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The first of two letters to the church in Corinth, 1 Corinthians is an epistle written by the Apostle Paul due to reports of the sin and immorality present within its members. A frank discussion of Christian views on immorality, marriage and division within a community, this book is an essential guide to living a Christian lifestyle when surrounded by sin and temptation.

The Gospel of Luke was not written by one of Jesus' disciples but rather by a physician by the same name. Due to his profession, Luke has a distinctly human aspect to his writing, which contains greater details of the people whom Jesus interacted with, particularly the sinners. Jesus' entire life is depicted in these passages and portrays the Messiah not as an untouchable figure of greatness but as the more attainable and relatable Son of Man.

In this sequel to 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul responds to accusations that his apostleship is not justified and genuine. Paul writes of his own suffering and relationship with God and also condemns the false messengers of God for spreading division amongst the church. This book is an encouraging reminder that God allows affliction and suffering for a purpose and that his grace is always present during these times of difficulty.

The epistle of James was penned by the half brother of Jesus, who became a pillar of the church after Jesus' death. Written to a largely Jewish audience, James strongly urges the followers of Jesus to live a holy life and to ensure that their new faith is not in words only but is also manifested in good deeds.

The epistle of 2 John confronts the issue of false teachers infiltrating the Christian church and spreading doctrines that did not coincide with true Christian teachings. John urges the believers to stand by the truth and to love others while simultaneously being wary of whom they allowed into their homes and minds. 2 John is an important reminder to follow the words of Jesus as a guideline and not only the words of those claiming to speak for him.

Written at the end of the Apostle Paul's life as he was once again imprisoned by the Romans, 2 Timothy was addressed to the pastor by the same name who accompanied Paul on many of his missionary journeys. In these chapters, Paul gives Timothy instructions for the growing churches so that he might be prepared to succeed Paul as leader of the Christian faith. Along with these important directions, 2 Timothy contains encouraging thoughts about death and the rewards which come to faithful servants of God in the next life.

The shortest book in the New Testament, the book of 3 John is only one page long and was written by the Apostle John during his exile on Patmos. This epistle uses an example of a false teacher to illustrate the importance of staying faithful to Jesus and his sincere followers.

Only one chapter long, Philemon is an epistle written by Paul to exhort a slave owner to forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus. As a close friend of Philemon, Paul encourages him to no longer see Onesimus as a slave but as a fellow brother in Christ, whose forgiveness should be emulated by all his followers.

The book of 1 Peter is an epistle addressed to all the followers of Christ, particularly the Jewish ones, and urges them to use Jesus' life as a model for how to live their own. Peter explains that suffering and persecution often accompany the Christian faith, and the believers of Christ must endure these hardships and continue to live a righteous life, as Jesus himself did.

Written shortly after 1 Peter, 2 Peter addresses the Christian believers and condemns the teachings of false prophets who entwined other theologies into the Christian faith. 2 Peter teaches that in order not to be swayed by the insidiousness of the false doctrines, it is essential to study the word of God and to develop a close relationship with his Son, Jesus.

The epistle of Hebrews was written by an unknown author to a community of Jewish Christians living in Rome under heavy persecution. This book encourages the church to keep their faith in difficult circumstances and not to return to Judaism and the Mosaic Law. Hebrews extols Jesus as the Son of God and clearly emphasises that only through Jesus can Christians achieve salvation.

Titus is an epistle written by Paul to the man of the same name who was a respected leader of the church in Crete and a close friend of Paul. This book contains detailed directions on how to live a life that exhibits the grace of God and produces good deeds. Paul also gives instructions on the proper roles of each group in the church to further the stability and growth of the Christian faith....

Only one chapter long, the book of Jude is an epistle written by the half brother of Jesus, who became a Christian only after Jesus' crucifixion. This book uses examples from the Old Testament to show the importance of obeying God and following his teachings. Jude condemns the false teachers and urges the Christians to unite and strengthen each other's faith in order to withstand their deception.

The second book of Kings depicts Israel as a land divided, being ruled by wicked kings who lead the Israelite people only further into idolatry and sin. Throughout this period, the prophets, notably Elijah and Elisha, bring hope for repentance and reformation by performing astounding miracles and spreading the word of God. Their efforts to lead the Israelites from their stubborn and disobedient path are chronicled in 2 Kings, and once again God shows how he rewards obedience with blessings but rebellion with tragic consequences.

1 Thessalonians was written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Thessalonica to commend them for their faith and encourage them to continue to follow God faithfully. This book contains clear prophecies of the second coming of Christ and the rapture of the true believers to heaven. An encouraging epistle for all Christian believers, 1 Thessalonians is a reminder of the rewards that are to come at the end of this life for the servants of God.

Similar to many of the epistles, 1 John was written by the apostle who identifies himself in the title and encourages the Christian church to strengthen their faith in Jesus so that they might not be led astray by false teachers. This book also contains reassurances of the supremacy of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and urges all Christians to grow in their faith and love of him.

The book of 1 Timothy was written by the Apostle Paul to a young pastor by the same name, who was based in the church at Ephesus. Paul instructs him on the importance of not being led astray by false teachings and to keep his faith in God. This book contains clear directions on the organisation and structure of a church as well as practical advice on how to lead one.

Paul's letter to the Ephesians was written whilst he was imprisoned by the Romans, and it urges the need for a close relationship with God in the midst of persecution. Ephesians clearly states the imperative belief of salvation through the grace of God and not merely through good deeds or obedience to rules. Surrounded by worshippers of false gods, the church in Ephesus needed unity and strength in order to keep their new faith.

The book of Psalms is a collection of poetry and songs written by numerous authors throughout the Bible, from Moses to Solomon, although a large number were written by King David. The psalms are a mixture of praise, rejoicing and lamentation to God which convey deep emotions to the listener. Filled with lyrical beauty, well-known verses and illuminating content, this book is an essential companion for meditative worship on all occasions.

The first book of Kings recounts the lives of the kings of Israel and Judea over a period of 400 years after the death of King David. His son, Solomon, features heavily in these chapters, first to show God's generous blessings to a faithful king and later as an example of the consequences of turning away from God. This book also details the split of the northern and southern tribes of Israel and the subsequent appointment of the prophet Elijah to bring hope to the true followers of God and vengeance on those who had renounced him.