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Brief Bible Outline

The Old Testament

Genesis – Describes the creation; gives the history of the old world, and of the steps taken by God toward the formation of theocracy.
Exodus – The history of Israel's departure from Egypt; the giving of the law; the tabernacle.
Leviticus – The ceremonial law.
Numbers – The census of the people; the story of the wanderings in the wilderness.
Deuteronomy – The law rehearsed; the death of Moses.
Joshua – The story of the conquest and partition of Canaan.
Judges – The history of the nation from Joshua to Samson.
Ruth – The story of the ancestors of the royal family of Judah
1 Samuel – The story of the nation during the judgeship of Samuel and the reign of Saul.
2 Samuel – Story of the reign of David.
1 and 2 Kings – The books of Kings contains 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, with a supplemental notice of the liberation of Jehoiachin from his prison at Babylon, twenty-six years later; they comprehend the whole time of the Israelitish monarchy, exclusive of the reigns of Saul and David.
The Books of 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.
Ezra – The story of the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, and of the rebuilding of the temple.
Nehemiah – A further account of the rebuilding of the temple and city, and of the obstacles encountered and overcome.
Esther – The story of a Jewess who becomes queen of Persia and saves the Jewish people from destruction.
Job – The story of the trials and patience of a holy man of Edom.
Psalms – A collection of sacred poems intended for use in the worship of Jehovah. Chiefly the productions of David.
Proverbs – The wise sayings of Solomon.
Ecclesiastes – A poem respecting the vanity of earthly things.
Solomon's Song – An allegory relating to the church.
Isaiah – Prophecies respecting Christ and his kingdom.
Jeremiah – Prophecies announcing the captivity of Judah, its sufferings, and the final overthrow of its enemies.
Lamentations – The utterance of Jeremiah's sorrow upon the capture of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple.
Ezekiel – Messages of warning and comfort to the Jews in their captivity.
Daniel – A narrative of some of the occurrences of the captivity, and a series of prophecies concerning Christ.
Hosea – Prophecies relating to Christ and the latter days.
Joel – Prediction of woes upon Judah, and of the favor with which God will receive the penitent people.
Amos – 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 – Prediction of the desolation of Edom.
Jonah – Prophecies relating to Nineveh.
Micah – Predictions relating to the invasions of Shalmaneser and Sennacherib, the Babylonish captivity, the establishment of a theocratic kingdom in Jerusalem, and the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem.
Nahum – Prediction of the downfall of Assyria.
Habakkuk – A prediction of the doom of the Chaldeans.
Zephaniah – A prediction of the overthrow of Judah for its idolatry and wickedness.
Haggai – Prophecies concerning the rebuilding of the temple.
Zechariah – Prophecies relating to the rebuilding of the temple and the Messiah.
Malachi – Prophecies relating to the calling of the Gentiles and the coming of Christ.

The New Testament

Gospel of Matthew – A brief history of the life of Christ as the Messianic King.
Gospel of Mark – A brief history of the life of Christ as the Servant, supplying some incidents omitted by Matthew.
Gospel of Luke – The history of the life of Christ as the Divine Man, with especial reference to his most important acts and discourses.
Gospel of John – The life of Christ as the Son Of God, giving important discourses not related by the other evangelists.
Acts of the Apostles – The history of the labors of the apostles and of the foundation of the Christian Church.
Epistle to the Romans – A treatise by Paul on the doctrine of justification by Christ.
First Epistle to the Corinthians – A letter from Paul to the Corinthians, correcting errors into which they had fallen.
Second Epistle to the Corinthians – Paul confirms his disciples in their faith, and vindicates his own character.
Epistle to the Galatians – Paul maintains that we are justified by faith, and not by rites.
Epistle to the Ephesians – A treatise by Paul on the power of divine grace.
Epistle to the Philippians – Paul sets forth the beauty of Christian kindness.
Epistle to the Colossians – Paul warns his disciples against errors, and exhorts to certain duties.
First Epistle to the Thessalonians – Paul exhorts his disciples to continue in the faith and in holy conversation.
Second Epistle to the Thessalonians – Paul corrects an error concerning the speedy coming of Christ the second time.
First and Second Epistles to Timothy – Paul instructs Timothy in the duty of a pastor, and encourages him in the work of the ministry.
Epistle to Titus – Paul encourages Titus in the performance of his ministerial duties.
Epistle to Philemon – An appeal to a converted master to receive a converted escaped slave with kindness.
Epistle to Hebrews – The writer maintains that Christ is the substance of the ceremonial law.
Epistle of James – A treatise on the efficacy of faith united with good works.
First and Second Epistles of Peter – Exhortations to a Christian life, with various warnings and predictions.
First Epistle of John – Respecting the person of our Lord, and an exhortation to Christian love and conduct.
Second Epistle of John – John warns a converted lady against false teachers.
Third Epistle of John – A letter to Gaius, praising him for his hospitality.
Epistle of Jude – Warnings against deceivers.
The Revelation – The future of the Church foretold.