News flash: the Bible is huge: about 611,000 words long, all divvied up across 66 smaller documents called the “books” of the Bible.
That’sbecause the Bible is a collection of writings from different authors writing at different times. In some ways, that makes it easier to approach the Bible: we can read it in “chunks” rather than needing to read the whole Bibleat once.
But it also makes it a bit confusing. The Bible itself is a book. In fact, the word “bible” comes from the LatinandGreek words for “book” (biblia andbiblos, respectively). But it’s a book of books. That meansif you want to know the Bible better, you’ll need to get acquainted withthe 66 documents it comprises.
That can take a while, so . . .
Here’s a snapshot of every book of the Bible
I’ve written a one-sentence overview of every book of the Bible. They’re listed in the order they show up in the Protestant Bible. If you want more, I’ve linked to quick, 3-minute guides to every book of the Bible, too.
This is a lot to take in, soif you want to start with baby steps,check out this list of the shortest books of the Bible.
Old Testament books of the Bible
The Old Testament includes 39 books which were written long before Jesus was born.
The first five books of the Bible are called the Torah, or the Law of Moses.
1.Genesis
Genesis answers two bigquestions: “How did God’s relationship with the world begin?” and “Where did the nation of Israel come from?”
Author:Traditionally Moses, but the stories are much older.
Fun fact:Most of the famous Bible stories you’ve heard about are probably found in the book of Genesis. This is where the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and the Ark, the Tower of Babel, Abraham and Isaac,Jacob’s ladder, and Joseph’s coat of many colors are recorded.
2.Exodus
God saves Israel from slavery in Egypt, and then enters into a special relationship with them.
Author:Traditionally Moses
3.Leviticus
God gives Israel instructions for how to worship Him.
Author:traditionally Moses
4.Numbers
Israelfails totrust and obey God, and wanders in the wilderness for 40 years.
Author:Traditionally Moses
5.Deuteronomy
Moses gives Israel instructions (in some ways, a recap of the laws in Exodus–Numbers) for how to love and obey God in the Promised Land.
Author:Traditionally Moses
6.Joshua
Joshua(Israel’s new leader)leads Israel to conquer the Promised land, then parcels out territories to the twelve tribes of Israel.
Author:Nobody knows
Fun fact:You’ve probably heard of a few fantastic stories from this book (the Battle of Jericho and the day the sun stood still), but most of the action happensin the first half of this book. The last half ispretty much all about divvying up the real estate.
7.Judges
Israel enters a cycle of turning from God, falling captive tooppressive nations, calling out to God, and being rescued by leaders God sends their way (called “judges”).
Author:Nobody knows
8.Ruth
Two widowslose everything, andfind hope in Israel—which leads to the birth of the future King David.
Author:Nobody knows
9.1 Samuel
Israel demands a king,who turns out to be quite a disappointment.
Author:Nobody knows
10.2 Samuel
David, a man after God’s own heart, becomes king of Israel.
Author:Nobody knows
11.1 Kings
The kingdom of Israel has a time of peace and prosperity under King Solomon, but afterward splits, andthe two lines of kings turn away from God.
Author:Nobody knows
12.2 Kings
Both kingdoms ignore God and his prophets, until they both fall captive to other world empires.
Author:Nobody knows
13.1 Chronicles
This is a brief history of Israel from Adam to David, culminating with David commissioning the temple of God in Jerusalem.
Author:Traditionally Ezra
14.2 Chronicles
David’s son Solomon builds the temple, butafter centuries of rejecting God, the Babylonianstake the southern Israelites captive and destroy the temple.
Author:Traditionally Ezra
15.Ezra
TheIsraelites rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and a scribe named Ezra teaches the people to once again obey God’s laws.
Author: Ezra
16.Nehemiah
The city of Jerusalem is in bad shape, so Nehemiah rebuilds the wall around the city.
Author:Nehemiah
17.Esther
Someone hatches a genocidalplot to bring about Israel’s extinction, andEsther must face the emperor to ask for help.
Author:Nobody knows
Books of Poetry in the Old Testament
18.Job
Satan attacks a righteous man named Job, and Job and his friends argue about why terrible things are happening to him.
Author:Nobody knows
19.Psalms
A collection of 150 songs that Israel sang to God (and to each other)—kind of like a hymnal for the ancient Israelites.
Author:So many authors—meet them all here!
20.Proverbs
A collection of sayings written to help people make wise decisions that bring aboutjustice.
Author: Solomon and other wise men
21.Ecclesiastes
A philosophical exploration of the meaning of life—with a surprisingly nihilistic tone for the Bible.
Author:Traditionally Solomon
22.Song of Solomon (Song of Songs)
A lovesong (or collection of love songs) celebrating love, desire, and marriage.
Author:Traditionally Solomon (but it could have been written about Solomon, or in the style of Solomon)
Books of prophecy in the Old Testament
23.Isaiah
God sends the prophet Isaiah to warn Israel of futurejudgment—but also to tell them about a coming king and servant who will “bear the sins of many.”
Author:Isaiah (and maybe some of his followers)
24.Jeremiah
God sends a prophet to warn Israel about the coming Babylonian captivity, but the people don’t take the newsvery well.
Author:Jeremiah
25.Lamentations
A collection of dirges lamenting the fall of Jerusalem after the Babylonian attacks.
Author:TraditionallyJeremiah
26.Ezekiel
Godchooses a man to speak for Him to Israel, to tell them the error of their ways and teach them justice: Ezekiel.
