#hub #overview # 📖 Book of the Bible > [!info] Info > [[#📖 Summary of Book]] > [[#🧭 Theme Verse]] > [[#🧭 Major Themes]] > [[#📅 Outline of Book]] > **[[#✍️ Chapter-by-Chapter Notes]]** > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflections]] > [[#📚 Further Study / Interesting Insights]] ## 📖 Summary of Book > The Book of Daniel tells the story of a faithful Jewish exile living in Babylon who remains loyal to God despite intense pressure to conform to pagan culture. It contains narratives of Daniel and his friends standing firm in their faith and visions that reveal God’s sovereignty over earthly kingdoms. The first half (chapters 1–6) focuses on historical accounts of faithfulness under persecution, while the second half (chapters 7–12) unveils apocalyptic visions about God’s ultimate triumph. Through every test and revelation, Daniel demonstrates that God reigns supreme over all rulers and nations, past, present, and future. Genre- - **Apocalyptic Literature** (Chapters 7–12) - **Historical Narrative** (Chapters 1–6) > 📘 Daniel uniquely blends **narrative and prophecy**, showing how God’s faithful servant lives in exile while revealing future events of God’s kingdom plan. **🕰️ Date of Writing** - **Approx. 530–536 B.C.** - The events span from **605–536 B.C.**, covering the Babylonian and early Persian empires. --- ## 🧭 Theme Verse > Daniel 4:17 – “The Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.” This verse captures Daniel’s central message: God is sovereign over human history and raises up and removes kings according to His will. --- ## 🧭 Major Themes - God’s sovereignty over nations and kings - Faithfulness in exile and persecution - God’s deliverance and protection of His people - The triumph of God’s kingdom over earthly empires - The certainty of future judgment and resurrection - The clash between earthly pride and divine authority - Perseverance and prayer in the face of opposition - Apocalyptic hope: God’s final victory over evil --- ## 📅 Outline of Book #### I. Daniel’s Life in Babylon (Chs. 1–6) 1. **Daniel’s Resolve in Babylon** – (1) Refusal to defile himself with the king’s food 2. **Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of the Statue** – (2) God reveals the future of world empires 3. **The Fiery Furnace** – (3) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s faith 4. **Nebuchadnezzar’s Humbling** – (4) The king’s pride and God’s sovereignty 5. **The Writing on the Wall** – (5) Belshazzar’s downfall 6. **Daniel in the Lions’ Den** – (6) Faithfulness in prayer leads to deliverance #### II. Daniel’s Visions (Chs. 7–12) 7. **Vision of Four Beasts** – (7) Four empires and God’s eternal kingdom 8. **Vision of the Ram and Goat** – (8) The rise of Medo-Persia and Greece 9. **Daniel’s Prayer and the Seventy Weeks** – (9) Prophecy of the coming Messiah 10. **Vision by the Tigris** – (10) Heavenly conflict behind earthly events 11. **Kings of the North and South** – (11) Detailed prophecy of future wars 12. **Final Vision and Resurrection Hope** – (12) God’s ultimate deliverance of His people --- ## ✍️ Chapter-by-Chapter Notes - [[Daniel 03]] --- ## 🙏 Devotional Reflections - --- ## 📚 Further Study / Interesting Insights - **Tremper Longman III**, _Daniel_ (The NIV Application Commentary) - Practical and theological insights with modern application. - **Stephen R. Miller**, _Daniel_ (New American Commentary) - Evangelical and accessible; strong grammatical-historical method. - **John Goldingay**, _Daniel_ (Word Biblical Commentary) - Scholarly, detailed exegesis; great for in-depth study. - **James Montgomery Boice**, _Daniel: An Expositional Commentary_ - Engaging and pastoral; ideal for teaching or sermon prep. - **Iain M. Duguid**, _Daniel_ (Reformed Expository Commentary) - Christ-centered exposition highlighting God’s sovereignty and hope. --- ##### 📂 Internal Links