Bible Ministry Blog About Sites Give Now The NIV Study Bible The NIV Study Bible Like the NIV itself, the NIV Study Bible is the work of a transdenominational team of Biblical scholars [more about the NIV Bible]. All confess the authority of the Bible as God’s infallible word to humanity. They have sought to clarify understanding of, develop appreciation for, and provide insight into that word. This website provides the “Introductions to the Books of the Bible” that are found in the NIV Study Bible. Each introduction to each book of the Bible is different. Introductions vary in length and reflect both the nature of the material itself and the strengths and interests of contributing editors. An introduction frequently reports on the book’s title, author, and date of writing. It details the books background and purpose, explores themes and theological significance, and points out special problems and distinctive literary features. Where appropriate, such as in Paul’s letters to the churches, it describes the original recipients of a book and the city in which they lived. A complete outline of the book’s content is provided in each introduction (except for the introduction to Psalms). For Genesis, two outlines—a literary and a thematic—are given. Pairs of books that were originally one literary work, such as 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Chronicles, are outlined together. Certain kinds of material have been made more accessible through the use of the following symbols: The trowel points out where archaeological data can be found. The character symbol occurs where certain book introductions provide descriptions and/or characterizations of a person or a people. From the NIV Study Bible Copyright © 2002 Zondervan. All rights reserved. Book introductions used with permission. General Editor: Kenneth L. Barker. The Synoptic Gospels The Wisdom Literature The Pastoral Letters The Book of the Twelve, or the Minor Prophets Old Testament Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Songs Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi New Testament Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation Read God's Word Choose Bible version Amharic | New Amharic Standard Version (NASV) Cebuano | Ang Pulong Sa Dios (APSD-CEB) Chhattisgarhi | New Chhattisgarhi Translation (नवां नियम छत्तीसगढ़ी) (NCA) Chimborazo Highland Quichua | Mushuj Testamento Diospaj Shimi (MTDS) Croatian | Knijga O Kristu (CRO) Czech | Slovo na cestu (SNC) Danish | Bibelen på hverdagsdansk (BPH) Dutch | Het Boek (HTB) English | King James Version (KJV) English | New International Reader’s Version (NIRV) English | New International Version – UK (NIVUK) English | New International Version (NIV) French | La Bible du Semeur (BDS) Ganda | Luganda Contemporary Bible (LCB) German | Hoffnung für Alle (HOF) Hausa | Hausa Contemporary Bible (HCB) Hebrew | Habrit Hakhadasha/Haderekh (HHH) Hiligaynon | Ang Pulong Sang Dios (HLGN) Hindi | Hindi Contemporary Version (HCV) Iranian Persian | Persian Contemporary Bible (PCB) Italian | La Parola è Vita (PEV) Japanese | Japanese Contemporary Bible (JCB) Kikuyu | Holy Bible in Gĩkũyũ (GKY) Korean | Korean Living Bible (KLB) Kurdish, Central | Kurdi Sorani Standard (KSS) Mandarin Chinese | Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional) (CCBT) Mandarin Chinese | Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified) (CCB) Norwegian Bokmål | En Levende Bok (LB) Nyanja | Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero (CCL) Polish | Słowo Życia (SZ-PL) Portuguese | O Livro (OL) Portuguese | Nova Versão Internacional (NVI-PT) Romanian | Nouă Traducere În Limba Română (NTLR) Russian | New Russian Translation (NRT) Russian | Священное Писание (CARS) Russian | Священное Писание (Восточный перевод), версия с «Аллахом» (CARSA) Russian | Священное Писание (Восточный перевод), версия для Таджикистана (CARST) Serbian | New Serbian Translation (NSP) Spanish | Nueva Versión Internacional (NVI) Spanish | Nueva Versión Internacional (Castilian) (CST) Standard Arabic | Ketab El Hayat (NAV) Swahili | Kiswahili Contemporary Version (Neno: Bibilia Takatifu) (NEN) Swedish | Swedish Contemporary Bible (NUB) Tagalog | Tagalog Contemporary Bible (TCB) Thai | Thai New Contemporary Bible (TNCV) Twi | Akuapem Twi Contemporary Bible (AKCB) Twi | Asante Twi Contemporary Bible (ASCB) Vietnamese | Vietnamese Contemporary Bible (VCB) Yoruba | Bíbélì Mímọ́ Yorùbá Òde Òn (YCB) English | New International Version (NIV) Book Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation Genesis Chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 1 Search Connect With Us More Stories How Can Christians Help The Most Vulnerable People in Our World? 5 Things You Can Do Today to Reclaim Your Joy (No Pixie Dust Required) Streetlights’ Hip Hop Inspired Audio Bible is a Game Changer For Youth Ministry What Good is the Bible if It’s Not Available in Your Language? 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