PerspectivesA

A. BOOKS OF THE BIBLE DESCRIBED General guideline to who authored/prophesied in the books of the Bible, when they were written or the time periods covered, & to whom they were directed. The books are listed here according to these dates. Following each book's abbreviation (see Preface B.), in {braces} is the order it traditionally appears in the O.T./N.T.

  1. Old Testament (O.T.)

    a. Israel's Ancient History- spanning c1600 yrs.; from creation (perh. 3000 B.C.); through the patriarchs (Abram's birth in 2166 B.C. to Joseph's Egyptian experiences beginning in 1885 B.C.); through Joseph's life, & his death in Egypt in 1805 B.C.; through Israel's slavery in Egypt (c1805 to the exodus from Egypt in 1446 B.C.); through it's wilderness wanderings & entry into the promised land (east of the Dead Sea); until (excluding) the entry into Canaan (crossing of the Jordan R.) in 1406 B.C. Recall that following each book abbreviation is a # in {braces}-- this is the order it traditionally appears in the O.T./N.T.

• Gen {1} - Deu {5}: Moses compiled, 1450-1406 B.C., Israel's ancient history, during the wanderings in the desert-- but see PSALM 117 ref. these 1st 5 books (known as the Book of Moses);
• Job {18}: ? wrote, c1900 B.C., during the time of the patriarchs [but see PSALM 75 Job].

    b. Israel's Early History- spanning 356 yrs.: from the entry into Canaan (crossing of the Jordan R.) in 1406 B.C.; through the conquest of Canaan &, beginning in 1375 B.C., through the period of the judges; until the united kingdom of Israel (1050 B.C.).

• Jsh {6}: Joshua (mostly) recorded Israel's early-early history, the entry into & conquest of Canaan;
• Jdg {7}: Samuel (perh.) recorded Israel's early history-- the time of the judges;
• Rut {8}: Samuel (perh.) recorded in 1050 B.C. some events in Israel's late-early history-- e.g., the manner in which Ruth, a Moabitess, got into Jesus' bloodline.

    c. Israel's Middle History, spanning 509 yrs.: from the united kingdom (1050 B.C.); through the 117 yrs. (1050 - 930 B.C.) of these reigns: Saul's 42 yrs. & Ish-Bosheth's 2 yrs. in Jerusalem, David's 40 yrs. (7.5 yrs. in Hebron; 33 yrs. in Jerusalem) & Solomon's 40 yrs. in Jerusalem; 42 + 2 + 33 + 40 = 117; through the 392 yrs. of the divided kingdom & captivities: Israel (10 tribes) had 21 kings in 208 yrs., before being captured by Assyria (722 B.C.) & becoming "lost"; Judah (2 tribes) had 20 kings in 344 yrs., before being captured by Babylon (586 B.C.)-- remaining there 48 yrs., till 1 yr. after Babylon was overthrown by Cyrus of Persia in 539 B.C.; until (excluding) Judah's return to Jerusalem. This return began in 538 B.C. after Babylon was overthrown by Cyrus of Persia in 539 B.C.; 117 + 392 = 509.

  HISTORY BOOKS

• 1st & 2ndSa {9 & 10}: Samuel (perh.) & Zabud (perh.) recorded Israel's early-middle history, the reigns of king Saul & king David;
• 1st & 2ndKi {11 & 12}: Jeremiah (perh.) recorded Israel's middle history, king Solomon - the divided kingdom - Judah's exile to Babylon;
• 1st & 2ndCh {13 & 14}: Ezra recorded in 430 B.C. Israel's ancient & middle histories: creation - kings David & Solomon - Judah's exile to Babylon (586 B.C.);
• Psa {19}: Various authors & dates-- see below, B.1. for a listing of the authors;
• Pro {20}: Solomon presented wisdom earlier in His reign. Pro is chock-full of pearls-of-wisdom; e.g., Pro 13:11 says, Dishonest money dwindles away, but He who gathers money little by little makes it grow. However, because the idea that the acquiring of the money must be at the guidance of the Holy Spirit, & also be accompanied by tithing & caring for the poor, it is pretty-much ignored in this work;
• SoS {22}: Solomon, also early in life, wrote of the sanctity of marriage;
• Ecc {21}: Solomon wrote confusion later in His life-- recall his 700 wives who turned His heart away from GOD when He became old; recall also that all of the Bible is GOD-breathed, & written for Our admonition, so that we don't repeat things that shouldn't have been done;
• Oba {31}: Obadiah wrote, 853-841 or 627-586 B.C., to the Edomites in Israel;
• Jon {32}: Jonah preached, 785(?)-753 B.C., to Israel-- but recorded Nineveh destroyed in 612 B.C.

