Category: Bible Index

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1 Thessalonians Index

Paul, along with Silas and Timothy, founded the church at Thessalonica on his second missionary journey. The Apostle had been drawn to this important Roman port after seeing a vision in which a Macedonian man was calling for help (Acts 16:9). While Paul was in Corinth, Silas and Timothy brought good and bad news about the Macedonian church. Though the church continued to be established, the Thessalonians were also reportedly having difficulties. Gentiles, and especially Jews, were impugning Paul’s sincerity, defaming him as a wandering charlatan who had deceived them. The church was also confused about the second coming of Christ. Some members worried about believers who had died before His return. Others considered it unnecessary to continue working, since Christ would return at any time. Still others were sinking back into the immorality of the culture. There was also a crisis in the leadership; many of the rank-and-file apparently were being offended by certain tactless elders. These and other minor difficulties occasioned Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, which was written from Athens.

1 Thessalonians 1

1:1-10 Greetings and commendation

1 Thessalonians 2

2:1-16 Paul’s method and Paul’s gospel
2:17-20 Paul’s absence and concern

1 Thessalonians 3

3:1-10 Timothy sent to strengthen the church
3:11-13 Prayer for the church

1 Thessalonians 4

4:1-12 Paul’s appeal for purity
4:13-18 The coming of the Lord and the Rapture

1 Thessalonians 5

5:1-11 The coming of the Lord and the Rapture (continued)
5:12-24 Paul exhorts the brethren
5:25-28 Final greetings and benediction

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2 Thessalonians Index

Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians is a follow-up to the first. While he was encouraged by their faith and steadfastness, he could see that many in the assembly were still very confused about the second coming of Christ. This misunderstanding had led many in the church to forsake their occupations, to lead undisciplined lives, and to breed unrest among the people by becoming busybodies and beggars, living off those who still maintained gainful employment. Still others had become discouraged, thinking the day of the Lord had already begun and that they had somehow missed it. They had expected Christ to destroy their enemies, yet they were still suffering persecution. Paul explains that while the time of the Lord’s coming cannot be predicted, it will be a spectacular event that no one could miss. Paul encouraged them to take heart in the fact that from very beginning, the LORD God’s purpose was to include them in the glorious events of Christ’s coming, and he instructed those who wanted to eat, to get to work.

2 Thessalonians 1

1:1-2 Salutation
1:3-12 Encouragement in persecution

2 Thessalonians 2

2:1-17 The great apostasy

2 Thessalonians 3

3:1-18 Pray for us

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1 Timothy Index

This is the first of Paul’s letters to Timothy, a young Pastor who was responsible for overseeing the work of the Ephesian church and possibly the other churches of the province of Asia. Paul cautions Timothy to guard against false doctrine, protect public worship and develop mature leadership. Much of the letter deals with pastoral conduct and lays the foundation for ordaining elders in the local church. Paul’s first epistle to Timothy is like a leadership manual for church organization and administration, with both spiritual and natural life issues forming the theme of proper conduct in the church of the living LORD GOD.

1 Timothy 1

1:1-2 Paul greets Timothy
1:3-7 Warning against false doctrine
1:8-11 The law and the Gospel
1:12-20 Paul’s thankfulness for mercy

1 Timothy 2

2:1-8 Paul exhorts to prayer
2:9-15 The place and the dress of women

1 Timothy 3

3:1-7 Qualifications of bishops
3:8-13 Qualifications of deacons
3:14-16 Paul’s hope to see Timothy

1 Timothy 4

4:1-5 Predictions of apostasy
4:6-16 A good minister of Jesus Christ

1 Timothy 5

5:1-16 Instructions concerning widows
5:17-25 Duty to elders

1 Timothy 6

6:1-10 Evil has the love of money in its roots
6:11-21 The good fight of faith

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2 Timothy Index

Paul wrote this letter to Timothy while he was imprisoned in a Roman dungeon cell at the Mamertine Prison, a place from which he knew he would never be set free. His only contact with the outside world was a hole, about 18 inches square, in the ceiling of his cell. Through that opening passed everything that came to and from the apostle, including his second letter to Timothy in A.D. 67. He was beheaded in Rome in May or June of A.D. 68.

