news flash: the bible is huge: about 611,000 words, all broken up into 66 smaller documents called “books” of the bible.
That’s because the Bible is a collection of writings by different authors who wrote at different times. somehow that makes it easier to approach the bible: we can read it in “chunks” instead of having to read the whole bible at once.
You are reading: Books of the bible explained
but it also makes it a bit confusing. the bible itself is a book. In fact, the word “bible” comes from the Latin and Greek words for “book” (biblia and byblos, respectively). but it is a book of books. That means if you want to know the Bible better, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the 66 documents it comprises.
that may take a while, so . . .
here is a snapshot of each book of the bible
I have written a one sentence summary of each book of the bible. They are listed in the order they appear in the Protestant Bible. If you want more, I also have links to quick 3 minute guides for each book of the bible.
This is a lot to take in, so if you want to start small, check out this list of the shortest books in the bible.
old testament books of the bible
the old testament includes 39 books that were written long before the birth of jesus.
The first five books of the Bible are called the Torah, or the Law of Moses.
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?”
author: traditionally Moses, but the stories are much older.
Fun fact: Most of the famous Bible stories you’ve heard 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 many-colored robe are recorded.
2. exodus
god saves israel from slavery in egypt, and then enters into a special relationship with them.
author: traditionally Moses
3. levitic
god gives israel instructions on how to worship him.
author: traditionally Moses
4. numbers
Israel does not trust or obey God, and wanders in the desert for 40 years.
author: traditionally Moses
5. deuteronomy
moses gives israel instructions (in a way, a summary of the laws in exodus-numbers) on how to love and obey god in the promised land.
author: traditionally Moses
6. Joshua
joshua (the new leader of israel) leads israel to conquer the promised land, then allocates territories among the twelve tribes of israel.
See Also: How Do I Listen To Kindle Books On My Android Phone?? – Kiwi Ask
author: nobody knows
Fun fact: You’ve probably heard of some of the great stories in this book (the battle of Jericho and the day the sun stood still), but most of the action takes place in the First half. The last half of this book is basically about divvying up real estate.
7. judges
israel enters a cycle of turning away from god, falling captive to oppressive nations, crying out to god, and being rescued by the leaders god sends their way (called “judges”).
See Also: How Do I Listen To Kindle Books On My Android Phone?? – Kiwi Ask
author: nobody knows
8. route
Two widows lose everything and find hope in Israel, leading to the birth of the future King David.
See Also: How Do I Listen To Kindle Books On My Android Phone?? – Kiwi Ask
author: nobody knows
9. 1 samuel
Israel demands a king, which turns out to be a huge disappointment.
See Also: How Do I Listen To Kindle Books On My Android Phone?? – Kiwi Ask
author: nobody knows
10. 2 samuel
david, a man after god’s own heart, becomes king of israel.
See Also: How Do I Listen To Kindle Books On My Android Phone?? – Kiwi Ask
author: nobody knows
11. 1 kings
the kingdom of israel has a time of peace and prosperity under king solomon, but then it splits, and both lines of kings turn away from god.
See Also: How Do I Listen To Kindle Books On My Android Phone?? – Kiwi Ask
author: nobody knows
12. 2 kings
both kingdoms ignore god and his prophets, until both fall captive to other world empires.
See Also: How Do I Listen To Kindle Books On My Android Phone?? – Kiwi Ask
author: nobody knows
13. 1 chronicles
this is a brief history of israel from adam to david, culminating in david setting up god’s temple in jerusalem.
author: traditionally ezra
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.
author: traditionally ezra
15. ezra
the israelites rebuild the temple in jerusalem, and a scribe named ezra teaches the people to obey god’s laws once again.
author: ezra
16. nehemiah
The city of Jerusalem is in a state of disrepair, so Nehemiah rebuilds the wall around the city.
author: nehemiah
17. ester
Someone hatches a genocidal plot to bring about Israel’s extinction, and Esther must confront the Emperor for help.
See Also: How Do I Listen To Kindle Books On My Android Phone?? – Kiwi Ask
author: nobody knows
poetry books in the old testament
18. work
satan attacks a righteous man named job, and job and his friends argue about why terrible things are happening to him.
See Also: How Do I Listen To Kindle Books On My Android Phone?? – Kiwi Ask
author: nobody knows
19. psalms
a collection of 150 songs that israel sang to god (and each other), somewhat like a hymnal for the ancient israelites.
author: so many authors, meet them all here!
20. proverbs
a collection of writing sayings to help people make wise decisions that bring justice.
