Written by Paul J Bucknell on June, 06, 2026

The Book of Joel,
 Study 1: An Introduction - Purpose of Studying the Book of Joel

The Book of Joel is small enough to study carefully, yet large enough to open a window into the future. This preface invites readers to treat Joel as a prophetic primer - a way to gain confidence in handling Old Testament prophecy without drifting into speculation. It sets the tone for a Scripture-first study of judgment, salvation, mercy, calamity, and the end times, urging students to pray, observe the text closely, and test every interpretation by the Word of God.

Book of Joel: Importance of Joel

Study Questions: Intro1-Purpose | Intro2-Design | 1:1-20 | 2:1-11 | 2:12-17 | 2:18-27 | 2:28-32 | 3:1-21

Commentary and Reflections: 1🔢11 | 2:12-27 | 2:28-32 | 3:1-21

It is important to gain a big-picture understanding of the Book of Joel before looking in detail at the individual verses, so we can better understand how each verse and thought fit into the whole. (You should take your own notes as you go along.)

Gaining an Overview of Joel

1. Read the Book of Joel three times. Complete the following assignments as you do.
    
2. Make a chart with all references to time, dates, and events that are somehow linked to time. The lines do not indicate the number of references, so use fewer or more as needed.

Joel passage	Words describing time	Other insight

1. Identify any other references to persons, events, etc., that would help us know who Joel was writing to. 
    
2. The book of Amos follows Joel in the English Bible. Read two small sections of Amos, 2:1-3 and 2:4-5. Notice who is being addressed, how their sins are identified, and what judgment is articulated. How is this different from Joel 1?
    
3. Write a summary paragraph of your above discoveries.
    
4. Write out the most significant point of this study for you and pray through it.