In 2 Timothy we have the last known words to be written by Paul, and it was written with purpose and commitment to his dear Timothy. He exhorted Timothy in his ministry at Ephesus, warned him of the trouble both inside and outside the church, requested that he come to Rome to visit him in prison, and provided instruction to all of the churches in Timothy’s territory. His focus was encouraging his beloved Timothy to continue in the good works of the LORD God in faith and perseverance as his own last days on this earth were drawing near.

2 Timothy 1

1:1-2 Personal greeting
1:3-5 Thanksgiving for Timothy
1:6-18 Exhortation to endurance

2 Timothy 2

2:1-13 A good soldier of Jesus Christ
2:14-26 Advice on personal conduct and relationships

2 Timothy 3

3:1-9 The coming apostasy
3:10-13 The example of Paul
3:14-17 Steadfastness in the Scriptures

2 Timothy 4

4:1-5 The charge to preach
4:6-8 Paul’s last testament
4:9-18 Personal circumstances and conclusion
4:19-22 Final greetings

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Titus Index

Titus was one of the circle of young men who were the many “witnesses “who the apostle Paul committed the things given to him to pass them on to to others. Together with Timothy, Titus traveled with Paul. Titus was a Gentile, while Timothy was half Jewish and half Gentile. The authorship of this epistle was written by Paul.

Titus 1

1:1-4 Greeting
1:5-9 Qualifications of elders or bishops
1:10-16 Warning against false teachers

Titus 2

2:1-10 Domestic regulations
2:11-15 The Christian life

Titus 3

3:1-2 Christian citizenship
3:3-8 The basis of the Christian ethic
3:9-11 The discipline of factious men
3:12-15 Personal plans and greetings

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Philemon Index

Philemon is one of the four epistles (along with Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, which Paul wrote during his first Roman imprisonment. Onesimus, Philemon and Paul are the three main characters in his epistle. Onesimus, a slave in Colossae, had robbed Philemon, his master, and then ran away. During the course of his flight, Onesimus encountered Paul in Rome, and through his ministry came to faith in Christ. Subsequently, Onesimus became a helper to Paul. Paul recognized Onesimus’s duty to his master, so sent him back to Philemon, along with Tychicus, who carried Paul’s letter to the Colossian church at the same time. In this letter, Paul implores Philemon to receive Onesimus not as a slave, but as “a brother beloved”.

Philemon 1

1:1-3 Salutation
1:4-7 Thanksgiving
1:8-21 Paul’s appeal for Onesimus
1:22-25 Final greetings

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Hebrews Index

Hebrews 1

1:1-4 God has spoken by his Son
1:5-14 The Son superior to angels

Hebrews 2

2:1-4 So great salvation
2:5-18 Christ’s work of salvation

Hebrews 3

3:1-6 Christ superior to Moses
3:7-19 Under Moses Israel failed to believe

Hebrews 4

4:1-13 The present danger of unbelief
4:14-16 The sympathetic Christ

Hebrews 5

5:1-10 Christ, the High Priest
5:11-14 An appeal to believe

Hebrews 6

6:1-12 An appeal to believe (continued)
6:13-20 An anchor of the soul

Hebrews 7

7:1-10 The priestly order of Melchizedek
7:11-28 Aaronic priesthood inferior to Christ’s

Hebrews 8

8:1-5 Christ, the High Priest
8:6-13 The new covenant

Hebrews 9

9:1-14 The old and the new covenants contrasted
9:15-28 The sacrifice of Christ establishes the new covenant

