Originally published: Boyd's Bible handbook. Eugene, Or. : Harvest House Publishers, ℗♭1983

Includes bibliographical references (pages 753-757) and indexes

I. The Bible -- The Bible palace -- Subject and purpose of the Bible -- Why the scriptures were written -- To whom the Bible was written -- How to read the Bible -- Views of inspiration -- Reasons for believing in divine inspiration -- Dispensations of the Bible -- Divisions of the Bible -- Titles of the Bible -- Old Testament subject and purpose -- II. Division I -- The Pentateuch: Subject and purpose -- Genesis, the book of beginnings -- Exodus, the book of departure from Egypt -- The Tabernacle -- The ten plagues -- Leviticus, the book of atonement -- Numbers, the book of pilgrimage -- Deuteronomy, the book of preparation for possession -- Astrology/divination -- The Exodus: Wilderness journeyings -- Israel in Canaan -- Author of the Pentateuch -- Mythological background of Baal worship -- Warning to Israel before entering Canaan -- III. Division II -- the historical books: Subject and purpose -- Joshua, the book of conquest and settlement -- Possession of the land -- "possessing your possessions" -- Joshua's long day -- Judges, the book of declension and apostasy -- Ruth, the book of disloyalty, loyalty, and royalty -- The United Kingdom under Saul, David, and Solomon -- First Samuel, the book of the people's king -- Second Samuel, the book of God's king -- David's great sin and restoration -- The divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah -- First Kings, the book of division of the kingdom -- Solomon's temple -- Elijah's contest with Baal -- Second Kings, the book of the captivities -- First Chronicles, the book of David's reign -- Second Chronicles, the book of Israel's final apostasy -- Reigns and dates of the kings -- Kings and prophets of the Northern kingdom (Israel) -- Israel's captivity -- Kings and prophets of the Southern Kingdom (Judah) -- Judah's captivity -- Reasons for captivity -- Post-captivity books -- The tribes regathered -- Ezra, the book of the returning remnant -- Nehemiah, the book of consolidation and conclusion -- Esther, the book of divine providence

IV. DIvision III -- the poetical books: Subject and purpose -- Job, the book of suffering and patience -- Psalms, the book of devotion and praise -- Testimony of a sheep: Psalm 23 -- Saints in apostasy: Psalm 121 -- Proverbs, law of heaven for life upon earth -- Ecclesiastes, ancient wisdom for modern man -- Song of Solomon, the book of heavenly love -- V. Division IV -- the prophetical books: Subject and purpose -- Prophets and prophecy -- Chronological order of the prophets -- Isaiah, the evangelical prophet -- Egypt's glorious future -- Jeremiah, the book of horror and hope -- Lamentations, the book of tears -- Ezekiel, the book of glory lost and regained -- Prophecy against Gog -- future battle -- Daniel, the book of loyalty and light -- Hosea, the backslider's book -- Joel, the book of God's severity and goodness -- Amos, the book of the plumbline -- Obediah, the book of doom for anti-Semitics -- Jonah, the book of God's mercy -- Micah, the book of doom and glory -- Nahum, the book of perversity and penalty -- Habakkuk, the book of the mysteries of providence -- Zephaniah, the book of wonder and wrath -- Haggai, the builder's book -- Zechariah, the book of the future -- Malachi, the book of denunciation and hope -- VI. New Testament introduction -- The silence of God -- intertestamental period -- Jewish writings -- Old and New Testament groups and sects -- Time and date of Christ's birth -- The mission of Christ (purpose of His first coming) -- Names of Christ -- New Testament subject and purpose -- The language of the New Testament -- VII. Division I -- the Four Gospels: Subject and purpose -- Why four Gospel accounts -- Arrangement of the Gospels -- Matthew, the book of Christ, the King -- Mark, the book of Christ, the Servant -- Luke, the book of Christ, the perfect man -- John, the book of Christ, the Son of God -- VIII. Highlights of Christ's life -- The genealogies of Christ -- The Virgin Mary, mother of Christ -- The virgin birth -- Baptism of Christ -- Temptation of Christ -- Sinlessness of Christ -- The Passover and the Lord's Supper -- The Passover today -- Gethsemane, Christ in -- Save me from this hour -- Judas, the betrayer -- The (mis-) trial of Jesus -- Significance of Pilate washing his hands -- Innocency of Christ attested -- Jews' rejection of Christ -- A modern Jew looks at Christ -- Christ condemned to be crucified -- The wounds of Christ -- Superscriptions on the cross -- Events at the crucifixion -- Seven last sayings of the Lord -- Seven last sayings of the crowd -- Christ was forsaken -- Twelve views of the cross -- Veil of the temple rent -- Christ in the grave three days and three nights -- He descended into hell -- The meaning of Christ's death -- Christ's resurrection -- Post-resurrection appearances -- Prophecy fulfilled in Christ -- Archaeological evidence of Christ's existence

IX. Division II -- The Acts: Subject and purpose -- Christianity: Fraud or truth -- Acts, the book of Christian action -- X. Division III -- The Epistles: Subject and purpose -- The Epistles: Introduction -- Romans, the epistle of faith -- First Corinthians, the epistle of gifts -- Second Corinthians, the book of a minister's heart -- Galatians, the book of Christian liberty -- Ephesians, the epistle of fullness -- Philippians, Paul's joy letter -- Colossians, Christ preeminent -- First Thessalonians, the epistle of the rapture -- Second Thessalonians, Christ's Second Coming -- The Pastoral Epistles: Subject and purpose -- First Timothy, advice to ministers -- Second Timothy, Paul's final message -- Titus, advice to pastors and churches -- Philemon, the original emancipation proclamation -- Hebrews, the book of shadows and substance -- James, the book of practical Christianity -- First peter, the book of Christian discipline -- Second Peter, the book of Christian diligence -- First John, the epistle of knowledge and assurance -- Second John, the epistle of love and truth -- Third John, the epistle of Christian hospitality -- Jude, the epistle to remedy apostasy -- XI. Division IV -- The Revelation: Subject and purpose -- The Revelation, the book of final consummation -- XII. Summary: Character, influence, and claims of Christianity -- XIII. Appendix: -- Calendar -- Hebrew -- Dictionaries: Figure of speech -- Language: symbolical -- Names: general -- of Christ -- of GOd and Jehovah -- of the Holy Spirit -- of idols and gos -- Festivals and seasons -- Hebrew -- Weights and measures -- Money -- Music -- Numbers of the Bible -- Oaths -- Salutations -- Stones, precious -- Various subjects with spiritual applications: Agriculture -- Animal kingdom -- Architecture -- Astronomy -- Engineering -- Horticulture -- Metallurgy -- Military arms -- Minerals -- Time -- Topography -- Water supplies -- Weather -- Bibliography -- Index