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REV. AUSTIN J. YOUNG

BOOKS OF THE

BIBLE

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OLD TESTAMENT:

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THE PENTATEUCH

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GENESIS:

WE LEARN IN GENESIS THAT GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH AND HUMAN KIND. SOME OF GENESIS TOOK PLACE IN EGYPT AND CANAAN.

THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN GENESIS ARE ADAM AND EVE, NOAH, ABRAHAM AND SARAH, ISAAC AND REBEKAH, JACOB, AND RACHEL, AND JOESPH. WE ALSO LEARN THAT GOD MADE EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING GOD MADE IT WAS GOOD. ​

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GENESIS:

    • LEARN TO WALK BY PROMISES NOT BY EXPLANATIONS​
    • FAITH LEADS TO OBEDIENCE​
    • WE DON’T STUDY FAITH, WE PRACTICE IT​
    • FAITH MUST BE TESTED

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EXODUS WAS WRITTEN BY MOSES. EXODUS SHOWS HOW GOD USED HIS POWER TO RESCUE THE ISRAELITES FROM SLAVERY. GOD BRINGS TEN TERRIBLE PLAGUES ON EGYPT. HE FORCES PHARAOH TO LET HIS PEOPLE GO. GOD GIVES THE ISRAELITES THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND OTHER LAWS TO WHICH TO LIVE.

WE LEARN THAT GOD USES HIS POWER TO RESCUE HELPLESS PEOPLE. GOD EXPECTS HIS PEOPLE TO LIVE MORAL AND RIGHTEOUS LIVES. THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THIS BOOK ARE MOSES AND AARON. THE ISRAELITES LEFT EGYPT ABOUT 1446 B.C. THE LAW WAS GIVEN SHORTLY AFTER WARD. EXODUS CHAPTERS 1-12 TOOK PLACE IN EGYPT. MOST OTHER EVENTS TOOK PLACE AT MOUNT SINAI. ​

EXODUS

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    • GOD DELIVERS​
    • FREEDOM IS AVAILABLE IN THE LORD​
    • FREEDOM REQUIRES MATURITY TO MANAGE​
    • EXPLAINS WHAT FREEDOM IS, WHAT IT COST, AND HOW IT MUST BE USED​

EXODUS

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MOSES WROTE LEVITICUS. LEVITICUS SHOWS THE ISRAELITES HOW TO WORSHIP GOD AND LIVE A HOLY LIFE. MOSES GIVES THE PEOPLE AND PRIEST OF ISRAEL GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS. WE LEARN THAT GOD EXPECTS HIS PEOPLE TO BE HOLY.

GOD ACCEPTS SACRIFICES AND FORGIVES PEOPLE WHO SIN. GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN ABOUT 1445 B.C. THE ISRAELITES WERE CAMPED AT MOUNT SINAI WHEN THESE INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN.

LEVITICUS

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    • WHAT IS HOLINESS? WHAT DISTINGUISHES A CHILD OF GOD?​
    • HAPPINESS IS NOT HOLINESS, YET HOLINESS DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE VOID OF JOY​
    • HOLINESS = 91 TIMES​
    • CLEANSING = 71 TIMES​
    • UNCLEANNESS = 128​
    • THE BOOK RELATES TO: A HOLY GOD, A HOLY PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY PEOPLE, A HOLY LAND, AND A HOLY SAVIOR

LEVITICUS

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MOSES IS THE WRITER OF NUMBERS. NUMBERS TELLS HOW ISRAEL’S DISOBEDIENCE KEPT THE ISRAELITES FROM ENTERING THE PROMISE LAND. THE ISRAELITES ARE FRIGHTENED BY THE POWER OF THE CANAANITES. THEY DISOBEY WHEN GOD TELLS THEM TO ATTACK CANAAN. THE ISRAELITES WANDER IN THE DESERT FOR 40 YEARS, UNTIL ALL THE ADULTS WHO DISOBEYED GOD HAVE DIED.

WE LEARN THAT GOD WILL NOT BLESS PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO TRUST AND OBEY HIM. THE EVENTS IN THIS BOOK HAPPENED IN 1445 AND 1405 B.C. NUMBERS CHAPTERS 1-10 HAPPENED AT MOUNT SINAI. NUMBERS 11-14 HAPPENED JUST OUTSIDE OF CANAAN. THE REST OF THE BOOK TOOK PLACE IN THE WILDERNESS AND ON THE WAY BACK TO CANAAN 40 YEARS LATER.

NUMBERS​

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    • DESCRIBES 2 GROUPS OF COUNTED PEOPLE​
      • GROUP 1: COUNTED AT THE BEGINNING, BUT COULDN’T BE COUNTED ON
      • GROUP 2: PEOPLE THE LORD COUNTED ON, NEW GENERATION, ENTERED THE PROMISED LAND​
    • WHO CAN GOD DEPEND ON?

NUMBERS​

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MOSES WROTE DEUTERONOMY. DEUTERONOMY TELLS A NEW GENERATION OF ISRAELITES HOW TO PLEASE GOD, SO THAT GOD WILL BLESS THEM. MOSES SPEAKS TO THE ISRAELITES. HE TELLS WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR HIM AND REVIEWS GOD RULES FOR HOLY LIVING. THE ISRAELITES PROMISE TO OBEY GOD.

WE LEARN THAT GOD HELPS PEOPLE BECAUSE HE LOVES THEM. GOD’S RULES FOR LIVING ARE GIVEN IN LOVE, AND HE BLESSES PEOPLE WHO KEEP HIS RULES. THESE EVENTS HAPPENED ABOUT 1405 B.C. DURING THIS TIME THE ISRAELITES WERE CAMPED ACROSS THE JORDAN RIVER FROM CANAAN, THE PROMISED LAND.​

.

DEUTERONOMY

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    • DEUTERONOMY​
    • MOSES’ FAREWELL SPEECH​
    • MOSES REMINDS THE PEOPLE TO BE FAITHFUL​
    • A BOOK OF REMINDERS​
    • DEUTERONOMY – SECOND LAW

.

DEUTERONOMY

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HISTORICAL BOOKS

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THE BOOK JOSHUA TELLS HOW GOD HELPED THE ISRAELITES DEFEAT THE CANAANITES. JOSHUA BECOMES ISRAEL’S LEADER. JOSHUA LEADS ISRAEL’S ARMIES TO VICTORY. JOSHUA ASSIGNS LAND TO ISRAEL’S 12 TRIBES.

WE LEARN THAT GOD WILL GIVE VICTORY TO HIS PEOPLE WHEN THEY OBEY THEM.

THE IMPORTANT PERSON IN THIS BOOK IS JOSHUA. THE ISRAELITE CONQUEST OF CANAAN PROBABLY HAPPENED BETWEEN 1405 AND 1390 B.C. THE EVENTS IN THIS BOOK HAPPENED IN THE LAND OF CANAAN. TODAY WE CALL THAT LAND ISRAEL.

JOSHUA

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    • GOD’S PEOPLE = SOLDIERS​
    • EXPLAINS HOW VICTORIOUS SOLDIERS OF GOD ARE TO CLAIM THEIR SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE​
    • OUTLINES THE WAY TO VICTORY​
    • STORY OF NEW BEGINNINGS

JOSHUA

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JUDGES SHOWS WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE ISRAELITES ABANDONED GOD TO WORSHIP IDOLS. GOD’S PEOPLE SIN AGAIN AND AGAIN. GOD LETS ISRAEL’S ENEMIES WIN. WHEN THE ISRAELITES SUFFER, THEY TURN TO GOD.

