Matthew
Matthew writes so his audience will know
that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and Son of God, and so his audience will repent
and follow Jesus. Matthew places particular emphasis on Jesus as the fulfillment
of Old Testament prophecies about the coming of the Jewish Messiah-King.
Mark
Mark writes so his audience will know
that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and Son of God, and so his audience will
repent and follow Jesus.
Luke
Luke writes so his audience will know
that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and Son of God, and so his audience will
repent and follow Jesus. Luke places particular emphasis on Jesus’ concern for
outcasts—women, children, the poor, disabled, sick and “sinners.”
John
John writes so his audience will know
that Jesus is the Christ and that by believing in Jesus they can have eternal
life. John places particular emphasis on Jesus as the embodiment of God.
Acts
Acts is the story of the work of the Holy
Spirit through the early church—specifically through Peter and Paul—in
spreading the Gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria and Rome. The story
covers from Jesus’ ascension in AD 30 or 33 to Paul’s imprisonment in AD 60-62.
Romans
Paul announces his plans to visit the
church in Rome and introduces himself with a systematic presentation of his
Gospel. Paul says the Gospel is the power of God for salvation, which produces
an obedience that comes from faith in Christ for both Jew and Gentile.
First Corinthians
Paul responds to a letter telling of
divisions and problems in the Corinthian church. He urges unity and addresses
problems regarding immorality, marriage and singleness, food offered to idols,
worship and the Lord’s Supper, spiritual gifts, and the resurrection of Jesus.
Second Corinthians
Since Paul’s second visit to the Corinthian
church did not go well, Paul recounts how he sent Titus to them with a tearful
letter and how Titus had just returned with great news that the Corinthians
were eager to see him again. Paul tells of his sufferings for Christ and his
love for the Corinthians. He urges generosity toward the Christians in
Jerusalem who are suffering from famine.
Galatians
Paul forcefully insists that salvation
is by grace through faith alone, and not by doing good works. Paul says that
all those who belong to Christ by faith inherit the promises given to Abraham.
He warns, however, that those who live lifestyles of habitual, unrepentant
godlessness will not inherit eternal life.
Ephesians
The first half of Paul’s letter to the
Ephesians emphasizes the spiritual blessings we have in Christ—including the
fact that we have been saved by grace through faith and are God’s workmanship
created to do good works. The second half of this letter instructs and urges
Christians to live a life worthy of these blessings.
Philippians
Paul writes of his love for the
Philippian believers and about his current imprisonment. He urges them to
follow Christ’s example in looking out for the interests of others and to
continue to work out their salvation, because it is God who is working in them.
Paul closes by thanking them for the care-package they had sent to him while in
prison.
Colossians
Paul prays that the Colossian believers
would “live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way.” He says Jesus
is the image of the invisible God and that the fullness of Deity (God) lives in
Jesus. Paul warns against a false spirituality which involves harsh treatment
of the body. He tells his audience to avoid all sexual immorality, lust and
greed, and to live lives of compassion, humility, patience, forgiveness and
prayer.
First Thessalonians
Paul recounts how he had sent Timothy to
encourage the Thessalonian church during persecution and how Timothy had
returned with the good news that the church was thriving and spreading the
Gospel. Paul urges them to continue pleasing God in their behavior and
instructs them about Jesus’ coming again.
Second Thessalonians
Paul gives additional instruction about
Jesus’ coming again and warns against laziness.
First Timothy
This is Paul’s personal letter to
Timothy whom Paul had left to pastor the church in Ephesus. Paul urges Timothy
to teach sound doctrine and to oppose false doctrine and ungodly behavior (including
adultery, murder, homosexual behavior, and slave trading). Paul gives
qualification for elders and deacons, and reminds Timothy “how people ought to
conduct themselves in God’s household.”
Second Timothy
Paul tells Timothy to be prepared to endure suffering
for Christ and to correct, rebuke and encourage his people with sound doctrine.
He tells Timothy to pursue faith, love and peace, to flee youthful passions, to
preach the Word and to bring others to Christ. Paul says the time of his death
is near so please come soon.
Titus
This is Paul’s personal letter to Titus
whom Paul had left to pastor the church in Crete. Paul instructs Titus about
appointing godly elders who can oversee the church well, ensuring sound
doctrine. Paul specifically condemns those who claim to know God but deny him
by their actions. He gives instructions for how believers should behave in
order to attract unbelievers to “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Philemon
Paul returns Onesimus, a runaway slave
whom Paul had converted, to his owner, Philemon. Paul begs his friend Philemon
to treat Onesimus as he would treat Paul himself, and hints for the slave’s
release. Paul says, if Onesimus owes anything, Paul will pay the debt
personally.
Hebrews
The author says Jesus is the radiance of
God and the one through whom God created and sustains the universe. This being
the case, the author warns his audience to beware of drifting away from the
faith or hardening their hearts as the Israelites did in the wilderness. He
says Jesus is our great high priest and author of the new covenant so beware of
falling away because Jesus is the only way of salvation. He tells them to persevere
in faith, like Abraham, Moses and other Jewish heroes of old, and prays that God
would work in us what is pleasing to Him through Christ.
James
James urges his audience to be doers of
the Word and not hearers only. He condemns ungodly behavior and gives specific
examples of how Christians should demonstrate their faith by their actions.
First Peter
Peter writes to a church
facing severe persecution, saying their endurance in suffering demonstrates the
proven character of their faith. He urges them to set their hope fully on their
salvation, to turn away from their previous evil lifestyles and to maintain
good conduct before non-Christians so they will see their good deeds and
glorify God. Peter says they should rejoice that they share in the sufferings
of Christ.
Second Peter
Peter urges his audience to add
knowledge, self-control, godliness and love to their faith. He strongly
condemns false teachers who were leading many astray with their ungodly
lifestyles. Peter says believers must conduct themselves in holiness and
godliness knowing that Jesus will return like a thief at which time the heavens
will melt away and the earth will be laid bare.
First John
John warns against false
teachers who say Jesus didn’t really come in the flesh. John writes that if we claim
to have fellowship with God (be saved) and yet keep on walking in darkness
(habitual, unrepentant godlessness), we are lying, but if we say we have no sin
we are also lying. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and our advocate
with the Father. Those who say they are in Christ ought to behave as Jesus did.
They should love one another in deed and in truth, and shouldn’t be surprised
if the world hates them. John writes so that his audience might know that they
have eternal life.
Second John
John urges his audience to love one
another saying: This is love—that we walk in obedience to Jesus’ commands. He
warns of many deceivers who have gone out into the world and says that that
Christians should not support their ministry.
Third John
John says that Diotrephes, a church
leader, is spreading malicious slander about him. Diotrephes refuses to show
hospitality other believers and excommunicates Christians who do. John warns
not to imitate what is evil and says that those who practice evil do not know
God.
Jude
Jude tells his audience he
wanted to write about their common salvation but felt compelled to encourage
them to contend earnestly for the faith. This is because certain men had
secretly slipped in among them–immoral, divisive scoffers who had turned the
grace of our God into an excuse for evil behavior. Jude strongly condemns these
people and urges his audience to keep themselves in the love of God by building
up their faith and praying through the Holy Spirit.
Revelation
John uses apocalyptic imagery to teach
that as the second coming of the Lord approaches, worldwide natural disasters,
human evil and persecution will increase to unprecedented horrific levels. John
urges believers to remain faithful even unto death. When Jesus is revealed he will
destroy all opponents in a final battle and bring his people into his kingdom
of peace and righteousness.
