussion (15:1–21:34)
❖ The third round of discussion (22:1–31:40)
❖ Four speeches by Elihu (32:1–37:24)
❖ The Lord speaks (38:1–41:34)
❖ Job acknowledges God and is restored to life (42:1–17)

THE BOOK PSALMS

❖ Book 1: Psalms 1–41
❖ Book 2: Psalms 42–72
❖ Book 3: Psalms 73–89
❖ Book 4: Psalms 90–106
❖ Book 5: Psalms 107–150

THE BOOK OF PROVERBS

❖ The first collection of proverbs (1:1–9:18)
❖ The second collection: proverbs of Solomon (10:1–22:16)
❖ The third collection: sayings of the wise (22:17–24:22)
❖ Further sayings of the wise (24:23–34)
❖ The fourth collection: more proverbs of Solomon (25:1–29:27)
❖ Other collections of proverbs (30:1–31:9)
❖ Epilogue: the treasure of a wise wife (31:10–31)

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THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES
❖ Meet ‘The Teacher’ (1:1)
❖ ‘Vanity of vanities’ (1:2)
❖ The world is boring (1:3–11)
❖ There is no meaning in anything (1:12–2:25)
❖ A glimmer of light (2:26)
❖ A time to enjoy (3:1–15)
❖ A big question (3:16–4:3)
❖ Alienation (4:4–12)
❖ Be wise (4:13–16)
❖ Mind how you come (5:1–2)
❖ And mind how you go (5:3–7)
❖ The balance of power (5:8–9)
❖ The poverty of riches (5:10–17)
❖ Simple pleasure (5:18–20)
❖ They were robbed (6:1–6)
❖ Life sentences (6:7–12)
❖ Get real—get wisdom (7:1–13)
❖ Stay cool? (7:14–22)
❖ Wisdom is deep (7:23–8:1)
❖ Living in the circumstances (8:2–15)
❖ A glimpse of God (8:16–17)
❖ All the same (9:1–6)
❖ Good cheer (9:7–10)
❖ Just our luck (9:11–12)
❖ A sad case (9:13–18)
❖ Seeds of sense (10:1–20)
❖ Just do it! (11:1–10)
❖ The heart of the matter (12:1–8)
❖ In conclusion (12:9–14)

THE SONG OF SONGS (or SONG OF SOLOMON)

❖ Two lovers (1:1–2:7)
❖ Spring in the air (2:8–17)
❖ A restless night (3:1–5)
❖ A royal procession (3:6–11)
❖ A natural beauty (4:1–7)
❖ The secret garden (4:8–5:1)
❖ Longing and loss (5:2–8)
❖ Simply the best (5:9–16)
❖ Inside knowledge (6:1–3)
❖ An awesome beauty (6:4–10)
❖ Awakening desire (6:11–8:4)

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 ❖ Love is … (8:5–7)
❖ Chastity and fulfilment (8:8–14)

THE BOOK OF ISAIAH

❖ Prophecies to Judah before the exile (1:1–39:8)
❖ Prophecies to Judah and Jerusalem (1:1–12:6)
❖ Prophecies against foreign nations (13:1–23:18)
❖ Future judgment and hope (24:1–27:13)
❖ Promises and judgments for Judah (28:1–33:24)
❖ God will judge the nations (34:1–17)
❖ A blossoming desert and a highway home (35:1–10)
❖ Assyria threatens Judah (36:1–39:8)
❖ Prophecies to God’s people during their exile in Babylon (40:1–55:13)
❖ God still cares for Israel and will forgive (40:1–48:22)
❖ God will rebuild Jerusalem (49:1–55:13)
❖ Prophecies to Israel after the exile (56:1–66:24)

THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH

❖ God calls the young Jeremiah to be a prophet (1:1–19)
❖ God’s messages to Judah and Jerusalem (2:1–25:38)
❖ Episodes in Jeremiah’s life (26:1–45:5)
❖ Prophecies against the nations (46:1–51:64)
❖ The fall of Jerusalem (52:1–34)

THE BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS

❖ The first poem (1:1–22)
❖ The second poem (2:1–22)
❖ The third poem (3:1–66)
❖ The fourth poem (4:1–22)
❖ The fifth poem (5:1–22)

THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL

❖ Israel’s sin and God’s judgment (1:1–24:27)
❖ Prophecies against surrounding nations (25:1–32:32)
❖ A perfect future for Israel (33:1–48:35)