THEN GOD SENDS A “JUDGE” TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY AND LEAD ISRAEL. WE LEARN THAT GOD IS EAGER AND WILLING TO HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE SINNED IF ONLY THEY TURN BACK TO HIM. THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE ARE DEBORAH, GIDEON, JEPHTHAH, AND SAMSON. THE EVENTS IN THIS STORY HAPPENED BETWEEN 1390 AND 1050 B.C. THIS BOOK WAS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF CANAAN.

JUDGES

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    • THE CONTEXT​
    • NO KING OF ISRAEL​
    • EVERYBODY DID WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS RIGHT​
    • GOD’S PEOPLE CAN’T WORK TOGETHER​
    • PEOPLE ARE IN BONDAGE TO DIFFERENT ENEMIES​
    • GOD RAISES UP LEADERS FOR TIMES SUCH AS THESE

JUDGES

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RUTH SHOWS THAT SOME PEOPLE TRUSTED GOD EVEN IN TIMES OF JUDGES. RUTH, A YOUNG MOABITE WIDOW, TRAVELS TO ISRAEL WITH HER JEWISH MOTHER-IN-LAW AND MARRIES A GOOD MAN THERE.

WE LEARN THAT GOD LOVES PEOPLE OF EVERY NATION WHO PUT THERE TRUST IN HIM. THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE ARE NAOMI, RUTH, AND BOAZ. THE STORY OF RUTH TOOK PLACE IN THE DAYS OF THE JUDGES, PROBABLY ABOUT 1100 B.C. RUTH AND NAOMI LIVED IN BETHLEHEM THE CITY WHERE DAVID AND JESUS WERE LATER BORN.

RUTH

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    • RUTH & ESTHER ARE THE ONLY 2 WOMEN TO HAVE A WHOLE BOOK DEDICATED TO THEM​
    • BEGINS WITH FAMINE, ENDS WITH BIRTH
    • DESCRIBES A PROFESSION OF FAITH

RUTH

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THE BOOK OF 1 SAMUEL SHOWS HOW THE ISRAELITES BECAME A KINGDOM. SAMUEL SERVES AS THE PROPHET. KING SAUL BECOMES ISRAEL'S FIRST KING. DAVID KILLS GOLIATH AND JOINS SAUL’S ARMY. SAUL DISOBEYS GOD AND THEN HE GETS KILLED.

WE LEARN THAT GOD WANTS LEADERS WHO WILL OBEY GOD. THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THIS BOOK ARE SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID. THE EVENTS OF THIS BOOK HAPPENED BETWEEN 1105 AND 1010 B.C. THIS STORIES IN THIS BOOK HAPPENED IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL.

1 SAMUEL

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    • A BOOK ON SUCCESS AND FAILURE​
    • FAILURE OF KINGS AND NATIONS​
    • STORY OF SAUL​
    • SUCCESS TO FAILURE​
    • DEALS WITH HOW TO MEASURE SUCCESS, WHAT IS SUCCESS, AND WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUCCESS AND CHARACTER

1 SAMUEL

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    • BEGINS W/ DEATH OF SAUL, ENDS W/ DEATH OF DAVID
    • Describes how David unites the 12 tribes and expand their borders​
    • Restoration is a major theme​
    • Saul tore things apart, God uses David to put it back together​
    • Restoration of David, of the nation, and of the throne

2 SAMUEL

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IT’S ABOUT SOLOMON AND HOW HE MADE A TEMPLE MADE OUT OF GOLD IN HONOR OF GOD. ADONJAH WAS DAVID’S FOURTH SON AND HE WAS PLANNING ON BEING KING AFTER DAVID, HIS DAD, DIED BUT SOLOMON BECAME KING AND NOW ADONJAH WAS AFRAID OF HIM. IT SHOWS HOW THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH OBEYED GOD.

1 KINGS

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    • SOLOMON’S REIGN AS KING​
    • AFTERMATH OF SOLOMON’S KINGDOM​
    • SPLIT KINGDOM​
    • SPEAKS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP​
    • SEE THE TRAGEDY OF LEAVING GOD OUT OF SELECTING LEADERS

1 KINGS

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2 KINGS HAS STORIES ABOUT THE KINGS OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL AND ELIJAH IS TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN. WE LEARN THAT GOD IS VERY PATIENT, BUT IF YOU KEEP ON DISOBEYING HIM THEN GOD WILL PUNISH YOU FOR IT.

2 KINGS

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    • DESCRIBES WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CONFORMERS TAKE OVER​
    • END OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM​
    • THE PEOPLE MOCKED PROPHETS GOD SENT AND CONFORMED TO THE WAY OF THEIR CAPTORS​
    • SHOWS HOW GOD DESIRES TRANSFORMERS NOT CONFORMERS

2 KINGS

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1 CHRONICLES IS ABOUT PEOPLE’S DESCENDANTS. DAVID BECOMES KING OF ISRAEL, DAVID DEFEATS ISRAEL’S ENEMIES AND WORKS TO MAKE ISRAEL A MIGHTY NATION AND WE LEARN THAT GOD GIVES PEOPLE WHO SERVE HIM MANY DIFFERENT ABILITIES.

1 CHRONICLES

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    • MEANING = CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS OF THE PERIOD​
      • WRITTEN TO HELP SUPPLEMENT THE STORIES TOLD IN SAMUEL AND KINGS. TO PROVIDE A FRESH INTERPRETATION OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY​
    • THE BOOK IS DEALING WITH THE RESTORED COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS​
      • WHO IS REALLY A MEMBER OF GOD’S PEOPLE​
      • WHO DOES THE COVENANT OF GOD APPLY TO

1 CHRONICLES

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2 CHRONICLES TELLS ABOUT HOW GOD THOUGHT ABOUT THE KINGS OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL. SOLOMON BECOMES KING FOR 40 YEARS. KING SOLOMON DIES, AND HIS KINGDOM​

was divided into two nations. The people of both Hebrew nations sin and God punishes them by sending them into exile.

2 CHRONICLES

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    • PORTRAYS GOD’S REDEMPTIVE PLAN FOR ISRAEL​
    • THE TEMPLE​
      • 1 CHRONICLES DEALS W/ DAVID'S PREPARATIONS FOR TEMPLE​
      • 2 CHRONICLES DESCRIBEs building of the temple​​
    • The Temple Restoration​
    • Faithfulness to God’s covenant

2 CHRONICLES

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IN HERE WE KNOW THAT GOD KEPT HIS PROMISE BY SENDING THE JEWS BACK TO THEIR HOMELAND, AND IN HERE WE LEARN THAT GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISE.​

EZRA

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    • THE RETURN OF THE ISRAELITES BACK TO JERUSALEM TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE​
    • EZRA = PRIEST​
    • JEWISH REMNANT FINISHING THE WORK GOD GAVE THEM TO DO

EZRA

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THIS BOOK SHOWS HOW GOD USES NEHEMIAH TO REBUILD JERUSALEM’S WALLS. ALSO NEHEMIAH IS​ Governor of Judah.

God wants us to be courageous and keep doing his work. Before Nehemiah died he asked to be remembered.

NEHEMIAH

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    • GOD’S CALL TO BE DETERMINED​
    • FINISH THE BUILDING OF THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM​
    • Serve God faithfully and finish your ministry with joy

NEHEMIAH

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A STORY ABOUT A JEWISH GIRL NAMED ESTHER, SHE BECOMES QUEEN OF PERSIA. A MAN NAMED HAMAN PLOTTED TO KILL ALL JEWS EVERYWHERE, BUT HIS PLAN FAILED.

