Truth you can trace
The books of the Bible
Who wrote each book, when, to whom, and what it is for, with disputed authorship stated as disputed.
Law
- Book introduction
Genesis
Establish origins of creation, sin, redemption-line, covenant people, Israel
Read - Book introduction
Exodus
Account of God's deliverance + covenant formation at Sinai
Read - Book introduction
Leviticus
Holiness laws + sacrificial system for covenant Israel
Read - Book introduction
Numbers
40-year wilderness experience between Sinai + entering Canaan
Read - Book introduction
Deuteronomy
Reaffirm + apply Sinai covenant for new generation entering land
Read
History
- Book introduction
Joshua
Conquest + settlement of promised land
Read - Book introduction
Judges
Period between Joshua + monarchy, covenant unfaithfulness + cyclical pattern
Read - Book introduction
Ruth
Story of God's providential care + David's genealogy + Gentile inclusion
Read - Book introduction
1 Samuel
Transition from judges to monarchy; Saul's rise + fall; David's anointing
Read - Book introduction
2 Samuel
David's reign, covenant + sin + consequences
Read - Book introduction
1 Kings
Solomon's reign + kingdom division + early divided-kingdom
Read - Book introduction
2 Kings
Divided kingdom's continuing decline + exile
Read - Book introduction
1 Chronicles
Theological re-telling of Davidic + Levitical history for post-exilic encouragement
Read - Book introduction
2 Chronicles
Solomonic + Judean monarchy from theological perspective
Read - Book introduction
Ezra
Return from Babylonian exile + temple rebuilding + covenant renewal
Read - Book introduction
Nehemiah
Rebuilding Jerusalem's walls + community covenant renewal
Read - Book introduction
Esther
God's providential preservation of Jewish people through Esther + origin of Purim
Read
Wisdom & Poetry
- Book introduction
Job
Meditation on suffering of the righteous + God's wisdom + ultimate trust
Read - Book introduction
Psalms
Israel's + Church's prayer book, full range of human-divine communication
Read - Book introduction
Proverbs
Practical wisdom for godly living
Read - Book introduction
Ecclesiastes
Honest reflection on life "under the sun" + final call to fear God
Read - Book introduction
Song of Songs
Multi-view, celebration of marital love / allegorical Christ + Church / both
Read
Major Prophets
- Book introduction
Isaiah
Call to covenant faithfulness + judgment + hope of Messianic deliverance
Read - Book introduction
Jeremiah
Calls Judah to repentance; announces judgment; promises New Covenant
Read - Book introduction
Lamentations
Mourning Jerusalem's destruction + appeal to God
Read - Book introduction
Ezekiel
God's glory + judgment of Judah + restoration promises
Read - Book introduction
Daniel
God's sovereignty over kingdoms + Messianic + eschatological hope
Read
Minor Prophets
- Book introduction
Hosea
God's love + Israel's unfaithfulness + restoration
Read - Book introduction
Joel
Locust plague as call to repent + Day of the Lord prophecy + Spirit-outpouring
Read - Book introduction
Amos
Social justice + judgment on Israel's hypocrisy
Read - Book introduction
Obadiah
Judgment on Edom + restoration of Judah
Read - Book introduction
Jonah
God's mercy on Nineveh + Israel's mission perspective
Read - Book introduction
Micah
Judgment + Messianic restoration hope
Read - Book introduction
Nahum
Nineveh's coming destruction (~100 years after Jonah's revival)
Read - Book introduction
Habakkuk
Wrestling with God's use of wicked Babylon to judge Judah
Read - Book introduction
Zephaniah
Day of the LORD warning + restoration promise
Read - Book introduction
Haggai
Encourage temple rebuilding
Read - Book introduction
Zechariah
Encouragement + Messianic prophecies
Read - Book introduction
Malachi
Confront half-hearted worship + announce coming Day + Elijah
Read
Gospels & Acts
- Book introduction
Matthew
Present Jesus as promised Davidic Messiah-King fulfilling OT
Read - Book introduction
Mark
Present Jesus as Son of God + suffering servant
Read - Book introduction
Luke
Orderly account establishing the certainty of Christian faith
Read - Book introduction
John
"These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (Jhn.20.31)
Read - Book introduction
Acts
Spread of gospel from Jerusalem to Rome
Read
Paul's Letters
- Book introduction
Romans
Comprehensive presentation of the gospel + Jew-Gentile unity in Christ
Read - Book introduction
1 Corinthians
Address divisions + immorality + worship + resurrection issues
Read - Book introduction
2 Corinthians
Defend apostolic ministry + reconcile + collection for Jerusalem
Read - Book introduction
Galatians
Defend gospel of justification by faith against Judaizers
Read - Book introduction
Ephesians
God's cosmic plan in Christ + church + Christian living
Read - Book introduction
Philippians
Thank for support + encourage unity + warn against false teaching
Read - Book introduction
Colossians
Combat false teaching with supremacy of Christ
Read - Book introduction
1 Thessalonians
Encourage young church + answer questions about Christ's return
Read - Book introduction
2 Thessalonians
Correct misunderstanding about Christ's return + warn against idleness
Read - Book introduction
1 Timothy
Church order + sound doctrine + pastoral leadership
Read - Book introduction
2 Timothy
Final exhortations to Timothy + faithful endurance
Read - Book introduction
Titus
Organize Cretan church + sound teaching + godly living
Read - Book introduction
Philemon
Plea for runaway slave Onesimus's reception as Christian brother
Read
General Letters
- Book introduction
Hebrews
Christ's superiority + warning against drifting from him
Read - Book introduction
James
Practical Christian living + faith demonstrated in works
Read - Book introduction
1 Peter
Encourage suffering believers + hope-grounded living
Read - Book introduction
2 Peter
Warn against false teachers + assure Christ's return
Read - Book introduction
1 John
Test of true Christianity + assurance + warning against early Gnosticism
Read - Book introduction
2 John
Walk in love + truth; refuse hospitality to false teachers
Read - Book introduction
3 John
Commend Gaius's hospitality + warn about Diotrephes
Read - Book introduction
Jude
Contend for the faith against false teachers
Read
Revelation
66 introductions, every one citing its sources. See our sources and licences.
On contested questions we show every major view, attributed and cited, and pick no winner. Answers are synthesized from primary sources, truth you can trace, not opinion.