THE BOOK OF DANIEL

❖ Daniel at the royal court (1:1–6:28)
❖ Daniel’s dreams and visions (7:1–12:13)

THE BOOK OF HOSEA

❖ The marriages of Hosea to Gomer, and God to Israel (1:1–3:5)

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 ❖ Israel’s unfaithfulness to God (4:1–13:16)
❖ A message of hope for the future (14:1–9)

THE BOOK OF JOEL

❖ A devastating plague of locusts (1:1–20)
❖ God’s judgment and mercy (2:1–32)
❖ The nations judged and Jerusalem saved (3:1–21)

THE BOOK OF AMOS

❖ God will judge the surrounding nations (1:1–2:5)
❖ God will judge Israel, his own people (2:6–6:14)
❖ Visions of doom, and a word of hope (7:1–9:15)

THE BOOK OF OBADIAH

❖ Judgment on Edom (vv. 1–14)
❖ The Day of the Lord (vv. 15–21)

THE BOOK OF JONAH

❖ Jonah runs away from God’s call (1:1–17)
❖ Jonah’s song of praise for his rescue (2:1–10)
❖ Jonah preaches—and Nineveh repents (3:1–10)
❖ Jonah’s anger and God’s mercy (4:1–11)

THE BOOK OF MICAH

❖ God will punish Judah as well as Israel (1:1–16)
❖ God condemns Judah’s leaders (2:1–3:12)
❖ God’s future plans (4:1–13)
❖ The Messiah will come to rule (5:1–15)
❖ God states his case against Israel (6:1–16)
❖ Present darkness and future glory (7:1–20)

THE BOOK OF NAHUM

❖ The Lord’s anger against Nineveh (1:1–15)
❖ The downfall of Nineveh (2:1–13)
❖ A battle-song against Nineveh (3:1–19)

THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK

❖ Habakkuk questions God (1:1–17)
❖ Babylon is doomed (2:1–20)
❖ God is supreme (3:1–19)

THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH

❖ God’s judgment of the whole world, especially Judah and Jerusalem (1:1–18)

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 ❖ God’s judgment of the nations around Judah (2:1–15)
❖ The fate of the present Jerusalem and the vision of a delightful future (3:1–20)

THE BOOK OF HAGGAI

❖ God calls his people to build the temple and they obey (1:1–15)
❖ Words of encouragement, teaching and promise (2:1–23)

THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH

❖ Visions to challenge and encourage (1:1–8:23)
❖ Prophecies of judgment and restoration (9:1–14:21)

THE BOOK OF MALACHI

❖ God’s love for his people (1:1–5)
❖ Israel’s indifference to God (1:6–14)
❖ A last warning for the priests (2:1–9)
❖ God cannot bear unfaithfulness (2:10–16)
❖ Judgment will be hot for the wicked! (3:1–5)
❖ Test God by tithing (3:6–12)
❖ The fickle and the faithful (3:13–18)
❖ The Day of the Lord (4:1–6)

THE APOCRYPHA

Martin Luther (from about 1520) decided that ‘apocryphal’ books should be published as a separate
section in Protestant Bibles. The Church of England today, along with the churches of the Anglican
Communion, accepts them for public reading, but does not draw on them in formulating the church’s
official teaching.

Tobit is a romantic adventure story about faithful Jews living in the ‘Diaspora’. Tobit reminds us of the
suffering and vindication of Job. Suffering is a test and righteousness will result in prosperity. The Jews
are encouraged to trust God and their own best efforts for a good and successful life.

Judith is a beautiful and devout Jewish widow, who delivers her people from invasion by seducing and
assassinating an enemy commander.

The Greek Additions to the Book of Esther seem to have been introduced to make the Hebrew
original more ‘religious’. After all, the book of Esther in Hebrew, which may date from the fifth
century BC, doesn’t mention God at all! The later material portrays God as more active—and the Jews
as more racist.

The Wisdom of Solomon was probably written by a Greek-speaking Jewish scholar in Alexandria. The
book shows that the Jews have an attractive and coherent alternative to the learned and secular culture

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in which they have to live.

Ecclesiasticus or the Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach is the longest portion of ‘wisdom’ literature in the
Bible. It is very like the book of Proverbs and is written by the person named in the title. His grandson
translated the work into Greek, and its Latin title Ecclesiasticus may indicate that it was used in
churches but not synagogues.

Baruch is a collection of several short pieces, all on the theme of the fall of Jerusalem in 587 BC.

The Letter of Jeremiah denounces the foolishness of idolatry.

