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A Guide to Key Events, Characters, and Themes of the Bible

 

A Guide to Key Events, Characters, and Themes of the Bible

The Bible is filled with countless stories that inspire and challenge. The passages listed here include some of the most familiar stories and passages from the Old and New Testaments. These stories are divided into three groups to make it easy for you to select a Bible text that will suit you needs--Key Events, Key Characters, and Key Themes. Some stories are short and easy to read in a single sitting; these are marked with a single asterisk (*). Longer stories and stories that are slightly more complex are marked with two asterisks (**). Stories that may require multiple sittings to work through adequately or that might require the use of a Bible dictionary, commentary, or website are marked with three asterisks (***). For suggestions on how to get the most out of reading these texts see Getting the Most Out of Your Bible Reading.


Key Events

(Listed in chronological order)






*Creation

Genesis 1.1--2.25
*Human Rebellion

Genesis 3.1-24

**Noah and the Flood



Genesis 6.1--9.17

*Tower of Babel



Genesis 11.1-9
***The Exodus from Egypt

Exodus 3.1--15.21

***Wilderness Wanderings



Exodus 15.22--20.26; 31.18--34.35; Numbers 1.1--2.34; 10.11--14.45; 16.1--17.12; 20.1--27.23; 31.1--34.15

***The People Settle in the Promised Land



Joshua 1.1--24.33

*Israel Gets a King



1 Samuel 8.1--10.27
*Israel Builds a Temple

1 Kings 5.1--8.66
**The Kingdom Splits in Two

1 Kings 11.26--12.33
*The Exile in Babylonia

2 Kings 23.36--25.30
*Returning from the Exile

Ezra 1.1-11

*Rebuilding the Walls of Jerusalem



Nehemiah 1.1--7.4
The Life and Ministry of Jesus

(See “Jesus of Nazareth” under Key Characters below.)
*The Holy Spirit Comes on Pentecost

Acts 2.1-47

*Christian Leaders Meet in Jerusalem



Acts 21.17-26

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Key Characters

(Listed alphabetically after “Jesus”)










Jesus of Nazareth: His Life, Death, and Resurrection




**Jesus Is Born



Matthew 1.18-2.15; Luke 2.1-20
*Jesus Presented in the Temple



Luke 2.21-40
*The Young Jesus



Luke 2.41-52
*Jesus Is Baptized



Matthew 3
*The Temptation of Jesus



Luke 4.1-13
*Jesus Calls His First Disciples



Mark 1.16-20
*Jesus Chooses Twelve Apostles



Mark 3.13-19
*The Transfiguration of Jesus



Matthew 17.1-13
*Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem



Luke 19.29-44
*The Last Supper of Jesus



Mark 14.12-26
*Jesus Prays in Gethsemane



Luke 22.39-46
**Jesus' Trial and Crucifixion



Matthew 26.47--27.66; John 18.1--19.37
**The Resurrection of Jesus



Luke 24.1-49; John 20.1-29
*The Great Commission



Matthew 28.16-20
*Jesus Ascends to Heaven



Luke 24.50-53; Acts 1.1-12






Jesus’ Miracles and Healings




*Jesus Turns Water into Wine



John 2.1-11
*Jesus Feeds Many People



Matthew 14.13-21; 15.32-39; John 6.1-15;
*Jesus Calms a Storm



Mark 4.35-41
*The Great Catch of Fish



Luke 5.1-11
*Jesus Walks on Water



Matthew 14.22-33
*Jesus Heals Skin Diseases



Luke 5.12-16; 17.11-19
*Jesus Casts Out Demons



Mark 1.21-28; 3.20-30; 5. 1-20; 9.14-29
*Jesus Heals the Blind



Matthew 9.27-31; 20.29-34
*Jesus Heals a Deaf Man



Mark 7.31-37
*Jesus Heals the Paralyzed



Luke 5.17-26; 6.6-11; John 5.1-17
*Jesus Heals Many Women



Luke 8.1-3; 8.40-56; 13.10-17
*Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant



