The Writers or Authors Of The Bible
First and foremost we must understand that it is God who wrote the His Word, meaning He is the one who inspired them to put pen to paper. And while many of the writers or authors of His Word told of their testimonies, many of them wrote exactly word for word what it was that God instructed them to write, in fact, the first five books were penned down by Moses, Genesis itself was written before his time.
So, while God did use forty men to write about Him, His Son, and the events that took place, mainly of Israel, and then the rest of the world as the New Testament unfolded, every one of the books were written as the Holy Spirit moved them.
The Old Testament
GENESIS
WRITER: Moses
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: To preserve the historical background of Israel and the record of creation, sin, redemption, and God’s first dealings with man.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLES: God’s plan from the beginning included all nations. God begins new things with people.
EXODUS
WRITER: Moses
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: To record the deliverance of Israel from slavery and document their purpose for existence as a nation.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Salvation comes only through the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus.
LEVITICUS
WRITER: Moses
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: To show Israel how to live as a holy nation in fellowship with God and prepare them to extend the redemptive plan of God to all nations.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: God requires holiness of His people.
NUMBERS
WRITER: Moses
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: Records experiences of the wilderness journey which are a type of the defeated Christian.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: God is not pleased with anything less than total commitment.
DEUTERONOMY
WRITER: Moses
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: To restate the law to the new generations of Israelites born since Mt. Sinai.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Obedience brings blessing. Disobedience brings judgment.
JOSHUA
WRITER: Joshua
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: Record the history of the conquest of Canaan.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: No moral or spiritual victories are won without battles.
JUDGES
WRITER: Samuel
TO WHOM: Israel.
PURPOSE: Historical record of the rule of the judges which occurred after the close of the book of Joshua.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: There is a divine pattern of chastisement designed to turn God’s people from sin to salvation.
RUTH
WRITER: Unknown
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: Written as part of the historical record of Israel to illustrate the concern of God for all people. It also illustrates the kinsman-redeemer relationship of Jesus Christ.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: God can turn bitterness to blessing.
I SAMUEL
WRITER: Samuel
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: Continued record of God’s dealing with His people.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Obedience to God is more important than sacrifice.
II SAMUEL
WRITER: Samuel
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: Continue the historical record of God’s dealing with His people.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: God carries out His plan through those obedient to Him in spite of their human frailties.
I KINGS
WRITER: Jeremiah
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: Continue the record of God’s dealings with His people, Israel.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Compromise may seem easy but it is always costly later.
II KINGS
WRITER: Jeremiah
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: Continue the record of God’s dealings with His people, Israel.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Kingdoms of this world are temporal: They rise and fall under God’s control.
I CHRONICLES
WRITER: Ezra
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: Record of the religious history of Judah.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: When God is exalted His people are blessed.
II CHRONICLES
WRITER: Ezra
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: Record of the religious history of Judah.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: God’s blessing comes through humbling ourselves and seeking Him.
EZRA
WRITER: Ezra
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: Records the return of Israel from exile and rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Return and restoration are basic principles of repentance.
NEHEMIAH
WRITER: Nehemiah
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: Continuation of the history of Israel. Record of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: There is no opportunity without opposition. Faith without works is dead.
ESTHER
WRITER: Unknown
TO WHOM: The Jews scattered throughout Persia.
PURPOSE: Continuation of history of Israel. Also to recount the providential care of God for His people.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: God meets the crises of life with human vessels which He has prepared.
JOB
WRITER: Unknown
TO WHOM: The book is not specifically addressed to anyone, but is applicable to all believers who experience suffering.
PURPOSE: This book wrestles with the question, “Why do the righteous suffer?”
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: There is a spiritual reason behind suffering of the righteous. Suffering is not necessarily evidence of God’s displeasure.
PSALMS
WRITER: All the Psalms were written by King David with the exception of the following:-Asaph: 50; 73-83 -Heman: 88 -Ethan: 89 -Solomon: 127 -Moses: 90 -Hezekiah: 120, 121,123,125, 126, 128-130, 132, 134 -Unknown: 1, 10, 33, 43, 66, 67, 71, 91-94, 96-100, 102, 104, 106, 107, 111- 119, 135, 136, 137, 146-150
TO WHOM: Israel, but the book has been used for devotion, prayer, and praise by believers down through the centuries.
