General Epistles

Aaron

First High Priest of Israel who served as the spokesman for Moses during the Exodus

The first High Priest of Israel, elder brother of Moses, and primary spokesman for the Israelites during the Exodus from Egypt.

Abel

First martyr and offerer of a more excellent sacrifice than his brother Cain

The second son of Adam and Eve, Abel was a shepherd whose righteous sacrifice and subsequent murder by his brother Cain made him the first human to experience death.

Abraham

Patriarch who is the father of the nation of Israel and an exemplar of faith

The first of the three biblical patriarchs and the father of the nation of Israel, known for his unwavering faith and his covenant relationship with God.

Adam

First human being associated with the fall of man

Adam is the first human being created by God, the husband of Eve, and the progenitor of the human race in the book of Genesis.

Balaam

Diviner who was hired to curse Israel but blessed them instead

A non-Israelite diviner and son of Beor who, despite hearing the voice of God, attempted to curse Israel for profit and later led them into apostasy.

Barak

Commander who defeated the Canaanite army under Sisera at Mount Tabor

A military commander of ancient Israel who led the forces of Naphtali and Zebulun against the Canaanites during the era of the Judges.

Beor, Father of Balaam

father of the prophet Balaam during the Israelite wilderness journey

Beor was the father of the Mesopotamian diviner Balaam and a resident of Pethor during the period of the Israelite wilderness wanderings.

Cain

History’s first murderer and the killer of his brother Abel

Cain was the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, known as the first murderer in biblical history for killing his brother Abel.

David

King of Israel who defeated Goliath and established the Davidic dynasty

The second king of the United Monarchy of Israel, a shepherd-warrior and psalmist known as a man after God's own heart.

Demetrius

Christian messenger praised by the Apostle John for his integrity and good report

A faithful Christian praised by the Apostle John as a man of integrity, likely serving as a traveling messenger for the early church missions.

Diotrephes

Local church leader who pridefully rejected the Apostle John's authority and excommunicated faithful believers

An early church official condemned by the Apostle John for his prideful self-exaltation and refusal to welcome traveling missionaries.

Elijah the Tishbite

Prophet who called down fire from heaven and was taken to heaven in a whirlwind

A foundational prophet of the Divided Monarchy known for his confrontation with Baal worship and his departure from earth in a whirlwind.

Enoch

A man taken by God without dying

The seventh patriarch from Adam who is recorded in the Book of Genesis as having 'walked with God' and being taken by God without experiencing death.

Esau

Patriarch who sold his birthright for lentil stew and founded the nation of Edom

The firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah, a skillful hunter and the progenitor of the Edomites, known for selling his birthright for a bowl of stew.

Gaius

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Gideon

Judge who defeated the Midianites with only three hundred men

A reluctant judge and military leader of Israel who defeated the Midianites with a small band of three hundred men after seeking divine signs.

Hebrews

Covenant people of God descended from Abraham

The Hebrews represent the covenant people descended from Abraham, serving as the primary ethnic and spiritual identity of God’s chosen nation throughout the Old and New Testaments.

Isaac

Patriarch who was the son of Abraham and the father of Jacob and Esau

The miracle son of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac was the second Hebrew patriarch and the child of promise through whom the covenant of God was established.

Israel

Patriarch who wrestled with God and fathered the twelve tribes

The third patriarch of the covenant, formerly known as Jacob, who received his name after wrestling with God and became the father of the twelve tribes.

James

Leader of the early Jerusalem church and author of the New Testament Epistle of James

The brother of Jesus Christ who transitioned from a skeptic to a primary leader of the early Christian church in Jerusalem and author of the Epistle of James.

James, Brother of Jesus

Brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem church who presided over the Council of Jerusalem

A brother of Jesus Christ who became a central leader of the Jerusalem church and a prominent pillar of the early Christian movement.

Jephthah

Judge of Israel who defeated the Ammonites and made a tragic vow involving his daughter

A Gileadite judge and warrior who led Israel against the Ammonites after being exiled by his family, known for his tragic vow and military success.

Jesus

Messiah and central figure of the New Testament whose life, death, and resurrection form the basis of the Christian faith

The central figure of the New Testament, Jesus was born of Mary in Bethlehem, performed numerous miracles, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate before rising from the dead.

Job

Patriarch who remained faithful to God despite losing his wealth, children, and health

A patriarch from the land of Uz renowned for his blameless character, immense suffering, and unwavering perseverance in his relationship with God.

John the Apostle

Apostle of Jesus and the 'Beloved Disciple' who authored the Fourth Gospel

One of the Twelve Apostles, a member of Jesus’ inner circle, and traditionally identified as the 'Beloved Disciple' and the author of several New Testament books.

