Scripture and Tradition Bible Studies

The Prophet Jonah is a well known character of the Old Testament. The story of Jonah and the whale is famous! Yet, few realize how troubled a man of God he really is. Rather than jumping to obey God's commands, he runs...

Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament at only 21 verses, but it packs a punch. Obadiah is a "non-standard" prophet because he preaches his oracle against Edom, rather than Israel and Judah. Nevertheless, he...

The second half of Amos continues the oracles of Judgement against Israel in the form of three "woes" and five visions. However, the book ends on a beautiful, positive prophecy of restoration for Israel and all nations...

The Prophet Amos begins his message against the Northern Kingdom with an ominous warning, "The Lord roars from Zion" (1:2). This image of God as a lion is found throughout the book, both in a threatening manner against...

While the first half of Joel is pretty heavy and bleak in its focus on a future punishment by an invading army, the second half of Joel is much more encouraging in its focus on the salvation and restoration of God's...

Joel is a short, but very powerful book. His main message is "repent, for the day of the Lord is at hand." In this lesson we'll give an introduction to the book overall, then dive into meaning  and imagery he uses...

This lesson concludes the Book of Hosea with some of the most beautiful language of God's love for his people. Israel was called God's bride in earlier chapters, but now Israel is called God's son, and such paternal...

Because Israel repeatedly broke their covenantal relationship with God over the centuries, God now brings forth a covenantal lawsuit (Heb: riv/b) against them. They rejected God, so he will reject them. They "played the...

Hosea is the first of the 12 Minor Prophets and it will not be easy to forget him or his message. God told him to preach against the Northern Kingdom of Israel not only in verbal oracles, but also to symbolize that...

  Who are the prophets and what is prophecy? What is their role and function in the Old Testament and how does that apply in the New Testament? This first lesson lays the foundation for this exciting and relevant...

The Book of Nehemiah forms the next iteration of the faithful remnant of Jews who return to rebuild their Jewish identity during the Babylonian Captivity. The third wave of exiles are led by Nehemiah, an incredibly...

The Book of Ezra covers the history of the first two waves of exiles that returned from captivity. King Cyrus, the Lord's "anointed one" proclaimed an edict that all the Jews who wished to do so could return home and...

Our first lesson lays the essential groundwork for situating Ezra-Nehemiah in the historical context of Salvation History. In a phrase, the New Exodus promised by God through his prophets has begun! Enjoy this sample...

In this final lesson of our journey through 1-2 Chronicles we see incredible signs of hope in the reforms of Hezekiah and Josiah. However, the people are deeply  prone to evil so these royal reforms come to nothing...

Royal infidelities continue in the period from Jehoram to Ahaz. This era is probably  one of the most frightening  in the history of the divided kingdom as the line of David is nearly snuffed out due...