WE LEARN THAT GOD DOESN’T NEED TO DO MIRACLES TO SAVE US, HE CAN US ORDINARY PEOPLE.

ESTHER

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    • GOD IS PRESENT, WHETHER WE REALIZE IT OR NOT​
    • GOD WILL ALWAYS LOOK OUT FOR HIS PEOPLE​
    • GOD IS NOT MENTIONED/NAMED IN THIS BOOK​
    • EXAMPLE OF A WOMAN COMMITTED TO GOD

ESTHER

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BOOKS OF POETRY

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IN THIS BOOK WE LEARN THAT SUFFERING IS ALWAYS NOT A PUNISHMENT FROM GOD. SATAN DESTROYS JOB’S WEALTH AND JOB QUESTIONS AND GOD SAYS TO JUST TRUST, AND JOB DID, AND HIS WEALTH IS RESTORED.

GOD DOES LET BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE. WHEN BAD THINGS DO HAPPEN TO YOU IT’S NOT ALWAYS GOD PUNISHING YOU FOR YOUR SIN.

JOB

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JOB

QUESTIONS TO WRESTLE WITH:​

      • FAITH IN GOD DURING STRUGGLES​
      • WHAT DOES PATIENCE LOOK LIKE IN TRIALS?​
      • WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR TROUBLE?​

PURPOSE

      • DEALING WITH EXCEPTIONS TO THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF JUST REWARDS​
      • SHOWCASE THAT WE SERVE A PERSONAL GOD​
      • A WORD OF COMFORT TO THOSE SUFFERING

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PSALMS MEANS POETRY TO PRAISE GOD. PSALMS SHOW HOW TO PRAISE AND TALK TO GOD.

PSALMS

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    • BOOK OF PRAISES​
    • All PSALMS WERE MEANT TO BE SUNG TO A STRINGED INSTRUMENT​
    • WRITERS​
      • DAVID WROTE 73 PSALMS​
      • SONS OF KORAH WROTE 11 PSALMS​
      • ASAPH WROTE 12 PSALMS​
      • KING SOLOMON WROTE 2 PSALMS​
      • ETHAN WROTE 1 PSALMS​
      • MOSES WROTE 1 PSALM​
    • ORGANIZATION​: DIVIDED INTO 5 BOOKS​​
    • STYLE: THOUGHTS PATTERNS, NOT RHYTHM​
    • DEALS WITH FAITH, LAMENTS, PRAISE, ETC.

PSALMS

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PROVERBS WAS WRITTEN TO HELP PEOPLE MAKE WISE CHOICES. PROVERBS WAS WRITTEN FOR EVERYBODY EVEN THOSE WHO DON’T BELIEVE IN GOD, EVERYBODY NEEDS SOME OF PROVERB’S GOOD ADVICE.

THERE’S ADVICE ABOUT IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE LIVING IN A FAMILY, MAKING FRIENDS, HANDLING MONEY, AND ECT.

PROVERBS

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    • GODLY WISDOM FOR A GODLY LIFE​
    • THE WORD ”WISE” IS USED OVER 125 TIMES​
    • WRITER​S: SOLOMON, AGUR, LEMUEL
    • MAIN LESSON: IT IS NOT IMPORTANT HOW LONG YOU LIVE, BUT HOW YOU LIVE

PROVERBS

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WE KNOW THAT NO ONE CAN HAVE A HAPPY LIFE WITHOUT GOD. ECCLESIASTES IS FOR PEOPLE WHO THINK GOD IS NOT IMPORTANT; GOD IS MORE IN IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD.

ECCLESIASTES

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    • PUTS INTO PERSPECTIVE THE PURSUITS OF LIFE​
    • LIFE WITHOUT GOD IS MEANINGLESS
    • CONSTANTLY POINTS TO THE FUTILITY OF LIFE

ECCLESIASTES

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THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN FOR MEN AND WOMAN TO UNDERSTAND MARRIAGE AND LIFE.​

    • Provides guidance w/ love, marriage, and sexuality​
    • Stresses the Love in a couple is binding​
    • Shows love between men and women is beautiful even in a sinful world​
    • Puts sex in its proper perspective

SONGS OF SONGS

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    • LOVE POETRY​
    • COMMON INTERPRETATIONS​
      • COMMON ALLEGORICAL:​
        • MAN = CHRIST​
        • WOMAN = THE CHURCH​
        • KISSES = WORD OF GOD​
        • Breast – Church’s nurturing Doctrine​
        • Lips = Law & Gospel​
      • Dramatic:​
        • 2-Character drama, possibly between Solomon and a beautiful girl​
        • Wedding/Love Song

SONGS OF SONGS

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6 MAJOR PROPHETS

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ISAIAH THE PROPHET WROTE THIS BOOK. ISAIAH WARNS THE PEOPLE IF THEY KEEP DOING WICKED THINGS THAT GOD WILL PUNISH THEM JUST LIKE HE’S PUNISHING ISRAEL. ISAIAH TELLS THE PEOPLE THAT GOD WILL COMFORT HIS PEOPLE AFTER THE PUNISHING IS DONE AND HE WILL MAKE HIS PEOPLE’S NATION STRONG AGAIN, THAT’S WHY THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN.

WE LEARN THAT ISAIAH USES DIFFERENT NAMES FOR GOD TO SHOW THAT HE IS HOLY, HE IS JUDGE, AND HE IS OUR SALVATION. THE THING THAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT THIS BOOK IS ISAIAH GIVES MANY WONDERFUL PROPHECIES ABOUT JESUS, THE COMING SAVIOR. ISAIAH WAS A PROPHET CALLED BY GOD TO PROPHESY TO JUDAH. SOME OF HIS PROPHESIES ARE ABOUT THE COMING MESSIAH.

ISAIAH

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ISAIAH

    • ISAIAH HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND, THAT JUST AS GOD USED ASSYRIANS AND BABYLONIANS TO PUNISH THE ISRAELITES, HE ALSO HAS THE POWER TO TEAR US DOWN

    • BREAKING GOD’S COVENANT = PUNISHMENT
    • PROPHESIED ABOUT DELIVERANCE FROM THE ASSYRIANS AND RESTORATION OF JERUSALEM

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THE PROPHET JEREMIAH WROTE THIS BOOK. JEREMIAH IS FAITHFUL TO GOD EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE OF JUDAH MOCK AND HATE HIM. HE PROPHESIES THAT GOD WILL FORGIVE AND RESTORE HIS PEOPLE.

SOME OF JEREMIAH’S EXPERIENCES ARE: GOD CALLS FOR HIM, HE’S BEEN BEATEN AND THREATENED, HE AND A FALSE PROPHET, HE BUYS A FIELD HE’S IN A CISTERN [WHICH IS A PIT DUG INTO THE GROUND FOR STRONG RAINWATER], AND HE’S SET FREE.

JEREMIAH

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    • JUDAH IS UNDER ASSYRIAN DOMINATION, WITH THE INCOMING DOMINATION OF BABYLON​
    • JEREMIAH = WEEPING PROPHET​
    • TEARS EQUATE THE LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE, WHO WILL NOT LISTEN​
    • PREACHES of REPENTANCE AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD

JEREMIAH

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THESE PEOPLE IN BABYLON WERE SAD CAPTIVES, UNTIL THEY FINALLY REALIZED THAT GOD WAS PUNISHING THEM FOR THERE SIN.

LAMENTATIONS IS ABOUT SAD POETRY, LIKE SADNESS OVER A PERSON’S DEATH.