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 love song (or collection of love songs) that celebrates love, desire, and marriage.
author: traditionally Solomon (but could have been written about Solomon, or Solomon-style)
books of prophecy in the old testament
23. isaiah
god sends the prophet isaiah to warn israel of future judgment, but also to inform them of the coming of a king and a servant who will “bear the sins of many”.
author: isaiah (and perhaps some of his followers)
24. Jeremiah
God sends a prophet to warn Israel of the coming Babylonian captivity, but the people do not take the news very well.
author: jeremiah
25. lamentations
a collection of dirges lamenting the fall of Jerusalem after the Babylonian attacks.
author: traditionally jeremiah
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.
author: ezekiel
27. Daniel
Daniel becomes a high-ranking sage in the Persian and Babylonian empires, and has prophetic visions of Israel’s future.
author: daniel (with other collaborators)
28. I mean
hosea is told to marry a prostitute who leaves him, and he must bring her back: a picture of god’s relationship with israel.
author: you mean
29. joel
god sends a plague of locusts to judge israel, but his judgment is also coming on the surrounding nations.
author: joel
30. amos
a pastor 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 for sacking Jerusalem.
author: obadiah
32. jonah
a disobedient prophet flees from god, is swallowed by a great fish, and then preaches god’s message to the city of nineveh.
author: traditionally jonah
33. micah
Micah confronts the leaders of Israel and Judah regarding their injustice, prophesying that one day the Lord Himself will rule in perfect justice.
author: micah
34. nahum
nahum predicts god’s judgment on nineveh, the capital of assyria.
author: nahum
35. Habakkuk
Habakkuk pleads with God to stop the injustice and violence in Judah, but is shocked to discover that God will use even more violent Babylonians to do so.
author: habacuc
36. zephaniah
god warns that he will judge israel and the surrounding nations, but also that he will restore them to peace and justice.
author: zephaniah
37. haggai
The people have abandoned the work of restoring God’s temple in Jerusalem, so Haggai rebuked them.
author: haggai
38. zacharias
the prophet zechariah calls israel back to god and records prophetic visions that show what goes on 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.
new testament books of the bible
the new testament includes 27 books on the ministry of jesus and what it means to follow him. The first four books of the New Testament are called the Gospels.
40. the gospel of matthew
This is an account of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, focusing on Jesus’ role as the true King of the Jews.
author: mateo
41. the gospel of mark
This brief account of Jesus’ earthly ministry highlights Jesus’ authority and service.
author: john mark
42. the gospel of luke
lucas writes the most complete account of the life of jesus, gathering eyewitness testimony to tell the complete story of jesus.
author: lucas
43. the gospel of john
See Also: Mary Jo Putney – Book Series In Order
john lists stories of signs and wonders in hopes that readers will believe in jesus.
author: john
See Also: Best Novels for Students You Must to Read! – Leverage Edu
44. acts
jesus returns to the father, the holy spirit comes to the church, and the gospel of jesus spreads throughout the world.
author: lucas
the epistles of paul
45. romans
Paul summarizes how the gospel of Jesus works in a letter to the churches in 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 they have had about how christians should behave.
author: paul
47. 2 corinthians
Pablo writes a letter of reconciliation to the Corinthian church and clarifies some concerns they have.
author: paul
48. Galatians
Paul hears that the galatian churches have been led to think that salvation comes from the law of Moses, and he writes a (rather heated) letter telling them where the false teachers went wrong.
author: paul
49. ephesians
Paul writes to the church in Ephesus about how to walk in grace, peace and love.
author: paul
50. Philippians
a letter of encouragement to the church of paul’s filipinos, telling them how to have joy in christ.
author: paul
51. Colossians
paul writes a letter to the church at colosse about who they are in christ and how to walk in christ.
author: paul
52. 1 Thessalonians
paul has heard a good report about the church in thessalonica and encourages them to “exceed even more” in faith, hope and love.
author: paul
53. 2 Thessalonians
Paul instructs the Thessalonians on how to stand firm until Jesus comes.
author: paul
54. 1 timothy
paul instructs his protégé timothy on how to lead a church with sound teaching and godly example.
author: paul
55. 2 timothy
Paul is nearing the end of his life and encourages Timothy to continue preaching the word.
author: paul
56. uncle
Pablo advises Tito on how to lead orderly and countercultural churches on the island of Crete.
author: paul
57. filemon
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 letter that encourages Christians to cling to Christ despite persecution, because he is greater.
See Also: How Do I Listen To Kindle Books On My Android Phone?? – Kiwi Ask
author: nobody knows
59. james
a letter that tells Christians to live in ways that demonstrate their faith in action.
author: santiago (probably the brother of jesus)
60. 1 peter
Peter writes to Christians who are being persecuted, encouraging them to bear witness to the truth and live accordingly.
author: pedro
61. 2 peter
Peter writes a letter reminding Christians of the truth of Jesus, and warning them that false teachers will come.
author: pedro
62. 1 juan
John writes a letter to Christians about keeping Jesus’ commandments, loving one another, and important things to know.
author: john
See Also: Best Novels for Students You Must to Read! – Leverage Edu
63. 2 john
a very short letter about walking in truth, love and obedience.
author: john
See Also: Best Novels for Students You Must to Read! – Leverage Edu
64. 3 john
an even shorter letter on Christian fellowship.
author: john
See Also: Best Novels for Students You Must to Read! – Leverage Edu
65. jude
a letter that encourages Christians to contend for the faith, even though ungodly people have sneaked in unnoticed.
author: judas
66. revelation
john sees visions of things that have been, things that are, and things that are to come.
author: john
See Also: Best Novels for Students You Must to Read! – Leverage Edu