What are the Books of the Bible?

The 66 Books of the Bible

The Holy Bible is a collection of 66 books. What are the books of the Bible?

The books of Bible were not written all at once but were written by 40 different authors over the course of thousands of years. The Bible is divided into 2 halves called "Testaments". The Old Testament contains 39 books and the New Testament has 27 books.

Simplified List of the Books of the Bible

• Old Testament (39)
  • Torah/Pentateuch
    • Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
  • History
    • Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
  • Poetry
    • Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
  • Prophecy
    • Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
• New Testament (27)
  • Gospels
    • Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
  • History
    • Acts
  • Paul's Epistles
    • Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon
  • General Epistles
    • Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude
  • Prophecy
    • Revelation

Here is a complete list of the books of the Bible with a brief description for each:

Old Testament books of the Bible

The books within each testament are also grouped according to a type. For example, the first 5 books of the Bible are "The Law" or the "Torah". The Greek title for these first 5 books is "Pentateuch" which means "5 scrolls or books".

The Law / Torah / Pentateuch:

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

1. Genesis

Genesis answers two big questions: “How did God’s relationship with the world begin?” and “Where did the nation of Israel come from?”

2. Exodus

God saves Israel from slavery in Egypt, and then enters into a special relationship with them.

3. Leviticus

God gives Israel instructions for how to worship Him.

4. Numbers

Israel fails to trust and obey God, and wanders in the wilderness for 40 years.

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.

Books of History in the Old Testament

Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

6. Joshua

Joshua (Israel’s new leader) leads Israel to conquer the Promised land, then parcels out territories to the twelve tribes of Israel.

7. Judges

Israel enters a cycle of turning from God, falling captive to oppressive nations, calling out to God, and being rescued by leaders God sends their way (called “judges”).

8. Ruth

Two widows lose everything, and find hope in Israel—which leads to the birth of the future King David.

9. 1 Samuel

Israel demands a king, who turns out to be quite a disappointment.

10. 2 Samuel

David, a man after God’s own heart, becomes king of Israel.

11. 1 Kings

The kingdom of Israel has a time of peace and prosperity under King Solomon, but afterward splits, and the two lines of kings turn away from God.

12. 2 Kings

Both kingdoms ignore God and his prophets, until they both fall captive to other world empires.

13. 1 Chronicles

This is a brief history of Israel from Adam to David, culminating with David commissioning the temple of God in Jerusalem.

14. 2 Chronicles

David’s son Solomon builds the temple, but after centuries of rejecting God, the Babylonians take the southern Israelites captive and destroy the temple.

15. Ezra

The Israelites rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and a scribe named Ezra teaches the people to once again obey God’s laws.

16. Nehemiah

The city of Jerusalem is in bad shape, so Nehemiah rebuilds the wall around the city.

17. Esther

Someone hatches a genocidal plot to bring about Israel’s extinction, and Esther must face the emperor to ask for help.

Books of Poetry in the Old Testament

Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon

18. Job

Satan attacks a righteous man named Job, and Job and his friends argue about why terrible things are happening to him.

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.

20. Proverbs

A collection of sayings written to help people make wise decisions that bring about justice.

21. Ecclesiastes

A philosophical exploration of the meaning of life—with a surprisingly nihilistic tone for the Bible.

22. Song of Solomon (Song of Songs)

A love song (or collection of love songs) celebrating love, desire, and marriage.

Books of prophecy in the Old Testament

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel,  Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum,  Habakkuk, Zephaniah,  Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

23. Isaiah

God sends the prophet Isaiah to warn Israel of future judgment—but also to tell them about a coming king and servant who will “bear the sins of many.”

24. Jeremiah

God sends a prophet to warn Israel about the coming Babylonian captivity, but the people don’t take the news very well.

25. Lamentations

A collection of dirges lamenting the fall of Jerusalem after the Babylonian attacks.

26. Ezekiel

God chooses a man to speak for Him to Israel, to tell them the error of their ways and teach them justice: Ezekiel.

27. Daniel

Daniel becomes a high-ranking wise man in the Babylonian and Persian empires, and has prophetic visions concerning Israel’s future.

28. Hosea

Hosea is told to marry a prostitute who leaves him, and he must bring her back: a picture of God’s relationship with Israel.

29. Joel

God sends a plague of locusts to Judge Israel, but his judgment on the surrounding nations is coming, too.

30. Amos

A shepherd named Amos preaches against the injustice of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

31. Obadiah

Obadiah warns the neighboring nation of Edom that they will be judged for plundering Jerusalem.

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.

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.

34. Nahum

Nahum foretells of God’s judgment on Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.

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.

36. Zephaniah

God warns that he will judge Israel and the surrounding nations, but also that he will restore them in peace and justice.

37. Haggai

The people have abandoned the work of restoring God’s temple in Jerusalem, and so Haggai takes them to task.

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 life and those who followed Him.

The Gospels

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

40. The Gospel of Matthew

This is an account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, focusing on Jesus’ role as the true king of the Jews.

41. The Gospel of Mark

This brief account of Jesus’ earthly ministry highlights Jesus’ authority and servanthood.

42. The Gospel of Luke

Luke writes the most thorough account of Jesus’ life, pulling together eyewitness testimonies to tell the full story of Jesus.

43. The Gospel of John

John lists stories of signs and miracles with the hope that readers will believe in Jesus.

New Testament Book of History

Acts

44. Acts

Jesus returns to the Father, the Holy Spirit comes to the church, and the gospel of Jesus spreads throughout the world.

Paul's Epistles

Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon

45. Romans

Paul summarizes how the gospel of Jesus works in a letter to the churches at Rome, where he plans to visit.

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.

47. 2 Corinthians

Paul writes a letter of reconciliation to the church at Corinth, and clears up some concerns that they have.

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.

49. Ephesians

Paul writes to the church at Ephesus about how to walk in grace, peace, and love.

50. Philippians

An encouraging letter to the church of Philippi from Paul, telling them how to have joy in Christ.

51. Colossians

Paul writes the church at Colossae a letter about who they are in Christ, and how to walk in Christ.

52. 1 Thessalonians

Paul has heard a good report on the church at Thessalonica, and encourages them to “excel still more” in faith, hope, and love.

53. 2 Thessalonians

Paul instructs the Thessalonians on how to stand firm until the coming of Jesus.

54. 1 Timothy

Paul gives his protegé Timothy instruction on how to lead a church with sound teaching and a godly example.

55. 2 Timothy

Paul is nearing the end of his life, and encourages Timothy to continue preaching the word.

56. Titus

Paul advises Titus on how to lead orderly, counter-cultural churches on the island of Crete.

57. Philemon

Paul strongly recommends that Philemon accept his runaway slave as a brother, not a slave.

General Epistles

Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude

58. Hebrews

A letter encouraging Christians to cling to Christ despite persecution, because he is greater.

59. James

A letter telling Christians to live in ways that demonstrate their faith in action. James was 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.

61. 2 Peter

Peter writes a letter reminding Christians about the truth of Jesus, and warning them that false teachers will come.

62. 1 John

John writes a letter to Christians about keeping Jesus’ commands, loving one another, and important things they should know.

63. 2 John

A very brief letter about walking in truth, love, and obedience.

64. 3 John

An even shorter letter about Christian fellowship.

65. Jude

A letter encouraging Christians to contend for the faith, even though ungodly persons have crept in unnoticed.

Prophecy

Revelation

66. Revelation

While imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos, John sees visions of things that have been, things that are, and things that are yet to come.