The Old And New Testaments

ALSO KNOWN AS:

Old Covenant: Within the 39 books of the Old Covenant are the Covenants God made with men on the Earth.

The first covenant was made with Noah; Gen 6:18-7:1. However, the Old Testament is known for the Covenant God made with Israel.

Septuagint: is another name for the Old Testament. ORIGIN mid 16th century (originally denoting the translators themselves): from Latin septuaginta ‘seventy’, because of the tradition that it was

produced, under divine inspiration, by seventy-two translators working independently.

COVENANTS SCRIPTURE MADE WITH DESCRIPTION

NOAHIC COVENANT

SCRIPTURE: GEN 9:8-17

MADE WITH: Noah

DESCRIPTION: Noah and his descendants and every living thing on earth.

Promise never to destroy all life on earth. The rainbow in the cloud is the symbol of the covenant

ABRAHAMIC COVENANT

SCRIPTURE: GEN 15:6-21

MADE WITH: Abraham

DESCRIPTION: Genesis 15:7 And he said unto him, I am the Lord

that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.

ABRAHAMIC COVENANT

SCCRIPTURE: GEN 17

MADE WITH: Abraham

DESCRIPTION: Genesis 17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after

thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

DAVIDIC COVENANT

SCRIPTURE: 2 SAM 7:5-16

MADE WITH: David

DESCRIPTION: 2 Samuel 7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy

throne shall be established for ever.

NEW

SCRIPTURE: JER 31:31-34

MADE WITH: Israel

DESCRIPTION: Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; I will

put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts.

Old Testament Outline

THE PENTATEUCH...FIRST FIVE BOOKS WRITTEN BY MOSES

GENESIS: The Book of Origins The origin of the Universe, the Earth, the Human Race, the Covenants and the Nation of Israel.

EXODUS: The Book of Bondage and Deliverance Slavery and deliverance. Also the beginning of the history of Israel as they journeyed to Cannan.

LEVITICUS: The Book of Laws and Sacrifices

NUMBERS: The Book of the Pilgrimage of Israel

DEUTERONOMY: The Book that repeats the Law and Curses

EXODUS: The Book of Bondage and Deliverance Slavery and deliverance. Also the beginning of the history of Israel as they journeyed to Cannan.

HISTORICAL BOOKS...TWELVE

JOSHUA: A record of the conquest of Canaan, (the promised land), under the leadership of Joshua, and the division of the land among the twelve tribes.

RUTH: Ruth appears as ancestress of David and of Jesus Christ.

JUDGES: The history of the six servitudes of Israel, and the various deliverances of the land through the 15 Judges.

I, II SAMUEL: The history of Samuel and the early years of the reign of Kings in Israel; Saul and David.

I, II KINGS: The early history of the kingdom of Israel, and later of the divided kingdom.

I, II CHRONICLES: A record of the reigns of David, Solomon, and the kings of Judah to the time of the captivity.

EZRA: A record of the return of the Jews from captivity, and the rebuilding of the temple.

NEHEMIAH: An account of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, and the re-establishing of the sacred ordinances.

ESTHER: The story of Queen Esther’s deliverance of the Jews from the plot of Haman and the establishment of the feast of Purim.

THE POETICAL...FIVE

JOB: A Book about Suffering. The book shows the malice of Satan, the patience of Job, the vanity of human philosophy, the wisdom of God, and the final deliverance of the sufferer.

PSALMS: A collection of 150 spiritual songs, poems, and prayers. Used through the centuries by the church in its worship.

PROVERBS: A collection of moral and religious maxims and discourses on such topics as wisdom, temperance, justice.

ECCLESIASTES: Reflections on the vanity of life and on man’s duties and obligations to God, etc.

SONG OF SOLOMON: A religious poem symbolizing

the mutual love of Christ and the church.

PROPHETICAL BOOKS...SEVENTEEN

ISAIAH: The Great Prophet of the Redemption. A book rich in Messianic prophecies mingled with woes pronounced upon sinful nations.

LAMENTATIONS: A series of dirges by Jeremiah lamenting the afflictions of Israel.

JEREMIAH: The Weeping Prophet. Lived from the time of Josiah to the captivity. Main theme: The backsliding, bondage, and restoration of the Jews.

EZEKIEL: One of the mystery books. Full of striking metaphors vividly portraying the sad condition of God’s people and the pathway to future exaltation and glory.

DANIEL:A book of personal biography and apocalyptic visions concerning events in both secular and sacred history.

HOSEA: Contemporary with Isaiah and

Micah.Main theme: The apostasy of Israel characterized as spiritual adultery. The book is filled with striking metaphors describing the sins of the people.

JOEL: A prophet of Judah. Main theme: National repentance and its blessings. “The day of the Lord,” a time of divine judgments, may be transformed into a season of blessing.

AMOS: The herdsman-prophet was a courageous reformer, denouncing selfishness and sin. The book contains a series of five visions

PROPHETICAL BOOKS...SEVENTEEN

OBADIAH: Main theme: The doom of Edom and final deliverance of Israel.

JONAH: The story of the “reluctant missionary” who was taught by bitter experience the lesson of obedience and the depth of divine MICAH: mercy. This book gives a dark picture of the moral condition of Israel and Judah but foretells the establishment of a Messianic kingdom in which righteousness shall prevail.

