One Year Bible Companion

January 1
One Year Bible Readings:
Genesis 1:1-2:25
Matthew 1:1-2:12
Psalm 1:1-6
Proverbs 1:1-6

Supplemental Reading For The One Year Bible

The following are excerpts from Mike’s One Year Bible Blog

Old Testament
Happy New Year! Welcome to the beginning of our One Year Bible journey in 2024! Today we begin with the book of Genesis!
Genesis
Author: Moses
Date: 1420 or 1220 B.C.
Content: The book of Genesis was written to explain how everything began; in fact, the very title Genesis means “origin” or “beginning”. It explains that God created the universe, how man was created and placed in a perfect environment, how sin began, and how God provided salvation for lost man. The beginning of human history is described, the beginning of arts and crafts, how human languages began, and where the various nations came from. The focus then shifts to the beginning of the Hebrew people with Abraham, followed by the histories of Isaac, Jacob and his sons, and the book ends with Joseph in Egypt.
Theme: The main idea that runs through the book is that although God made everything good, man’s sin has spoiled it. God has not given up, but is now in search of man to save him. The overall control of God is stressed, and special attention is given to how God directs history for the good of his people and their salvation.
(Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 1)

New Testament 
Today we begin the gospel of Matthew!
Matthew
Author: Matthew
Place: Perhaps Antioch
Date: A.D. 60-70
Content: Matthew was a tax collector, called by Jesus to follow him early in his public ministry; hence, he was an eyewitness of most of the events he describes. He begins with a detailed account of Jesus’ birth of the virgin Mary, his baptism, and temptation in the wilderness. Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God, entrance into which meant eternal life. One entered by repentance and faith. Matthew blocks the teaching of Jesus together into five discourses in which may be seen the ethics, the proclamation, the parables, the fellowship, and the consummation of the kingdom. Jesus’ death and resurrection end the Gospel with the command to go into all the world with the good news (gospel) of Jesus Christ.
Theme: Matthew’s main purpose in writing his Gospel is to show that Jesus fulfills the promise of God in the Old Testament. For this reason Jesus is introduced as a “descendant of King David and of Abraham,” and Matthew makes use of numerous Old Testament prophecies and quotations to explain Jesus’ life. Jesus came to be the Savior of the Jews, the Gentiles, and ultimately the world. The ethics required by members of God’s kingdom are found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7) where the world’s values are rejected and the Kingdom of God and his righteousness become supreme.
(Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion”p. 21)

PSALMS
Overview of the Psalms: 
Author: Principally David; also many others
Date: Tenth century B.C. and later
Content: This favorite book of today was also a favorite in antiquity. In it may be seen the many different ways in which believers over several centuries related to God. Every human mood and feeling may be brought to God for him to bless. There are sorrow and joy, anger and calm, doubt and faith, repentance and praise. There are recollections of the past, the struggles of present existence, and visions of a glorious future. In numerous places, God’s Messiah, Jesus Christ, is portrayed in his suffering and in his glory. The book of Psalms was used in much the same way as a hymnbook is used today, for public and private worship.
Theme: The book of Psalms teaches principally that God has a personal concern for his people and that he wants us to come to him just as we are. We need not solve our problems before we go to him; we go to him for the solutions. Wherever we are, however we feel, whatever we have done – if we offer ourselves to God, he is willing to help and give us the strength to live again. God’s power and control of all things is also seen. Because God is in control of everything, he can help us when we turn to him for deliverance.
(Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers "The One Year Bible Companion" p. 10)

PROVERBS
Overview of Proverbs: Author: Principally Solomon; also many others
Date: Tenth century B.C. and later
Content: The book of Proverbs contains practical instructions for successful living, given by God to supplement the teaching of the prophets, which was to call men to repentance, and the work of the priests, which was to direct the worship of the people. The book of Proverbs teaches that there is a divine wisdom given to man by God, but there is also a divinely given human wisdom, or common sense, and both must play a part in daily life. Practical sayings from many centuries are collected together in this book; it deals with such diverse matters as the discipline of children, social justice, foolish talk, and money. It ends significantly with a description of a truly good wife.
Theme: The theme of Proverbs is stated in 1:7 – The first step to wisdom is to trust and revere the Lord. This is to say that only when a man trusts in God will he be truly wise. Human wisdom is fine and necessary but no matter how skilled we might be, without humility in the presence of God and a willingness to learn from him, we will inevitably go astray. The book also teaches the sanctity of human life. Everything that pertains to successful living is a concern to God and he has made provision for it.
(Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers "The One Year Bible Companion" pp. 10-11)