LAMENTATIONS WAS WRITTEN IN BABYLON, WHERE THE JEWISH PEOPLE WERE TAKEN AS CAPTIVES, AND ALSO LAMENTATIONS ARE POEMS SAD ABOUT EVENTS.

LAMENTATIONS

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LAMENTATIONS

    • HUMAN SUFFERING BRINGS QUESTIONS FOR GOD​

    • Place to express emotions

    • CONTAINS SORROW OVER JERUSALEM’S DESTRUCTION AND CONFESSION OF SINS
    • 5 separate poems

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THE PROPHET EZEKIEL WROTE THE BOOK. IN THE BEGINNING EZEKIEL SHOWS WHY GOD HAS TO PUNISH THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH FOR DOING WICKED THINGS. THE SECOND PART OF EZEKIEL IS ABOUT HOW GOD WILL BRING HIS PEOPLE BACK TO THEIR LAND ,THEIR FAITH, AND POSITION

GOD IS HOLY AND HE WILL NOT LIVE AMONG WICKED PEOPLE. EZEKIEL ACTS OUT MOST OF HIS PROPHECIES. EZEKIEL WAS CAPTIVE IN BABYLON WHEN HE WROTE THIS BOOK. EZEKIEL WAS A PRIEST WHO WAS CALLED TO BE A PROPHET TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE WHILE THEY WERE IN EXILE IN BABYLON. HE HAD MANY VISIONS FROM THE LORD.

EZEKIEL

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    • FOCUS: GLORY OF GOD​
      • “LORD GOD” USED OVER 400 TIMES​
    • WRITTEN: JEWS WERE CAPTIVE BY BABYLON​
    • EZEKIEL WAS A SIGN AND SERVANT. GOD USED HIM TO DO UNUSUAL THINGS TO SPEAK TO THE PPL

EZEKIEL

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DANIEL, A JEW WHO BECAME AN IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IN BABYLON AND PERSIA, WROTE THIS BOOK. WE LEARN THAT GOD IS IN CHARGE OF HISTORY. HE KNOWS AHEAD OF TIME WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN OUR WORLD. THE FIRST PART OF THE BOOK IS ABOUT DANIELS LIFE. THE SECOND IS ABOUT FUTURE GOVERNMENTS THAT WILL HAVE POWER OVER THE HOLY LAND.

DANIEL WAS BEEN THROWN INTO THE LION’S DEN AND DIDN’T GET EATEN. ONE OF THE STORIES IS ABOUT KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR HAD A DREAM THAT HE COULDN’T FIGURE OUT, BUT HIS BUTLER HAD REMEMBERED DANIEL, AND DANIEL COULD INTERPRET DREAMS. NOW, BABYLON WAS THE RICHEST AND MOST FAMOUS CITY IN THE WORLD! THE CITY HAD 50 TEMPLES DEDICATED TO PAGAN GODS.

DANIEL

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    • BACKGROUND: CAPTIVITY IN BABYLON​
    • GOD IS LORD OVER INDIVIDUALS, NATIONS AND HISTORY
    • GOD IS SOVEREIGN​
    • GOD’S WISDOM AND POWER​
    • THEME OF ESCHATOLOGY
      • PROPHECIES OF THE MESSIAH

DANIEL

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12 MINOR PROPHETS

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THE PROPHET HOSEA WROTE HOSEA. HOSEA WARNS ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL ABOUT THEIR UNFAITHFULNESS TO GOD. WE LEARN THAT GOD LOVES US EVEN IF WE ARE UNFAITHFUL.

WHEN YOU HAVE A PUNISHMENT IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT GOD DOESN’T LOVE YOU ANYMORE, HE’LL LOVE US FOREVER. THE WIFE OF HOSEA IS NOT FAITHFUL TO HIM, BUT HOSEA KEEPS ON LOVING HER ANYWAY. EVEN THOUGH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL ARE UNFAITHFUL TO GOD, GOD KEEPS LOVING US, JUST LIKE HOSEA.

HOSEA

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    • HOSEA IS CALLED TO MARRY A PROSTITUTE
    • PORTRAYS AN UNFAITHFUL WIFE TO TALK ABOUT ISRAEL’S UNFAITHFULNESS​
    • 3 CHILDREN PRODUCED REPRESENT FUTURE GENERATIONS

HOSEA

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JOEL THE PROPHET WROTE THE BOOK AFTER THE SWARM OF LOCUSTS DESTROYED ALL OF THE CROPS. JOEL WANTS ALL THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH TO REPENT AND STOP SINNING.

JOEL REALIZES THAT THE SWARM OF LOCUSTS (GRASSHOPPERS) IS SIMILAR TO THE GREAT ENEMY GOD WILL USE TO PUNISH JUDAH FOR THEIR SINS. JOEL PROMISE IS THAT GOD WILL SAVE THEM AND BLESS THEM RICHLY AFTER THE PUNISHMENT.

JOEL

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    • DESCRIBES A LOCUST PLAGUE​
    • REPRESENTS THE DAY OF THE LORD​
    • ISRAEL WILL FACE JUDGMENT FOR NOT KEEPING ITS COVENANT
    • GIVING ISRAEL A NEW HEART

JOEL

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THE SHEPHERD WHOM GOD SENT FROM JUDAH TO PREACH TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WROTE THIS BOOK AMOS. AMOS PREACHES AGAINST RICH PEOPLE WHO ARE CRUEL TO POOR PEOPLE. HE WARNS THE ISRAELITES THAT GOD IS ANGRY AND TELLS THEM THAT THEY MUST BEGIN DOING RIGHT.

WE LEARN THAT GOD CARES VERY MUCH ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR AND HELPLESS. HE WANTS FAIR TREATMENT FOR EVERYONE. AMOS SHOWS US THAT SINS BRING A NATION UNDER GOD’S JUDGMENT. HE ALSO SHOWS US HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SEE THAT EVERYONE IN A NATION IS TREATED FAIRLY.

AMOS

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    • AMOS = BURDEN BEARER​
    • BACKGROUND​
      • JUDAH AND ISRAEL ENJOYED PROSPERITY​
      • MAKING MONEY > WORSHIPPING GOD​
      • ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION​
    • 2 PARTS​
      • 1-6: WORDS
      • 7-9 VISIONS
    • AMOS CAME FROM TENDING FLOCKS TO PROPHESYING TO ISRAEL​
    • AMOS HAD TO BEAR A MESSAGE OF JUDGMENT

AMOS

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Obadiah wrote this book Obadiah speaks of the punishments God will bring on the Edomites, who have invaded Judah and plundered Jerusalem. God keeps his promise to Abraham: “Whoever curses you will be cursed.” [Genesis 12:3.]

OBADIAH

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    • Shortest book in the OT (21 verses)​
    • Edom is a constant enemy of Judah​
      • Edom = Esau​
      • Jacob = Israel
    • The Lord will destroy his children's enemies

OBADIAH

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Jonah the prophet wrote this book. Jonah shows Israel that God does not punish if people repent and are sorry for their sins. We learn that God forgives his disobedient prophet and gives Jonah a second chance.

God also forgives the people of Nineveh. God does not punish people who repent. The thing that is so special about this book is that God shows love for the foreign people in Nineveh as well as for his own Hebrew people.