1 Esdras is an alternative version of the Hebrew book of Ezra.

2 Esdras is an ‘apocalyptic’ work featuring supernatural revelations. It is different from the other books
of the Apocrypha in that it was written later and includes Christian material.

The Additions to the Book of Daniel include The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young
Men, and the stories of Susanna and Bel and the Dragon (or snake). They are all additions that appear
in the Greek text of the book of Daniel. The Prayer and the Song are liturgical hymns, while the
stories are popular tales in which Daniel is the hero.

The Books of the Maccabees are all independent of each other. 1 and 2 Maccabees record the
Maccabean rebellion, while 3 Maccabees is a historical novel about it, and 4 Maccabees is a discussion
of reason, which arises out of the martyrdom of the Maccabean rebels.

The Prayer of Manasseh is a short and beautiful confession.

Psalm 151 celebrates the young shepherd David’s victory over the Philistine giant Goliath.

OUTLINE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

❖ The birth and early life of Jesus (1:1–2:23)
➢ The list of Jesus’ ancestors (1:1–17)
➢ Jesus is born in Bethlehem (1:18–2:23)
❖ Jesus’ baptism and temptation (3:1–4:11)
➢ The preaching of John the Baptist (3:1–12)
➢ Jesus is baptized by John (3:13–17)
➢ Jesus is tempted by the devil (4:1–11)
❖ Jesus in Galilee (4:12–16:20)
➢ Jesus moves to Capernaum and starts to preach (4:12–17)
➢ The calling of the first disciples (4:18–22)

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 ➢ The kingdom comes to Galilee (4:23–25)
➢ The Sermon on the Mount (5:1–7:29)
➢ Jesus performs many miracles (8:1–9:34)
➢ Engaging in mission (9:35–12:50)
➢ Jesus teaches in parables (13:1–52)
➢ Mixed opinions about Jesus (13:53–16:20)
❖ Insights for the disciples (16:21–17:27)
➢ Jesus predicts his death (16:21–28)
➢ A glimpse of glory (17:1–13)
➢ A lack of faith (17:14–23)
➢ The temple tax (17:24–27)
❖ Caring for one another (18:1–35)
➢ The greatest in the kingdom (18:1–9)
➢ The parable of the lost sheep: our true value (18:10–14)
➢ Dealing with sin (18:15–20)
➢ The importance of forgiveness (18:21–35)
❖ Jesus in Judea (19:1–25:46)
➢ Towards Jerusalem (19:1–20:34)
➢ Jesus arrives in Jerusalem (21:1–22)
➢ A war of words (21:23–23:39)
➢ Jesus predicts the future (24:1–25:46)
❖ The final week (26:1–56)
➢ The plot against Jesus (26:1–5)
➢ Jesus is anointed at Bethany (26:6–13)
➢ Judas turns traitor (26:14–16)
➢ The Last Supper (26:17–30)
➢ Jesus predicts that Peter will deny him (26:31–35)
➢ Jesus prays at Gethsemane (26:36–46)
➢ Jesus is arrested (26:47–56)
❖ The trial and death of Jesus (26:57–27:66)
➢ Jesus is tried by the Jewish Council (26:57–68)
➢ Peter fails badly (26:69–75)
➢ Jesus is taken to the Roman governor (27:1–2)
➢ Judas hangs himself (27:3–10)
➢ Jesus and Pilate (27:11–26)
➢ A mock coronation (27:27–31)
➢ Jesus is crucified (27:32–44)
➢ Jesus dies (27:45–56)
➢ Jesus is buried (27:57–61)
➢ The tomb is guarded (27:62–66)
❖ The resurrection and mission of Jesus (28:1–20)
➢ Empty tomb and risen Lord (28:1–10)
➢ An attempt to conceal the truth (28:11–15)

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 ➢ The great commission (28:16–20)

