Introduction to the Books of the Prophets The biblical prophets are not “ordinary” fortune-tellers, shamans, medicine men, or seers, such as those found in every tribe and culture since the dawn of our species and in isolated regions of our world right up to the present day. Their practices include, among many other things, interpreting…
Introduction to the Five Poetic Books The poetic books of the Bible include the Book of Job, the Psalms, the Book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs. They are written in the literary form of poetry, although in Hebrew poetry—unlike in our European culture—it does not matter whether the verses rhyme with one…
„Historical books“ The following books are considered “historical books” in the Bible: As the name suggests, these books continue the story of the people of Israel. It begins in the Book of Joshua with the entry of the 12 tribes into the land — after their 40-year journey through the desert — which God had…
Introduction to the „Books of the Law“ The Books of the Law, the Jewish Torah, also known as the Pentateuch (meaning “five scrolls”), consist of the five books of Moses. In addition to the laws of the Old Covenant for the Jewish people, these five books contain the creation of the universe and the world,…
The old testament – Gods covenant with Israel Our Old Testament consists of the holy scriptures of Judaism, which makes it clear that we as Christians cannot separate ourselves from our Jewish roots without losing everything—and that we worship the same God as devout Jews. Most of these writings, called the Tanakh in Judaism, were…
Introduction to the prophet Malachi The 39th book of the Bible, consisting of 3 chapters, and the conclusion of the Old TestamentGod’s last prophet in the Old Testament — a final voice before the long silence The name Malachi means “My Messenger” or “Messenger of the LORD.” A hundred years had already passed since the…
Introduction to the prophet Zechariah The 38th book of the Bible, consisting of 14 chaptersThe “great” among the Minor Prophets 🙂 With its 14 chapters, Zechariah not only contains by far the largest volume of the “Minor Prophets,” but the eleventh book also offers a wealth of prophecies that announce in great detail not only…
Introduction to the prophet Haggai The 37th book of the Bible, consisting of only 2 chaptersGod’s first prophet after the Babylonian exile Haggai means “man of the feast” or “the festive one.” He is the first of the prophets to appear in Jerusalem after the return of the first Israelites from the Babylonian exile.He wrote…
Introduction to the prophet Zephaniah The 36th book of the Bible, consisting of 3 chaptersGod warns Judah one last time — the “Day of the Lord” Zephaniah, the ninth in the order of the “Minor” Prophets, ministered immediately before and then simultaneously with Habakkuk.Zephaniah’s ministry begins around the same time as that of the prophet…
Introduction to the prophet Habakkuk The 35th book of the Bible, consisting of 3 chaptersGod must also judge Judah—but the righteous will live by faith Habakkuk is the eighth of the so-called “minor” prophets, and chronologically, the order in the Bible—as the successor to Nahum in “God’s call”—is almost accurate. 🙂During his lifetime, this prophet…