The English Bible (The Purpose of the 66 Books): Ordination Exam Study Guide for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church

Following is material I used in preparing for ordination exams in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. 

Click the Label at the bottom of this post to see all EPC Ordination Exam Study Guides.

GENESIS:

TO TEACH ISR GOD’S DESIGN FOR THEM AS A NATION THRU THE            BACKGROUND OF EARLY WORLD HISTORY AND LIVES OF PATRIARCHS

• 11 - BABEL
• 12 - ABRAHAM “I WILL BLESS THOSE THAT BLESS..CURSE THOSE ATHAT CURSE..IN YOU ALL FAMILIES OF EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED
• 15 - BELIEVED IN LORD AND HE RECKONED IT AS RIGHTEOUSNESS..
• 19 - SODOM
• 21  - COV ABRAHAM
• 22 - THE LORD WILL PROVIDE – ISAAC
• 31 - MIZPAH – JACOB AND LABAN
• 50 - AS FOR YOU, YOU MEANT IT FOR EVIL, BUT GOD MEANT FOR GOOD

• PREPATRIARCHAL 1-11
• PATRIARCHAL 12-50

• PRIMEVAL
• CREATION 1-2
• FALL 3-5
• FLOOD 6-9
• BABEL 10-11
• PATRIARCHAL
• ABRAHAM 12-20
• ISAAC 21-26
• JACOB 27-37
• JOSEPH 37-50

EXODUS:

TO AFFIRM DIVINE AUTHORIY OF MOSES’ LEADERSHIP AND OF COVNT LAW AND WORSHIP REGULATIONS

• 3 - I AM WHO I AM
• 7-11 PLAGUES
• 12 – PASSOVER
• 13-14 – EXODUS
• 20 – TEN COMMANDMENTS

 LEVITICUS:

TO GUIDE ISR IN HOLINESS SO THEY WOULD BE SET APART FROM THE WORLD AND RECEIVE BLESSINGS INSTEAD OF JUDGMENT WHILE LIVING NEAR HOLY PRESENCE OF GOD – TO CALL 2^ND GEN OR ISR TO ARMS AS HOLY ARMY

• 11:45  - BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY

DEUT.:

TO GUIDE THE NATION IN COV RENEWAL UNDER JOSHUA

• SUZERAIN, VASSAL = PREAMBLE, HIST PROL, STIPUL, RATIFICATION, SUCCESSION

JOSHUA:

HOW TO LIVE IN THE LAND

JUDGES:

APOLOGETIC FOR ISR’S MONARCHY

SAMUEL

           HOPE IN DAVIDIC LINE IN SPITE OF HIS FAILURES

KINGS

           ISR DESERVED EXILE BUT RESTORATION POSSIBLE THRU REPENTANCE

CHRON

           TO DIRECT RESTORATION OF ISR DURING POST-EXILIC PERIOD

EZ-NEH

           TO DEFEND EZ-NEH PROGRAM AND ITS CONTINUATION

RUTH

DEFEND LEGITIMACY OF DAVID’S KINGSHIP DESPITE MOABITE ANCESTRY

ESTHER

A MODEL FOR LIVING IN FIDELITY TO GOD OUTSIDE THE LAND (IN PERSIA)

JOB

           TO EXPLORE THE LIMITS OF PROVERBIAL WISDOM IN THE CASE OF            INDIVIDUAL SUFFERING

PSALMS

           TO PROVIDE ISR SONGS FOR WORSHIP IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS

PROV

           A RESOURCE FOR TEACING WISDOM TO YOUNG, ROYAL FAMILY, ALL ISR

ECCL

           LIFE VIEWED FROM HUMAN PERSPECTIVE LEADS TO PESSIMISM AND            HOPE THRU FAITH IN GOD

SONG OF SONGS

TO CELEBRATE BLESSING OF ROMANTIC LOVE BT HUSBANDS AND WIVES

ISAIAH

           TO ENCOURAGE CONTEMPORARIES’ LOYALTY TO GOD AND FUTURE            READERS TO BRING REMNANT OF ISR AND OTHER NATIONS BLESSING  AFTER EXILE