NAHUM: Main theme: The destruction of Nineveh. Judah is promised deliverance from Assyria.

HABAKKUK: Written in the Babylonian period. Main theme: The mysteries of providence. How can a just God allow a wicked nation to oppress Israel?

ZEPHANIAH: This book is somber in tone, filled with threatenings, but it ends in a vision of the future glory of Israel.

HAGGAI: A colleague of Zechariah. He reproves the people for slackness in building the second temple but promises a return of God’s glory when the building would be completed.

ZECHARIAH: Contemporary with Haggai. He helps to arouse the Jews to rebuild the temple. He has a series of eight visions and sees the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom.

MALACHI: Gives a graphic picture of the closing period of Old Testament history. He shows the necessity of reforms before the coming of the Messiah.

GOSPELS...FOUR

MATTHEW: Written by Matthew, one of the twelve apostles. Narrative especially adapted to the Jews, showing that Jesus is the kingly Messiah of Jewish prophecy.

MARK: Written by John Mark. A brief, picturesque record emphasizing the supernatural power of Christ over nature, disease, and demons. All this divine energy exercised for the good of humankind.

LUKE: Written by “the beloved physician.” The most complete biography of Jesus. It portrays him as the Son of Man, full of compassion for the sinful and the poor.

JOHN: Written by “the beloved disciple.” The narrative unveils Jesus as the Son of God and records His deeper teachings. Two ideas, “faith” and “eternal life,” echo throughout the book.

HISTORICAL...ONE BOOK

ACTS: Written by Luke. A sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Main theme: The origin and growth of the early church from the ascension of Christ to the imprisonment of Paul at Rome.

ROMANS: Addressed to Christians in Rome. Part 1, Chapters 1-11. An exposition of the need for, and the nature of, the way of salvation. Part 2, Chapters 12-16. Largely exhortations relating to spiritual, social, and civic duties.

1 CORINTHIANS: Addressed to the church at Corinth. Main themes: The cleansing of the church from various evils; doctrinal instructions.

2 CORINTHIANS: Main themes: The characteristics of an apostolic ministry and the vindication of Paul’s apostleship.

GALATIANS: Written to the church in Galatia. Main themes: A defense of Paul’s apostolic authority and of the doctrine of justification by faith, with warnings against false teachers and reversion to Judaism.

EPHESIANS: Written to the church in Ephesus. An exposition of the glorious way of salvation. Special emphasis upon the fact that all barriers between Jews and Gentiles are broken down.

EPISTLES OF PAUL...FOURTEEN (INCLUDING HEBREWS)

PHILIPPIANS: A love letter to the church in Philippi. It reveals Paul’s intense devotion to Christ, his joyful experience in prison, and his deep concern that the church should be steadfast in sound doctrine.

COLOSSIANS: Written to the church at Colosse. Main theme: The transcendant glory of Christ as the head of the church. This sublime truth calls for the abandonment of all worldly philosophy and sin.

1 THESSALONIANS: Written to the church in Thessalonica. It is composed of apostolic commendations, reminiscences, counsel, and exhortations. Special emphasis upon the comforting hope of the future coming of Christ.

2 THESSALONIANS: A sequel to the first epistle. Written to enlighten the church concerning the doctrine of Christ’s second coming and to warn believers against unrest and social disorders.

1 TIMOTHY: Counsel to a young pastor concerning his conduct and ministerial work.

2 TIMOTHY: Paul’s last letter, written shortly before his death, giving instructions and counsels to his beloved “son” in the gospel.

TITUS: An apostolic letter giving advice and exhortations to a trusted friend who was a pastor in a difficult field. Special emphasis on the doctrine of good works.

PHILEMON: A private letter written to Philemon, encouraging him to receive and forgive Onesimus, his runaway slave.

HEBREWS: Writer uncertain. Main theme: The transcendent glory of Christ and of the blessings of the new dispensation compared with those of the Old Testament.

GENERAL EPISTLES... SEVEN

JAMES: Probably written by the Lord’s brother. Addressed to Jewish converts of the dispersion. Main theme: Practical religion manifesting itself in good works as contrasted with mere profession of faith.

1 PETER: A letter of encouragement written by the apostle Peter to the saints scattered throughout Asia Minor. Main theme: The privileges of believers who are following the example of Christ-to have victory during trials and to live holy lives in an hostile world.

2 PETER: Largely a warning against false teachers and scoffers.

1 JOHN: A deep spiritual message written by the apostle John to different classes of believers in the church. It stresses the believer’s privilege of spiritual knowledge and the duty of fellowship and brotherly love.

2 JOHN: A brief message from John on divine truth and worldly error. Addressed to “the chosen lady and her children.” A warning against heresy and false teachers.

3 JOHN: An apostolic letter of commendation written to Gaius, containing character sketches of certain persons in the church.

JUDE: Probably written by the brother of James. Main themes: Historical examples of apostasy and divine judgments upon sinners; warnings against immoral teachers.

REVELATION: Written by the apostle John. Mainly a series of apocalyptic visions dealing with events in religious history. A great moral conflict is portrayed between the divine and satanic powers, ending in the victory of the Lamb.