Bible Book Outlines OT

Question 1

1 Chronicles

Answer 1

1-9 - Genealogies

10-29 - The reign of David

Question 2

Ezra

Answer 2

Continues the Old Testament narrative of 2 Chronicles by showing how God fulfills his promise to return his people to the Land of Promise after seventy years of exile. This second “exodus” of the people is less impressive in that only a remnant chose to leave Babylon. Ezra relates the story of two returns from Babylon—the first under Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple and the second under Ezra to rebuild the spiritual condition of the people.

1-6 - Return of the Exiles & Rebuilding of the Temple
7-10 Return of Ezra & Rebuilding of the Community

Question 3

Song of Solomon

Answer 3

SONG OF SONGS: LOVE STORY
The Song of Songs is a wedding song honoring marriage. The book describes the God honoring love and enjoyment found between a husband and a wife, and therefore can readily be applied to Christ’s love for the church.

1-2 - The Woman’s Desire for Her Husband
2-3 - The Approach of Her Husband
3-5 - The Loss of Her Husband
5-8 - The Reunion of Husband and Wife

Question 4

Joshua

Answer 4

JOSHUA: CONQUEST
Gives a history of Israel’s conquering of the Promised land.
The book of Joshua continues the historical account of the Israelites’ entrance into Canaan, recording events following the death of Moses. It depicts the conquest of the promised land (1¬11) and the division of the territory among the twelve tribes (12-24).

1-4 Entering the Promised land
5-12 Conquering the Promised land
13-24 Dividing the Promised land

Question 5

Psalms

Answer 5

1-41 - Book One: Kingdom Contested
42-72 - Book Two: Kingdom Global
73-89 - Book Three: Kingdom Demolished
90-106 - Book Four: Kingdom Spiritual
107-150 - Book Five: Kingdom Exultant

Question 6

Haggai

Answer 6

HAGGAI: Post exile
Command and encouragement to finish rebuilding the temple. The work on the temple had ceased and the people had becomes more concerned with the beautification of their own houses than with the building of the central sanctuary of God. Because of their misplaced priorities, their future labors can-not be blessed by God. Only when the people put the Lord first by completing the task he set before them will his hand of blessing once again be one them.

1 Charge to rebuild and work begun
2 Exhortation to finish & the glory of the second temple will greater

Question 7

Zephaniah

Answer 7

ZEPHANIAH: SOuth pre_exile
This book repeatedly hammers home the message that the day of the Lord, is coming when the malignan-cy of sin will be dealt with. Israel and her gentile neighbors will soon experience the crushing hand of God’s wrath. But after the chastening process is complete, blessing will come in the person of the Messi-ah.

1 - Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem
2 Judgment Against the Nations
3 - Promise of restauration

Question 8

1 Samuel

Answer 8

1 SAMUEL: KINGDOM
The account of the transition of leadership in Israel from judges to kings. Three characters play a promi-nent role in this book which accounts the rise of the prophet Samuel (Israel’s last judge), the reign and re-jection of King Saul, and the beginnings of David’s rule.

1-8 Samuel the Judge
9-15 Saul the King
16-31 Saul vs. David

Question 9

Numbers

Answer 9

The book of wanderings. Most of the book deals with Israel's experience in the wilderness as God estab-lishes their religious, civil, and military order. In Numbers, the nation goes through a painful process of testing and maturation in which God teaches his people the consequences of rebellion and irresponsible decisions.
1-	10 Preparation to leave Sinai
10-	25 Rebellion and wandering
[12 Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses]
[13-14 Spies sent out and report]
[16-17 Korah's rebellion]
[20 striking of the rock/ Aaron's death]
[21 Bronze serpent]
[22-24 Balaam]
26 -36 Census and directions

Question 10

Proverbs

Answer 10

1 - The Beginning of Wisdom
1-9 - The Call to Wisdom
10-31 - The Life of Wisdom
31 - The Beauty of Wisdom

Question 11

Nahum

Answer 11

NAHUM: NINEVAH in the south
In contrast to Jonah, whose ministry resulted in Ninevah’s repentance, the prophet Nahum proclaims the downfall of the great Assyrian city of Ninevah. The Ninevites have forgotten their revival and have re-turned to their habits of violence, idolatry, and arrogance. As a result, Babylon will so destroy the city that no trace of it will remain—a prophesy fulfilled in painful detail.