JONAH

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    • God’s compassion extends beyond Israel
    • Jonah’s Story​
      • Sent to preach judgment to Nineveh​
      • Jonah went the other way​
      • Jonah was arrested by the Lord​
      • Jonah surrenders​
      • Jonah does what God says

JONAH

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Micah, the prophet wrote this book. He preached in Judah around 742 to 687 B.C. We learn that God will judge the rich who mistreat the poor and God cares for poor and helpless. Micah tells others to turn to God. If you only have love for God, it will lead you to do right.

MICAH

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    • Served as a champion for the poor​
    • 3 Fold message​
      • Present God’s complaint to the ppl​
      • Tell of the punishment coming​
      • Predict God’s salvation to come DO RIGHT

MICAH

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Nahum is a the author of this book. It was written between 663 and 612 B.C. Nahum assures the people that God will destroy Nineveh, capital city of Assyria, also enemy.

We learn that God will punish the enemies of people, who he loves. Later in the book, Nineveh is destroyed, just like Nahum had told them.

NAHUM

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    • The Lord will have final reign against evil​
    • The Book looks into God releasing the oppressed by destroying Assyria​
    • Nineveh will be judged not because it’s Judah’s enemy, but God’s enemy

NAHUM

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The prophet Habakkuk wrote this book, which was written about 605B.C. during the reign of King Josiah who ruled Judah about 639 to 597 B.C. Habakkuk tries to show the people that they can’t get away with sin. But it seems like whenever the people sin, they get richer. Well Habakkuk was very confused about this, so he began to complain to God.

God responded and said that the Babylonians will punish them, but Habakkuk paid no attention. At the end of this book the Babylonians come and invade the country, just like God had told, the prophet in the first place. And at that moment Habakkuk began to trust God.

HABAKKUK

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    • Instead of speaking to the PEOPLE for God, Habakkuk speaks to God for the ppl​
    • Habakkuk questioned how the wicked go unpunished​
    • Providence of God​
    • Unfortunately, for Habakkuk, God’s nature is a problem

HABAKKUK

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Zephaniah the prophet and great-great grandson of good King Hezekiah. This book was written in 620 B.C. Zephaniah spends most of his time preparing Judah for Josiah's’ revival of 621 B.C. and warning the people that God will judge sinful people.

ZEPHANIAH

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    • Living righteous before God​
    • Respect for the oppressed and care for genuine worship​
    • God desires humble submission

ZEPHANIAH

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This book was written by Haggai after some of the Jews returned from captivity in Babylon. Haggai was a prophet who encouraged the Israelites to rebuild the temple, but they stopped building.

Haggai understood that you have to put God first and you will be blessed. So once he told them that, they began to rebuild the temple again.

HAGGAI

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    • Genre: List of prophetic speeches​
    • Focus: Certain events during the Persian period​
      • Call Judah to turn from selfish ways​
      • Accept God’s help​
      • Lord promises to lead them and bring the victory

HAGGAI

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A prophet named Zechariah wrote this book. And most of his teachings and writings were done in about 520 B.C. Zechariah made strange symbols that were hard to understand.

ZECHARIAH

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    • Zechariah was prophet and priest
    • Spoke about the future of Jerusalem and the coming of the Messiah

ZECHARIAH

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Malachi was a prophet who wrote this book between 465 and 430 B.C. In this book Malachi shows how the people have strayed from God.

MALACHI

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    • Malachi = My messenger
    • The Jews had a great start in rebuilding Jerusalem with Nehemiah. However, Nehemiah had left, and while gone, things had deteriorated. Malachi pops up to call the ppl back to God and their work. ​
    • Malachi is the last prophet of Judah heard until John the Baptist

MALACHI

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Intertestamental Period

  • Alexander the Great & Greek Influence
      • Hebrew Old Testament to Greek = Septuagint
      • Mixture of Jewish faith, but Greek Culture

  • Selucid king Antiochus Epiphanes
      • Refusal of Religious Freedom
      • Maccabean Revolt

  • Rome conquerors Judea
      • Herod becomes king of Judea by Roman Emperor
      • Taxed and controlled the Jews

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Bible Study Handout Options

  • Pick-Up hard copy at the Church
  • Check Your Weekly Emailed announcements for the “Bible Study” section
  • Go to www.jwamezsouthfield.org/biblestudy
  • Download the "John Wesley AME Zion Church” App on your phone...tap on Bible Study

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THE NEW TESTAMENT

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THE 4 GOSPELS

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Matthew – Jesus as a man

Mark – Jesus as a Lion

Luke – Jesus as an Ox

John – Jesus as an Eagle

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  1. Hellenistic Period (last third of the 4century BCE)
    1. Alexander the great (336 BCE death) --Constantine (337 CE death) Benchmark period
      1. Aristotle tutored Alexander
      2. After Alexander they split into 3 areas
    2. Hellenism = Greek-like Culture

Cultural Context of the NT

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  1. Monotheism vs. Henotheistic Belief
  2. Covenant: YHWH special relationship and agreement with Abraham and decedents
  3. Torah: Law/legislations
    1. Covenant is the contract, but the Torah keeps the contract.
  4. Messiah
    • Suppose to be a human, political person, who will regain the Jews ways and stance in society

Jewish Beliefs

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  1. Beth Din
    1. Jewish Court
  2. Temple
    • Held Festivals, sacrifices, priests
  3. Synagogue
    • Jews went to study texts
  4. Jamnia
    • City of the coast of Syria Palestine
    • Rabbinic academy
    • 90 CE
    • TNK is established here

Jewish Institutions

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  1. Pharisees (Synagogue)
    1. Adhered to written law (Torah)
    2. Oral law
    3. Free will
    4. Angels
    5. Life after death
  2. Sadducees (Temple)
    • Written Law (no oral law)
    • No life after death
    • Free will
    • Disbelieved in angels, spirits, and demons
  3. Essenes (Qumran)
    • Ritual bathing/meals
    • Desert people
    • Waiting for the end of the world

Political Parties

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The Synoptic Gospels

  • Matthew
  • Mark
  • Luke

Similar context, content, and structure

The Gospel of John

The Gospels

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    • Matthew’s Goal: Claim Jesus’ Authority​
    • Large blocks of Teaching materials​
      • Sermon on the Mount​
    • Gives birth a narrative and genealogy
    • Temptation story​
    • Jesus is the Teacher​
    • Gospel/story makes a case for the importance of the ecclesia (church)​
    • Contains some unique accounts that is only found in Matthew​
      • When Jesus was resurrected from the dead the people of the dead got up and walked around the earth​ (Matthew 27:52)
      • No Judas' death​
      • There is a birth history

MATTHEW

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    • Abiding Presence of God
    • Jesus as the Son of God
    • Teaching of Jesus
    • Discipleship
    • Interpretation of the Scriptures
    • Binding & Loosing
    • Hostility toward Jewish Leaders

MATTHEW

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    • Mark’s Goal: Jesus seen as a Servant and on the Move

    • The 1st Gospel written​
    • There is no birth narrative​
    • Mark portrays Jesus as extremely active and known as a miracle worker​
      • Jesus cast out demons​
      • Disciples misunderstanding​
        • THE DISCIPLES JUST DIDN'T SEEM TO GET IT
      • Messianic secret​
        • Jesus tells them don't let people know who I am​
        • Jesus is known, his title is the Son of Man in the book of Mark​
    • Question of where Mark ends at Mark 16:9

MARK

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    • Humanness of Jesus
    • Centrality of the Cross
    • Secrecy
    • The Kingdom
    • Failure of the Disciples

Mark THEMES

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    • Luke’s Goal: Focus on humanity of Jesus and the Work of the Holy Spirit​