Matthew 8.5-13
*Jesus Heals Peter's Mother in law



Mark 1.29-31
*Jesus Heals an Official's Son



John 4.46-54
*Jesus Raises a Girl to Life



Luke 8.40-42,49-56
*Jesus Raises the Dead



Luke 7.11-17; John 11.1-44












***Abraham



Genesis 12.1--19.29; 20.1--23.20

*Adam





Genesis 3.1-24

**Balaam





Numbers 22.2--24.25

**Daniel





Daniel 1.1--6.28
***David



1 Samuel 16.1--27.12; 29.1--30.31; 2 Samuel 1--24.27; 1 Kings 1.1--2.11
*Deborah



Judges 4.1--5.31
**Elijah



1 Kings 17.1--19.21; 21.1-29; 2 Kings 1.1--2.15
**Elisha



2 Kings 2.1--2.25; 4.1--7.2; 8.1-6; 13.14-21
**Esther



Esther 1.1--10.3
*Eve



Genesis 3.1-24
Ezekiel



Ezekiel 1.1--3.15; Ezekiel 37.1-14
***Gideon



Judges 6.11-8.35
*Hagar



Genesis 16.1-16; Genesis 21.1-21
*Hannah



1 Samuel 1.1--2.11,18-21

*Hezekiah





2 Kings 18..1--20.21

**Isaac





Genesis 18.1-15; 21.1-21; 22.1-19; 24.1-67; 25.19-34; 26.1--28.9; 35.27-29
**Isaiah



Isaiah 6.1-13; Isaiah 37.1--39.8; Isaiah 40.1-31; Isaiah 65.17-25

***Jacob (Israel)





Genesis 25.19-34; 27.1--35.29; 37.1-36; 42.1--50.14

**Jeremiah





Jeremiah 1.1-19; Jeremiah 31.31-34; Jeremiah 34.1--38.28

**John the Baptist





Luke 1.5-25,57-80; Matthew 3.3-17; 14.1-12

**Jonah





Jonah 1.1--4.11

**Joseph





Genesis 37.1--50.26
***Joshua



Deuteronomy 31.1-8; 34.9-9; Joshua 1.1--11.23; 18.1-10; 23.1--24.31
**Josiah



2 Kings 22.1--23.30
*Lydia



Acts 16.11-15

**Mary (mother of Jesus)





Luke 1.26--2.52; John 2.1-12; 19.16-27; Acts 1.12-14
*Mary Magdalene



Luke 8.1-3; Mark 15.33-41; Mark 16.1-8; John 20.11-18
*Miriam



Exodus 2.1-10; Exodus 15.19-21; Numbers 12.1-16; 20.1
***Moses



Exodus 1.1--20.26; 24.1--25.22; 32.1--34.35; Deuteronomy 31.1--34.12
**Nehemiah



Nehemiah 1.1--2.20; 4.1--6.16
***Paul



Acts 8.1,2; 9.1-31; 13.1--28.31; Galatians 1.11--2.10

***Peter





Matthew 4.18-22; 10.1-4; 14.22-33; 16.13--17.13,24-27; 26.31--26.75; John 18.1-27; 20.1-10; 21.1-25; Acts 2.1--5.16; 9.32--11.18; 12.1-19

*Rahab





Joshua 2.1-24

*Rebekah





Genesis 24.1-67
**Ruth



Ruth 1.1--4.22
**Samson



Judges 13.1--16.31

**Samuel





1 Samuel 1.19--3.21; 7.3--12.25; 15.1--16.13; 19.18-24; 25.1

**Sarah





Genesis 12.1-20; 16.1--18.15; 20.1--21.21; 22.1-19; 23.1-20
***Saul



1 Samuel 8.1--11.15; 13.1--28.25; 31.1-13; 2 Samuel 1.1-27

***Solomon





2 Samuel 12.24,25; 1 Kings 1.28--11.43
*Stephen



Acts 6.1--7.60

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Key Themes

(Listed alphabetically)