John, Son of Zebedee and Apostle

Apostle and brother of James who received the visions of Revelation

One of the twelve apostles of Jesus, a son of Zebedee, and a key leader in the early Church who received the vision recorded in Revelation.

Joseph, Son of Jacob

Patriarch who was sold into slavery and rose to become the second most powerful man in Egypt

The favored son of Jacob who, after being sold into slavery by his brothers, rose to become the Grand Vizier of Egypt and preserved the lineage of Israel during a regional famine.

Joshua, Son of Nun

Successor of Moses who led the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan

The successor to Moses and commander of the Israelites who led the conquest of Canaan and divided the Promised Land among the twelve tribes.

Judah, Son of Jacob

Patriarch who received the blessing of the scepter and whose lineage produced King David and Jesus Christ

The fourth son of Jacob and Leah, ancestor of the Tribe of Judah and the Davidic line, known for his leadership and pivotal role in the preservation of his family.

Jude

Brother of Jesus and author of the New Testament Epistle of Jude

Jude was a brother of Jesus and James who identified himself as a servant of Christ and authored the General Epistle of Jude.

Korah, Levite of the Exodus

Levite who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron and was swallowed by the earth

A Levite who led a major insurrection against the leadership of Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, resulting in his divine execution and serving as a lasting warning against rebellion.

Levi, Son of Jacob

Patriarch of the priestly tribe and participant in the massacre at Shechem

The third son of Jacob and Leah, a patriarch whose descendants were set apart as the priestly and ministerial class for the nation of Israel.

Lot

Nephew of Abraham who escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

Lot was the nephew of Abraham who settled in the Jordan Valley, escaped the destruction of Sodom, and became the progenitor of the Moabites and Ammonites.

Mark

Missionary companion of Paul and Barnabas whose departure caused a rift between the two leaders

An early Christian missionary and companion of Paul, Barnabas, and Peter, whose departure from a mission caused a significant rift between Paul and Barnabas.

Melchizedek

King of Salem and priest who blessed Abraham and received his tithe

Melchizedek was the King of Salem and a priest of God Most High who blessed the patriarch Abraham during the Patriarchal Period.

Michael, the Chief Prince

Archangel who leads the heavenly host and protects the people of Israel

A celestial prince and archangel who serves as the spiritual guardian of Israel and leader of the heavenly armies against spiritual forces.

Moses

Prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments

The preeminent prophet and lawgiver of Israel who led the Hebrews out of Egyptian bondage and mediated the Covenant at Mount Sinai.

Noah, the Antediluvian Patriarch

Patriarch who built the ark to survive the Great Flood

A righteous patriarch who built an ark to save his family and animal life from a global flood, becoming the second father of the human race.

Paul

Apostle to the Gentiles who wrote much of the New Testament

An apostle and missionary who transitioned from a persecutor of the early church to its most prolific evangelist and theologian in the first century AD.

Peter

Apostle who served as the spokesman for the Twelve and the leader of the early Church in Jerusalem

The leader of the twelve apostles, known for his confession of Christ, his denial and restoration, and his foundational role in the early Christian church.

Pharaoh, Oppressor of the Israelites

King of Egypt who enslaved the Israelites and ordered the drowning of Hebrew male infants

The Egyptian monarch who enslaved the Israelites, ordered the infanticide of Hebrew male infants, and unsuccessfully sought to execute Moses.

Pharaoh's Daughter Who Rescued Moses

Princess who found Moses in the Nile and raised him as her own son

An Egyptian princess who defied her father's decree by rescuing, adopting, and raising the Hebrew infant Moses.

Rahab

Canaanite woman who hid the Israelite spies in Jericho

A resident of Jericho who aided Israeli spies and became an ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ.

Samson

Judge of Israel who possessed supernatural strength and fought the Philistines

A judge of Israel endowed with supernatural strength by the LORD to initiate the deliverance of his people from Philistine oppression.

Samuel

Prophet who anointed the first two kings of Israel

A pivotal prophet, priest, and the final judge of Israel who presided over the transition from the loose confederation of tribes to the United Monarchy.

Sarah

Matriarch of Israel and mother of Isaac who conceived in her old age

The wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac, recognized as the primary matriarch of the Hebrew people and a recipient of God's covenantal promise.

Silas

Prophet and companion of Paul who sang in the Philippian jail

A prominent leader and prophet in the early Jerusalem church who accompanied the Apostle Paul on his second missionary journey and served as a crucial bridge between Jewish and Gentile believers.

Timothy

Protégé of the Apostle Paul and recipient of the two Pastoral Epistles who led the church in Ephesus

A prominent first-century Christian leader, missionary, and the loyal younger protégé of the Apostle Paul who served as the overseer of the church in Ephesus.