The Message (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit

Write a ridiculously simplified synopsis.

Characters/People edit see section history

• David: As a boy, successfully fought Goliath. Later became King of Israel. Writer of many of the Psalms.
• Judah: The fourth son of Jacob and Leah.
• Saul: King of Israel just before David in Old Testament. Given name of Paul before his Damascus Road conversion in the New Testament.
• Paul: Apostle of Jesus. Undertook many missionary journeys. Wrote many letters (epistles).
• Jacob: One of a set of twins. Name means Heel; named because he came out grasping his twin brother's heel. Wrestled with God. God gave him the new name Israel.
• Solomon: David's son, King of Israel, Asked God for wisdom.
• Joseph: 1. Old Testament: Beloved son sold into slavery by his brothers. 2. New Testament: Mary's betrothed.
• Aaron: Moses's brother.
• Joshua: One of the Israelites. Sent into the promised land as a spy. One of only two who trusted God's word and felt the Israelites should proceed into the promised land despite the obstacles.
• John: 1. John the Baptist was a cousin of Jesus and preceded him in ministry. 2. One of Jesus's disciples 3. Writer of one of the Gospels.
• Ephraim: Son of the O.T. Joseph
• Peter: One of Jesus's disciples. Writer of 2 letters (epistles). Denied Jesus 3 times.
• Samuel: Follower of God.
• Jeremiah: Prophet of God.
• Hezekiah: Great and sad story story at the same time. Great start - poor finish. Pinnacle moments in the king's life showing God's greatness. But his life ends short of the goal. It's ending well that counts the most.
• Manasseh: One of the 12 tribes of Israel/O.T. Joseph's son.
• Jonathan: Saul's son and David's best friend.
• Isaac: Abraham and Sarah's son. Almost sacrificed by his father.
• Abraham: Born Abram and given the name Abraham by God. Father of the Israelites. Left his home in response to God's command.
• Aram: Add a description of this character.
• Daniel: Lived in a foreign country and worshiped God despite laws to the contrary. Survived the lion's den and the fiery furnace.
• God: Maker and commander of the universe
• Eleazar
• Benjamin: Youngest son of Jacob--younger than Joseph.
• Pharaoh: Ruler of Egypt.
• Elijah: Prophet of God--caught up by a fiery chariot.
• Levi: Priestly tribe of Israelites
• Abner
• Abram: Abraham's birth name.
• Azariah
• Mordecai: Esther's uncle.
• Rachel: One of Jacob's wives. The more beloved wife. Barren for many years.
• Josiah
• Simon: 1. Simon Peter (called Peter) 2. Simon the Cyrene-carried the cross during Jesus's crucifixion 2. Simon-Jesus's apostle.
• Jesse: Ancestor of Jesus.
• Haman: Opposed the Jews during Esther's time.
• Midian
• Korah
• Mary: 1. Virgin mother of Jesus 2. Sister of Martha 3. Mary Magdalene-friend of Jesus
• Ishmael: Son of Abraham by his wife's Egyptian maid Hagar.
• James: Apostle of Jesus. Wrote a book of the Bible.
• Sarah: Born Sarai--given the name Sarah by God. Wife of Abram/Abraham.
• Isaiah: Prophet of God.
• Joab
• Reuben: Leah's firstborn son/One of the 12 tribes of Israel.
• Abimelech
• Simeon: Leah's son/One of the 12 tribes of Israel.
• Issachar: Leah and Jacob's son/one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
• Boaz: Kinsman redeemer of Ruth
• Pilate: Official during the time of Jesus's trial.
• Esther: Beautiful Jewish girl chosen to be queen. Has to reveal her Jewishness to save her people.
• Asher
• Jesus: One-third of a thrice holy god. Son of God. Son of Mary. Step-son of Joseph. Miracle maker. Our risen Lord.
• Moses: Pharoah's adoptive son. Murderer of Egyptian. Lead the Jews out of Egypt and slavery into freedom and a land of milk and honey.
• Noah: In his time he was the only man who God felt worthy of saving from the flood. He and his family built the ark, gathered animals; and when the first rainfall came, they were high and dry and safe.
• Adam: First man formed by God.
• Eve: Formed by God from Adam's rib, named woman by Adam. Listened to the serpent and ate fruit from a forbidden tree.
• Serpent: Deceiver--asked leading questions of Eve in the Garden of Eden and informed her that the fruit of the forbidden tree would make her like God so that she would eat of it.
• Cain: Son of Adam and Eve--murdered his brother.
• Abel: Son of Adam and Ever, murdered by his brother.
• Seth: Son of Adam and Eve--born after Abel's death.
• Esau: Jacob's twin brother--the firstborn, very hairy. Traded his birthright for stew. Liked the outdoors.
• Miriam: Sister of Moses and Aaron.
• Balaam: Called upon to curse the Israelites, had a donkey who spoke to him, spoke what God commanded.

Quotes edit see section history

• “Romans 10:17 - "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God."”

• Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers

• God doesn’t work impersonally from space; he works with us where we are, as he finds us.

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• We read in order to live our true selves, not just get information that we can use to raise our standard of living.

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• If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me.

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• Genesis is Conception.

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• “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?

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• Exodus is Birth and Infancy.

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• Numbers is Adolescence.

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• Deuteronomy is Adulthood.

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• “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

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• Leviticus is Schooling.

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Jerusalem: City where God chose to settle his presence and have a temple built.
• Egypt: Joseph (O.T.) was an official in Egypt during the Famine.
• Babylon
• Jordan River: Where Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist. The Jordan is also mentioned as being crossed several times in the Old Testament.
• Moab: Land of Ruth; Naomi and her family sojourned there during a famine.
• Assyria
• Altar: Stones or other edifice built as a remembrance of God and used to worship.
• Samaria: Area of land that lay directly between a prominent city and Jerusalem. Jews would go out of their way to go around this area on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus chose to take the direct route to Jerusalem and encountered a Samaritan woman at the well. A male Samaritan is the subject of the parable The Good Samaritan.
• Edom: Means Red; descendants of Esau.
• Temple: Where God dwells and His people go to worship.
• Heaven: Where Christians believe God/Jesus reside and that good people who die go to be with God/Jesus.
• Hebron
• Jehu
• Bethel
• Canaan: One of the lands given over to the Israelites.
• Balaam
• Galilee
• Damascus
• Jericho: Walled City where Joshua fought a battle. He followed God's instructions and the walls of the city fell.
• Bethlehem: Where Joseph was born and had to return for a census. Where Jesus was born.
• Lebanon
• Mount Zion
• Bashan
• Judea
• Ramah
• Heshbon
• Beersheba: Named by Isaac.
• Gibeon
• Seir: Place in Edom where Esau was when Jacob returned from Laban's.
• Persia
• Sidon
• Ephesus: One of the cities where Paul established a church.
• Antioch
• Nineveh: Where Jonah was sent with a prophecy.
• Rome
• Gibeah
• Mizpah
• Gaza
• Macedonia
• Ashdod
• Eliab
• Goshen
• Garden of Eden: Where Adam and Eve lived before they ate of the forbidden tree

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Eugene H. Peterson (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 220.5208

Notes for Parents edit see section history

This is the full Bible, complete with stories of polygamy, incest, rape, adultery, Pharisees, crucifixion etc.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Religion & Spirituality › Christianity › Bibles › Translations › Message
• Books › Religion & Spirituality › Christianity › Bibles › Other
• Books › Religion & Spirituality › Bible & Other Sacred Texts

More Books Like This edit see section history