Hebrews 10

10:1-18 The failure of the old covenant
10:19-39 A plea to hold to the new faith

Hebrews 11

11:1-3 By faith we understand
11:4-7 Faith at the dawn of history
11:8-12 Faithful Abraham
11:13-16 The heavenly hope
11:17-22 The faith of patriarchs
11:23-29 The faith of Moses
11:30-40 By faith they overcame

Hebrews 12

12:1-2 Run the race
12:3-11 God’s discipline
12:12-29 Warning against disobedience

Hebrews 13

13:1-17 Service well-pleasing to God
13:18-25 Benediction

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James Index

James, probably the half brother of Jesus Christ, writes a specific message of Christian accountability, which carries over so completely into this Epistle of James. He talks about the faith of a believer when faced with tribulations, trials and temptations. He speaks of the proper response to the Word of God in faith. He brings faith to a place for all people through impartiality, and encourages the active faith in doing the works of teaching. He encourages the faithful to work against worldliness and natural desires, and warns of their dangers. A pillar of Christianity, his focus is not merely on faith and works, but stresses the need for a faith that works.

James 1

1:1 Salutation
1:2-18 Faith and humility
1:19-27 Hearing and doing the word

James 2

2:1-13 Impartiality toward all
2:14-26 Faith that works

James 3

3:1-12 Dangers of the tongue
3:13-18 True and false wisdom

James 4

4:1-10 Worldliness and pride
4:11-12 Consideration for a brother
4:13-17 Unchristian conduct

James 5

5:1-6 Warning to the rich
5:7-18 Patience in affliction
5:19-20 Saving the erring brother

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1 Peter Index

The unknown author of this Epistle writes to the persecuted Christians. Many believe Peter the Rock and disciple of Jesus Christ wrote this letter because the words sound like his character. Others believe that a Galilean fisherman, whose native tongue was Aramaic, would be unable to accomplish the literary style used, and suggest Sylvanus or some unknown Roman teacher as helping Peter write his words. What can be certain, however, is the consistency and upholding of the words being written and spoken by Paul are in agreement with 1 Peter, and reflect that the One they both serve is the same Lord, as they were both inspired by the same Holy Spirit to uphold the persecuted Christians in their walks with Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1

1:1-2 Salutation
1:3-12 Salvation wrought by Father, Son, Holy Spirit
1:13-25 Call to Christian dedication

1 Peter 2

2:1-3 Call to Christian dedication (continued)
2:4-8 Christ the living stone
2:9-10 God’s own people
2:11-17 Live as servants of God
2:18-25 The example of Christ’s suffering

1 Peter 3

3:1-12 The behavior of wives and husbands
3:13-22 Suffering and reward

1 Peter 4

4:1-19 Good stewards of God’s grace

1 Peter 5

5:1-4 Shepherd of the flock
5:5-11 Submit to God, resist the devil
5:12-14 Farewell and peace

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2 Peter Index

Peter, disciple and rock of Jesus Christ, wrote this second epistle shortly before his martyrdom. Many who challenge him as an author to 1 Peter epistle, have no problem with crediting him with writing 2 Peter. In the second letter, Peter is writing to the same readers he addressed in the first. He encouraged them to be continually involved in the growth cycle of Christianity and reminded them of their salvation. He focused extensively on warning them about false prophets and teachers. He reminded them of the hope of the Lord Jesus Christ’s coming, as well as cautioned them about the scoffers and false teachers that will surround them as they watch for Him. He encouraged them to demonstrate the certainty of their calling and their election, be fruitful in their Christian lives, gain an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven and know of the ultimate destruction of the present heavens and earth, as recorded in the infallible inspiration of Scripture through prophesy.

2 Peter 1

1:1-4 Salutation
1:5-11 Growing in grace
1:12-21 Grounded in the truth

2 Peter 2

2:1-22 False prophets and teachers

2 Peter 3

3:1-18 Living in the hope of the Lord’s coming