    • Theophilus is who it is addressed to​
    • Focus on the Holy Spirit​
    • He also has a major focus of Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts​
    • Portrayed as the humanitarian ​
    • Unique accounts:​
      • Good Samaritan story​
      • Prodigal child​
      • Zacchaeus​
      • Genealogy different than Matthew​
      • Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52)​
      • Taxation/Census (Luke 2)​
      • Death scene: Forgive them, Today in paradise, Father into they hands I commit thou spirit

LUKE

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    • Worship & Prayer
    • Food
    • Ministry to Excluded
    • Diverse Images of Jesus
    • Present Salvation

LUKE THEMES

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    • John’s Goal: The power and belief in Christ​

    • No birth narrative​
    • No baptismal story​
    • No temptation story​
    • No parables​
    • You have long disconnected monologues ​
        • Speaks a lot about the "I am"​
          • Bread, light, good shepherd, way, truth, life, true vine​
    • Special miracles​
        • Water into wine​
        • Brings Lazarus back​
        • washing of feet

JOHN

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    • True Revelation of God
    • Jesus as God
    • Death as Glorification
    • Salvation as Abundant Life
    • Paraclete
    • Love

JOHN THEMES

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  • Jesus Galilee Ministry
  • Feeding of the 5,000
  • Jesu’s Triumphal Entry
  • Jesus predicts a Betrayal
  • Peter’s Denial
  • Pilate’s Sentence of Jesus
  • Crucifixion of Jesus
  • Jesus’ Death
  • Jesus Burial
  • Scene at the Tomb of Jesus

Stories in All Accounts

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  • James & John’s Request:
    • Mark 10:35-45 & Matthew 20:20-28

  • Healing of a Centurion:
    • Matthew 8:5-13 & Luke 7:1-10

Differences in the Gospels

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HISTORY OF THE EARLY CHURCH

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Old Temple

Jewish

  • Legalistic & Traditional
  • Temple was the center of worship
  • Jewish Customs
    • Sabbath
    • Circumcision
    • Food Restrictions
  • Led by Religious Leaders
  • Scripture Interrupted by Religious Leaders
  • Holy Living dictated by Religious Leaders

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New Temple

  • Holy Spirit Inspired
  • Led by Jesus Christ
  • The Temple is you!
  • Includes everyone (Multiethnic)
  • Builds on the Foundation of the Torah/Old Testament
  • A Movement more than an Institution

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    • Written by Luke​
    • History & Expansion of the Church​
    • Themes: Mission of the Church, Power of the Spirit

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

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Structure of Acts

    • Ministry of Peter (1-12)
      • Jerusalem the center
      • Minister to the Jews (Israel)
    • Ministry of Paul (13-28)
      • Syrian Antioch the center
      • Ministry to the Gentiles

ACTS

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    • Bridge between the Resurrection of Jesus and Ascension of Jesus
    • Promise of the Holy Spirit
      • New Temple
    • Spread of the Gospel
      • Jerusalem (2-7)
      • Judea & Samaria (8-12)
      • Ends of the Earth (13-28)

ACTS 1

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JERUSALEM

    • Waiting on the Holy Spirit
    • Unity of the New Temple
    • Hostility of the New Community

ACTS 2-7

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The Gospel Gone International

    • Collection of Stories of the Jesus movement becoming multiethnic
    • Ch. 8: Phillip in Samaria
    • Ch. 9: Conversion of Saul to Paul
    • Ch. 9-11: Peter’s Vision
    • Ch. 11: Church at Antioch

ACTS 8-12

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The Multiethnic & Monotheistic Church

    • 1st Trip – Asia Minor (Ch. 15)
    • 2nd Trip: Ancient Greece (Ch. 16-18)
    • 3rd Trip: Asia Minor and Parts of Greece again, then back to Jerusalem (Ch. 18-20)
    • Clash of Christians, Greeks, and Romans
        • Philippi, Athens & Ephesus (Ch. 14, 16,17,19)

ACTS 13-20

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From Jerusalem to Rome

    • Final Missionary Journey: Jerusalem
    • Paul’s Trial (Ch. 23)
    • Paul in Prison
      • Writes Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon
    • Paul in House Arrest

ACTS 21-28

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THE 13 PAULINE EPISTLES

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The Letters

  1. Pastoral Letters
    1. 1 Timothy
    2. 2 Timothy
    3. Titus
  2. Prison Letters
    • Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon
  3. General (Catholic) Letters
    • James
    • 1 Peter
    • 2 Peter
    • 1 John
    • 2 John
    • 3 John
    • Jude

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Who is Paul?

  • A Jew (not a typical on)
  • Citizen of the Greco-Roman World
  • A Pharisee (short time)
  • A murderer, a missionary, & A martyr
  • A Tent Maker
  • End of Life: Beheaded

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The New Testament Letters

  • Current Order
    • Paul’s Letters to the Churches (arranged longest to shortest)
    • Paul’s Letters to Individuals (arranged longest to shortest)
    • Anonymous Letter to the Hebrews
    • Letters by James, Peter, John & Jude (arranged by how listed in Gal 2:9)

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Paul & His Letter

  • Paul wrote to Churches
  • Paul/Saul - Acts 7 (Murder)
  • Paul/Saul - Acts 9: 22
  • Missionary Trips
  • Pauline Corpus
    • Oldest book in new Testament is 1 Thessalonians, then 1-2 Corinthians, Romans, Galatians, Philippians, Philemon
    • These are known as authentic Pauline epistles
    • Paul's Form
      • Greeting, Prayer, Body (parenesis-ethics of Paul), Closing
    • Paul's Thinking
      • Eschatology - study of end times
      • Torah- he was not a big advocate of the Law (Galatians 3)
        • Cultic (dietary)
        • Ethical
        • Socio political Rules

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Paul & His Letter

  1. 1-2-3-4-3 Chronology of Paul Epistles
    1. 1st Missionary Journey: Galatians
    2. 2nd journey: 1 & 2 Thessalonians
    3. 3rd journey: 1 & 2 Corinthians and Romans
    4. 4th was to Rome as a prisoner and there were 4 Prison epistles Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (aka. Prison Letters)
    5. Release from Prison and journey around Europe and Asia Minor: 1 Timothy, Titus and 2 Timothy, 2 Corinthians

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    • Theme: Righteousness of God​
        • God putting man right with himself​
    • Speaks to both Jews & Gentiles​
        • All are in need of repentance an fellowship with God​
    • The lost power of Sin​
    • Theological Book

ROMANS

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  • Population in Rome in 200 BCE was over 1 Million
  • The rise of Rome was due to improved communications, weapons and economic and administrative systems
  • Administration and defense were more important than trade - stimulated urban growth
  • Administrative center was Rome
  • The quest for independence by the local elite party resulted in the crumbling of Rome in 5th Century 450 AD
  • Spread of Islam in 7th and 8th century AD caused fall of Rome
    • The Islamic conquest of Eastern, Southern and Western Mediterranean - "European Lake"

The City of Rome

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    • JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE
    • OBEDIENCE OF FAITH
    • UNIVERSAL AVAILBILITY FO SALVATION
    • DEATH & RESURRECTION
    • GOD & ISRAEL
    • ACCOMODATION FOR THE WEAK

ROMANS THEMES

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    • Corinth:​
        • Diverse population​
        • Trade City​
    • 3 Letters between Paul & Corinth​
          • Corinth to Paul (lost?)​
              • Sexual Relations​
              • Household Duties​
              • Idol Worship​
              • Spiritual Gifts​
          • Paul to Corinth (1 Cor.)​
          • Paul to Corinth (2 Cor.)​
    • Paul gets “the tea or dirt” from Chloe’s People (the real story)

1 & 2 CORINTHIANS

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    • Port City
    • Famous for:
      • Metal (i.e., Corinthians bronze)
      • Casinos, temples, theaters, shows, lavish lifestyles, etc.
      • “Act like a Corinthian” = sexual promiscuity
    • Paul’s Visit was 18 months (Paul’s second missionary journey)

THE CITY OF CORINTH

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    • 1 Corinthians:​
        • Problems being addressed:​
          • No Unity in the Church​
          • Some claimed they had wisdom greater than Paul or Jesus​
          • Questions of doctrine​

    • 2 Corinthians:​
        • Biographical​
        • Difficult subjects (most folks don’t preach from)​
        • Wanted to build the Corinthian Church up​
        • Instructions on treatment of the defender

1 & 2 CORINTHIANS

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This book is a letter by Paul and was to several different churches in Galatia.​ The Book is Paul’s Angry Letter about misinformation and confusion in the church.

