Bible Overview

 

I want to summarize the Bible for you in a few eras. We can’t give a 100% accurate summary in such a short devotional time. However, we can pretty much split the Bible into 9 parts. 

Era: The Time Of Creation & The Beginning

Period: Genesis 1-11

Summary: The Bible begins by telling us how the world came into existence and how human beings became separated from their original innocent relationship with God. It records the first murder, the origin of languages and nations, the flood, which God used to bring judgment on the people who has turned away from Him. 

Era: The Patriarchs

Period: Genesis 12-50

Summary: Abraham, who was a nomad, was chosen to begin a lineage of people who were to be God’s own chosen people to do God’s will on earth. Abraham’s grandson Jacob was renamed “Israel” after an experience of wrestling with God. Jacob’s twelve sons eventually formed the twelve tribes of Israel and later settled in Egypt to avoid famine, but they eventually became slaves in the land. 

Era: The Exodus & Wanderings

Period: Exodus – Joshua

Summary: God called Moses to lead the people out of Egypt and into the promised land. Due to their disobedience, the Israelites spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness before they finally conquered the land under the leadership of Joshua. 

Era: The Judges 

Period: Judges 

Summary: God provides wise Judges to lead the people of Israel during these dark days of Jewish history when there was a cyclical pattern of idolatry and immortality. Just when things began to improve, the people would fall back into the practice of idolatry, and things would take a turn for the worst. This pattern repeated itself over and over.

Era: The Kings 

Period: 1 Samuel – 2 Chronicles, as well as Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and some of the prophet books.

Summary: Despite the advice of the prophet Samuel, the people pleaded and wanted a king. King Saul, the first king, largely a failure. Following him were the reigns of David and Solomon, the high points of the monarchy. The deterioration of Israel was rapid under the reigns of Solomons sons. Israel was split into two kingdoms: the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Both kingdoms suffered greatly from poor leadership and sank into idolatry and immorality. 

Era: The Exile & Return 

Period: Ezra – Nehemiah, and some books of the prophets.

Summary: The people of Israel and Judah were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. They were not allowed to return to their land for over 70 years later when the temple and the city of Jerusalem were both restored and rebuilt.

Era: The Silent Time 

Period: Between Old & New Testament

Summary: There is a 400 year gap between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament. Toward the end of this period, the Jews lived under Roman rule. 

Era: The Life of Jesus 

Period: Matthew – John 

Summary: God Himself entered history in the person of Jesus Christ to fulfill the promise of Israel and invite Gentiles into the Kingdom of God. Jesus taught, performed miracles, and was crucified on a cross. He rose from the dead for the salvation of mankind. 

Era: The Early Church

Period: Acts – Revelations 

Summary: Through the work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus empowered His disciples to carry on His message and establish the church, which would serve as His “body” on earth. The latter books of the New Testament are letters addressing problems in the church and providing Christians with instructions on how to live in Christ. They also encourage Christians to look forward to the time when Jesus would come again. 

Copyright © 2017 by Jacob D. Olinger