Bible Book and Section Introductions
Historical Backgrounds, Summaries, Interpretation Hints
Key Verses, Timelines, Main Themes, Outlines and more...
Welcome to our main Bible Book Introductions Page. This section contains concise background information, summaries, interpretation principles and practical applications for each section and book of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. See the OT at a Glance and NT at a Glance pages for a brief one or two sentence overview of each book.
For an brief overview of each Bible Section, including an Intertestamental summary, see our Bible Overview Page.
Click on the Section or Book for the writings. We began working on this Section in 2008 and Completed Intros to All Books and Sections of the Bible as of December 2024.
Hebrew Scriptures
(Old Testament)
Pentateuch (Books of the Law / Moses)
Historical Books
- The Historical Books
- Joshua
- Judges
- Ruth
- 1 Samuel
- 2 Samuel
- 1 Kings
- 2 Kings
- 1 Chronicles
- 2 Chronicles
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- Esther
Books of Wisdom
Major Prophets
Minor Prophets
New Testament
Gospel & Historical
Letters of Paul
- The Pauline Epistles
- Romans
- 1 Corinthians
- 2 Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians
- Philippians
- Colossians
- 1 Thessalonians
- 2 Thessalonians
- The Pastoral Epistles
- 1 Timothy
- 2 Timothy
- Titus
- Philemon
- Hebrews **
General Epistles
** Author of Hebrews is Unknown - We group the book with the Pauline Epistles to be consistent with the arrangement of the modern Protestant Bibles
Bibliography
The following resources were consulted in developing the various writings in this section:
- Annotated Bible, Volume 1-9 - Gaebelein, Arlo C. Our Hope Press. 1913
- Bible Knowledge Commentary - Walvoord, John; Zuck Roy. Scripture Press Publications. 1983
- Big Book of Bible Difficulties - Geisler, Norman L.; Howe, Thomas A. Baker Books. 1992
- Concise Bible Commentary - Donald C. Fleming, Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1994
- Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, 20 Volumes - Various Authors. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2005-2016
- Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 1-12 - Gaebelein, Frank E. Zondervan, Inc. 1971-1992
- ESV Study Bible - Crossway Bibles Publishers. 2008
- Holman Bible Dictionary - Butler, Trent C. Holman Bible Publishers. 1991
- Holman Bible Handbook - Dockery, David S. Holman Bible Publishers. 1992
- Introduction to the Old Testament = Roy E. Gingrich, Memphis, TN: Riverside Printing, 2001
- Key Word Commentary: Thoughts on Every Chapter of the Bible - Mark Water, AMG Publishers, 2003
- MacArthur Bible Handbook - MacArthur, John. Thomas Nelson Publishers. 2003
- MacArthur Study Bible - MacArthur, John. Thomas Nelson Publishers. 2006
- Moody Bible Commentary - Rydelnik, Michael; Vanlaningham, Michael. Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. 2014
- Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps & Charts: Old and New Testaments - Thomas Nelson Inc. 1996
- NET Bible, New English Translation - Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. 1998
- New American Commentary, 42 Volumes - Various Authors. Broadman & Holman. 1992-2012
- New International Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (NICOT/NICNT), 48 Volumes - Various Authors. Eerdmans. 1974-2016
- NIV Application Commentary on the Old and New Testaments, 42 Volumes - Various Authors. Zondervan. 1994-2012
- NLT Study Bible - Tyndale House Publishers. 2008
- Reformation Study Bible - Sproul, RC. Reformation Trust Publishing. 2005, 2015
- Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible - Pratt, Richard Jr - Zondervan. 2003
- Ultimate Bible Guide, Revised & Expanded, Ultimate Guide Series, Kendell H. Easley. Holman Reference. 2018
- Understanding the Bible Commentary Series - Various Authors. Baker Publishing. 2011-2013
- When Critics Ask : A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties - Norman L. Geisler and Thomas A. Howe, Wheaton, Ill. Victor Books, 1992
- Willmington's Bible Handbook - Wilmington, Harold L. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 1992