Category: Books of the Bible

The books of the Bible

First Maccabees

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 27, 2014

First Maccabees is labeled as an historical book, but it possesses both historical and literary value. It is a book of stoic faith.

First Maccabees gives details of the political scene and the military situation in the area of Israel circa the second century BCE.

Though the initial focus is on the military leadership and bold exploits of Judas (Maccabeus), for whom the book is named, it also covers the feats of his four brothers: Eleazar, John, Jonathan, and Simon.

Also see 2 Maccabees, as well as 3 Maccabees and 4 Maccabees.

First Maccabees is an Apocrypha book and not included in all versions of the Bible.

The New Jerusalem Bible, Revised Standard Version (RSV), New American Bible (NABRE), Wycliffe Bible (WYC), Common English Bible (CEB), Good News Translation (GNT), and Douay-Rheims (DRA) all include First Maccabees.

Interestingly, the original Authorized King James Version (KJV) contains First Maccabees, but the text was removed almost two centuries later. The Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Jewish scriptures, which was widely used in Jesus’s day, also includes the book of First Maccabees.

For more information, see why “Christians Should Consider the Entire Bible.”

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Tags Apocrypha, historical-books, Maccabees

Books of the Bible

Second Maccabees

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 27, 2014

Second Maccabees, another historical book, is not a continuation of First Maccabees, but more appropriately a companion piece, as its timeline mostly overlaps First Maccabees and provides additional details.

Most importantly, Second Maccabees offers a different perspective of these events, showcasing signs, wonders, and miracles.

It also gives additional insight into what provoked the Maccabean rebellion and covers Judas Maccabeus and his recapture and rededication of the temple.

Also see 1 Maccabees, as well as 3 Maccabees and 4 Maccabees.

Second Maccabees is an Apocrypha book and not included in all versions of the Bible.

Interestingly, the original Authorized King James Version (KJV) contains Second Maccabees, but the text was removed almost two centuries later.

The Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Jewish scriptures, which was widely used in Jesus’s day, also includes the book of Second Maccabees.

For more information, see why “Christians Should Consider the Entire Bible.”

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Tags Apocrypha, historical-books, Maccabees

Books of the Bible

Malachi

The book of Malachi is a record of the messages of the prophet Malachi, or “my messenger”. As with most prophets, Malachi’s message focuses on current events for the people of Israel, but also has a secondary meaning, anticipating the life of Jesus.

The book of Malachi addresses a people who believed God had forgotten them and let them down. Although true worship was re-established in the rebuilt temple, the associated blessings predicted by Haggai and Zechariah were yet to take place.

Malachi encouraged that the reverent worship of God continue, despite the peoples’ discouragement over not seeing God’s promised blessings.

Malachi is sometimes called a minor prophet. This doesn’t mean he wasn’t important, but merely that the book named after him is shorter. (Compare this to the major prophets, whose books are much longer.)

Dig into the intriguing lives and ministries of the Bible’s twelve minor prophets in Peter DeHaan’s book Dear Theophilus, Minor Prophets: 40 Prophetic Teachings about Unfaithfulness, Punishment, and Hope.

Tags Malachi, minor prophet

Books of the Bible

Mark

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 27, 2014

The book of Mark, named after its author, is one of the four Gospels, biographies that focus on the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

The book of Mark is the shortest and most concise. It is an ideal source to quickly gain an essential understanding of who Jesus is and what he did.

The gospel of Mark, likely written by John Mark, is considered to be the first gospel written. It is a fast-moving narrative, clearly communicated in dramatic description; it is simultaneously simple yet also equally profound. It’s the shortest of the four books that chronicle the life of Jesus.

There are many parallel passages in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but not too many with the John.

Tags Gospel, John Mark

Books of the Bible

Matthew

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 27, 2014

The book of Matthew, named after its author, is one of the four Gospels, biographies that focus on the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

The book of Matthew was written primarily to a Jewish audience and does much to connect Jewish history and understanding to the life of Jesus. Suscintctly, Matthew is written to insiders (the Hebrew people) about Jesus’s embrace of outsiders.

It is great as a bridge from the Old to New Testament of the Bible and for those interested in better seeing the connections between Judaism and Christianity – and the connection is strong and significant.

