1&2 Chronicles

The name of these books is a misnomer – it’s not really “chronicles” in terms of a linear history. Rather, it’s a theological exploration of the history from Adam to King Cyrus with a particular focus on sin and the consequences of sin. Author and Date Basically, there are multiple authors and the writing is READ MORE

Exodus

This book is part of the Torah – the first 5 books of the Bible. Date The oral tradition of this material is ancient, but it probably wasn’t compiled into written form until the exile or the return. Overview Exodus is not an independent book but is an integral part of the Torah, which narrates READ MORE

1 Peter

Author and Dating There’s much debate about the dating of this letter and, by extension, the author. Some scholars believe it’s a very late document, written in the early 100s by a disciple of Peter. This would put it more in line with 2 Peter. Others believe it was actually authored by the disciple Peter READ MORE

Genesis

This book is part of the Torah – the first 5 books of the Bible. Date The oral tradition of this material is ancient, but it probably wasn’t compiled into written form until the exile or the return. Overview The early chapters of Genesis grapple with some very fundamental questions: These are questions humanity has READ MORE

Leviticus

This book is part of the Torah – the first 5 books of the Bible. We only hear from this Old Testament book twice in the Sunday cycle. Date The oral tradition of this material is ancient, but it probably wasn’t compiled into written form until the exile or the return. Overview Leviticus contains most READ MORE

Job

the patience of Job You may associate this quote with this book. It actually comes from the New Testament book of James, where the apostle lauds Job for his patient suffering (James 5:11). If you think patience in suffering equates to quietly bearing your load without complaint, you’ll quickly see that Job was most definitely READ MORE

Deuteronomy

This book is part of the Torah – the first 5 books of the Bible. The prefix “deutero” means second: the second law or, better, a repetition of the law. This book consists of a series of talks given by Moses as the people wait on the edge of the promised land and Moses is READ MORE

Jonah

We only hear from this book once in the three year lectionary cycle, but the story is quoted and alluded too a number of times in the New Testament. Genre Some want to see this book as historical and factual. It’s not. The closest genre we can get is something along the lines of parody READ MORE

Joshua-Judges-1&2 Samuel-1&2 Kings

The books of Joshua, Judges, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings form one continuous work of history. These books take us from entering the Promised Land through the Babylonian exile. They are not so much history as a theological reflection on the past by a people trying to understand how they got where they are – from READ MORE

Colossians

Author Colossians was most likely written by a later disciple in the spirit of Paul. Textual analysis of the book shows 34 words not used anywhere else in the New Testament, 28 of which do not appear anywhere in the undisputed letters of Paul. That, along with the absence of typical Paul-terms (like righteousness, to READ MORE