Thus Says the LORD:
God Speaks Through
His Servants the Prophets

Volume II: Restoration & Redemption

Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption picks up the story of the biblical prophets where Volume I: A Kingdom Divided left off at the end of the Babylonian Captivity. Both volumes of this Catholic Bible study have been granted an imprimatur through the Diocese of Des Moines. Written by Jennifer McGaw Phelps and Matthew Phelps, the 23 lessons in Volume II: Restoration & Redemption provide an in-depth look at the exilic and post-exilic prophets, offering insight into biblical history immediately before and after the time of Jesus Christ. The study builds a framework for understanding the roles of priests, prophets, and kings in the Old Testament. Link here to see a sample of Lesson 1 in Volume II.  Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided and Volume II: Restoration & Redemption are available separately for purchase from our website shop.

Check out our online study pages for supplemental commentary and video overviews of each lesson. Our online glossary for Thus Says the LORD—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption lists every proper noun included in the biblical text for the first volume. A separate online page links to cross references in the primary biblical text in the Revised Standard Version (RSVCE and RSV2CE). Both the glossary and the links to the cross references can be accessed at the top of every online study page for Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption. Other features include maps showing the region at the time covered by each lesson, as well as “geopolitics” commentary boxes identifying what’s going on politically in the area.

Following is a list of all the lessons in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption, each linked to its related online study page and video. 

Lesson 1 How the Divided Kingdom Came to an End
Lesson 2 Jeremiah After the Fall of Jerusalem
Lesson 3 Ezekiel: A Prophet & Priest in Exile
Lesson 4 The People Who Remain in Judah Lament Their Tragic Situation
Lesson 5 Ezekiel’s Vision of a New Temple
Lesson 6 Obadiah’s Oracles Against Edom
Lesson 7 Deutero-Isaiah Proclaims the End of the Exile
Lesson 8 God’s Suffering Servant
Lesson 9 A Dislocated People Turn to the LORD
Lesson 10 The Return Gets Under Way; the LORD Wants the Temple Rebuilt
Lesson 11 Zechariah’s Hopes for a Davidic King
Lesson 12 Ezra Combines Legal & Religious Authority
Lesson 13 Jonah: An Old Testament Parable
Lesson 14 Trito-Isaiah & the Return
Lesson 15 Joel & the Day of the LORD
Lesson 16 Malachi: The Final Prophetic Word in the Old Testament
Lesson 17 Greek Influences Threaten Judaism
Lesson 18 Daniel: A Model Jew
Lesson 19 Old Testament Eschatology
Lesson 20 The Voice in the Wilderness
Lesson 21 A Change in the Priesthood
Lesson 22 An Apocalyptic Vision of Christian Tribulation
Lesson 23 A Revelation: Jesus Christ, King of Kings & Lord of Lords

check out all of our in-depth Catholic Bible studies

• Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline (2025)—a study of psalms prayed for Vigils, Day Prayer, and Compline using The Abbey Psalms and Canticles translation prepared by the Benedictine monks at Conception Abbey and published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Read the online study page related to Lesson 1: He Who Sits in the Heavens Laughs. No videos accompany either volume of this Bible study. Both Volume I and Volume II have been granted an imprimatur. Volume II is available in hard copy, and a revision of Volume I based on The Abbey Psalms and Canticles instead of The Revised Grail Psalms is available digitally.
• In the Beginning: The Book of Genesis (2016; 2024 revision)—a study of the first book of the Old Testament. Read the online study page and link to a video related to Lesson 1: And God Said, ‘Let There Be Light.’
• You Shall Have No Other Gods: The Book of Exodus (2023)—an extensive look at how the second book of the Old Testament prefigures Christianity. Read the online study page and link to a video related to Lesson 1: The More the People Are Oppressed, the More They Multiply.
• The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness (2022 revision)—an expanded study of the final book of the New Testament, including illustrations of images appearing throughout the biblical text, as well as relevant maps and an online glossary. Read the online study page and link to a video related to Lesson 1: The Ruler of Kings on Earth.
• The Gospel According to John: An Encounter with Grace & Truth (2019 revision)—a study of the life of Jesus Christ presented in the Fourth Gospel. Read the online study page and link to a video related to Lesson 1: In the Beginning Was the Word.
• Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided (2018)—a study of biblical prophecy from Creation until the Babylonian Exile. Read the  online study page and link to a video related to Lesson 1: The LORD Announces He Is About To Do a New Thing.
• The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King (2017)—a study of the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon. Read the online study page and link to a video related to Lesson 1: God’s People Ask for a King. The print version of this study is temporarily unavailable; contact us if you’re interested in purchasing a digital version.
• Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers (2015)—a study of psalms prayed for Lauds and Vespers using The Abbey Psalms and Canticles translation prepared by the Benedictine monks at Conception Abbey and published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Read the online study page related to Lesson 1: Set a Guard on My Mouth. No videos accompany either volume of this Bible study. Both Volume I and Volume II have been granted an imprimatur. A revision of Volume I based on The Abbey Psalms and Canticles instead of The Revised Grail Psalms is available digitally; Volume II (based on The Abbey Psalms and Canticles) is available in hard copy.
• The Letter to the Hebrews: An Explanation of the Mechanism of Our Salvation (2014 revision; digital only)—a study of the Letter to the Hebrews. Read the online study page and link to a video related to Lesson 1: Superior to Angels.
• Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels (2012 revision; digital only)—a study of the biblical foundations of the Rosary in both the Old and New Testaments. This study has been converted to a digital version with the first six lessons available free year-round. The remaining 20 lessons, also free, alternate throughout the year based on the liturgical season (the Joyful Mysteries during Advent and the Christmas season, the Sorrowful Mysteries during Lent, the Glorious Mysteries during the Easter season, and the Luminous Mysteries during Ordinary Time).  The study directory includes links to online study pages for posted lessons. No videos accompany this Bible study.
• Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering (2014 revision; digital only)—an in-depth explanation of the biblical accounts of Jesus’ Passion, death, and Resurrection. This Catholic Bible study, which has been granted an imprimatur, is based on Scripture and designed to be used with or without the film The Passion of the Christ. A free digital version of Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering is posted each year during Lent, along with related online study pages. No videos accompany this Bible study.