JER

           TO REMIND EXILES OF REASONS FOR TRIALS AND ASSURE THEM THAT            REPENTANCE WILL LEAD TO REUTRN TO THE LAND AND BLESSINGS

LAM   

           TO EXPRESS AND GUIDE OTHERS IN EXPRESSING SADNESS OVER BAD            CONDITIONS IN JERUS AND TOWARD GOD’S PEOPLE BY BABYLONIANS

EZEKIEL

           TO ENCOURAGE EXILES TO FAITHFULNESS SO GOD WOULD RESTORE            THEM TO LAND AND REBUILD TEMPLE AND JERUS TO GREATER GLORY

DANIEL

TO ASSURE EXILES AND EARLY RETURNEES GOD IS IN CONTROL OF HISOTRY AND TRUTH OF DANIEL ABOUT PROLONGED TROUBLES BEFORE FINAL STAGE OF GOD’S KINGDOM

HOSEA

           TO EXPLAIN TURMOIL OF JUDAH WAS GOD’S JUST JGMET LEADING TO            EXILE AND ASSURE OF RESTORATION AFTER

JOEL

           TO CALL GOD’S PEOPLE TO REPENTANCE AND TO ESCAPE JGMET AND            ENJOY BLESSINGS OF COMING DAY OF THE LORD

AMOS

           TO REVEAL SEVERITY OF JGMET FOR COV INFIDELITY AND DECLARE            HOPE OF RESTORATION AFTER EXILE

JONAH

           TO ENCOURAGE ISRAELITES TO EMBRACE GOD’S CALL TO EXTEND            MERCY TO THE NATIONS

MICAH

TO CALL JUDAH TO REPENTANCE AND HOPE DURING ASSYRIAN CRISIS AND PREPARE THEM FOR BABYLONAN EXILE LEADING TO JUGMETN AND RESTORATION

NAHUM

TO COMFORT JUDAH BY ANNOUNCING FUTURE JGMNT AGAINST NINEVAH

HABAKKUK

TO GUIDE ISR TO FAITH IN GOD DURING BABYL CONQUEST AND EXILE BY DISPLAYING HIS PERSONAL STRUGGLE AND RESOLUTION

ZEPHANIAH

           TO CALL PEOPLE OF JERUS AND JUDAH TO REPENTANCE IN FACE OF            BABYL EXILE AND HOPE OF RESTORATION AFTERWARDS

HAGGAI

TO ENCOURAGE RECONSTRUCTION OF TEMPE AND BRING BLESSINGS TO ISR AFTER EXILE

ZECHARIAH

           TO ENCOURAGE BELIEF IN TRIALS AND GREAT BLESSINGS WHEN     KINGDOM COMES IN FULNESS

MALACHI:    

           TO CALL DISCOURAGED PEOPLE IN PROMISED LAND AFTER EXILE TO            RENEWED FAITH BY ANNOUNCING COMING JUGMETN OF MESSIAH

MATTHEW:  

TO INSPIRE SERVICE AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD BY PRESENTING JESUS AS LONG-AWAITED KING AND KINGDOM AS FULFILLED PLAN OF REDEMPTION

MARK:

           TO PRESENT GOOD NEWS TO GENTILES W/ FACTS OF LIFE, DEATH, RES

LUKE:

           TO PRESENT ORDERLY ACCT OF J’S MINISTRY AND IMPORTANCE IN            SALVATION HISTORY TO PREACH TO THE NATIONS

JOHN:          

           TO PRESENT JESUS SO UNBELIEVERS WILL COME TO FAITH AND            BELIEVERS GROW IN FAITH IN MESSIAH, SON OF GOD

ACTS:

           TO GUIDE CHURCH BY SHOWING HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERED            APOSTLES TO SPREAD GOSPEL TO GENTILES

ROMANS:

TO PRESENT GOSPEL TO BELIEVERS IN ROME AND EXPLAIN HOW IT HEALS DIVISIONS BT JEWISH AND GENTILE BELIEVERS

1COR:

           TO COUNTER DEFIANCE, DIVISIONS AND LOVELESSNESS COMING FROM            PRIDE AND SELF-IMPORTANCE

2COR:

TO EXPRESSS AFFECTION AND GRATITUDE FOR PAST REPENTANCE AND ENCOURAGE LOYALTY TO PAUL AS APOSTLE OF X

GALATIANS:

TO HELP BELIEVERS RESIST FALSE TEACHERS WHO SAY THAT SALVATION            COMES TO THOSE WHO ADD HUMAN MERIT OF OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW TO FAITH IN X

EPHESIANS:

           TO TEACH THE WONDERFUL AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF BEING            THE CHURCH IN X

PHILIPPIANS:

           TO THANK THEM FOR SOLIDARITY W/ PAUL IN PRISON AND ENCOURAGE            THEM TO UNITY AND HUMBLE SERVICE TO ONE ANOTHER

COLOSSIANS:

TO AFFIRM SUFFICIENCY OF AND SUPREMECY OF X AGAINST ALL OTHER POWERS AND ATTEMPTS TO GAIN SALVATION

1THESS:

           TO ASSURE OF PAUL’S LOVE AND IMPORTANCE OF LIVING FOR X AND            RAMIFICATIONS OF HIS RETURN

2THESS:

           TO CONTINUE RE RETURNS OF X AND RESPONSIBLE DAILY LIVING

1TIM:

           TO GUIDE TIM AGAINST FALSE TEACHERS IN EPH

2TIM:

           SAME AS ABOVE AND TO CALL FOR TIM TO VISIT PAUL IN HIS LAST DAYS

TITUS:

TO ENCOURAGE TITUS TO COMPLETE ORGANIZATION OF CHURCHES ON CRETE, COUNTER FALSE TEACHERS AND INSTRUCT RE PROPER XIAN            CONDUCT

PHILEMON:

           TO OBTAIN FORGIVENESS FOR RUNAWAY ONESIMUS

HEBREWS:

           TO ENCOURAGE FIDELITY TO X AND THE NEW COVENANT BY SHOWING            THAT X IS THE NEW, FINAL AND SUPERIOR HIGH PRIEST

• X is superior to angels, moses, aaron, and ot priests
• The ot admitted temp character of its structures, so the new cov is not at all contrary to the old
• Turnig from x and back to outmoded forms of faith will lead to divine judgment
• People of the church must persevere to the end in faithfulness to x or they will suffer jgmet

JAMES:

           TO TEACH WISDOM FROM GOD FOR PERSEVERING THRU DIFFICULTIES            UNTIL THE RETURN OF X

1PETER:

           TO ENCOUAGE  PERSCUTED AND BEWILDERED XIANS TO STAND FAST            TOGETHER IN THEIR FAITH

2PETER: SAME

1JOHN:

           TO WARN AGAINST THE FALSE TEACHING THAT CHRIST HAD NOT            ACUTALLY COME IN THE FLESH AND TO ENCOURAGE A LIFESTYLE            APPROPRIATE FOR FOLLOWERS OF INCARNATE X

2JOHN:

           TO WARN AGAINST THE FALSE TEACHING THAT CHRIST HAD NOT            ACUTALLY COME IN THE FLESH AND TO  ENCOURAGE HOSPITALITY TOWARD PREACHERS OF TRUE GOSPEL

3JOHN:

           TO ENCOURAGE SERVICE TOWARD OTHERS, ESP TO HOSPITALITY TO            MINISTERS OF GOSPEL

JUDE:

           TO COMBAT FALSE TEACHING THAT XIAN LIBERTY AND SALVATION BY            GRACE GIVE BELIEVERS LICENSE TO SIN

REV:  

           TO ENCOURAGE FIDELITY TO X IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING BY            AFFIRMING THAT GOD RULES HISTORY AND WILL SURELY BRING IT TO A            GLORIOUS CONSUMMATION OF JUDMENT AND BLESSING IN X

Click the Label at the bottom of this post to see all EPC Ordination Exam Study Guides.