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

❖ Jesus arrives (1:1–8)
➢ John the Baptist prepares the way (1:1–8)
❖ Jesus is baptized (1:9–11)
❖ Jesus is tempted (1:12–13)
❖ Jesus begins his ministry (1:14–3:6)
➢ Jesus calls disciples to follow him (1:14–20)
➢ Jesus teaches and heals people (1:21–39)
➢ Jesus heals a man suffering from leprosy (1:40–45)
➢ Jesus forgives sins (2:1–12)
➢ Jesus calls Levi (2:13–17)
➢ A time to feast! (2:18–22)
➢ The sabbath debate (2:23–3:6)
❖ The mission and miracles of the Messiah (3:7–9:50)
➢ Nowhere to hide (3:7–12)
➢ The twelve apostles (3:13–19)
➢ Jesus and Beelzebub (3:20–30)
➢ Jesus’ family (3:31–35)
➢ The parable of the sower (4:1–20)
➢ Some more parables (4:21–34)
➢ Jesus calms a storm (4:35–41)
➢ ‘Legion’ (5:1–20)
➢ A dead girl and a sick woman (5:21–43)
➢ A prophet without honour (6:1–6)
➢ Jesus sends out the Twelve (6:7–13)
➢ The death of John the Baptist (6:14–29)
➢ Jesus feeds 5,000 people (6:30–44)
➢ Jesus walks on water (6:45–56)
➢ The difference between dirt and sin (7:1–23)
➢ The Syro-Phoenician woman (7:24–30)
➢ Jesus heals a man who is deaf and dumb (7:31–37)
➢ Jesus feeds a crowd of 4,000 (8:1–21)
➢ A blind man receives his sight—gradually (8:22–26)
➢ The secret is out (8:27–30)
➢ Dying to live (8:31–38)
➢ A glimpse of glory (9:1)
➢ The transfiguration (9:2–13)
➢ A difficult healing (9:14–29)
➢ A solemn warning (9:30–32)
➢ Who is the greatest? (9:33–37)
➢ No fear of competition (9:38–41)

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 ➢ Drastic measures (9:42–50)
❖ The road south to suffering (10:1–52)
➢ Jesus is asked about divorce (10:1–12)
➢ Jesus welcomes some children (10:13–16)
➢ A rich young man (10:17–31)
➢ The road to death—and life! (10:32–34)
➢ Ambition (10:35–45)
➢ Blind Bartimaeus (10:46–52)
❖ Jesus comes to Jerusalem (11:1–13:37)
➢ The triumphal entry (11:1–11)
➢ Jesus judges a fig tree … and the temple (11:12–26)
➢ Jesus is cross-questioned (11:27–33)
➢ The parable of the tenants (12:1–12)
➢ A trick question about tax (12:13–17)
➢ A trick question about resurrection (12:18–27)
➢ The key commandment (12:28–34)
➢ The riddle of the Messiah (12:35–37)
➢ A warning (12:38–40)
➢ A poor widow (12:41–44)
➢ Jesus foretells the future (13:1–2)
➢ Signs of the times (13:3–31)
➢ When will Jesus return? (13:32–37)
❖ The longest night (14:1–15:47)
➢ The Passover plot (14:1–2)
➢ A woman anoints Jesus (14:3–9)
➢ Judas Iscariot (14:10–11)
➢ The Last Supper (14:12–25)
➢ Jesus predicts Peter’s denial (14:26–31)
➢ In the Garden of Gethsemane (14:32–42)
➢ Jesus is arrested (14:43–52)
➢ Jesus before the Jewish Council (14:53–65)
➢ Peter denies Jesus (14:66–72)
➢ Jesus is tried by the Roman governor (15:1–15)
➢ Jesus is mocked by the soldiers (15:16–20)
➢ Jesus is crucified (15:21–32)
➢ Jesus dies (15:33–41)
➢ Jesus is buried (15:42–47)
❖ After sunrise (16:1–8)
❖ A Later Conclusion (16:9-20)

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

❖ ‘Dear Theophilus’ (1:1–4)

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❖ Jesus is born (1:5–2:52)
➢ A childless couple (1:5–23)
➢ Mary (1:24–45)
➢ Mary’s song and Zechariah’s prophecy (1:46–80)
➢ The birth of Jesus (2:1–20)
➢ Jesus is named (2:21–24)
➢ Simeon and Anna (2:25–40)
➢ The boy Jesus (2:41–52)
❖ The Messiah appears (3:1–4:44)
➢ John the Baptist (3:1–20)
➢ The baptism of Jesus (3:21–22)
➢ The family line of Jesus (3:23–38)
➢ The temptation of Jesus (4:1–13)
➢ Jesus is rejected at Nazareth (4:14–30)
➢ Jesus heals at Capernaum (4:31–44)
❖ The training of the disciples (5:1–6:16)
➢ Calling disciples (5:1–11)
➢ Healing disease and disability (5:12–26)
➢ The calling of Levi (5:27–32)
➢ A time for joy (5:33–39)
➢ Lord of the sabbath (6:1–11)
➢ Choosing the Twelve (6:12–16)
❖ The Sermon on the Plain (6:17–49)
➢ Blessings and woes (6:20–26)
➢ Love for enemies (6:27–36)
➢ Don’t judge! (6:37–42)
➢ A tree and its fruit (6:43–45)
➢ The wise and foolish builders (6:46–49)
❖ Close encounters (7:1–9:50)
➢ A centurion’s faith (7:1–10)
➢ A widow’s son (7:11–17)
➢ Jesus and John the Baptist (7:18–35)
➢ Jesus is anointed by a sinful woman (7:36–50)
➢ Travelling light (8:1–3)
➢ The parable of the sower (8:4–15)
➢ A lamp on a stand (8:16–18)
➢ Jesus’ mother and brothers (8:19–21)
➢ Jesus calms a storm (8:22–25)
➢ ‘Legion’ (8:26–39)
➢ A dead girl and a sick woman (8:40–56)
➢ Jesus sends out the Twelve (9:1–6)
➢ Herod is curious (9:7–9)
➢ Jesus feeds 5,000 people (9:10–17)

