Peeling the onion back… that’s a term that I use frequently in order to describe the process of removing layers to arrive at the center of things.
For example, we may feel a certain way… but why? Drive down to the most precise reason, and that identifies why we have this particular viewpoint. At that level, we can challenge, engage, or support our stance.
Peeling the onion should probably be the name of a book one day, if it isn’t already. But I digress…
For fun, I wanted to take a shot at doing this with biblical history.
Every book of the Bible carries its own emphasis, but together they tell one unified story of God’s character, His purposes, His people, and ultimately His redemption through Jesus Christ. This list is not meant to reduce any book to a single idea, but to offer one memorable word that captures a central theme and helps you see the Bible’s larger story more clearly. Again, for FUN, here is the entire Bible, book by book, as we might view it in a context of a single word.
OLD TESTAMENT
Genesis — Beginnings
Exodus — Deliverance
Leviticus — Holiness
Numbers — Wilderness
Deuteronomy — Remembrance
Joshua — Inheritance
Judges — Cycles
Ruth — Redemption
1 Samuel — Kingship
2 Samuel — Covenant
1 Kings — Division
2 Kings — Exile
1 Chronicles — Preparation
2 Chronicles — Temple
Ezra — Restoration
Nehemiah — Rebuilding
Esther — Reversal
Job — Sovereignty
Psalms — Worship
Proverbs — Wisdom
Ecclesiastes — Fleeting
Song of Solomon — Love
Isaiah — Salvation
Jeremiah — Warning
Lamentations — Mourning
Ezekiel — Glory
Daniel — Sovereignty
Hosea — Faithfulness
Joel — Spirit
Amos — Justice
Obadiah — Judgment
Jonah — Mercy
Micah — Remnant
Nahum — Vengeance
Habakkuk — Faith
Zephaniah — Day
Haggai — Consider
Zechariah — Messiah
Malachi — Messenger
NEW TESTAMENT
Matthew — King
Mark — Servant
Luke — Savior
John — Life
Acts — Witness
Romans — Gospel
1 Corinthians — Correction
2 Corinthians — Weakness
Galatians — Freedom
Ephesians — Identity
Philippians — Joy
Colossians — Supremacy
1 Thessalonians — Return
2 Thessalonians — Stand
1 Timothy — Order
2 Timothy — Endure
Titus — Godliness
Philemon — Reconciliation
Hebrews — Better
James — Obedience
1 Peter — Hope
2 Peter — Remember
1 John — Assurance
2 John — Truth
3 John — Hospitality
Jude — Contend
Revelation — Victory
THE BIBLE IN ONE WORD — JESUS.
To me, this has been a fun and interesting study. There are certainly so many other possible words for each, but this is the list I comprised, based largely on context of the content. Maybe consider making your own? Hope you enjoy!
~ Devin
Devin Osborne
The Early Church
