As a young Christian, brought up in a church devoid of any real Christian education, or teaching, I knew nothing.
For many years, while I gradually came to grips with aspects of the Bible as anthology (without knowing that word), it's overall form and 'story' escaped me.
From Sunday School, it struck me as a bunch of disconnected stories and precepts. Not helpful
I came to university knowing nothing of theology, of the history of the church, or the chain of themes that made the Bible the story of reality, to borrow Greg Koukl's phrase.
One thing conspicuously absent was a table of contents, a meaningful one, of the Bible. A list of Books was only minorly helpful, and only for navigation. A list of the pages of Chapters would have been of some minor use in the early years of Bible reading, but what I needed, I think what everyone needs is a list of contents that are the actual thematic content of the Bible. After all, the navigation aids were as useful for this as discussing a holiday by giving the latitudes and longitudes that one had visited.
The Twentieth Century NT in some editions has such a table of contents, but it is a little too much.
But recently I found in the back pages of my NRSV just the thing. Crossed with the editorial paragraph headings of the NASB, I've adapted these and compiled just what I would have been much helped by (along with teaching of the biblical theology) as a teenager.
I hope it helps you too.
The Old Testament
Book Topic Chapter
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The books of the law (Torah) and history: The Pentateuch |
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GENESIS |
The Creation |
1, 2 |
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The Fall |
3 |
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Genealogies |
5 |
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2350 BC |
The Flood |
7 |
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Babel |
11 |
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2091 BC (call) |
Abraham |
12 |
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2066 BC (b) |
Isaac |
22 |
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2006 BC (b) |
Jacob |
27 |
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1915 BC (b) |
Joseph |
37 |
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EXODUS |
Moses out of Egypt |
3 |
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1446 BC |
Israel out of Egypt |
12 |
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Israel at Mt Sinai |
19 |
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The Law |
20 |
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The declaration of creation |
31:17 |
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The exodus continues |
33 |
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LEVITICUS |
Sacrifices |
1 |
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The priesthood ritual |
7 |
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Unclean things and the law |
11 |
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Day of Atonement |
16 |
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A holy congregation |
19 |
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NUMBERS |
The camp at Sinai |
2 |
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Called out of Sinai |
10 |
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A wandering people |
21 |
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DEUTERONOMY |
The Ten Commandments |
5 |
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The Book of the Covenant |
12 |
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God’s chosen people |
28 |
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Blessing from Moses |
33 |
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The historical books: |
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JOSHUA |
The Promised Land |
1 |
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1406 BC |
Each tribe’s allotment |
13 |
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JUDGES |
Tribal conquests |
1 |
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1224 BC |
Deborah |
4 |
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1177 BC |
Gideon |
6:11 |
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Jephthah |
11 |
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Samson |
13 |
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RUTH |
Ruth and Boaz |
1 |
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1 SAMUEL |
God calls Samuel |
3 |
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1043 BC |
Saul |
9 |
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1011 BC |
David |
16 |
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2 SAMUEL |
David, King of Judah |
2 |
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Absalom’s conspiracy |
15 |
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1 KINGS |
Solomon |
2 |
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930 BC |
A torn kingdom |
12 |
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Elijah |
17 |
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2 KINGS |
Elisha |
2 |
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Samaria conquest |
17 |
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Jerusalem destruction |
25 |
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1 CHRONICLES |
Official lists |
1 |
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The city of David |
11 |
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The ark of the Lord |
13 |
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Temple appointments |
23 |
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2 CHRONICLES |
Building the temple |
2 |
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Solomon’s reign |
8 |
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Kingdom of Judah |
11 |
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Josiah’s reform |
34 |
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Babylonian captivity |
36 |
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EZRA |
Return to Jerusalem |
3 |
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536 BC |
The great assembly |
10 |
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NEHEMIAH |
Ancient walls and gates |
2 |
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The dedication |
12:27 |
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ESTHER |
Haman and Mordecai |
4 |
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The Poetical Books |
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JOB |
Job’s affliction |
1 |
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The questioning |
4 |
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God’s blessing |
42 |
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PSALMS |
Book 1 |
1-41 |
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Book 2 |
42-72 |
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Book 3 |
73-89 |
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Book 4 |
90-106 |
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Book 5 |
107-150 |
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PROVERBS |
Proverbs of Solomon |
1 |
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Guidance for wise living |
22 |
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Words of Agur |
30 |
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Words of Lemuel |
31 |
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ECCLESIASTES |
Quest for wisdom |
9:13 |
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SONG OF SOLOMON |
The song of songs |
1 |
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The Major Prophets |
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ISAIAH |
Isaiah and Ahaz |
7 |
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Prophesies about the nations |
13 |
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Isaiah and Hezekiah |
37 |
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Captivity prophesied |
39 |
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Concerning the return |
40 |
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Cyrus |
45 |
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The Lord’s anointed |
61 |
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JEREMIAH |
God calls Jeremiah |
1 |
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The prophet’s persecution |
27 |
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Concerning the nations |
46 |
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LAMENTATIONS |
The fall of Jerusalem |