PURPOSE: The book of Psalms was known as the hymn book of Israel. The word “Psalms” means “songs to the accompaniment of a stringed instrument.” It is the prayer and praise book of the Bible.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Prayer, praise, intercession, and confession are all part of true worship.
PROVERBS
WRITER: Solomon, the son of King David, wrote Proverbs 1-29, Agur wrote 30, 31.
TO WHOM: Israel, but the truths for practical living are applicable to all believers.
PURPOSE: The purposes of this book are given in Proverbs 1:1-6. Read them in your Bible. An introduction to Proverbs is given in Ecclesiastes 12:8-14.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Vertical wisdom is necessary for horizontal living. Proverbs is a collection of wise principles given by God to man (vertical) to govern living with others (horizontal).
ECCLESIASTES
WRITER: Solomon
TO WHOM: Israel and believers in general with a special emphasis towards youth.
PURPOSE: A description of the quest for life apart from God.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Life apart from God is futile.
SONG OF SOLOMON
WRITER: Solomon
TO WHOM: Israel and all believers
PURPOSE: To show the relationship between Jesus and the Church as demonstrated by the marriage relationship.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: The divine model of love between a man and his wife is the pattern for relationship between Christ and the Church.
ISAIAH
WRITER: Isaiah
TO WHOM: Judah
PURPOSE: Correction and reproof.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Rebellion leads to retribution. Repentance leads to restoration.
JEREMIAH
WRITER: Jeremiah
TO WHOM: Judah
PURPOSE: To warn of the coming judgment of captivity and call for repentance.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: National disasters and deterioration are often due to disobedience to God.
LAMENTATIONS
WRITER: Jeremiah
TO WHOM: Jews who were captive in Babylon
PURPOSE: To produce repentance necessary for spiritual restoration.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: God is faithful in both judgment and mercy.
EZEKIEL
AUTHOR: Ezekiel
TO WHOM: Judah
PURPOSE: Ezekiel warned of the coming captivity, then prophesied to the captives after it occurred.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: The Lord orders historical events so that the nations will know He is God.
DANIEL
WRITER: Daniel
TO WHOM: The Jewish captives
PURPOSE: To show how God rules the affairs of men.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: God is sovereign and He honors those who honor Him.
HOSEA
WRITER: Hosea
TO WHOM: Northern kingdom of Israel.
PURPOSE: To alert Israel to her sinful condition and bring her back to God.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Experience fosters understanding and compassion.
JOEL
WRITER: Joel
TO WHOM: Judah
PURPOSE: To warn Judah of their sin and need for repentance and inform of God’s future plans for the nation. A first judgment (1:2-2:17) precedes a greater judgment to follow (2:18-3:21).
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Even in the midst of corrective judgment, God plans future blessings for His people.
AMOS
WRITER: Amos
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: To call Israel back to God.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: The call to the nations is still “Prepare to meet thy God.”
OBADIAH
AUTHOR: Obadiah
TO WHOM: The nation of Edom.
PURPOSE: To warn of God’s punishment for sin.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: God brings down that which has been sinfully exalted.
JONAH
WRITER: Jonah
TO WHOM: The nation of Ninevah to warn of the consequences of disobedience to God.
PURPOSE: The purpose was not only to evangelize Ninevah, but to document for Israel that salvation was not for the Jews only.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Salvation is not restricted by race, culture, or other barriers: ” – Romans 10:13 Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
MICAH
WRITER: Micah
TO WHOM: Israel and Judah
PURPOSE: A call to repentance to avoid judgment.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: God judges the oppressors of His people.
NAHUM
WRITER: Nahum
TO WHOM: The city of Ninevah.
PURPOSE: To warn of judgment on Ninevah, capitol of the Assyrian empire which took God’s people into captivity.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Beware, God avenges evil.
HABAKKUK
WRITER: Habakkuk
TO WHOM: Judah
PURPOSE: Awaken Judah to their spiritual needs and warn of impending judgment from God.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: The just shall live by faith.