    PROPHECY BOOKS- Unless specified otherwise, these were written as they were delivered:

      i. Books of the Bible directed to Israel only before its captivity by Assyria:

• Amo {30}: Amos prophesied, 760-750 B.C., concerning Israel's soon-coming fate;
• Hos (28}: Hosea prophesied, 753-715 B.C., concerning Israel's history, from 10 yrs. before Israel was 1st invaded, through its fall 31 yrs. later (as Samaria fell), & for 7 yrs. afterward; He recorded this c715 B.C.

      ii. Books of the Bible directed to both Israel & Judah before their captivities:

• Nah {34}: Nahum prophesied, 663-612 B.C., about Assyria to Nineveh & Judah.

      iii. Books of the Bible directed to Judah only before its captivity by Babylon:

• Joe {29}: Joel prophesied, 835(?)-796(?) B.C., warning Judah that its lifestyles would bring judgment;
• Mic {33}: Micah prophesied, 742-687 B.C., concerning Judah's soon-coming fate;
• Isa {23}: Isaiah prophesied, 740-681 B.C., concerning Judah's history, ministering some 60 yrs. in Jerusalem (beginning some 20 yrs. before the house of Israel fell & was taken captive to Assyria-- Isaiah remaining in Jerusalem, & ending His ministry some 45 yrs. before Jeremiah began His in Jerusalem); He perh. wrote this in 2 parts: c700 & c681 B.C.;
• Zep {36}: Zephaniah prophesied, 640-621 B.C.; He wrote to Judah & all nations, perh. near the end of His ministry.

      iv. Books of the Bible with the prophets in Jerusalem:

• Jer {24}: Jeremiah prophesied, 627-586 B.C., to Jerusalem & Judah concerning Judah's history, ministering 41 yrs., remaining in Judah, beginning 22 yrs. before Daniel & 30 yrs. before Ezekiel were taken captive to Babylon to join the house of Judah, & ending upon Jerusalem's destruction in 586 B.C.;
• Hab {35}: Habakkuk prophesied, 612-588 B.C., to Judah & GOD'S People everywhere;
• Lam {25}: Jeremiah mourned in 586 B.C. after Jerusalem fell.

      v. Books of the Bible with the prophets in Babylon:

• Eze {26}: Ezekiel prophesied, 593-571 B.C., concerning Judah's latter history, ministering some 22 yrs. in Babylon, beginning 4 yrs. after He was taken captive to Babylon with the house of Judah, until 15 yrs. after Jerusalem's destruction. I.e., Jeremiah & Ezekiel's ministries overlapped 7 yrs., Jeremiah's in Jerusalem & Ezekiel's in Babylon; He recorded them c571 B.C.;
• Dan {27}: Daniel had visions, 553-536 B.C., & wrote of them to the other captives in Babylon & to GOD'S People everywhere. Daniel was taken captive in 605 B.C. (before Ezekiel), but His visions began in 553 B.C.; He recorded them c535 B.C.

    d. Beginning of Israel's Late History

      i. Books by prophets in Jerusalem to the 1st stage returnees:

• Hag {37}: Haggai, together with Zechariah, prophesied in 520 B.C. in Jerusalem, encouraging both Those who had remained in Jerusalem & Those who had returned to Jerusalem in the 1st stage, to finish building the temple-- completed in 516 B.C.;
• Zec {38}: Zechariah, together with Haggai, prophesied, 520-518 B.C.; He also prophesied, 518-480 B.C., attempting to have Them remain faithful.

      ii. Books by leaders/enablers of the 2nd & 3rd stage returnees in Babylon and/or Jerusalem:

• Est {17}: ? recorded in 470 B.C. how a Jewish girl (Esther) became queen of Persia, enabling the 3rd stage return of the exiles in Babylon 25 yrs. later;
• Ezr {15}: Ezra (prob.) recorded in 450 B.C.: both the events in Babylon (538-516 B.C.) regarding the exiles remaining in Babylon (the 1st stage returnees having returned to Jerusalem in 538 A.D. led by Zerubbabel) & the events in Jerusalem as He led the 2nd stage returnees there (458-450 B.C.);
• Neh {16}: Nehemiah prophesied, 445-432 B.C., in Jerusalem to the 3rd stage returnees from Babylon, as They built the city walls-- Nehemiah had led Them (at least the army officers & calvary-- see Neh 2:9) from Babylon.

      iii. Also:

• Mal {39}: Malachi prophesied in 430 B.C. to the Jerusalem Jews & all of GOD'S People.

  2. New Testament (N.T.), Continuing Israel's Late History (recall these are arranged chronologically-- as they were written, not according to how they're arranged in the Bible):