1 |
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EZEKIEL |
The sins of Jerusalem |
4 |
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God’s judgement |
20 |
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After the fall of Jerusalem |
33:21 |
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The temple of the Holy City |
40 |
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DANIEL |
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream |
2 |
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607 BC |
The golden image |
3 |
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Omen at the feast |
5:5 |
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Daniel’s visions |
7 |
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The Minor Prophets |
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HOSEA |
Hosea’s experience |
1 |
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God yearns for Israel |
11 |
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JOEL |
The day of the Lord |
1 |
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AMOS |
Judgement of the nations |
1 |
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God and Israel |
2:6 |
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Amos at Bethel |
7 |
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OBADIAH |
The pride of Edom |
1 |
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JONAH |
The prophet’s disobedience |
1 |
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The prophet’s education |
2 |
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MICAH |
Deliver from Bethlehem |
5 |
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NAHUM |
The end of Nineveh |
2 |
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HABAKKUK |
At the watchtower |
1 |
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ZEPHANIAN |
The day of the Lord |
1 |
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HAGGAI |
Rebuilding the temple |
1 |
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ZECHARIAH |
Visions of the night |
1 |
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Visions of prosperity |
8 |
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MALACHI |
A call to remembrance |
4 |
The New Testament
|
The Gospels |
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MATTHEW |
The saviour is born |
1 |
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His baptism, temptation |
3:13 |
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27 AD |
In Galilee |
4:23 |
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In Jerusalem |
21 |
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The crucifixion |
27:32 |
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30 AD |
The resurrection |
28 |
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MARK |
Jesus in Galilee |
1 |
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29 AD |
Jesus in Judea |
10 |
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Passion week |
11 |
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LUKE |
Saviour’s birth, youth |
2 |
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His baptism, temptation |
3 |
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His message, mission |
5 |
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Journey to Jerusalem |
9:51 |
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Death and resurrection |
23:26 |
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JOHN |
Here is the lamb of God |
1:29 |
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The first Passover |
2:13 |
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The second Passover |
6:4 |
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The third Passover |
13 |
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High priestly prayer, |
17 |
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Passion, Resurrection |
18 |
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The Early Church |
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ACTS OF THE APOSTLES |
In Jerusalem |
1 |
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In Judea, Samaria |
8 |
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In Antioch |
11:19 |
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47 AD |
First mission journey |
13:4 |
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Council at Jerusalem |
15 |
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50 AD |
Second mission journey |
15:22 |
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53 AD |
Third mission journey |
19 |
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Paul in Jerusalem |
21:17 |
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59 AD |
Paul goes to Rome |
27 |
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Letters of Paul |
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ROMANS |
Message of salvation |
1 |
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The Jews and Gospel |
9 |
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Life in Christ |
12 |
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1 CORINTHIANS |
Dissension in the church |
1 |
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The Lord’s Supper (church gathering) |
11 |
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Gifts of the Spirit |
12 |
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The resurrection |
15 |
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2 CORINTHIANS |
God’s comfort and mercy |
1:3 |
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Ambassadors for Christ |
4:16 |
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Paul’s suffering |
11 |
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GALATIANS |
The gospel of Christ |
1:6 |
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Life in Christ |
5 |
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EPHESIANS |
The household of God |
1 |
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Christian living |
4 |
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PHILIPPIANS |
The mind of Christ |
1 |
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COLOSSIANS |
The supremacy of Christ; creator |
1 |
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1 THESSALONIANS |
His coming is at hand |
5 |
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2 THESSALONIANS |
Prayer and praise |
2 |
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Paul’s pastoral letters |
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1 TIMOTHY |
The Christian ministry |
1:3 |
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2 TIMOTHY |
The servant’s duties |
2 |
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TITUS |
Stewards of God |
1 |
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Paul’s personal letter |
|
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PHILEMON |
The runaway slave |
1 |
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Other apostolic letters |
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HEBREWS |
Christ our high priest |
4:14 |
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The better covenant |
8 |
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Heroes of faith |
11 |
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JAMES |
Strength through faith |
1:2 |
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Faith and action |
2:14 |
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1 PETER |
Hope in Christ |
1:3 |
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Stewards of God’s grace |
4 |
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2 PETER |
False prophets |
2 |
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1 JOHN |
Fellowship with the father |
1 |
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2 JOHN |
Love one another |
1:4 |
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3 JOHN |
Co-workers |
1 |
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JUDE |
Resist evil ways |
1 |
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Prophesy |
|
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REVELATION |
Letters to seven churches |
1 |
|
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Heavenly worship |
4 |
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Opening the seals |
6 |
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Trumpet blasts |
8 |
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The church triumphant |
14 |
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Judgement visions |
17 |
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The New Creation |
21 |
