The Bible is a collection of 66 books, divided into two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament contains 39 books, while the New Testament has 27.
The first five books of the Bible are also known as the Pentateuch or Torah. These are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. They contain stories about the creation of the world and God’s relationship with his people throughout history.
The next section of the Bible is called the Historical Books because it contains stories about Israel’s history from Abraham through to King David’s death. These include Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings and 2 Kings.
Next comes a set of books called Poetic Books because they contain poetry. They include Job, Psalms, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.
After that comes a section called Major Prophets which includes Isaiah (1-39), Jeremiah (1-52), Ezekiel (1-48), Daniel (1-12) and Hosea (1-14). These books tell of how God spoke through prophets to guide his people during difficult times in history.
What is the order of the books of the Bible?
The order of the books in the Bible can vary slightly depending on the religious tradition or translation used. However, the most commonly accepted order is as follows:
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
- Joshua
- Judges
- Ruth
- 1 Samuel
- 2 Samuel
- 1 Kings
- 2 Kings
- 1 Chronicles
- 2 Chronicles
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- Esther
- Job
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Song of Solomon
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Lamentations
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
- Hosea
- Joel
- Amos
- Obadiah
- Jonah
- Micah
- Nahum
- Habakkuk
- Zephaniah
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- Malachi
- Matthew
- Mark
- Luke
- John
- Acts
- Romans
- 1 Corinthians
- 2 Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians
- Philippians
- Colossians
- 1 Thessalonians
- 2 Thessalonians
- 1 Timothy
- 2 Timothy
- Titus
- Philemon
- Hebrews
- James
- 1 Peter
- 2 Peter
- 1 John
- 2 John
- 3 John
- Jude
- Revelation
These books span a wide range of genres, including historical accounts, prophetic writings, wisdom literature, poetry, and epistolary letters.
What are the 27 books of the New Testament called?
The 27 books of the New Testament are divided into several categories, including the four Gospels, historical accounts, letters, and apocalyptic literature. They are as follows:
- Gospels:
- Matthew
- Mark
- Luke
- John
- Historical Accounts:
- Acts
- Letters (Epistles):
- Romans
- 1 Corinthians
- 2 Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians
- Philippians
- Colossians
- 1 Thessalonians
- 2 Thessalonians
- 1 Timothy
- 2 Timothy
- Titus
- Philemon
- Hebrews
- James
- 1 Peter
- 2 Peter
- 1 John
- 2 John
- 3 John
- Jude
- Apocalyptic Literature:
- Revelation
These books contain teachings, instructions, and encouragements for believers in Jesus Christ, as well as insights into the early Christian community and apocalyptic visions of the future.
Books Of The Bible
The Books of the Bible
| Order | Book Title(s) | Chapters | Verses |
|---|
| I. Law | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | The First Book of Moses Called Genesis | 50 | 1,533 |
| 2. | The Second Book of Moses Called Exodus | 40 | 1,213 |
| 3. | The Third Book of Moses Called Leviticus | 27 | 859 |
| 4. | The Fourth Book of Moses Called Numbers | 36 | 1,288 |
| 5. | The Fifth Book of Moses Called Deuteronomy | 34 | 959 |
| II. Old Testament Narrative | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | The Book of Joshua | 24 | 658 |
| 7. | The Book of Judges | 21 | 618 |
| 8. | The Book of Ruth | 4 | 85 |
| 9. | The First Book of Samuel | 31 | 810 |
| 10. | The Second Book of Samuel | 24 | 695 |
| 11. | The First Book of Kings | 22 | 816 |
| 12. | The Second Book of Kings | 25 | 719 |
| 13. | The First Book of Chronicles | 29 | 942 |
| 14. | The Second Book of Chronicles | 36 | 822 |
| 15. | The Book of Ezra | 10 | 280 |
| 16. | The Book of Nehemiah | 13 | 406 |
| 17. | The Book of Esther | 10 | 167 |
| III. Wisdom Literature | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 18. | The Book of Job | 42 | 1,070 |
| 19. | The Book of Psalms | 150 | 2,461 |
| 20. | The Book of Proverbs | 31 | 915 |
| 21. | The Book of Ecclesiastes | 12 | 222 |
| 22. | The Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon or Canticles) | 8 | 117 |