ZEPHANIAH
WRITER: Zephaniah
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: To warn Israel and all nations of the judgment of God.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: God is mighty to save.
HAGGAI
WRITER: Haggai
TO WHOM: Israel, after the exile; particularly the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem.
PURPOSE: To inspire Israel to new zeal for God and make the leaders aware of their responsibility to rebuild the temple of worship.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Building God’s Kingdom should be a priority of the true believer.
ZECHARIAH
WRITER: Zechariah
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: To inspire Israel to finish the temple.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: God controls the affairs of men and nations.
MALACHI
WRITER: Malachi
TO WHOM: Israel
PURPOSE: To call the nation to repentance and return to righteousness.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE:
Repentance (attitude) + Returning (action) = Restoration. Both attitude (repentance from sin) and action (returning to God) are necessary for forgiveness (restoration to righteousness before God).
The Writers of The New Testament
MATTHEW
WRITER: Matthew
TO WHOM: To all believers, although the first intended audience was the Jews to whom he presented Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of David.
PURPOSE: To present the ministry of Jesus, stressing His role as King of the Jews.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: The final command of Jesus to His followers was to go to all nations with the Gospel.
MARK
WRITER: Mark
TO WHOM: To all believers, although the first intended audience was the Romans to whom he presents Jesus as a servant.
PURPOSE: To present the ministry of Jesus, stressing His role as a servant and the Son of man.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: We should seek to minister rather than to be ministered to.
LUKE
WRITER: Luke
TO WHOM: All believers, although the first intended audience was the Greeks to whom he presented Jesus as the perfect man. He also addresses one specific believer, Theophilus.
PURPOSE: The purpose is to write an orderly account of the ministry of Jesus (Luke 1:1-4).
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Our mission is identical to that of Jesus: To reach the lost with the good news of the Gospel.
JOHN
WRITER: John
TO WHOM: All believers, to whom John portrays Jesus as the Son of God.
PURPOSE: To convince that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, and lead men to everlasting life.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, source of salvation and way to everlasting life.
ACTS
WRITER: Luke
TO WHOM: All believers, although the book is specifically addressed to Theophilus.
PURPOSE: The book concerns what Jesus continued to do and teach after His ascension through His spiritual Body, the Church (Acts 1:1-2).
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: The true evidence of the Holy Spirit is directed power: Power to become witnesses for the purpose of extending the Gospel throughout the world.
ROMANS
WRITER: Paul
TO WHOM: Believers in Rome.
PURPOSE: To present the meaning of the Gospel in relation to law, prophecy, and the universal need of man for justification by faith.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: The just shall live by faith.
I CORINTHIANS
WRITER: Paul
TO WHOM: Believers at Corinth
PURPOSE: Paul deals with problems which have been brought to his attention and questions which the Corinthian believers have asked.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Love is the greatest spiritual key to effective Christian life and ministry.
II CORINTHIANS
WRITER: Paul
TO WHOM: Believers at Corinth.
PURPOSE: To reestablish his apostolic authority was the major purpose, but it also deals with additional important issues. (See 8:10.)
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Human weakness provides opportunity for manifestation of the power of God.
GALATIANS
WRITER: Paul
TO WHOM: Believers at Galatia.
PURPOSE: To correct false teaching of Jewish legalism in the Church.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Jesus delivered us from law to liberty.
EPHESIANS
WRITER: Paul
TO WHOM: The church at Ephesus.
PURPOSE: To inform believers of their wealth in Christ and instruct concerning their walk in Christ.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Believers are heirs to both the blessings (the wealth) and the responsibilities (the walk) of their calling in Christ.
PHILIPPIANS
WRITER: Paul
TO WHOM: The Church at Philippi
PURPOSE: To present an appeal for Christian unity.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Unity in Jesus brings joy.
COLOSSIANS
WRITER: Paul
TO WHOM: Believers at Colosse who were to share the letter
with the believers at Laodecea.
PURPOSE: To deal with doctrinal issues in the church.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLES: Christ is all and is in all.
I THESSALONIANS
WRITER: Paul
TO WHOM: Believers at Thessalonica
PURPOSE: To confirm that the Lord is coming back: To commend and exhort for the faith and correct false doctrine. Paul also answers false charges against his ministry.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Comfort should focus on the glorious hope of the return of Jesus Christ.