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 ➢ Peter’s confession of Christ (9:18–27)
➢ The transfiguration (9:28–36)
➢ The healing of a boy with an evil spirit (9:37–45)
➢ Who will be the greatest? (9:46–50)
❖ The journey to Jerusalem (9:51–19:27)
➢ Samaritan opposition (9:51–56)
➢ The cost of following Jesus (9:57–62)
➢ Jesus sends out the seventy-two (10:1–24)
➢ The parable of the good Samaritan (10:25–37)
➢ At the home of Martha and Mary (10:38–42)
➢ Jesus’ teaching on prayer (11:1–13)
➢ Jesus and Beelzebub (11:14–26)
➢ A cry from the crowd (11:27–28)
➢ The sign of Jonah (11:29–32)
➢ The lamp of the body (11:33–36)
➢ Jesus attacks the Pharisees (11:37–54)
➢ Be different from the Pharisees! (12:1–12)
➢ The parable of the rich fool (12:13–21)
➢ Do not worry (12:22–34)
➢ Watchfulness (12:35–48)
➢ The crisis is approaching (12:49–59)
➢ Warnings (13:1–9)
➢ A crippled woman healed on the sabbath (13:10–17)
➢ The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast (13:18–21)
➢ Who will be saved? (13:22–30)
➢ Jesus’ sorrow for Jerusalem (13:31–35)
➢ Table talk (14:1–14)
➢ The parable of the great banquet (14:15–24)
➢ The cost of being a disciple (14:25–35)
➢ The parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin (15:1–10)
➢ The parable of the lost (‘prodigal’) son (15:11–32)
➢ The parable of the shrewd manager (16:1–15)
➢ The rich man and Lazarus (16:16–31)
➢ Sin, faith, duty (17:1–10)
➢ Ten healed of leprosy (17:11–19)
➢ The coming of the kingdom of God (17:20–37)
➢ The parable of the persistent widow (18:1–8)
➢ The Pharisee and the tax collector (18:9–14)
➢ The little children and the rich ruler (18:15–30)
➢ Jesus again predicts his death (18:31–34)
➢ A blind beggar receives his sight (18:35–43)
➢ Zacchaeus (19:1–10)
➢ The parable of the ten minas (19:11–27)

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 ❖ The final week (19:28–23:56)
➢ The triumphal entry (19:28–44)
➢ Jesus at the temple (19:45–48)
➢ The authority of Jesus is questioned (20:1–8)
➢ The parable of the tenants (20:9–19)
➢ Paying taxes to Caesar (20:20–26)
➢ The resurrection and marriage (20:27–40)
➢ Whose son is the Christ? (20:41–44)
➢ True religion (20:45–21:4)
➢ Signs of the end of the age (21:5–38)
➢ Judas agrees to betray Jesus (22:1–6)
➢ The Last Supper (22:7–38)
➢ Jesus prays on the Mount of Olives (22:39–46)
➢ Jesus is arrested (22:47–53)
➢ Peter disowns Jesus (22:54–62)
➢ The guards mock Jesus (22:63–65)
➢ Jesus on trial (22:66–71)
➢ Jesus before Pilate (23:1–7)
➢ Jesus before Herod (23:8–12)
➢ ‘Release Barabbas!’ (23:13–25)
➢ On the way to the cross (23:26–31)
➢ Jesus is crucified (23:32–43)
➢ Jesus dies (23:44–49)
➢ Jesus is buried (23:50–56)
❖ The new beginning (24:1–53)
➢ The resurrection (24:1–12)
➢ On the road to Emmaus (24:13–35)
➢ The end—and the beginning (24:36–49)
➢ The ascension (24:50–53)