1 - Ninevah’s Judge
2 - Ninevah’s destruction
3 - Ninevah’s Subdued

Question 12

Jeremiah

Answer 12

Jeremiah is the prophesy of the weeping prophet due to his heartbreaking message. Jeremiah labors more than forty years proclaiming a message of doom to the stiff-necked people of Judah. Despised and perse-cuted by his countrymen, Jeremiah bathes his harsh prophesies in tears of compassion. Throughout his book he faithfully declares that surrender to God’s will is the only way to avoid calamity.

1 - Jeremiah’s Call
2-29 - Judah’s Judgment and Exile
30-33 - Promises of Restoration
34-45 - The Fall of Jerusalem Prophesied _ 39 The Fall
46-51 - Oracles of Judgment Against the Nations
52 - Fall of Jerusalem Recounted

Question 13

Ruth

Answer 13

RUTH: KINSMAN-REDEEMER
The account of the young gentle widow Ruth, who followed her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Bethle-hem. There she gains the favor of Boaz, her kinsman redeemer, who takes her as his wife and she becomes and ancestor of David and of Christ.

1 Naomi return to Bethlehem from Moab with Ruth
2 Ruth gleans in the field of Nomi’s kinsman Boaz
3 Ruth appeals to Boaz as kinsman redeemer
4 Ruth marries Boaz

Question 14

Lamentations

Answer 14

1-4 Lament

5 Prayer

Question 15

Isaiah

Answer 15

Often called the prince of prophets because of the majestic sweep of his book. The first 39 chapters are filled with judgement upon immoral and idolatrous people—both Judah and surrounding nations. But the final 27 chapters declare a message of hope and consolation.

1-12 - The Lord is the Holy One of Israel
[6-12 Book of Immanuel]
13-27 - Woes of the Nations
28-39 - Woes and Salvation of God’s People
40-55 - God’s Redeemer Servant-King - 53 Messianic
56-66 - Righteousness in Servanthood

Question 16

Ecclesiastes

Answer 16

ECCLESIASTES: EMPTINESS
Ecclesiastes shows that certain paths in life lead to emptiness. Such wisdom can spare us from the empti-ness that results from life without God. True satisfaction comes in knowing that what we are doing is a part of God’s purpose for our lives.

1-3 - Limitations of Work and Wisdom
3-6 - The Wisdom of Work in the Lord
6-12 - The Humility of Wisdom Before the Lord

Question 17

Micah

Answer 17

South
Burdened by the abuse of the poor, the book of Micah rebukes anyone who would use social status or po-litical power for personal gain. Micah divides into three section which 1) expose the sin of his country-men, 2) pictures the punishment God is about to send, and 3) holds out the hope of restoration once that discipline has ended. Micah points to a restoration of God’s work in Judah. Has similarities to Isaiah.

1-2 - First Cycle: Judgment and Deliverance
3-5 - Second Cycle: Degradation and Exaltation
6-7 - Third Cycle: Hope in Darkness

Question 18

Esther

Answer 18

1-2 -Esther becomes Queen
3-4 - The jews are threatened
5-10 - The Lord Saves the Jews & Conclusion (Purim)

Question 19

Ezekiel

Answer 19

EZEKIEL: GLORY
Written by an exile carried to Babylon before the final assault on Jerusalem, Ezekial uses prophesy, para-bles, signs, and symbols to dramatize God’s message to his exiled people. Though they are like dry bones in the sun, God will reassemble them and breathe life into the nation once again. Present judgement will be followed by future glory.