GALATIANS

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Paul’s Audience:

  • Multiple churches in modern-day Turkey
  • Gentiles introduced to Christianity by Paul
    • Paul visited some cities in Galatia before

Paul’s Problem w/ the Galatians:

  • The Galatians want to be circumcised (5:1-6)
  • Perversion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (1:6-7)
  • The Galatians are listening to the wrong people

Paul’s Angry Letter - Galatians

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The Rival Version or “Judaizers”:

  • Belief that Salvation in Christ was for Jews only
  • Gentiles had to become Jews first in order to be Christian
  • Gentiles had to be circumcised and Laws of the Torah

Themes:

  • Paul’s Claim to Authority
  • Christ & the Law
    • Justification by Faith
    • God’s Favor is Universal
    • The Fullness of Time Has Come
    • The spirit produces What the Law Cannot Effect

Paul’s Angry Letter - Galatians

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Paul wrote Ephesians and it was a letter to Christians in Ephesus.​

The church is not just a building it’s people who love and obey Jesus.

EPHESIANS

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  • Western Modern-Day Turkey
  • Across from Aegean Sea
  • Capital & leading commercial center in Roman province of Asia
  • Headquarters for the imperial cult (festivals, rituals honoring the emperor)
  • Paul had brief visit (18:19-20) & came back (19:1-41)

EPHESUS

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  • The Mysterious Plan of God (Mysterion)
  • Elevation of the Church (ecclesiology)
  • Idealized Status of Believers

EPHESIANS THEMES

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It gives you instructions on how to live a good Christian life. Paul wrote Philippians and it was a letter to Christians in Philippi. The letter is centered around Joy.

PHILIPPIANS

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  • Philippi is a Roman Colony
  • Farming Community
  • Philippi is modern day Northern Greece
  • Retirement Community of military personnel
  • Paul founded a church around 50-51 CE

PHILIPPI

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  • Incarnation
  • Humility
  • Suffering
  • Fellowship (koinonia)

PHILIPPIANS THEMES

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It shows that Jesus is supreme and that he saves us completely. Paul wrote Colossians and it was a letter to Christians at Colossae.

COLOSSIANS

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  • Small Town in Western Asia Minor (Turkey)
    • Close to Laodicea & Hierapolis
  • In the valley of Lycus River
    • 110 Miles from Ephesus
  • Commercial center for textile industries (i.e., scarlet-dyed wool)
  • Known for exotic spiritual pursuits
    • Example: pagan cults, religion worshipping astral deities
  • Colossae Hersey: Worship elemental spirits of the universe (2:8, 20)

COLOSSAE

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  • Cosmic Christ
  • Realized Eschatology
  • Knowledge & Maturity
  • Ecology

COLOSSIANS THEMES

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Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians and it was a letter to Christians at Thessalonica. It teaches the Christians in Thessalonica how to please God.

1 THESSALONIANS

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  • Modern-Day: Thessaloniki or Salonika
  • Capital of Macedonia
    • Crossing of 4 major roads and a harbor city
  • Home to many religious groups (i.e., Isis, Osiris, et.)
  • Paul plants a church between 48-51
    • Paul names them, “the people who turned to God from idols” (1:9)

Thessalonica

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Conduct of Paul’s Ministry

Honor & Shame

Working for a Living

Death of Believers Prior to the Parousia

Thessalonian Themes

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Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians. It tells Christians to work hard until Jesus comes again. It was a letter sent to Christians at Thessalonica.

Written between 50-53.

Written while Paul was in Corinth

2 THESSALONIANS

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The Certainty of Judgment

The Problem with Idleness

2 THESSALONIANS

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Paul wrote 1 Timothy it was a letter to Paul’s young helper, Timothy. It gives Timothy advice on how to do his important work.

1 TIMOTHY

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Paul wrote 1 & 2 Timothy it was a letter to Paul’s young helper, Timothy. It gives Timothy advice on how to do his important work.

1 & 2 TIMOTHY

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  • Son of a Gentile man (non-believer) and Jewish woman (believer)
  • From Lystra (South-east Asia Minor)
  • Paul’s mentee
  • Included on Missionary trips to Macedonia, Corinth, Thessalonica, Ephesus, Troas
  • Suffered from frequent illnesses, but received spiritual gifts through prophecy
  • Beaten to death at age 80

WHO IS TIMOTHY?

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Avoid False Doctrine

Encourages Fervent Prayer

Summary Job descriptions

Personal Advice & Exhortation to Timothy

Don’t Be Ashamed of the Gospel

1 & 2 TIMOTHY THEMES

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Paul wrote Titus. In this book it shows Titus how to be a good teacher and leader. Also this book was a letter to Titus, a young helper. Titus talks about how to live a Christian life also it also talks about how Christians are to always do good.

TITUS

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  • Gentile Christian
  • Brought to Jerusalem by Paul & Barnabas
  • Considered a “partner & co-worker” w/ Paul (2 Cor. 8:23)
  • Joined Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey
  • Titus was sent to Ephesus to Corinth on behalf of Paul

WHO IS TITUS?

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Advice Against False Teachers

Advice on conversations with older people

The Gospel in Relation to Human Behavior

TITUS THEMES

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Paul wrote this book, and it asks Philemon to welcome back a runaway slave named Onesimus, who become a Christian. This book was personal letter sent to a Christian Philemon. Philemon was written while Paul was in prison in Rome.

There were lots of slaves in Paul’s days. They worked lots of jobs. Most slaves, if they were obedient and did their job well, could plan on eventually being free. Paul asked if Philemon to talk back a Christian brother, not as a slave.

PHILEMON

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Shortest of all of Paul’s Letters (355 Greek Words)

Personal Letter written between friends

Philemon owes Paul a favor

The Fight over Onesimus

PHILEMON

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8 GENERAL EPISTLES

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The books show the Christian faith is superior to the faith of the Old Testament times. This book is a letter sent to Jewish Christians. In here it talks about how we must believe, God disciplines, and how God keeps his promises. This book is mostly about faith.

HEBREWS

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Referred to as a Word of Exhortation/Sermon

Who is the audience:

  • Christians
    • w/ a strong interest in sacrificial practices
    • 2nd Generation Christians
    • Well educated
    • Endured abuse & persecution
    • Known for good works, but dull in understanding
    • In danger of apostasy

HEBREWS

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The Relationship between Christianity & Judaism

Christology

High Priest Jesus

HEBREWS

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James, the brother of Jesus wrote this book. James shows Christians how to practice their faith. This book was written to Christians everywhere. James shows that: We are to do what God tells us to do, Not to show favoritism, to be carful of what you say and to have faith.

