The five one-chapter books – do not mistake their importance

REVEREND TEDDY A. Jones is on a mission to reverse the script and debunk the notion that the brevity of the five books of the Bible that have only one chapter relegates them to a lesser place of importance.

He plans to do this through his recently published book Let’s Major In The Minors, a work that was adapted from a sermon series on the five one-chapter books of the Bible for the radio programme ‘The Grace Hour’ aired on RJR 94 FM in 2014.

“I was inspired back then to prepare a series of messages on the five Bible books that have only a single chapter: Obadiah, Philemon, Second John, Third John and Jude. Upon closer examination of their content, one can’t help but notice that they are equally potent as any of the more lengthy books. They are packed with the same major clues into the nature of God’s essential character. They echo the same kinds of warnings that the companion books with considerably more chapters declare. Their brevity should never be mistaken for superficiality.

“This is the thought process behind the twisted title, Let’s Major In The Minors. We need a major study of and a major commitment to the apprehension and application of the truths contained in these minor books,” Jones said.

‘It (the book) is ideal for use as a textbook, as well as for personal study and corporate Bible study.’

RELEVANT INFORMATION

The project, which was published on November 30, has 110 pages and shows how inaccurate the perception that these minor books have little spiritual value is by pointing out that the content of each was not only important to the peoples of that era, but also raises major issues that are relevant to believers today.

“It (the book) is ideal for use as a textbook, as well as for personal study and corporate Bible study. The popular advice, and contextually good advice, is to stop majoring in the minors. This book flies in the face of that advice.

Let’s Major In The Minors is an invitation to ponder the idea that given their brevity, there is a clue to be pursued. The pearl inside this oyster is the fact that the weighty theological themes and biblical core matters they highlight indicate clearly to us their importance to God, who inspired the writers,” Jones said, adding that this work adds qualitatively to serious Christian thinking and application. The theologian told Family & Religion that the book pulls no punches and offers no respite from dealing with injustice and other evils.

NEGLECTED PARTS

According to him, “It confronts and challenges us, as God would, to treat with the issues of our times as He would! This work on the books of Obadiah, Philemon, Second and Third John, and Jude represents a most important choice of subject from the rarely preached-on sections of the Old and New Testament. Christians ignore sections of the Old and New Testament, and these onechapter books are among some of the most neglected parts of the Bible.” Sharing his review of the project was the Rev Napoleon Black, founder of PATHH Ministries and pastor of the Maverley Gospel Hall, who described its perspective as refreshing.

“Indeed, these ‘minor’ chapters of the Bible present some major themes from serious spiritual leaders and thinkers – issues of justice and balance for the poor and downtrodden, true righteousness as opposed to institutional formalism, and living boldly and unapologetically for God in a hostile world. The messages of these life-transforming chapters are as fresh today as when they first uttered them.

“Rev Jones reminds us in this timely work that God takes the minor chapters in His narrative to us and saturates them with principles marking His heart for us”, he said.

Let’s Major In The Minors

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