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN

❖ The prologue (1:1–18)
❖ The signs of life (1:19–12:50)
➢ John the Baptist (1:19–28)
➢ Jesus the Lamb of God (1:29–34)
➢ Jesus’ first disciples (1:35–42)
➢ Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael (1:43–51)
➢ The first sign: Jesus turns water to wine (2:1–11)
➢ Jesus clears the temple (2:12–25)
➢ Jesus talks with Nicodemus (3:1–21)
➢ Jesus and John the Baptist (3:22–30)
➢ Jesus and the Samaritan woman (4:1–42)
➢ The second sign: Jesus heals an official’s son (4:43–54)

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 ➢ The third sign: Jesus heals a man at the Pool of Bethesda (5:1–15)
➢ Life through the Son (5:16–47)
➢ The fourth sign: Jesus feeds 5,000 people (6:1–15)
➢ The fifth sign: Jesus walks on the water (6:16–21)
➢ Jesus teaches: ‘I am the bread of life’ (6:22–59)
➢ Hard choices (6:60–71)
➢ Doubts and dilemmas (7:1–13)
➢ Jesus teaches at the Feast of Tabernacles (7:14–44)
➢ Pride and prejudice (7:45–52)
➢ Jesus and the woman caught in adultery (7:53–8:11)
➢ Jesus in debate with his Jewish critics (8:12–59)
➢ The sixth sign: Jesus heals a man born blind (9:1–41)
➢ Jesus teaches: ‘I am the good shepherd’ (10:1–21)
➢ The unbelief of the Jews (10:22–39)
➢ The seventh sign: Jesus raises Lazarus from death (11:1–44)
➢ The Jewish leaders plot to kill Jesus (11:45–57)
➢ Mary anoints Jesus at Bethany (12:1–11)
➢ Jesus enters Jerusalem (12:12–19)
➢ Jesus and some Greeks (12:20–36)
➢ The unbelief of the Jews (12:37–50)
❖ The glory of the cross (13:1–20:31)
➢ The Last Supper (13:1–30)
➢ The farewell talk (13:31–16:33)
➢ The prayer of Jesus (17:1–26)
➢ Jesus is arrested, tried and crucified (18:1–19:42)
➢ The resurrection of Jesus (20:1–31)
❖ The epilogue (21:1–25)
➢ Breakfast by the sea (21:1–14)
➢ Jesus and Peter (21:15–17)
➢ Peter and John (21:18–24)
➢ The great and untold story (21:25)

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

❖ Early days in Jerusalem (1:1–7:53)
➢ Introduction (1:1–2)
➢ Jesus is taken up into heaven (1:3–11)
➢ A replacement for Judas (1:12–26)
➢ The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost (2:1–13)
➢ Peter’s first sermon (2:14–41)
➢ The fellowship of the believers (2:42–47)
➢ Peter heals a crippled beggar (3:1–4:4)
➢ Peter and John on trial (4:5–22)
➢ Prayer in the face of persecution (4:23–31)

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 ➢ Ananias and Sapphira (4:32–5:11)
➢ The apostles heal many people (5:12–16)
➢ The apostles are persecuted (5:17–42)
➢ The choosing of the seven assistants (6:1–7)
➢ The trial and death of Stephen (6:8–7:53)
❖ The church is persecuted—and spreads (8:1–12:24)
➢ The church is persecuted and scattered (8:1–3)
➢ Philip and the apostles in Samaria (8:4–25)
➢ Philip and the Ethiopian (8:26–40)
➢ The conversion of Saul (9:1–19)
➢ Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem (9:19–31)
➢ The acts of Peter (9:32–12:24)
❖ The adventures of Paul (12:25–28:31)
➢ The first missionary journey (12:25–14:28)
➢ The Council of Jerusalem (15:1–35)
➢ The second missionary journey (15:36–18:22)
➢ The third missionary journey (18:23–21:16)
➢ Paul’s arrival in Jerusalem and arrest (21:17–39)
➢ Paul speaks to the crowd (21:40–22:29)
➢ Paul’s trial before the Sanhedrin (22:30–23:11)
➢ The plot to kill Paul (23:12–35)
➢ Paul’s trial before Felix (24:1–27)
➢ Paul’s trial before Festus (25:1–12)
➢ Paul’s hearing before King Agrippa (25:13–26:32)
➢ The voyage to Rome and shipwreck (27:1–28:10)
➢ Paul under house arrest in Rome (28:11–31)

THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

❖ Paul’s greeting (1:1–17)
❖ Human sin and God’s anger (1:18–3:20)
❖ The gospel answer (3:21–5:21)
❖ Dead to sin, alive to Christ (6:1–8:39)
❖ What about Israel? (9:1–11:36)
❖ How to live the good news (12:1–15:13)
❖ And finally … (15:14–16:27)

THE 1ST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS

❖ Paul greets the Christians in Corinth (1:1–9)

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 ❖ Quarrels in the church (1:10–4:21)
❖ Scandal, legal action and sex (5:1–6:20)
❖ Paul answers some questions (7:1–16:4)
❖ Future plans and greetings (16:5–24)

THE 2ND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS

❖ Paul greets his readers at Corinth (1:1–2)
❖ Suffering and strength (1:3–11)
❖ A change of plan (1:12–2:13)
❖ A genuine ministry (2:14–7:16)
❖ The collection for Christians in Jerusalem (8:1–9:15)
❖ A personal defense (10:1–13:14)

THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS

❖ Paul introduces himself and greets the Galatian Christians (1:1–5)
❖ The one and only gospel (1:6–2:21)
❖ The difference between law and grace (3:1–4:31)
❖ Freedom and life in the Spirit (5:1–6:10)
❖ From cross to new creation (6:11–18)

THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS

❖ Greetings (1:1–2)
❖ God has given us new life in Christ (1:3–2:10)
❖ Christ gives peace between Jews and Gentiles (2:11–22)
❖ Paul’s work for the Gentiles, and his prayer for the Ephesians (3:1–21)
❖ The life of Jesus lived together in the church (4:1–16)
❖ Put off the old and put on the new (4:17–5:21)
❖ New relationships (5:22–6:9)
❖ How to fight on God’s side (6:10–20)
❖ Final greetings (6:21–24)

THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS

❖ Paul greets the Philippians (1:1–11)
❖ He sees a benefit in his imprisonment (1:12–26)
❖ The attitude of Jesus (1:27–2:18)
❖ Plans for Timothy and Epaphroditus (2:19–30)
❖ Warnings and priorities (3:1–4:9)
❖ Greetings and thanks (4:10–23)

THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS

❖ Paul greets his readers (1:1–2)
❖ Paul praises God and prays for the Colossians (1:3–14)
❖ Christ unites everything (1:15–23)

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 ❖ Paul’s gospel work (1:24–2:5)
❖ Choose freedom! (2:6–23)
❖ Raised with Christ (3:1–4)
❖ Putting off and putting on (3:5–17)
❖ Christians at home (3:18–4:1)
❖ Final instructions (4:2–18)

THE 1ST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS

❖ Paul greets his readers (1 Thessalonians 1:1)
❖ Paul thanks God for the Thessalonians’ faith (1 Thessalonians 1:2–10)
❖ Paul recalls his work in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 2:1–16)
❖ Persecution is preventing Paul from visiting the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 2:17–20)
❖ TPaul prays for the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 3:11–13)
❖ Timothy has seen the Thessalonians and returned with good news (1 Thessalonians 3:1–10)
❖ Self-control and love (1 Thessalonians 4:1–12)
❖ The coming of Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11)
❖ Christians with attitude! (1 Thessalonians 5:12–22)
❖ A closing prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:23–28)

THE 2ND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS

❖ Paul greets his readers (2 Thessalonians 1:1–2)
❖ Paul thanks God for the Thessalonians’ genuine faith (2 Thessalonians 1:3–12)
❖ Paul teaches about the coming of Christ and the ‘lawless one’ (2 Thessalonians 2:1–12)
❖ Paul prays for the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 2:13–17)
❖ Paul asks the Thessalonians to pray for him (2 Thessalonians 3:1–5)
❖ Paul warns against idleness (2 Thessalonians 3:6–15)
❖ A farewell blessing (2 Thessalonians 3:16–18)

THE 1ST LETTER TO TIMOTHY

❖ Paul greets Timothy (1 Timothy 1:1–2)
❖ False teachers (1 Timothy 1:3–20)
❖ True church (1 Timothy 2:1–4:10)
❖ Pastoring people (1 Timothy 4:11–6:2)
❖ Motives and money (1 Timothy 6:3–19)
❖ A final charge and blessing (1 Timothy 6:20–21)