II THESSALONIANS
WRITER: Paul
TO WHOM: Church at Thessalonica
PURPOSE: To instruct believers waiting for the return of the Lord.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Since there will be a great falling away before the day of the Lord, it is important to teach and live by sound doctrine.
I TIMOTHY
WRITER: Paul
TO WHOM: Timothy
PURPOSE: Paul wrote this letter to a co-laborer named Timothy who was ministering as an interim pastor in the church at Ephesus. The book concerns some of the problems and needs which existed in this church.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: We should live a life exemplary of the ministry to which we have been called.
II TIMOTHY
WRITER: Paul
TO WHOM: Timothy
PURPOSE: Paul wrote this book from prison to challenge Timothy to assume responsibility for the ministry which the apostle was handing over due to his forthcoming death. Paul knew he would soon be executed for his faith.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: The divine pattern for multiplication of the Gospel message is “each one teach one to reach one.”
TITUS
WRITER: Paul
TO WHOM: Titus, a Greek convert and fellow worker with Paul.
PURPOSE: To correct problems and establish proper order in the churches located on the island of Crete.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Founding a good work is not enough. That work must be established and organized according to the principles of God’s Word.
PHILEMON
WRITER: Paul
TO WHOM: Philemon, a Christian who lived at Colosse
PURPOSE: To appeal for Onesimus, the runaway slave of Philemon who had become a believer. The book also serves as a practical example of Christian principles applied to social relationships. It also illustrates the principle of forgiveness, and the ministry of intercession.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Christian principles must be applied to social relationships.
HEBREWS
WRITER: Paul
TO WHOM: Jewish (Hebrew) believers
PURPOSE: To present Jesus Christ as superior over all.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant established on better promises.
JAMES
WRITER: James, an earthly brother of Jesus from Joseph and Mary
TO WHOM: Believers among the twelve tribes of Israel
PURPOSE: To comfort believers undergoing trials for their faith.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Faith is the foundation of works.
I PETER
WRITER: Peter
TO WHOM: Exiles being persecuted for their Christian faith
PURPOSE: To warn of the danger of persecution from those outside of the Church.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Response to persecution should be based on Scriptural principles.
II PETER
WRITER: Peter
TO WHOM: Christian exiles, probably the same group listed in I Peter.
PURPOSE: To warn of danger from within: Apostasy and false teaching.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: The greatest two dangers from within the church are apostasy and false teachers.
I JOHN
WRITER: John
TO WHOM: Christians who were falling into Satanic deception which was breaking their fellowship with God and other believers.
PURPOSE: To explain the standards of true fellowship in Jesus Christ.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: True fellowship with God and fellow believers is based on the standards of God’s Word and maintained by the principle of confession of sin.
II JOHN
WRITER: John
TO WHOM: The “elect lady and her children,” which means the Church and its members. (The Church is always addressed in the feminine gender because she is called the bride of Christ.)
PURPOSE: To admonish believers to be faithful to sound doctrine and to warn against false teachers.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: We must guard against false teachers who cause us to lose the spiritual qualities we have developed and who make us partakers of their evil.
III JOHN
WRITER: John
TO WHOM: The book is addressed to a man named Gaius. It is written to both him and the church with which he was connected. There is no way to identify who this man was, as the Bible gives no further information on him. The truths of the letter are applicable to all believers.
PURPOSE: To commend Gaius and Demetrius for their Christian testimony and to reprove the unchristian behavior of Diotrephes.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Our lives are examples of either good or evil to others around us.
JUDE
WRITER: Jude, an earthly brother of Jesus from Joseph and Mary.
TO WHOM: All Christians, although the specific audience at the time were members of churches in Palestine and/or Asia.
PURPOSE: To warn against false teachers
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: We must be alert for false teachers who creep in unawares and divert believers from the truth of God’s Word.
REVELATION
WRITER: John
TO WHOM: Seven churches in Asia and believers in general.
PURPOSE: To reveal God’s plan for the world.
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: In the end, good is always victorious over evil. God always accomplishes His established plan and purpose.