Author:Ezekiel
27.Daniel
Daniel becomes ahigh-ranking wise man in the Babylonian and Persian empires, and has prophetic visions concerning Israel’s future.
Author:Daniel (with other contributors)
28.Hosea
Hosea is told to marrya prostitutewho leaves him, and he must bring her back: a picture of God’s relationship with Israel.
Author:Hosea
29.Joel
God sends a plague of locusts to Judge Israel, but his judgment on the surrounding nations is coming, too.
Author:Joel
30.Amos
A shepherd named Amos preaches against the injustice of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Author:Amos
31.Obadiah
Obadiah warns the neighboring nation of Edom that they will be judged forplundering Jerusalem.
Author:Obadiah
32.Jonah
A disobedient prophet runs from God, is swallowed by a great fish, and then preaches God’s message to the city of Nineveh.
Author: TraditionallyJonah
33.Micah
Micah confronts the leaders of Israel and Judah regarding their injustice, and prophecies that one day the Lord himself will rule in perfect justice.
Author:Micah
34.Nahum
Nahum foretells of God’s judgment onNineveh, the capital of Assyria.
Author:Nahum
35.Habakkuk
Habakkuk pleads with God to stop the injustice and violence in Judah, but is surprised to find that God will use the even more violent Babylonians to do so.
Author:Habakkuk
36.Zephaniah
God warns that he willjudge Israel and the surrounding nations, but also that he will restore them in peace and justice.
Author:Zephaniah
37.Haggai
The people have abandoned the work of restoring God’s temple in Jerusalem, and so Haggai takesthem to task.
Author:Haggai
38.Zechariah
The prophet Zechariah calls Israel to return to God, and records prophetic visions that show what’s happening behind the scenes.
39.Malachi
God has been faithful to Israel, but they continue to live disconnected from him—so God sends Malachi to call them out.
New Testament books of the Bible
The New Testament includes 27 books about Jesus’ ministry andwhat it means to follow him. The first four books of the New Testament are called the Gospels.
40. The Gospel ofMatthew
This is an account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, focusing on Jesus’ role as the true king of the Jews.
Author:Matthew
41. The Gospel ofMark
This brief account of Jesus’ earthly ministry highlightsJesus’ authority and servanthood.
Author:John Mark
42. The Gospel ofLuke
Luke writes the most thorough account of Jesus’ life, pulling together eyewitness testimonies to tell the full story of Jesus.
Author:Luke
43. The Gospel ofJohn
Johnlists stories of signs and miracleswith the hope thatreaderswill believe in Jesus.
Author:John
44.Acts
Jesus returns to the Father, the Holy Spirit comes to the church, and the gospel of Jesus spreads throughout the world.
Author:Luke
Paul’s epistles
45.Romans
Paulsummarizeshow the gospel of Jesus works in a letter to the churches at Rome, where he plans to visit.
Author:Paul
46.1 Corinthians
Paul writes a disciplinary letter to a fractured church in Corinth, and answers some questions that they’ve had about how Christians should behave.
Author:Paul
47.2 Corinthians
Paul writes a letter of reconciliation to the church at Corinth, and clears up some concerns that they have.
Author:Paul
48.Galatians
Paul hears that the Galatian churches have been lead to think that salvation comes from the law of Moses, and writes a (rather heated) letter telling them where the false teachers have it wrong.
Author:Paul
49.Ephesians
Paul writes to the church at Ephesus about how to walk in grace, peace, and love.
Author:Paul
50.Philippians
An encouraging letter to the church of Philippi from Paul, telling them how tohave joy in Christ.
Author:Paul
51.Colossians
Paul writes the church at Colossae aletter about who they are in Christ, and how to walk in Christ.
Author:Paul
52.1 Thessalonians
Paul has heard a good report on the church at Thessalonica, and encourages themto “excel still more” in faith, hope, and love.
Author:Paul
53.2 Thessalonians
Paul instructs the Thessalonians on how to stand firm until the coming of Jesus.
Author:Paul
54.1 Timothy
Paul gives his protegé Timothy instruction on how to lead a church with sound teaching and a godly example.
Author:Paul
55.2 Timothy
Paul is nearing the end of his life, and encourages Timothy to continuepreaching the word.
Author:Paul
56.Titus
Paul advises Titus on how to lead orderly, counter-culturalchurches on the island of Crete.
Author:Paul
57.Philemon
Paul strongly recommends that Philemon accept his runaway slave as a brother, not a slave.
Author:Paul
The general, or Catholic, epistles
58.Hebrews
A letterencouraging Christians to cling to Christ despite persecution, because he is greater.
Author:Nobody knows
59.James
A letter tellingChristians to live in ways that demonstrate their faith in action.
Author: James (likely the brother of Jesus)
60.1 Peter
Peter writes to Christians who are being persecuted,encouraging them to testify to the truth and live accordingly.
Author:Peter
61.2 Peter
Peter writes a letter reminding Christians about the truth of Jesus, and warning them that false teachers will come.
Author:Peter
62.1 John
John writes a letter to Christians about keeping Jesus’ commands, loving one another, and importantthings they should know.
Author:John
63.2 John
Avery brief letter about walking in truth, love, and obedience.
Author: John
64.3 John
An even shorter letter about Christian fellowship.
Author:John
65.Jude
A letter encouraging Christians to contend for the faith, even though ungodly persons have crept in unnoticed.
Author:Jude
66.Revelation
John sees visions of things that have been, things that are, and things that are yet to come.
Author:John