| IV. Major Prophets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 23. | The Book of Isaiah | 66 | 1,292 |
| 24. | The Book of Jeremiah | 52 | 1,364 |
| 25. | The Book of Lamentations | 5 | 154 |
| 26. | The Book of Ezekiel | 48 | 1,273 |
| 27. | The Book of Daniel | 12 | 357 |
| V. Minor Prophets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 28. | The Book of Hosea | 14 | 197 |
| 29. | The Book of Joel | 3 | 73 |
| 30. | The Book of Amos | 9 | 146 |
| 31. | The Book of Obadiah | 1 | 21 |
| 32. | The Book of Jonah | 4 | 48 |
| 33. | The Book of Micah | 7 | 105 |
| 34. | The Book of Nahum | 3 | 47 |
| 35. | The Book of Habakkuk | 3 | 56 |
| 36. | The Book of Zephaniah | 3 | 53 |
| 37. | The Book of Haggai | 2 | 38 |
| 38. | The Book of Zechariah | 14 | 211 |
| 39. | The Book of Malachi | 4 | 55 |
| VI. New Testament Narrative | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 40. | The Gospel According to Matthew | 28 | 1,071 |
| 41. | The Gospel According to Mark | 16 | 678 |
| 42. | The Gospel According to Luke | 24 | 1,151 |
| 43. | The Gospel According to John | 21 | 879 |
| 44. | The Acts of the Apostles | 28 | 1,007 |
| VII. Pauline Epistles | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 45. | The Epistle of Paul to the Romans | 16 | 433 |
| 46. | The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians | 16 | 437 |
| 47. | The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians | 13 | 257 |
| 48. | The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians | 6 | 149 |
| 49. | The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians | 6 | 155 |
| 50. | The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians | 4 | 104 |
| 51. | The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians | 4 | 95 |
| 52. | The First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians | 5 | 89 |
| 53. | The Second Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians | 3 | 47 |
| 54. | The First Epistle of Paul to Timothy | 6 | 113 |
| 55. | The Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy | 4 | 83 |
| 56. | The Epistle of Paul to Titus | 3 | 46 |
| 57. | The Epistle of Paul to Philemon | 1 | 25 |
| VIII. General Epistles | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 58. | The Epistle to the Hebrews | 13 | 303 |
| 59. | The General Epistle of James | 5 | 108 |
| 60. | The First Epistle of Peter | 5 | 105 |
| 61. | The Second Epistle of Peter | 3 | 61 |
| 62. | The First Epistle of John | 5 | 105 |
| 63. | The Second Epistle of John | 1 | 13 |
| 64. | The Third Epistle of John | 1 | 14 |
| 65. | The Epistle of Jude | 1 | 25 |
| IX. Apocalyptic Epistle | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 66. | The Book of Revelation (or The Apocalypse of John) | 22 | 404 |
| Total Number of Chapters and Verses | 1,189 | 31,102 |
Books Of The Bible In Order
Old Testament
A collection of divinely inspired books written between 1450 B.C. and 430 B.C., the Old Testament is a historical record of God’s people, laws, sayings and promises that function as a model for moral living and conduct.
1. Genesis
Moses
1450-1410 B.C.
Narrative
Meaning “the beginning or origin of something”, Genesis is the first book of the Bible, recording Creation, the fall of man and the early years of the nation of Israel.
2. Exodus
Moses
1450-1410 B.C.
Narrative
God appoints Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan, establishing a special relationship with them on the way to Mount Sinai.
3. Leviticus
Moses
1445-1444 B.C.
Law
God gives Israel rules to live by and instructions to present themselves holy before Him.
4. Numbers
Moses
1450-1410 B.C.
Narrative
A sequel to Exodus, Numbers takes its name from two censuses (or “numberings”) of the people of Israel, following their journey through the wilderness for forty years.
5. Deuteronomy
Moses
1407-1406 B.C.
Narrative
A farewell speech from Moses to the people of Israel shortly before his death, Deuteronomy recaps the promises of God and provides instructions to obey Him in the Promised Land.
6. Joshua
Joshua & possibly Phinehas
1405-1383 B.C.
Narrative
A book of conquest, Joshua details the Israelites’ invasion and eventual occupation of the Promised Land through faith and action.
7. Judges
Probably Samuel
1086-1004 B.C.
Narrative
Israel enters a cycle of sin, suffering defeat and oppression, only to cry out to God for deliverance, who sends leaders (called “judges”) to help them.