1-3 - Ezekiel's Call
4-24 - Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem
25-32 - Oracles Against Foreign Nations
33-48 - Blessing for Judah and Jerusalem
- 36 I will give you a new heart
- 37 The Valley of Dry Bones

Question 20

Deuteronomy

Answer 20

1-4 - Farewell Sermon 1 - Keep the Law
5-28 - Farewell Sermon 2 - Absolute Allegiance to God
29-30 - Farewell Sermon 3 - Covenant Ratification
Epilogue - 31-34 - Planning and Benediction

Question 21

Jonah

Answer 21

1 - Jonah Disobedient
2 - Jonah Delivered
3 - Jonah Obedient
4 - Jonah Rebuked

Question 22

Obadiah

Answer 22

OBADIAH: EDOM
Shortest book in Old Testament. Edom is condemned for cruelty to Judah. Obadiah, pronounced condem-nation against Edom and prophesied their total destruction because of their persistent opposition to God’s people.

1-18 - God’s Declaration to Punish Edom
19-21 - God’s Promise of a New Moral Order

Question 23

Leviticus

Answer 23

1-10 - Cultic Sacrifices (Approaching God)
11-16 - Cleanness Codes (Imitating God)
17-27 - Holiness Codes (Being like God)

Question 24

1 Kings

Answer 24

1-11 - The Reign of Solomon
12-22 - The Divided Kingdom
[17-22] - Elijah and Ahab (for the most part)

Question 25

Exodus

Answer 25

1-6 Moses [3 Burning bush]
7-12	Plagues [12 Passover]
12-15 Red Sea crossing [14 actual crossing]
15-18 Wilderness 
19-24 Law [20 Ten commandments]
25-31 Tabernacle 
32-34 Idolatry [32 Golden calf]
35-40 Construction of Tabernacle

Question 26

Job

Answer 26

1-2 - Prologue (Blessing and Testing)
3 -31 Job’s Lament - Friends response
32-37 - Elihu’s Speeches
38-42 - God’s Speeches & Epilogue (Affirmation and Restoration)

Question 27

Joel

Answer 27

JOEL: North and South LOCUSTS
Disaster struck the Southern Kingdom of Judah in the form of a cloud of Locusts. In a matter of hours, the fields were stripped bare, and the Prophet Joel seized the opportunity to proclaim God’s message. The Lo-custs were seen as a foreshadowing of the coming day of the Lord. In light of this, the book warns of ap-proaching judgement, calls for repentance and gives God’s people hope of the coming day of salvation that will follow judgement.

1-2 - Crisis Calls for Repentance
2-3 - Responses of our Faithful God

Question 28

Nehemiah

Answer 28

Nehemiah: WALLS
Nehemiah leads the final return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. His concern for Jerusalem and her inhabitants prompts him to call on the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in spite of opposition from her neighbors and resistance from within.

1-7 rebuilding the wall
8- 13 reforming the people

Question 29

Amos

Answer 29

AMOS: North
Addresses the excessive pursuit of luxury, self-indulgence, and oppression of the poor which characterized the period of prosperity and success in the Northern Kingdom of Israel under Jereboam II. Israel cannot be content to be complacent about her standing before God. As she embraces the judgement coming against the nations so she must embrace that she is under the same (if not higher) obligation to honor the LORD. Vision of plumb line, basket of ripe fruit— Prepare to meet your God

1-2 - Judgment Pronounced on the Nations
3-6 - Prophecies Against Israel
7-9 - Visions of Divine Retribution 9 - Restoration and Blessing

Question 30

2 Chronicles

Answer 30

1-9 - Solomon

10-36 - The Kingdom Judah Alone

Question 31

Zechariah

Answer 31

ZECHARIAH: post exile MESSIAH
For a dozen years the task of rebuilding the temple had been half completed. The prophet Zechariah was commissioned by God to encourage the people to complete this important task. Rather than exhorting them with strong words of rebuke, Zechariah offered a very positive goal: the temple must be built, for someday the glory of the Messiah would inhabit it.

