Updated September, 2009
Tod Kennedy, 2003-2009
©Tod Kennedy, todkennedy.com; knowbelieveapply.com
Law or Torah (Creation to Moses and Exodus)
Genesis: Beginnings (creation, dominion, fall, Israel, covenant). Key verses, Genesis 1:1, 27-28; 3:15; 12:3.
Exodus: Redemption. Key verses, Exodus 13:8; 19:5.
Leviticus: Reconciliation. Key verses, Leviticus 1:4; 20:26.
Numbers: Divine Discipline. Key verses, Numbers 14:22-23.
Deuteronomy: Choose Life. Key verses, Deuteronomy 30:19-20; 32:45-47.
History (Enter Canaan to the return from exile)
Joshua: Holy War (enter Canaan). Key verses Joshua 1:9; 24:19.
Judges: Syncretism, Oppression, and Grace (after Joshua to King Saul). Key verses, Judges 2:20-21; 21:25.
Ruth: Grace Kinsman-Redeemer (time of Judges). Key verses, Ruth 2:12; 3:11.
1 Samuel: God’s King—Samuel (b. 1085), King Saul (r.1050), and David (r.1010). Key verses, 1 Samuel 13:14.
2 Samuel: Kingdom of Israel—King David (r. 1010-971). Key verses, 2 Samuel 7:12-13.
1 Kings: Civil War—King Solomon (r. 971-931) and divided kingdom (931) to Ahab (r. 874-853) and Elijah (800s). Key verses, 1 Kings 9:4-5; 11:11.
2 Kings: Apostasy and Exile—divided kingdoms at Ahaziah (r. 853) and Elisha (800s) to Babylon (Jehoiachin, 597)). Key verses, 2 Kings 17:22-23; 23:27.
1 Chronicles: Religious Continuity and David—genealogy from Adam, and King David (r. 1010-971). Key verses, 1 Chronicles 17:11-14; 29:18-19.
2 Chronicles: Religious Continuity and the Temple—King Solomon (971) and Judah to Cyrus (538). Key verses, 2 Chronicles 7:14-16.
- Ezra: Return and Rebuild the Temple (Persia). Key verse, Ezra 9:9.
- Nehemiah: Rebuild the wall; Revive the people (Persia). Key verses, Nehemiah 6:15-16; 8:8.
- Esther: God is faithful to Israel. Key verses Esther 1:1; 2:5-7, 10, 17; 3:13; 6-3, 13; 8:11. Previous theme was Faith, Wisdom, and Action combats Anti-Semitism (Persia). Key verses, Esther 4:14-16; 10:3.
Poetry and Wisdom
- Job: Undeserved Suffering and Free Will in the Angelic Conflict. Key verses, Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6; 13:15; 37:23-24; 42:5-6. ). Key verses,
- Psalms: Israel praises, prays to, and ponders God. Key verses, Psalm 150:6.
- Proverbs: God’s wisdom for living in God’s world. Key verses, Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; 15:33.
- Ecclesiastes: Man, alone, cannot figure out life. Key verses, Ecclesiastes 1:2; 12:13.
- Song of Solomon: Romantic love in courtship and marriage. Key verses, Song of Solomon 5:16; 8:6-7.
- Prophets
- Isaiah: Messiah-Servant of the Lord: Judgment, then Glorious Future. Key verses, Isaiah 9:6-7 and 53:6.
- Jeremiah: Judah ignores her spiritual crisis. Key verses, Jeremiah 25:11-12.
- Lamentation: Sin, Destruction, Death, Exile. Key verses, Lamentations 2:11; 3:19-23.
- Ezekiel: Judgment Now, Promised Kingdom Later. Key verses, Ezekiel 36:24-26 and 36:33-35.
- Daniel: Israel in the Times of the Gentiles. Key verses, Daniel 2:20-22, 44; 3:17-18.
- Hosea: Spiritual Prostitution, Judgment, and Restoration. Key verses, Hosea 4:1-2.
- Joel: Day of the Lord. Key verse, Joel 1:15.
- Amos: Chosen for Blessing, Punished for Sin. Key verse, Amos 3:1-2.
- Obediah: God will Judge Edom and Restore Israel. Key verse, Obediah 15-17.
- Jonah: God’s Compassion on Gentile Nations. Key verse, Jonah 4:11.
- Micah: Condemnation, Judgment, Future Deliverance. Key verses, Micah 1:5, 4:1, 5:2, 6:8, and 7:18.
- Nahum: God Will Judge and Destroy Nineveh. Key Verses. Nahum 1:1, and 3:5-7 and compare Jeremiah 50:17-18
- Habakkuk: God Will Judge Judah and Babylon. Key Verses. Habakkuk 1:6, 2:4, and 3:18
- Zephaniah: Judgment, Restoration, and the Day of the LORD. Key Verses. Zephaniah 1:2, 1:14-15, 2:3, 3:20.
- Haggai: Rebuild the Temple. Key Verses. Haggai 1:4, 1:14.
- Zechariah: Return to the Lord, Build the Temple, Messiah is Coming. Zechariah 8:3, 12:10, and 14:9.
- Malachi: Rebuke, Return, Remember, Restore. Key verses Malachi 2:17, 3:1 and 3:7.