8. Ruth
Unknown
1375-1050 B.C.
Narrative
Occurring during some of the darkest days in Israel’s history, Ruth follows the journey of two widows who lose everything, but find hope through God.
9. 1 Samuel
Samuel, Nathan & Gad
930 B.C.
Narrative
Israel rejects God’s chosen leader, Samuel (a judge), and demands a king despite God’s warnings.
10. 2 Samuel
Unknown
930 B.C.
Narrative
The life and career of King David, who subdues Israel’s enemies and doubles the size of the kingdom, but is not without failings.
11. 1 Kings
Unknown
560-538 B.C.
Narrative
Israel enjoys a period of peace and prosperity under King Solomon, but later splits in two after Rehoboam (his son) takes the throne.
12. 2 Kings
Unknown
560-538 B.C.
Narrative
The kings of Israel and Judah ignore God and His prophets, eventually falling captive to invading nations and are exiled to foreign lands.
13. 1 Chronicles
Ezra
430 B.C.
Narrative
Written to encourage the people returning from Babylonian exile, 1 Chronicles recaps the history and genealogy of Israel, emphasising the spiritual significance of David and future Messianic King.
14. 2 Chronicles
Ezra
430 B.C.
Narrative
A continuation of the previous book, 2 Chronicles focuses on the kings of Israel, from King Solomon and the building of the temple, to subsequent division, exile and return from captivity.
15. Ezra
Ezra
450 B.C.
Narrative
Fulfilling the promises of God, the Israelites return from exile after seventy years and rebuild the temple.
16. Nehemiah
Nehemiah
445-432 B.C.
Narrative
Despite local opposition, Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem from exile, rallying the people to rebuild the city walls and gates in just fifty-two days.
17. Esther
Unknown
483-471 B.C.
Narrative
Occurring during the exile of Israel, Esther is a Jewish queen to a Persian king, who intercedes on behalf of her people to save them from a genocidal plot.
18. Job
Possibly Job
2100-1800 B.C.
Poetry
A righteous man named Job loses everything and suffers greatly, but remains faithful to God and is blessed abundantly.
19. Psalms
David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Heman, Ethan & Moses
1440-586 B.C.
Poetry
A collection of 150 songs of worship and praise to God that includes prophecies of the coming Messiah.
20. Proverbs
Solomon, Agur & Lemuel
970-930 B.C.
Wisdom Literature
The book of Proverbs contains God’s divine wisdom, covering a variety of topics for every area of life.
21. Ecclesiastes
Solomon
935 B.C.
Wisdom Literature
Solomon’s analysis of life, which is meaningless and empty without God.
22. Song of Songs
Solomon
970-930 B.C.
Poetry
A passionate yet gentle song of love between a husband and wife, symbolising God’s relationship with us.
23. Isaiah
Isaiah
700-681 B.C.
Prophecy
The first book of the Major Prophets, Isaiah contains warnings of God’s coming judgement and detailed prophecies about the Messiah.
24. Jeremiah
Jeremiah
627-586 B.C.
Prophecy
Known as the weeping prophet, Jeremiah passionately pleads with the people to repent before the coming Babylonian captivity, but is ignored.
25. Lamentations
Jeremiah
586 B.C.
Poetry & Prophecy
Lamentations is a book of sadness that reflects on the destruction of Jerusalem and captivity of Israel.
26. Ezekiel
Ezekiel
571 B.C.
Prophecy
Ezekiel is called by God to preach a message of judgement and deliverance for the captives living in Babylon.
27. Daniel
Daniel
535 B.C.
Narrative & Prophecy
Like Ezekiel, Daniel has been taken to Babylon in captivity and receives prophetic visions while serving in the courts of the king.
28. Hosea
Hosea
715 B.C.
Prophecy
The first book of the Minor Prophets, Hosea is a tragic love story that demonstrates God’s unending love for His people despite their unfaithfulness.
29. Joel
Joel
835-796 B.C.
Prophecy
Joel warns the people to repent and turn back to God before judgement falls upon them.
30. Amos
Amos
760-750 B.C.
Prophecy
A shepherd named Amos prophesies to the northern kingdom which has become self-sufficient and indifferent towards God during a time of great prosperity.
31. Obadiah
Obadiah
627-586 B.C.
