Inspired by the suggested reading lists found in the Bibles placed in hotel rooms by The Gideons, this is a single list of essential highlights from the Holy Bible, sorted by the order in which the books typically appear (especially the New Living Translation). Based on my own ongoing study of the Bible, I have added a few of my own suggestions and removed a few that came from The Gideons.
| Theme | Reference | Category |
|---|---|---|
| The Creation | Genesis 1–2 | Historical Highlights |
| The Fall of Man | Genesis 3 | Historical Highlights |
| The Flood of Noah | Genesis 6–9 | Historical Highlights |
| The Call of Abraham | Genesis 12:1–9 | Historical Highlights |
| Deliverance of Israel from Egypt | Exodus 11–14 | Historical Highlights |
| The Ten Commandments | Exodus 20:1–17 | Spiritual Standards |
| Atonement | Leviticus 16 | Dynamic Doctrines |
| Dedication of the Temple | 2 Chronicles 5–7 | Historical Highlights |
| The Babylonian Captivity of Israel | 2 Chronicles 36 | Historical Highlights |
| Revival of Israel after Captivity | Nehemiah 8–9 | Historical Highlights |
| Faith and Inexplicable Suffering | Job 1–3 Job 29–31 Job 42:7–17 |
Practical Precepts |
| Business and Professional Principles | Psalm 15 | Practical Precepts |
| The Twofold Revelation of God | Psalm 19 | Dynamic Doctrines |
| Promises of the Coming Messiah | Psalm 22 | Historical Highlights |
| Christ, the Good Shepherd | Psalm 23 | Dynamic Doctrines |
| Brevity of Man’s Days | Psalm 90 | Practical Precepts |
| Separation from Worldliness | Proverbs 3:1–12 | Practical Precepts |
| The Sin of Adultery | Proverbs 6:20–33 | Practical Precepts |
| A Model Wife and Mother | Proverbs 31:10–31 | Practical Precepts |
| Promises of the Coming Messiah | Isaiah 9:2–7 | Historical Highlights |
| God’s Greatness and Man’s Weakness | Isaiah 40 | Dynamic Doctrines |
| Promises of the Coming Messiah | Isaiah 53 | Historical Highlights |
| Consequences of Forgetting God | Hosea 4:1–11 | Practical Precepts |
| The Birth of Christ | Matthew 1:18–2:23 | Historical Highlights |
| The Sermon on the Mount | Matthew 5–7 | Spiritual Standards |
| Prevailing Prayer | Matthew 6:5–15 | Practical Precepts |
| Heavenly Priorities | Matthew 6:25–33 | Practical Precepts |
| The Golden Rule | Matthew 7:12 | Spiritual Standards |
| Marriage and Divorce | Matthew 19:3–9 | Practical Precepts |
| The Greatest Commandment | Matthew 22:36–40 | Spiritual Standards |
| The Garden of Gethsemane | Matthew 26:36–46 | Historical Highlights |
| The Betrayal of Jesus | Matthew 26:47–56 | Historical Highlights |
| Christian Witnessing | Matthew 28:18–20 | Practical Precepts |
| The Last Supper | Mark 14:12–26 | Historical Highlights |
| The Birth of Christ | Luke 1:26–2:40 | Historical Highlights |
| The Prodigal Son | Luke 15:11–32 | Practical Precepts |
| The Triumphal Entry | Luke 19:28–44 | Historical Highlights |
| The Death of Christ | Luke 23:26–56 | Historical Highlights |
| The Resurrection of Christ | Luke 24 | Historical Highlights |
| The Role of Christ | John 3:16 | Spiritual Standards? |
| Christ, the Good Shepherd | John 10:1–18 | Dynamic Doctrines |
| Christian Witnessing | John 17:18–20 | Practical Precepts |
| The Arrest and Trial of Jesus | John 18:12–19:16 | Historical Highlights |
| The Death of Christ | John 19:16–42 | Historical Highlights |
| The Resurrection of Christ | John 20 | Historical Highlights |
| The Ascension of Christ | Acts 1:1–12 | Historical Highlights |
| The Coming of the Holy Spirit | Acts 2:1–21 | Historical Highlights |
| The Conversion of Paul | Acts 9:1–31 | Historical Highlights |
| Man’s Universal Guilt | Romans 1:18–2:16 | Dynamic Doctrines |
| The Righteousness of Faith | Romans 3:19–28 | Spiritual Standards |
| Christian Responsibilities | Romans 12–13 | Practical Precepts |
| Christ’s New Commandment | Romans 13:8–10 | Spiritual Standards |
| Decisions on Doubtful Things | Romans 14 | Practical Precepts |
| Resurrection of the Christian Dead | 1 Corinthians 15 | Dynamic Doctrines |
| Separation from Worldliness | 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 | Practical Precepts |
| Christian Stewardship | 2 Corinthians 8–9 | Practical Precepts |
| Justification by Faith | Galatians 2:16–21 Ephesians 2:1–10 |
Dynamic Doctrines |
| Christian Home Relationships | Ephesians 5:22–6:4 | Practical Precepts |
| Christ’s Humiliation and Exaltation | Philippians 2:5–11 | Dynamic Doctrines |
| Prevailing Prayer | Philippians 4:6–7 | Practical Precepts |
| Resurrection of the Christian Dead | 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 | Dynamic Doctrines |
| The Last Judgment | 2 Thessalonians 1:7–2:12 | Dynamic Doctrines |
| The Heroes of Faith | Hebrews 11 | Historical Highlights |
| The Royal Law | James 2:8 | Spiritual Standards |
| Heavenly Wisdom | James 3:14–18 | Practical Precepts |
| The Causes of War | James 4:1–4 | Practical Precepts |
| Decisions on Doubtful Things | 1 John 2:15–17 | Practical Precepts |
| The Last Judgment | Revelation 20:10–15 | Dynamic Doctrines |
| The New Heaven and New Earth | Revelation 21–22 | Dynamic Doctrines |