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Bible Study Toolbox: A Mental Filing Cabinet
Bible Study Toolbox
A Mental Filing Cabinet
Memory work is tough, but there’s great value in memorizing the Bible’s layout. It provides a mental filing system that keeps our Bible study in proper context. I recommend Bob Waldron’s 17 periods. If you’ll commit this to memory, you’ll be able to set all 66 books of the Bible within the context of the overall narrative.
- Before the Flood - Genesis 1-5
- The Flood - Genesis 6-9
- Scattering of the People - Genesis 10-11
- The Patriarchs - Genesis 12-50
- Note: Book of Job fits during this time period.
- The Exodus - Exodus-Numbers 13
- The Wilderness Wanderings - Numbers 14-Joshua 5
- Invasion and Conquest - Joshua 6-24
- Judges - Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel 1-9
- United Kingdom - 1 Samuel 10-1 Kings 11; (parallel: 1 Chronicles 10-2 Chronicles 9)
Other books at this time: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
- Divided Kingdom - 1 Kings 12-2 Kings 17; (parallel: 2 Chronicles 10-29)
Prophetic books: Isaiah, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah
11. Judah Alone - 2 Kings 18-25; 2 Chronicles 30-36
Prophetic books: Jeremiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Lamentations
12. Captivity - Daniel, Ezekiel (also prophetic)
13. Return from Captivity - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
14. Years of Silence - No Scripture
15. Life of Christ - Matthew through John
16. Early church - Acts
17. Letters to the Christians - Romans through Revelation
I know that’s a lot, but it’s worth it, and you’d be surprised how quickly you can memorize it. When you do, you’ll have a mental filing cabinet for the whole Bible! A tremendous gift! In the meantime, keep this somewhere so you can reference it easily and often.