Prophecy
Only one chapter, Obadiah demonstrates God’s ongoing protection of His people and coming judgement on the nation of Edom, which was indifferent during the Babylonian plunder of Jerusalem.
32. Jonah
Jonah
785-760 B.C.
Narrative
A reluctant prophet, Jonah is sent by God to Nineveh, but refuses and learns the futility of it in the belly of a giant fish.
33. Micah
Micah
742-687 B.C.
Prophecy
Micah warns of the coming judgement that will eventually exile the nation, and includes some of the clearest predictions of the Messiah.
34. Nahum
Nahum
663-654 B.C.
Prophecy
Nahum is the second prophet sent to Nineveh (Jonah being the first) to preach God’s judgement on the Assyrian city and empire.
35. Habakkuk
Habakkuk
612-589 B.C.
Prophecy
God answers Habakkuk’s complaints of wickedness and injustice in the land.
36. Zephaniah
Zephaniah
640-621 B.C.
Prophecy
Written shortly before the fall of Judah (Southern Kingdom of Israel) to Babylonian conquest, Zephaniah warns the people and the surrounding nations that the day of the Lord is near.
37. Haggai
Haggai
520 B.C.
Prophecy
Written after the Babylonian exile, work to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem had halted due to opposition and spiritual apathy, so Haggai motivates the people to finish.
38. Zechariah
Zechariah
520-480 B.C.
Prophecy
Zechariah ministered with Haggai after the 70-year exile, encouraging the remnant to return to God.
39. Malachi
Malachi
430 B.C.
Prophecy
The last book of the Old Testament, Malachi is a beautiful expression of God’s love for a nation that continues to disobey Him.
New Testament
The New Testament is a collection of twenty-seven sacred books that centre on the life, death, resurrection and teachings of Jesus Christ.
40. Matthew
Matthew (Levi)
A.D. 60-65
Gospel
The first book of the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew was primarily written for the Jews and references many Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled by Jesus.
41. Mark
John Mark
A.D. 55-65
Gospel
Mark is the shortest Gospel, which emphasises Jesus’ servanthood and miracles.
42. Luke
Luke
A.D. 60
Gospel
Unlike the other Gospel writers, Luke was a Gentile who wrote an account of Jesus’ life for those outside the Jewish faith.
43. John
John
A.D. 85-90
Gospel
The last of the four Gospels, John is an eyewitness account of Jesus’ ministry that focuses on the deeper meaning of events surrounding Christ’s life, death and resurrection.
44. Acts
Luke
A.D. 63-70
History
A historical narrative of the early church which was empowered by the Holy Spirit to spread the Good News.
45. Romans
Paul
A.D. 70
Epistle
An epistle to the believers in Rome (hence the name) where Paul planned to visit. Romans sets a theological foundation for faith through Jesus.
46. 1 Corinthians
Paul
A.D. 55
Epistle
The first of two letters from Paul to the believers in Corinth, 1 Corinthians was written in response to divisions and problems facing the local church.
47. 2 Corinthians
Paul
A.D. 55-57
Epistle
The second and final letter from Paul to the church in Corinth, 2 Corinthians deals with persisting problems facing the believers there and warns against false teachers.
48. Galatians
Paul
A.D. 49
Epistle
A letter from Paul to the church in Galatia, the book is a foundational study that addresses the problem of Jewish legalism and the fullness of salvation found in Jesus.
49. Ephesians
Paul
A.D. 60
Epistle
Written to the church in Ephesus during Paul’s first imprisonment, Ephesians covers a variety of subjects including the gift of grace, love and how to walk as fruitful followers of Jesus.
50. Philippians
Paul
A.D. 61
Epistle
An encouraging letter from Paul to the church in Philippi explaining the attitude and outlook believers must have to experience the joy of the Lord.
51. Colossians
Paul
A.D. 60
Epistle
In this letter, Paul refutes certain false teachings that are impeding the church in Colossae, reaffirming the deity and superiority of Jesus Christ.
52. 1 Thessalonians
Paul
A.D. 51
Epistle
The first of two letters to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul writes to encourage and strengthen the church, emphasising the principles of holy living through faith, hope and love.
53. 2 Thessalonians
Paul
A.D. 51
Epistle
A follow-up letter of encouragement to the persecuted church of Thessalonica, Paul reaffirms Jesus’ second coming and matters preceding that event.
