ROMANS

The book of Romans was written to Christians residing in the city of Rome. He wrote so that they would know the gospel of Christ. He also wanted to inform the church regarding his future plans because those plans would involve them.

EPHESIANS

The apostle Paul wrote Ephesians to the churches around Ephesus to display the scope of God’s eternal plan for all humanity-for Jews and Gentiles alike.

PSALMS

The book of Psalms is filled with the songs and prayers offered to God by the nation of Israel. Their expressions of praise, faith, sorrow, and frustration cover the range of human emotions.

ISAIAH

Isaiah was a prophet who lived during the fall of Israel into the shadow of Assyria. He spoke the word of God to a people who acted deaf and blind towards him, they refused to listen to his warnings. He warned that the sins of the people of Judah wouldn’t end well, yet he also declared that God is loving and would use Cyrus the Persian to return the Israelites from exile.

HEBREWS

The letter to the Hebrews was written to encourage Christians in a time of trial. It does so by focusing on the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ.

JAMES

Sometimes called “the Proverbs of the New Testament,” the book of James reminds Christians how to live. From perseverance to true faith to controlling our tongue, submitting to God’s will, and having patience, this book aids readers in living authentically and wisely for Christ.

COLOSSIANS

Paul wrote this book while in prison, probably about the same time as he wrote to the Ephesians. He was writing to the church in Colossae to try and protect them from false teachers who might try to impose strict rules about eating and drinking and religious festivals. Paul was trying to show the superiority of Christ over all human philosophies and traditions. It’s about Jesus not religion traditions

PHILIPPIANS

Paul wrote to the church in Philippi to thank them for a gift. Paul said that he had learned the secret of being content in any situation, and he told them about his situation in prison. He expressed joy that more people were hearing about Christ even if some were proclaiming the gospel with bad motives. Wanting the Christians in Philippi to be unified, he challenged them to be servants just as Jesus was when he “made himself nothing” and became a man rather than clinging to the rights of his divine nature.

1 JOHN

This general letter to people across Asia Minor (now Turkey) is believed to be written by the apostle John. It reaffirms the core of Christianity, saying that either we display sound doctrine, obedience, and love that characterize all Christians, or else we are not true Christians. When all the basics of faith are in operation, we not only know joy but can live a holy life and be assured of salvation even though we are still far from perfect. This assurance comes especially as we find ourselves learning to “love one another” as brothers and sisters in Christ.

MATTHEW

Matthew presents Jesus as Israel’s Messiah. The book alternates between Jesus’ activities of healing and casting out demons, and major blocks of his teaching. A recurring theme is the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders

MARK

Though the book is anonymous, tradition identifies John Mark as the author. The Gospel of Mark emphasizes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus announced the Kingdom of God, healed the sick, and died as a ransom for sinners. In addition to Jesus, Mark features three main groups of people: the disciples, the crowds, and the religious leaders, none of whom understood Jesus.

LUKE

Luke, a physician and a colleague of Paul. The Gospel of Luke is in the form of a letter to a man named Theophilus. Luke wrote after having carefully investigated all the facts about Christ. Luke documents Christ’s life from before his birth through his ministry, death, and resurrection.

JOHN

The author is believed to be John the disciple of Jesus. The Gospel of John was written to encourage people to believe in Jesus. The opening verses declare that Jesus is God, stressing his unique relationship with God the Father. The book focuses on seven of Jesus’ signs (miracles), to show his divinity.

2 THESSALONIANS

This letter from the apostle Paul was written shortly after his first letter to the church in Thessalonica. He had been boasting about them to other churches, telling people about their faith and love for each other in the face of persecution. 

2 CORINTHIANS

This was Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians discussing some of the things previously addressed such as unity but he also deals with new issues. In this letter Paul urges the church to be unified with him in his ministry.

1 PETER

Peter was encouraging christians being persecuted to stand strong, repeatedly reminding them of Christ’s example, the riches of their inheritance in him, and the hope of his returning again to take them to heaven. Peter explained how Christians should respond when they suffer because of their beliefs.

PHILEMON

Philemon is about reconciliation and relationships between Christians. Onesimus (which means useful) was a slave of a believer named Philemon in Colossae. Apparently Onesimus had stolen from Philemon and fled. At some time while Paul was under arrest, Onesimus met him and became a Christian. Paul apparently wrote this letter at the same time as Colossians and gave it to Onesimus to carry back to Philemon. Paul appealed to Philemon to accept Onesimus back into his household, but as a brother rather than a slave.