Lesson 2 of 5
In Progress

Outline of Jeremiah

1. The Call of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:1-19)

Jeremiah is called by God to be a prophet to the nations.

2. Indictment for Infidelity and Call to Repentance (Jeremiah 2:1-4:4)

Israel’s apostasy is detailed, and the people are called to repentance.

3. God Will Not Turn Back (Jeremiah 4:5-6:30)

God’s judgment on Israel is pronounced and will certainly come to pass.

4. The Temple Sermon (Jeremiah 7:1-8:3)

The prophet publicly announces, in a temple setting, that a horrific judgment on Israel is now inevitable.

5. Judgment and Tears (Jeremiah 8:4-10:25)

Interwoven with words of judgment against Israel are the tears of the prophet and of God.

6. Laments of Jeremiah and God (Jeremiah 11:1-20:18)

A series of six laments by Jeremiah is portrayed because of his suffering as the bearer of the word of God. They are interwoven with divine laments over the disastrous judgment that Israel experiences.

7. Indictment of Israel’s Leadership (Jeremiah 21:1-23:40)

The prophet indicts Israel’s kings and false prophets for their part in what the people of God have become.

8. Vision of the Good and Bad Figs (Jeremiah 24:1-10)

The prophet is shown a vision that makes a sharp distinction between the Israelites in exile (good figs) and those who remain in the land (bad figs). The future of Israel lies with the exiles.

9. Summary Judgments against the Nations (Jeremiah 25:1-38)

Beginning with a summary of Jeremiah’s message (25:1-14), an announcement of divine judgment against various nations is introduced (25:15-38). This section may originally have introduced the specific oracles against the nations in Jeremiah 46-51.

10. Jeremiah in Controversy (Jeremiah 26:1-29:32)

A series of sermons and letters raises issues of true and false prophecy and brings Jeremiah into sharp contention with people, king, and prophet.

11. The Book of Consolation (Jeremiah 30:1-33:26)

Jeremiah preaches a series of hopeful oracles, promising the restoration of Israel, but only on the far side of judgment.

12. Announcements of Judgment to Zedekiah and Israel and a Commendation of the Rechabites (Jeremiah 34:1-35:19)

Examples of faithfulness and unfaithfulness are offered as illustrations of the situation in Jerusalem prior to the fall of Jerusalem.

13. The Scrolls of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 36:1-32)

God calls for Jeremiah’s preaching to be written down, and the initial responses to that document, especially by the king, are described.

14. The “Baruch Narrative” (Jeremiah 37:1-45:5)

This long prose narrative, probably written by Jeremiah’s secretary Baruch, chronicles the ministry of Jeremiah in the last days before the destruction of Jerusalem and during its immediate aftermath.

15. The Oracles against the Nations (Jeremiah 46:1-51:64)

Jeremiah announces a word from God regarding the following nations in Israel’s geographical context: Egypt, Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar and Hazor, Elam, and Babylon.

16. The Fall of Jerusalem and Its Aftermath (Jeremiah 52:1-34)

This historical appendix provides information regarding the fall of Jerusalem, concluding with a brief, positive account regarding the situation of Israel in exile.