54. 1 Timothy
Paul
A.D. 54
Epistle
A letter from Paul to a young pastor named Timothy, offering guidance and important principles for church leadership that still apply today.
55. 2 Timothy
Paul
A.D. 67
Epistle
The second of two letters to Timothy, the book is probably Paul’s final chronological epistle, urging his protégé to remain strong and faithful to Jesus.
56. Titus
Paul
A.D. 65
Epistle
A letter of guidance from Paul to Titus to address challenges facing his leadership of the churches on the island of Crete.
57. Philemon
Paul
A.D. 60
Epistle
Consisting of only one chapter, the book is a short but profound letter from Paul to Philemon requesting forgiveness for a runaway slave named Onesimus.
58. Hebrews
Unknown
A.D. 68
Epistle
A letter urging Jewish believers not to return to their former traditions, summarising key Biblical characters and events to emphasise the hope of salvation through Jesus.
59. James
James (Jesus’ half-brother)
A.D. 49
Epistle
A hard-hitting letter from James, encouraging believers to have a genuine faith with an emphasis on results.
60. 1 Peter
Peter
A.D. 65
Epistle
The focus of Peter’s first letter is persecution, sharing inspiring words of comfort for Christians living as an oppressed minority in the Roman Empire.
61. 2 Peter
Peter
A.D. 66
Epistle
Peter’s second letter warns against false teachers and reaffirms important spiritual truths.
62. 1 John
John
A.D. 90-95
Epistle
Written to oppose heretical doctrine, the first letter from John echoes the Gospel, encouraging Christians to love one another and keep Jesus’ commands.
63. 2 John
John
A.D. 90-95
Epistle
A brief letter from John to “the chosen lady”, urging believers to love one another and to be on guard against false teachings.
64. 3 John
John
A.D. 90-95
Epistle
The shortest book in the Bible, 3 John commends Gaius and Demetruis for their faithful service.
65. Jude
Jude (Jesus’ half-brother)
A.D. 65
Epistle
A letter from Jude to address false teachings and urge Christians to defend the truth of the Good News.
66. Revelation
John
A.D. 95
Apocalyptic
Written during John’s imprisonment on the island of Patmos, Revelation is an apocalyptic book that contains prophetic visions of the Spiritual Realms and Jesus’ return to Earth.
Missing Books Of The Bible
There are no “lost books” of the Bible, or books that were taken out of the Bible, or books missing from the Bible. Every book that God intended to be in the Bible is in the Bible. There are many legends and rumors of lost books of the Bible, but the books were not, in fact, lost. Rather, they were rejected. There are literally hundreds of religious books that were written in the same time period as the books of the Bible. Some of these books contain true accounts of things that actually occurred (1 Maccabees, for example). Others contain some good spiritual teaching (the Wisdom of Solomon, for example). However, these books are not inspired by God. If we read any of these books, such as the Apocryphal ones mentioned above, we have to treat them as fallible religious/historical books, not as the inspired, inerrant Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The gospel of Thomas, for example, was a forgery written in the 3rd or 4th century A.D., claiming to have been written by the apostle Thomas. It was not written by Thomas. The early Christians almost universally rejected the gospel of Thomas as heretical. It contains many false and heretical things that Jesus supposedly said and did. None of it (or at best very little of it) is true. For example, the Gospel of Thomas has Jesus saying nonsensical things like “Blessed is the lion that a person will eat, and the lion will become human” (Saying 7), and “Every woman who makes herself male will enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Saying 114).
The gospel of Barnabas was not written by the biblical Barnabas, but by an imposter. The same can be said of the gospel of Philip, the apocalypse of Peter, etc. All of these books, and the many others like them, are pseudepigraphal, essentially meaning “ascribed to a false author.”
There is one God. The Bible has one Creator. It is one book. It has one plan of grace, recorded from initiation, through execution, to consummation. From predestination to glorification, the Bible is the story of God redeeming His chosen people for the praise of His glory. As God’s redemptive purposes and plan unfold in Scripture, the recurring themes constantly emphasized are the character of God, the judgment for sin and disobedience, the blessing for faith and obedience, the Lord and Savior and His sacrifice for sin, and the coming kingdom and glory. It is God’s intention that we know and understand these themes because our lives and eternal destinies depend upon them. It is therefore unthinkable that God would allow some of this vital information to be “lost” in any way. The Bible is complete, in order that we who read and understand it might also be “complete, and equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).