The Prophets Outlined and Introduced Now Available

Last month my third book was released, titled, The Prophets Outlined and Introduced: For Parents, Pastors, and Other Practitioners of God’s Word (available for purchase here: https://www.amazon.com/Prophets-Outlined-Introduced-Parents-Practitioners/dp/193495277X). Published by Kress Biblical Resources, and based on the Old Testament teaching outlines that many have come to know and love, the purpose of this book is to equip Christians to study and teach verse by verse through the Major and Minor Prophets. Hoping this becomes a “legacy” resource—one pulled off the shelf regularly over the years—it’s printed in hardcover form so as to retain its quality and shape. If you’re a parent, for example, my hope is that you would use this book to disciple your son, and then give it to him so he can do likewise with his son. For those more technologically-minded though, the book is also available in Kindle edition.

When it comes to the Major and Minor Prophets specifically, it seems that this section of the Bible is often seen as particularly obscure. I know that prophets like Ezekiel have the reputation of scaring away casual readers in the very first chapter! If that’s you, perhaps the idea of understanding it, let alone teaching it, seems insurmountably overwhelming. My hope is to change that. In taking a “forest and trees” approach, the book provides an introduction/overview of each Prophet (providing the “forest”) followed by an outline of every section of the Prophet (providing the “trees”). In my estimation, this provides the best of both worlds, helping the reader understand the background, purpose, and major themes of each of the Prophets, followed by a detailed—yet not complex—framework to walk through the entire book and see how it unfolds.

My thoughts for the project are summarized in the preface I wrote:

For those committed to verse-by-verse exposition, the road is long, but the time is short.

As it’s been well said, it takes a whole Bible to make a whole Christian. Thus, knowing and teaching the full counsel of God ought to be our life’s ambition. At the same time, the reality of our own mortality, in addition to the imminence of Christ’s return, means that any moment could be our last.

If you feel the weight of this predicament, these outlines and introductions have been prepared precisely for you. They’re intended to expedite your efforts to understand and communicate God’s Word in an accurate and efficient way.

In the course of my own study, I’ve found that some Bible outlines are more homiletical or devotional in nature, working well for deriving spiritual principles from the text. Unfortunately, they often utilize generic language that doesn’t help the reader grapple with the particulars of the passages. On the opposite end, there are outlines that are much more exegetical in nature, interacting with Scripture at a precise and granular level. Unfortunately, these tend to yield complicated, multi-layered outlines that lose connection with the overall theological developments of the book. The outlines and introductions provided here have been written to strike a balance between these.

First, the introductions are intended to help the reader understand each book of the Bible as a whole, following its progression, themes, and purpose. In each introductory narrative, my goals are as follows: touch on the historical context, explain the major movements, provide subtle hints for interpreting difficult passages, give direction for doctrines that can be derived from the text, explain redemptive elements particularly as they relate to Christ, and briefly connect the book to believers today for reflection and application.

Then, the outlines are intended to help the reader break down each section, not only to comprehend the material, but also to provide a structure for teaching others. The outlines have been intentionally kept at only two tiers for each section: a main heading and sub-headings. The main heading in each section gives the primary theme, and in some cases (especially with larger books) is written to show the way in which it is connected to other sections. The sub-headings are provided to show how the section is divided up into its supporting points. The simplicity of this format is intentional.

With that in mind, there’s no doubt that you’ll also need to consult other works, such as commentaries, lexicons, atlases, and other Bible resources, as you prepare to teach God’s Word. But with the help of these introductions and outlines, my hope is that you would quickly feel equipped and confident to carry out the task. The road is long, but the time is short.

As one who knows what it's like to sit in front of an open Bible, feeling as lost as the Ethiopian eunuch (cf. Acts 8:30-31), I never want anyone else to feel like that. With the right help, the Bible can be understood—I know because I’ve lived that reality. Of course, some passages are more difficult to understand than others. Even the Apostle Peter recognized that (cf. 2 Pet. 3:16). But difficult doesn’t mean impossible. Hard to understand doesn’t mean impossible to understand. And if we really believe that “all Scripture is… profitable” (2 Tim. 3:16), then we must conclude that all Scripture is knowable. In fact, we should strive to have thorough knowledge of Scripture. As John MacArthur said at the 2023 Shepherd’s Conference, “Do not announce your eschatology until you have mastered the book of Zechariah.” Our understanding of the Prophets plays a vital role in the accuracy of our theology. So, on the basis of the perspicuity (clarity) of Scripture, I want to help anyone that wants help.

Lastly, it’s been my honor and privilege to have endorsements for the book from the following men:

This book is the fruit of a devoted father’s labor to shepherd and disciple his family through a diligent study of the Scriptures. Useful to pastors, Bible students, and laypeople alike, The Prophets Outlined and Introduced helps get your arms around the prophets, aiding the student of Scripture in a big-picture survey of the rich pastures of an oft-overlooked portion of divine revelation.
Michael Riccardi, PhD, Assistant Professor of Theology, The Master’s Seminary

Bible teachers often labor long and hard to wrap their arms around the grand story of God’s revelation. This is not always an easy task. Thankfully, the Lord gives faithful teachers to the church (Eph. 4:11–12) to build her up in wisdom and understanding. Josh Niemi’s helpful guide to the Old Testament Prophets is well-researched, clearly-written, and aptly-outlined. Parents, pastors, and Bible teachers will benefit from this valuable resource.
Nate Pickowicz, teaching pastor, Harvest Bible Church, Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire; author of How to Eat Your Bible

With so little literature on the Prophets in print, and even less that is written in an accessible format, Josh’s book fills a massive gap. The outlines in this volume have done the hardest work for any Bible teacher and help them to see the glorious overarching theme of every book and chapter of the Prophets. I'm confident this will be a useful resource for generations of pastors and Bible teachers for years to come.
Peter Sammons, PhD, author of Reprobation and God’s Sovereignty; Assistant Faculty in Theology, The Master’s Seminary

Of course, I’m incredibly thankful not only for their endorsement, but even more for their friendship. To be honest, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to reciprocate their level of kindness.

Lord willing, this will be the first volume of many, ultimately equipping believers to study and teach through the entire Old Testament. Pray for me. The road is long, but the time is short.