• Jame {20}: James, Jesus' & Jude's brother, & a disciple/apostle, wrote in 49 A.D. 'to the 12 tribes scattered among the nations'-- to Jewish Christians living in Gentile areas (outside Palestine), & to all Christians;
• Gala {9}: Paul, a Jew, wrote in 49 A.D. from Antioch 'to the churches in Galatia'-- to those founded in southern Galatia (on Paul's 1st missionary trip, including Iconium, Lystra & Derbe), & to all Christians;
• 1stThe {13}: Paul, a Jew wrote in 51 A.D. from Corinth, 'to the church of the Thessalonians'-- to the 2 or 3-yr.-old Thessalonian church of Thessalonica (founded on Paul's 2nd missionary trip), & to all Christians;
• 2ndThe {14}: Paul, a Jew, wrote, 51-52 A.D., from Corinth 'to the church of the Thessalonians'-- specifically to clear up the confusion of Christ's 2nd coming;
• 1stCor {7}: Paul, a Jew, wrote in 55 A.D. 'to the Church of GOD in Corinth' (a city of Achaia), 'to Those sanctified in Christ Jesus & called to be holy, together with Those everywhere who call on the name of Our LORD Jesus Christ'-- during His 3rd missionary trip, near the end of His 3-yr. ministry in Ephesus;
• 2ndCor {8}: Paul, a Jew, wrote, 55-57 A.D., from Macedonia 'to the Church of GOD in Corinth, together with the saints throughout Achaia';
• Mark {2}: John Mark [Mark was the surname, per Acts 12:12,25; 15:37], a Jew who had not been a disciple/apostle but accompanied Paul on His 1st missionary trip, wrote, 55-65 A.D., of Jesus' ministry-- to the Christians of Rome;
• Roma {6}: Paul, a Jew, wrote in 57 A.D. from Corinth, preparing for His visit to Jerusalem, 'to all in Rome who are loved by GOD & called to be saints [live as saints]'-- the church in Rome perhaps had been begun by Jews returning there from pentecost;
• Luke {3}: Luke, a Greek physician [there was a Luke the doctor, per Colo 4:14], wrote (60 A.D.), of Jesus' ministry, to Theophilus & to all Christians;
• Phlm {18}: Paul, a Jew, wrote in 60 A.D. from prison in Rome, 'to Philemon Our dear friend & fellow worker, to Apphia Our sister, to Archippus Our fellow soldier & to the church that meets in Your home';
• Ephe {10}: Paul, a Jew, wrote in 60 A.D. from prison in Rome 'to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus'-- to all Christians; the Ephesian church of Miletus had been founded by Paul in 53 A.D.; He returned there during His 3rd missionary trip, staying there for 3 yrs.;
• Colo {12}: Paul, a Jew, wrote in 60 A.D. from prison in Rome 'to the holy & faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse' in Asia Minor-- to the Colossians & to all Christians;
• Matt {1}: Matthew (Levi), a Jewish tax collector who became a disciple/apostle, wrote (60-65 A.D.) of Jesus' ministry, particularly to the Jews;
• Phlp {11}: Paul, a Jew, wrote in 61 A.D. from prison in Rome 'to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi [a Macedonian city], together with the overseers (bishops) & deacons-- the Philippian church had been founded during Paul's 2nd missionary trip);
• 1stPet {21}: Peter, a disciple/apostle, wrote, 62-64 A.D., 'to GOD'S Elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappodocia, Asia & Bithynia, who have been chosen during Emperor Nero's persecution -- to Jewish & Gentile Christians scattered in Asia Minor;
• Acts {5}: Luke (the same Luke as in Luke above) wrote, 63-70 A.D., to Theophilus & all GOD-lovers, of the churches' early actions-- as noted above, the church in Rome perhaps had been begun by Jews returning there from pentecost;
• Titu {17}: Paul, a Jew, wrote in 64 A.D. from Macedonia (between imprisonments in Rome) 'to Titus, My true son in Our common faith'-- to Titus & all Christians (Titus was His representative to the island of Crete);
• 1stTim {15}: Paul, a Jew, wrote in 64 A.D. from Rome or Macedonia (perh. just prior to His last imprisonment in Rome) 'to Timothy My true son in the faith'-- to young church leaders & all Christians;
• Jude {26}: Jude, Jesus' & James' brother, & a disciple/apostle, wrote c65 A.D. 'to Those who have been called, who are loved by GOD the FATHER & kept by Jesus Christ-- to Jewish Christians & all Christians;
• 2ndTim {16}: Paul, a Jew, wrote, 66-67 A.D., from prison in Rome, 'to Timothy My dear son'-- to Timothy & all Christians;
• 2ndPet {22}: Peter, a disciple/apostle, wrote in 67 A.D. 'to Those who through the Righteousness of Our GOD & savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as Ours'-- to all believers;
• Hebr {19}: ? wrote in 70 A.D. to Hebrew Christians & to all believers;
• John {4}: John, a disciple/apostle, recorded, 85-90 A.D., Jesus' ministry-- particularly to the Jews;
• 1stJoh {23}: John, same disciple/apostle, wrote, 85-90 A.D., from Ephesus to several Gentile congregations & to all Christians;
• 2ndJoh {24}: John, same disciple/apostle, wrote in 90 A.D. from Ephesus to the chosen lady (perh. a local church);
• 3rdJoh {25}: John, same disciple/apostle, wrote in 90 A.D. from Ephesus to My dear friend Gaius (a Christian John knew);
• Reve {27}: John, same disciple/apostle, having been exiled to the island of Patmos (SE of Greece), wrote in 95 A.D. to the 7 churches in the province of Asia--  & to all Christians.