
We want kids to memorize the books of the Bible, but often that list of 66 words is simply that – a list of 66 words. If we don’t take the opportunity to explain, then those words have no meaning and become even a bigger challenge.
So, what if we also taught them what the words mean? That would help them understand what they’re learning.
Be simple. Be brief.
Genesis – beginning
Exodus – the Israelites leaving (exiting) Egypt
Leviticus – the laws of the priests from the tribe of Levite
Numbers – has a lot of history, but also focuses on the census/numbers of each tribe
Deuteronomy – second giving of the law
Joshua – the man chosen to take the Israelites into the Promised Land
Judges – a record of the judges
Ruth – the account of a Moabite lady who left her own people to follow her mother-in-law back to Bethlehem. Her son, Obed, was in the lineage of Christ.
I and 2 Samuel – name of the last judge and the one who anointed the first two kings.
1 and 2 King – the history of the kings
1 and 2 Chronicles – record of events – in this case the events of the Israelites
Ezra – the man who led the rebuilding of the temple
Nehemiah – the man who returned to Israel to rebuild the wall
Job – the man who remained true to God in spite of Satan’s attacks
Psalms – songs
Proverbs – short, thoughtful truths
Ecclesiastes – member of an assembly, the preacher
Song of Solomon – Solomon’s song
Isaiah – a prophet
Jeremiah – a prophet
Lamentations – Jeremiah’s sadness over the lack of belief (lament, lamenting)
Ezekiel – a prophet
Daniel – a prophet
Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi – all names of prophets
Matthew – one of Christ’s disciples
Mark – an early believer, one who want on later missionary journeys
Luke – a doctor, a friend of Paul’s, the only non-Jew chosen to write part of the New Testament
John – one of Christ’s disciples
Acts – the acts or what is happening
Romans – Paul’s letter to the believers at Rome
1 & 2 Corinthians – Paul’s letter to the believers in Corinth
Galatians – Paul’s letter to the believers in Galatia
Ephesians – Paul’s letter to the believes in Ephesus
Philippians – Paul’s letter to the believers in Philippi
Colossians – Paul’s letter to the believers in Colossae
I & 2 Thessalonians – Paul’s letters to the believers in Thessalonica
1 & 2 Timothy – Paul’s letters to Timothy
Titus – Paul’s letter to Titus
Philemon – Paul’s letter to Philemon
Hebrews – exhortation to the Hebrew (Jewish) people
James – a man active in the church
1 & 2 Peter – one of Christ’s disciples
1 & 2 & 3 John – one of Christ’s disciples
Jude – a man active
the among the believers
Revelation – Christ revealing the future to John