Summary of the Book of Job
The Book of Job (in the Bible’s Old Testament) is a long poem. The Book of Job discusses why innocent people suffer. God cares about people who suffer troubles. And God will help them, although sometimes they must be patient.
Job was a good man. But Job lost all his possessions. Job’s children died. Job became so ill that he wanted to die. But Job refused to insult God.
Job’s friends supposed that Job was ill because of his evil deeds. But Job was innocent. Then, a wise man named Elihu explained the truth to Job and his friends. And God proved to them that God is great. God also showed them that he cares. Finally, God wanted Job to pray for his friends. In the end, God made Job successful again.
God made Job successful again.
Summary of the Book of Luke
Luke’s Gospel (good news) is a record, in order, of the main events in Jesus’ life. Its author was Luke, who was a doctor. Luke was a friend of Paul.
Luke probably did not belong to the Jewish people, though some believe he was Jewish, but just went by a Greek name. His book shows that Jesus cared about everyone. Jesus cured many ill people. Jesus cared about women (for example, Luke 7:11-17). Jesus allowed children to come to him (Luke 18:15-17). And Jesus cared about poor people (Luke 21:1-4).
Jesus taught many lessons to the people. Often, he told parables (stories with a meaning) to teach the people about God. Jesus wanted everybody to confess their evil deeds and to trust in God.
Some evil leaders opposed Jesus. They plotted that Jesus would die. Jesus knew about their plans (Luke 18:31-34). But Jesus also knew that God wanted him to die (Luke 22:20-22, Luke 22:42). And, after Jesus’ death, God would cause Jesus to live again.
Luke describes these events. The Bible taught that these things would happen (Luke 24:25-27, Luke 24:44-49).
Luke explained these events further in his other book, called Acts (Acts chapters 2-3). When Jesus died, he suffered the punishment for our evil deeds. So, we must confess our evil deeds to God. And we must invite God into our lives.
Summary of the Book of 1 Corinthians
Paul wrote this long letter to the Christians who lived in the city of Corinth. He had set up the church in Corinth when he himself lived there for 18 months (Acts 18). After he left the city, evil things happened in the church. So Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Corinth, to help them.
Corinth was a city in the country of Greece. The people in Greece were proud of their clever minds. But Paul explained that God considers human wisdom to be foolish. So, Christians must recognise that Jesus Christ is their Lord. He has God’s wisdom; and Christians must obey him always (1 Corinthians chapters 1-2).
Then they will be able to live holy lives. They will not quarrel with each other. They will be loyal to their husbands or wives. They will not try to understand the Bible by their own clever ideas. Instead, they will be true servants of Christ (1 Corinthians chapters 5-6).
Paul wanted to teach the Christians in Corinth how to praise God together. He taught them that they should share bread and wine to remember Jesus’ death (1 Corinthians 11). God’s Holy Spirit would help them to work together (1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 14). And God’s greatest gift is love (1 Corinthians 13).
Paul also taught about life after death. After Jesus died, God caused Jesus to live again. Many people saw that Jesus was alive again (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). In the same way, God will cause us to live again after our deaths. God is even greater than death (1 Corinthians 15).
Summary of the Book of 2 Corinthians
This letter is in the Bible’s New Testament. Paul wrote this letter to Christians in Corinth because there were false teachers in the church. They spoke badly about Paul. They said he kept changing his mind. This was because he did not visit Corinth. They also said he was not a genuine apostle*. Unlike the false teachers, Paul was not a great speaker. Also unlike them, Paul did not ask the church for money.
Paul explained why he had not visited them. He also explained why he had been so severe towards the Christians in Corinth. But he was happy that they had confessed their evil deeds to God. And now, they accepted Paul as a friend again. He was not a powerful person like the false teachers. But because he was weak, people saw God’s power through him. He had not come to talk about himself. He had come to tell them about Jesus. By the death of Jesus, God had changed them from enemies into friends. Then he asked them for a generous gift for the poor Christians in Judea.
Finally he gave reasons why he was a genuine apostle*. God chose him to be an apostle*. And he had suffered many troubles because he taught God’s message. But Paul was glad to work for God. This was his answer to those who spoke badly about him.