THE 2ND LETTER TO TIMOTHY

❖ Paul greets Timothy (2 Timothy 1:1–2)
❖ Paul thanks God for Timothy—and encourages him (2 Timothy 1:3–7)
❖ Suffering, single-mindedness and hard work (2 Timothy 1:8–2:26)
❖ Godlessness in the last days (2 Timothy 3:1–9)
❖ Paul’s example and Timothy’s calling (2 Timothy 3:10–4:5)
❖ Paul faces death—and glory (2 Timothy 4:6–18)

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 ❖ Final greetings (2 Timothy 4:19–22)

THE LETTER TO TITUS

❖ Paul greets Titus (1:1–4)
❖ A task for Titus (1:5–9)
❖ Dealing with heresy (1:10–16)
❖ Teaching various groups (2:1–10)
❖ The reason for godliness (2:11–15)
❖ Choosing the good (3:1–11)
❖ Finally … (3:12–15)

THE LETTER TO PHILEMON

❖ Greetings and thanksgiving (vv. 1–7)
❖ Paul’s plea for Onesimus (vv. 8–22)
❖ Paul’s final greetings (vv. 23–25)

THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS

❖ Introduction: God has spoken by his Son (1:1–4)
❖ Jesus Christ is the greatest (1:5–10:18)
❖ Encouragement to enter this great salvation (10:19–12:29)
❖ Concluding encouragements and greetings (13:1–25)

THE LETTER OF JAMES

❖ Greetings (1:1)
❖ Endure trials—they lead to maturity (1:2–18)
❖ Put God’s word into action (1:19–2:26)
❖ Controlling the tongue (3:1–12)
❖ Genuine wisdom (3:13–18)
❖ Warring world, gracious God (4:1–12)
❖ Carry on regardless? (4:13–5:6)
❖ Patience, prayer and healing (5:7–20)

THE 1ST LETTER OF PETER

❖ Address and greeting (1:1–2)
❖ Praise for new life and hope in Christ (1:3–12)
❖ God calls his people to be holy (1:13–2:12)
❖ Christian relationships (2:13–3:7)
❖ Suffering for doing good (3:8–22)
❖ Holy living (4:1–11)
❖ Suffering for being a Christian (4:12–19)
❖ A special word for the elders (5:1–4)
❖ Christian attitudes (5:5–11)

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 ❖ Final greetings (5:12–14)

THE 2ND LETTER OF PETER

❖ Christian growth and assurance (2 Peter 1:1–21)
❖ False teachers (2 Peter 2:1–22)
❖ The Day of the Lord (2 Peter 3:1–18)

THE LETTER OF JUDE

❖ A letter from Jude (Jude 1–2)
❖ The danger of false teachers (Jude 3–4)
❖ Old Testament examples (Jude 5–19)
❖ In conclusion (Jude 20–24)

THE 1ST LETTER OF JOHN

❖ Introduction: ‘We were there!’ (1 John 1:1–4)
❖ Walking in the light (1 John 1:5–2:17)
❖ The split (1 John 2:18–3:10)
❖ The standard of loving (1 John 3:11–4:21)
❖ Believing in Jesus (1 John 5:1–12)
❖ And so … (1 John 5:13–21)

THE 2ND LETTER OF JOHN

❖ The ‘elder’ greets ‘the chosen lady’ (2 John 1–3)
❖ The importance of love (2 John 4–6)
❖ A warning against deceivers (2 John 7–11)
❖ ‘See you soon’ (2 John 12–13)

THE 3RD LETTER OF JOHN

❖ The elder greets Gaius (3 John 1–4)]
❖ The elder commends him for his hospitality (3 John 5–8)
❖ Diotrephes is being disruptive (3 John 9–10)
❖ Demetrius is trustworthy (3 John 11–12)
❖ ‘I hope to see you soon’ (3 John 13–14)

THE REVELATION TO JOHN

❖ Introduction and greetings (1:1–8)
❖ Christ speaks to his church (1:9–3:22)
❖ The worship of heaven and the scroll of history (4:1–8:5)
❖ Seven trumpets are sounded (8:6–11:19)
❖ Seven visions are revealed (12:1–15:8)
❖ Seven bowls are poured out (16:1–21)
❖ The fall of Babylon (17:1–18:24)

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 ❖ The victory of Christ (19:1–20:15)
❖ The new Jerusalem and the wedding of the Lamb (21:1–22:6)
❖ Jesus is coming! (22:7–21)

This outline draws on the following source, with some slight edits on my part: Knowles, A. (2001). The
Bible guide (1st Augsburg books ed., p. 693). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.

The Rev. Matthew Rowe

8/15/18

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