TL;DR:
The Bible is a unique collection of sixty-six writings or "books." Together, they tell a single, continuous story about God’s relationship with humanity. Although the Bible contains many kinds of literature—history, poetry, prophecy, and letters—its storyline centers on creation, the fall, redemption, and restoration. Learning to summarize the Bible's overall storyline in a single page can help you see its overarching themes, retain key events, explain it more clearly to others, and apply its teachings more effectively.
God made
Adam bit
Noah arked
Abraham split
Jacob fooled
Joseph ruled
Bush talked
Pharaoh plagued
Sea divided
Tablets guided
Promise landed
Judges led
Saul freaked
David peeked
Kingdom divided
Prophets warned
People exiled
Hope rose
Jesus born
God walked
Anger crucified
Love rose
Spirit flamed
Word spread
God remained.
Revised from the original by Dana Livesay, Wanganui, New Zealand. Source:
The “Top of the Morning” Book of Incredibly Short Stories, compiled by Brian Edwards.
Auckland, New Zealand: Tandem Press.
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"Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you. . . ." — Deuteronomy 32:46
"Because the Bible grapples with the basic questions man has always asked himself, it has fascinated him for 2,000 years and more. This is why it is one of the most influential and widely read books in human history. The Bible—which is actually a collection of sixty-six documents called "books" —tells of the rise and fall of ancient nations and the clash of armies. It tells about kings and plain people, heroes and villains. It contains history and theology, poetry and songs, philosophy and letters. It contains strange dreams and visions, wise sayings, and some seemingly dull collections of court records, family trees, and religious rules. It contains some of the greatest literature man has produced. All of it is directed to the relationship between man and God."
— A Reader's Guide to the Holy Bible © 1972, Thomas Nelson
"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds. . . ." — Deuteronomy 11:18
People sometimes ask, "How many stories are there in the Bible?" There are many individual stories, but there is also one overarching story. Each biblical document contributes to that continuous narrative.
This is not a "perfect" summary, and it covers only through the Gospels. Written by a student, it illustrates what is expected on examinations in Introduction to Biblical Literature.
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and all that were in them, and He saw that it was good. A demonic serpent deceived Eve in what we call the fall of the human race. Afterward, God promised to send a Redeemer, saying that although the serpent would strike the descendant's heel, the descendant would crush the serpent's head. Many years later, God called Abraham in a giant step toward fulfilling that promise. Centuries later, Abraham's descendants became enslaved in Egypt. God heard their cries and called Moses to lead His people in the Exodus from Egypt. Then Joshua led the people in a conquest of Canaan. This was followed by the period of the judges, when everyone did what was right in their own eyes.
"Eventually, the Israelite people asked Samuel to give them a king. With God's permission, Samuel anointed Saul king. Several years later, Israel's third king, Solomon, built a temple for God. Then, under the reign of Rehoboam, the kingdom was divided, with Jeroboam ruling in the North and Rehoboam in the South. The two kingdoms existed side by side for more than a hundred years. Then, the Northern Kingdom fell to the Assyrians. More than a century later, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded the Southern Kingdom and burned the temple. He then forced God's people into exile in Babylon. After decades in exile, some of the people returned to their land and rebuilt Jerusalem.
"Many, many years later, God sent His Son, the Redeemer, to earth. Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. He was crucified when He was around 33 years of age, after teaching, healing, and serving people. However, on the third day, He rose from the grave, thus fulfilling God's promise of a Redeemer."
— S.T., a student in Introduction to Biblical Literature at Southern Nazarene University
My list of events for composing a one-page "story of the Bible"
— Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu
Brief overviews of the books of the Bible:
Being able to summarize the Bible's storyline briefly can benefit you in the following six ways:
The Bible opens with God creating the heavens, the earth, and all living things. This creative work culminated in the creation of Adam and Eve, who were made in God's image. They initially lived in fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden. However, tempted by Satan, they disobeyed God. By eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they brought sin into the world, separating humanity from God.
God chose Abraham to become the ancestor of a great nation through which He promised to bless all nations. Abraham's descendants—Isaac, Jacob, and his twelve sons—formed the foundation of Israel. The Israelites eventually settled in Egypt, where they became enslaved.
God raised up Moses to deliver Israel from slavery in Egypt. After the Exodus, God gave Moses the Law, including the Ten Commandments, to guide Israel in its covenant relationship with Him. Despite this, the Israelites repeatedly struggled to remain faithful to God.
After Moses' death, Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land. The period of the Judges followed and was marked by cycles of sin, oppression, and deliverance. Israel eventually demanded a king. This led to the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon. David established Jerusalem as the capital, and God promised that David's royal line would endure.
After Solomon's death, Israel split into two kingdoms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Despite the warnings of the prophets, both kingdoms fell into injustice and idolatry. Assyria conquered Israel, and Babylon later conquered Judah and carried many of its people into exile. The prophets, however, spoke of a future restoration and a Messiah who would establish God's kingdom.
After seventy years, a remnant of Judah returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and restore the city. Despite physical restoration, the people still awaited the fulfillment of God's promises.
The New Testament narrative begins with the birth of Jesus, the promised Messiah who was fully God and fully man. Jesus preached the kingdom of God, performed miracles, and taught repentance, justice, and love. He was crucified and died as a sacrifice for humanity's sins, but He rose from the dead, conquering sin and death. His resurrection opened the way for reconciliation between God and humanity.
After His resurrection, Jesus commissioned His disciples to spread the gospel to all nations. The Holy Spirit empowered the early church to grow rapidly despite persecution. Paul and other apostles spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. The New Testament letters address doctrinal issues and instruct believers. The New Testament also affirms that Jesus will return and that God will bring about a new heaven and a new earth. Revelation, the final book, describes the ultimate victory of God over evil, the final judgment, and the eternal reign of Christ with His people.