One of the most familiar sections in the book of Matthew is the teaching of Jesus found in Matthew 5, 6, and 7; this message is commonly called the “Sermon on the Mount.” (Parts of this passage are also found in Mark and Luke, but the presentation in Matthew is the most appreciated.)

There are many parallel passages in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but not too many with the John.

Tags Gospel, Matthew

Books of the Bible

Micah

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 27, 2014

The book of Micah records the messages of the prophet Micah. As with most prophets, Micah’s message focuses on current events — in this instance for the people of Samaria and Jerusalem — and it also had a secondary meaning, anticipating the life of Jesus.

Micah was a younger contemporary of Isaiah and may have been influenced by Isaiah’s example. Micah foretold about the coming destruction of Israel and Judah because they had turned their backs on God.

His message, however, has a happy conclusion as the dispersed peoples would later be reunited and exalted by a loving and forgiving God.

Micah is sometimes called a minor prophet. This doesn’t mean he wasn’t important, but merely that the book named after him is shorter.

(Compare this to the major prophets, whose books are much longer.)

Tags Micah, minor prophet

Books of the Bible

Nahum

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 27, 2014

The book of Nahum records the messages of the prophet Nahum. As with most prophets, Nahum’s message focuses on current events, but in this case for the people of Assyria.

The capital of Assyria was Nineveh, so we can read the prelude to this book in the book of Jonah.

Nahum, like Amos, addresses the faults of a foreign nation, Assyria. Assyria was long an oppressor of Israel and Nahum predicts its destruction. There is no call to repentance — as is often seen with other prophets —just judgment.

From a literary standpoint, the book concludes with a masterful ode to the fall of Assyria (Nineveh).

Nahum is sometimes called a minor prophet. This doesn’t mean he wasn’t important, but merely that the book named after him is shorter. (Compare this to the major prophets, whose books are much longer.)

Tags minor prophet, Nahum

Books of the Bible

Nehemiah

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 27, 2014

The book of Nehemiah is one of the historical books in the Old Testament.

Chronologically, Nehemiah picks up slightly after the book of Ezra and over a century after the conclusion of Second Kings and Second Chronicles. The books of Esther and Daniel give us some insight into what happened during this time, when the people lived in Babylonian captivity.

Nehemiah led the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem. In addition to heading up a building project, Nehemiah also became the leader of a group of returning expatriates, a project manager, a military strategist, a spokesperson for God, a spiritual leader, and he ended up being governor.

As such, Nehemiah was an extraordinary man who was called by God to do many things for which he had no skill or training. Yet by relying and depending on God, Nehemiah was exceedingly successful. At each step, Nehemiah sought God, was led by him, and obeyed him.

(Ezra was a contemporary of Nehemiah and led in the rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem and restoring worship.)

Tags historical-books, Nehemiah

Books of the Bible

Numbers

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 27, 2014

Numbers is an account of Israel‘s wanderings in the desert and contains two censuses (“numberings”) of the people. However, a more aptly descriptive title would be “In the Wilderness.”

Much of the book of Chronicles is about the growing pains of this fledgling nation. Now away from the control and domination of their Egyptian masters, they are free.

Free to make mistakes, to oppose Moses, and to disobey God – the God who incredibly delivered them from Egypt and miraculously saved them from defeat by the pursuing army.

Even Moses was not immune to this disobedience.

The authorship of Numbers is attributed to Moses, who led the people, as directed by God and recorded in this book.

Tags books of Moses, Numbers

Books of the Bible

Obadiah

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 27, 2014

The book of Obadiah records the messages of the prophet Obadiah. As with most prophets, Obadiah’s message focuses on current events — in this case for the people of Edom.

The book of Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament, and nothing is known about Obadiah except that he lived during the fall of Jerusalem.

His message was focused on the people of Edom (the descendants of Esau), and was critical of them for their failure to come to the aid of Judah. This message carries with it a sense of justice and does not include any forgiveness toward Edom.

Obadiah is sometimes called a minor prophet. This doesn’t mean he wasn’t important, but merely that the book named after him is shorter. (Compare this to the major prophets, whose books are much longer.)

Tags minor prophet, Obadiah