** Blessing

Genesis 1.1--2.4; Genesis 12.1-3; Numbers 6.24-26; Psalm 1; Psalm 128; Matthew 5.1-10; Romans 15.13; Philippians 4.7; Hebrews 13.20,21; Jude 1.24,25
***Care of the Earth

Genesis 1.1--2.25; Psalm 24.1,2; Psalm 145.10-21; Psalm 148.1-13; Acts 17.24-28; Colossians 1.15-20; Deuteronomy 11.8-17; 2 Corinthians 9.6-15; Isaiah 42.5,6; Ezekiel 47.6-12; Isaiah 11.6-9; 65.17-25
**Covenant (Agreement)

Genesis 8.20--9.17; 12.1-7; 15.4-21; 17.1-6; Exodus 20.1-17; 24.1-11; 2 Samuel 7.12-16; Psalm 89.1-36; Jeremiah 31.31-37




***Forgiveness and Salvation Through Jesus Christ


Sin separates us from God:

Isaiah 59.1-15; Romans 3.9-20; 5.12-21; 7.14-25
God seeks us and desires what’s best for us:

Exodus 19.3b-8; Jeremiah 31.31-34; Isaiah 54.1-10; 1 Peter 1.1-10; 1 John 3.1-10
God sent his son Jesus Christ so that our relationship with God can be restored:

Colossians 1.15-23; Romans 5.1-11; 1 Peter 2.10-25; 2 Timothy 1.9,10; Ephesians 2.1-10; Romans 8.31-39
God gives us new life and call us to live in a Christ-like way:

Romans 6.1-14; Ephesians 4.17-32; Galatians 5.16-26; 1 John 4.7-21; Romans 12.1-21




**Giving



Exodus 35.20-29; Leviticus 27.26-33; Deuteronomy 14.22-29; Ezra 8.24-30; Proverbs 11.24,25; Mark 12.41-43; Matthew 19.16-30; 2 Corinthians 8.1--9.15

**God as King



Psalms 5; 47; 74; 93; 96-99; 145; Jeremiah 10.6-16
**Healing

Numbers 21.4-9; 2 Kings 5.1-19; Psalm 41; Jeremiah 17.14; Mark 5.21-43; Luke 18.35-43; John 9.1-41; Acts 3.1-10; James 5.13-15

**Hospitality



Genesis 18.1-15; Exodus 22.21; 1 Kings 17.8-16; Matthew 5.43-48; Luke 7.36-50; Luke 19.1-9; Matthew 25.21-46; Acts 2.43-47; Romans 12.9-18; Philippians 4.10-20; Hebrews 13.2
***Kingdom of Heaven (Kingdom of God)

Isaiah 11.1-9; Matthew 13.24-33,44-50; John 3.1-21; Matthew 10.1-15; Luke 10.1-12; Luke 13.22-30; Luke 22.24-30; John 14.1-14; 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18; 1 Corinthians 15.42-54; Philippians 3.20,21

**Prayer



1 John 5.13-21; Luke 11.5-13; Matthew 6.5-15; Ephesians 3.14-21; James 5.13-18; Psalm 25; 51; 67; 142; 150
**Servanthood

Isaiah 42.1-4; Isaiah 49.1-6; Isaiah 50.4-9; Isaiah 52.13--53.12; Mark 10.42-45; John 13.1-20; Philippians 2.6-11; Romans 6.15-23

**What God Requires



Deuteronomy 5.1-22; Amos 5.21-24; Micah 6.8; Mark 12.28-34; Luke 6.31

**Wisdom



Proverbs 1.20--2.9; Proverbs 8; Deuteronomy 6.4-9; Psalm 19; Jeremiah 9.23,24; 1 Kings 3.1-15; 1 Kings 10.1-10; Matthew 12.42; Matthew 5.1--7.29; 1 Corinthians 1.18--2.16

**Worship



Psalms 84; 122; 134; 149; Exodus 20.8-11; Hebrews 10.20-25; Acts 2.43-45; 1 Corinthians 11.23-34; Colossians 3.12-17; Revelation 4.1-11
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