JAMES

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Jesus & His Siblings (Mark 6:3)

  • James
  • Joses
  • Judas = Jude
  • Simon
  • Unknown sisters

Jesus Disciples didn’t believe in Him (John 7:5)

James as a leader in the Church

  • Leader in Jerusalem
  • Praying Man
  • Murdered in 62 AD

WHO IS JAMES?

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Audience: James wrote this letter to the Christians who lived outside of Palestine

Purpose: offers evangelical counsel and pastoral exhortation to believers who might be tempted to compromise their faith through devotion to the world.

JAMES

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Trials & Temptations

Wisdom from Above

Faith & Works

Rich & Poor

THEMES IN JAMES

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Peter, a disciple of Jesus wrote this book. This book encourages Christians to live holy lives despite suffering. The book talks about holiness.

The Book discusses the hope of Heaven.

1 PETER

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Written by Peter, the Apostle (Simon Peter or Cephas)

  • A Pillar in the Church
  • Major Role in the Post-Easter Church
  • Martyred in Rome under Nero around 64-68 AD

Written from Rome

Written to the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (Modern-Day Turkey)

Peter is encouraging the churches to live in accordance with what they know to be true in God.

1 PETER

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SUFFERING ABUSE FOR CHRIST

CHRISTIANS AS THE NEW ISRAEL

BAPTISM

SUBMISISON TO EARHTY AUTHORITIES

THEMES IN 1 PETER

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Peter, a disciple of Jesus wrote 2 Peter. This book warns Christians against false teachers. This letter to Christians everywhere. In here it tells us what false teachers are like, and how the world will end.

2 PETER

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The Delay of Parousia

Godliness

2 PETER

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The disciple of Jesus, John, wrote the book in A.D. 90. John show a the Christians how to live close to other people, but more importantly to God. This book is a letter to Christians everywhere.

1, 2, & 3 JOHN

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General Context: House Churches who had endured an outbreak of conflict and schisms

1 John

  • General advice for those who remain int eh community even during times of persecution. Encouragement on how to come together in love.

2 John

  • Warning that there are false missionaries in which they should be aware of

3 John

  • A Letter of Recommendation on behalf of the missionary Demetrius.

1, 2, & 3 JOHN

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HUMANITY OF CHRIST

LOVE

CONFLICT & SCHISMS

1, 2, & 3 JOHN THEMES

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The brother of Jesus, Jude wrote this book in about A.D. 65. Jude warns all Christian about false teachers. This book is a letter written to Christians everywhere.

JUDE

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The Book of Jude is addressed to a particular unknown group of churches who have been infiltrated by FALSE CHRISTIANS WHO ARE WREAKING HAVOC

Jude admonishes the churches to notice the fruit, or lack of.

Themes:

  • Judgment
  • Apostolic Faith

JUDE

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THE PROPHECY BOOK

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John wrote Revelation in about A.D. 90. John wrote this book to tell people about a vision John had of Jesus and about “What must soon take place.” John writes this book to Christians everywhere.

REVELATION

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Epistolary (1:11)

  • Begins & ends like a Letter (circular)
  • Addressed to the 7 churches

Prophetic (1:3; 22:7)

  • The message given is something to be obeyed
  • Message given by God
  • Exhortations and warnings

Apocalyptic

  • Divine or transcendent visions
  • Human insight is given to divine visions by spiritual beings (angels)
  • Symbolism
  • Cosmic Significance (i.e., devil defeated)

Type of Book

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Angels Blowing Trumpets

Monsters rising from the deep

Lake of Fire

Rivers of Blood

A Dragon

Giant Bugs

Flying Horses

…What do they all mean?

REVELATION

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While there are a plethora of widespread interpretations. There 3 general approaches to the book of Revelation:

  • Historical
    • The truth about what was happening during that day and time
  • Idealist
    • Spiritual insight/truths for every time and place (universal)
  • Futurist
    • Predictions on what is to come

HOW DO WE READ REVELATION?

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Example:

The Letter to the Seven Churches

Revelation 2-3

Historical Approach: Revelation is a letter addressed to the churches that existed in the Asia Minor

Idealist Approach: Revelation is generic advice to churches that are similar to the churches described

Futurist Approach: Revelation describes churches that will exist in the future

HOW DO WE READ REVELATION?

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Your Turn:

The Number of Beast

Revelation 13:18

Read the passage and interpret it through the following approaches:

Historical Approach

Idealist Approach

Futurist Approach

HOW DO WE READ REVELATION?

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Your Turn:

The Number of Beast | Revelation 13:11-18 (Key verse: 18)

Historical Approach

  • The number refers to Nero
  • Hebrew Numerical Value of “Nero” sum is 666

Idealist Approach

  • Number for anyone evil

Futurist Approach

  • Number code for an evil person to come at the end of the world

HOW DO WE READ REVELATION?

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Revelation 20:1-10

Summary: A time when Satan is bound and faithful saints reign w/ Christ for 1,000 years. Satan is released, but then cast into the lake of fire following a final battle.

Millennium

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  • Christ returns before the millennium
  • Saints rule w/ Christ for 1,000
  • Final Judgement and establishment of new kingdom

Premillennialism

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  • The saints evangelize the world and rule in peace for 1,000 years
  • Christ comes again

Postmillennialism

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  • There is no literal millennium
  • The saints experience spiritual victory symbolized in Revelation as a triumph equivalating to 1,000 Years

Amillennialism

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The Writer

  • John, on the island of Patmos?

Date

  • During the reign of Domitian or “Second Nero” (81-96AD)
  • Aftermath of Nero (54-68AD)

Audience:

  • The churches in Asia Minor (western Turkey)
    • Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea

History of Revelation

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Life as a Christian in the Roman Empire

  • Many Christians were seen as being unpatriotic and antisocial to the rest of society
  • Great Tension
      • Tension between Christians and the general population
      • Tension between Jews in the local synagogues and Christians (2:9; 3:9)
      • Tension between fellow Christians (2:14; 2:20)

Context of Revelation

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  • What does the intersection of Church and Culture look like?
  • Does Christianity need to be made “more appealing”
  • Have you ever been shamed for your beliefs?
  • How should Christians “fit in” to society? And at what cost?

Revelation in Today’s Context

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  • 7 hills/seas = 7 hills that Rome was built on
  • Horns = powers
  • Crowns = kingdoms/governments
  • Scarlet = power and Satan

Symbols in Revelation

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  • 3 Schools of Thought
    • Symbolic
    • Salvation
    • Specific

  • Our Belief
    • Romans 10:13
    • John 3:16

144,000

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  • Dragon
  • Beast
  • False Prophets

The Beasts

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The Dragon

Satan/The Devil

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The Roman Government

(Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome)

The Beast

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Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus

The False Prophets

1st Beast

2nd Beast

Caesar Domitianus Augustus

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The Lamb

Jesus the Christ

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Unveiling

Corruption of Humans

God is in Control

Worship

Themes in Revelation

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The Good News

Chapter 21 – New Heaven & New Earth

Chapter 22 – The Throne of God

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Genesis

Revelation

Heavens and earth created, 1:1

New heavens and earth, 21:1

Sun created, 1:16

no need of the sun 21:23

The night established, 1:5

No night there, 22:5

The seas created, 1:10

No more seas, 21:1

The curse announced, 3:14–17

No more curse, 22:3

Death enters history, 3:19

No more death, 21:4

Man driven from the tree, 3:24

Man restored to paradise, 22:14

sorrow and pain begin, 3:17

No more tears or pain, 21:4