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All 66 Books of the Bible

News ash: the Bible is huge: about 611,000 words long, all divvied up across 66 smaller documents
called the “books” of the Bible.

That’s because 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 Bible at once.

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 biblos, respectively). But it’s a book of books. That
means if you want to know the Bible better, you’ll need to get acquainted with the 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, so if you want to start with baby steps, check out this list of the shortest books
of the Bible.

The 66 Books of the Bible: a Quick Overview

Old Testament books of the Bible

(These are the books written long before Jesus was born.)
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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 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
Israel fails to trust 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 happens in the rst half of this book. The last half
is pretty much all about divvying up the real estate.

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”).

Author: Nobody knows
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8. Ruth
Two widows lose everything, and  nd 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, and the 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, 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 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.

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

Author: Nobody knows

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
about 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) celebrating love, desire, and marriage.

Author: Traditionally Solomon (but it could have been written about Solomon, or

in the style of Solomon)

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.”

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 news very well.

Author: Jeremiah

25. Lamentations 
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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 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 marry a prostitute who 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
for plundering Jerusalem.

Author: Obadiah

32. Jonah
A disobedient prophet runs from God, is swallowed by a great sh, 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, and prophecies that one day
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justice.
Author: Micah

34. Nahum
Nahum foretells of 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
surprised to nd that God will use the even more violent Babylonians to do so.

Author: Habakkuk

36. Zephaniah
God warns that he will judge 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 takes them 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
(These books were written about Jesus, and what it means to follow him.)

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.

Author: Matthew

41. The Gospel of Mark

This brief
Thisaccount of Jesus’
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Author: John Mark

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.

Author: Luke

43. The Gospel of John

John lists stories of signs and miracles with the hope that readers will 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

45. Romans
Paul summarizes how 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.

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

Author: Paul

51. Colossians
Paul writes the church at Colossae a letter 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
them to “excel still more” in faith, hope, and love.

Author: Paul

53. 2 Thessalonians
Paul instructs the Thessalonians on how to stand rm 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 continue preaching
the word.

Author: Paul

56. Titus
Paul advises Titus on how to lead orderly, counter-cultural churches 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

58. Hebrews
A letter encouraging Christians
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Author: Nobody knows

59. James
A letter telling Christians 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 important things they should know.

Author: John

63. 2 John
A very 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
content 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
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