1-8 - Encouragement for the Present (Night Visions in 1-6)
9-14 - The Future of God’s Kingdom (First and Second Prophetic Oracles)

Question 32

2 Samuel

Answer 32

2 SAMUEL: DAVID
The account of David’s kingship over Israel, God’s promise to him of an everlasting kingdom, David” sin with Bathseba and it consequences and David’s final words to Solomon.

1-10 - David early reign
11-20 - David Sins and Suffers
21-24 - Epilogue: Tying up Loose Ends

Question 33

Habakkuk

Answer 33

HABAKKUK: south pre_exile
Habakkuk prophesied during the decline of Judah. Although repeatedly called to repentance, the nation stubbornly refused to change her sinful ways. Asking how long this intolerable situation would continue, Habakkuk is told by God that the Babylonians will be his chastening rod on the nation—an announce-ment that sends the prophet to his knees. Though perplexed, Habakkuk acknowledges that the just in any generation shall live by faith, not by sight, and he concludes by praising God’s wisdom even though he doesn’t fully understand God’s ways. Why no justice? How can God use Babylon?

1 - Dialogue Between the Prophet and God
2 - God Distinguishes Between the Faithful and the Wicked
3 - The Prophet’s Prayer of Expectant Hope

Question 34

Judges

Answer 34

JUDGES: CYCLES
Shows that God’s judgement against sin is certain, and his forgiveness of sin and restoration of relation-ship is just as certain for those whom he loves.
The account of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the judgeship of Samuel. The book bridges the gap between the death of Joshua and the inauguration of the monarchy and shows the moral and political deg-radation of a people who neglected their godly heritage and compromised their faith with the surrounding paganism. It was period in which Israel had no king and everyone did as he saw fit.

1-3 - The Roots of Apostasy (Coexistence)
3-16 - The Downward Spiral of Apostasy
17-21 - The Results of Apostasy

ALTERNATE:
1-2 Failure because of Disobedience
3-16 Deliverance through Judges
____[3 Othneil (Caleb’s younger brother- 40), Ehud (left-handed swordsman
- 80), Shamgar (600 Philistines with an ox goad)]
____[4-5 Deborah (prophetess, wife of the judge Lappidoth- 40)]
____[6-8 Gideon (40)]
____[9 Abimelech – not a judge but treated as such, son of Gideon,
name=“my father is king” (3)]
____[10 Tola (23), Jair (22)]
____[11-12 Jepthah (6)]
____[12 Ibzan (7), Elon (10), and Abdon (8)]
____[13-16 Samson (20)]
17-21 Moral failure of Israel

Question 35

Daniel

Answer 35

1-6 - Narratives of Daniel and His Friends in Exile

7-12 - Visions of Daniel in Exile

Question 36

Hosea

Answer 36

HOSEA: North

Hosea (ESV): Hosea has been called the “death-bed prophet of Israel” because he was the last to prophesy before the northern kingdom fell to Assyria (about 722 b.c.). His ministry followed a golden age in the northern kingdom, with a peace and prosperity not seen since the days of Solomon. Unfortunately, with this prosperity came moral decay, and Israel forsook God to worship idols. So God instructed Hosea to marry a “wife of whoredom” (1:2), whose unfaithfulness to her husband would serve as an example of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God.

1-3 - Hosea’s Family Life
4-6 - Charge of Failure to Acknowledge God
6-11 - Charge of Breaking Covenant with God
11-14 - Charge of unFaithfulness Toward God

Question 37

Malachi

Answer 37

Post exile

1-2 God’s Love rejected
3-4 God’s Grace still offered

Question 38

Genesis

Answer 38

1-2 Creation universe and man
3- 5 Fall and results 
6-9 Noah and Flood 
10-11 Birth of nations 
12-25 - Abraham Cycle
25-36 - Jacob Cycle
37-50 - Joseph Cycle

Question 39

2 Kings

Answer 39

1-17 - The Divided Kingdom
[1-8 - Elisha Succeeds Elijah]
18-25 - Judah Alone