Books of the Bible: All 66 Books in Order, Explained
Updated: 3 days ago
The books of the Bible are the 66 books of the Protestant Bible, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. This guide lists the books of the Bible in order, grouped by section, with each book's author, rough date, genre, a plain summary and a suggestion for where to start reading.
Introduction
Most people meet the books of the Bible as a long, unfamiliar list. This page turns that list into a map. You will find all 66 books in order, what kind of writing each one is, who is said to have written it, roughly when, and what it is about, in one plain sentence per book. Each book also has a 'Start here if' line, so you can choose a book that suits where you are today.
Where scholars disagree about authorship or dates, the page says so. It also explains fairly why Catholic and Orthodox Bibles contain more books than the 66 listed here. Dates are approximate, BC dates count backwards, and 'c.' means about.
Last updated: 21 October 2026. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Contents
How many books are in the Bible?
What is the order of the books of the Bible?
What are the five books of the Law?
What are the 12 history books of the Old Testament?
What are the five books of wisdom and poetry?
Who are the five major prophets?
Who are the 12 minor prophets?
What are the Gospels and the book of Acts?
What are the 13 letters of Paul?
What are the general letters?
What is the last book of the Bible?
How can you memorise the order of the books of the Bible?
Where should a beginner start reading the Bible?
Where do scholars disagree about who wrote the books?
Is there a free printable list of the books of the Bible?
Where should you go next?
Frequently asked questions
Key takeaways
Further reading
Conclusion
How many books are in the Bible?
There are 66 books in the Protestant Bible: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Together they contain 1,189 chapters, 929 in the Old Testament and 260 in the New Testament. The NIV, the translation quoted on this page, follows this 66-book canon.
The number changes with the tradition. The Catholic Bible has 73 books: the same 27 New Testament books and 46 Old Testament books. The extra seven are Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees, with longer versions of Esther and Daniel. The Catholic Church confirmed this list at the Council of Trent in 1546.
Orthodox churches also use a longer Old Testament, and the exact list varies between them. The Greek Orthodox Bible, for example, adds 1 Esdras, 3 Maccabees, the Prayer of Manasseh and Psalm 151 to the Catholic extras, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has a larger canon still. Protestants call the additional books the Apocrypha. The Church of England reads them for examples of life and manners but does not use them to establish doctrine, as Article 6 of its Thirty-Nine Articles puts it.
The Jewish Bible, the Tanakh, contains the same writings as the Protestant Old Testament but counts them as 24 books, because Samuel, Kings, Chronicles and Ezra with Nehemiah are each one book and the twelve minor prophets share one scroll. So the answer to 'how many books are in the Bible' depends on whose Bible you hold. This page lists the 66, and notes the others fairly, because the purpose is to help you read, not to settle an old disagreement.
What is the order of the books of the Bible?
The books of the Bible list below follows the order of a standard English Bible. The Old Testament runs from Genesis to Malachi, and the New Testament runs from Matthew to Revelation. Each testament is arranged by type of writing:
Law: 5 books (Genesis to Deuteronomy)
History: 12 books (Joshua to Esther)
Wisdom and poetry: 5 books (Job to Song of Songs)
Prophets: 17 books, 5 major (Isaiah to Daniel) and 12 minor (Hosea to Malachi)
Gospels and Acts: 5 books (Matthew to Acts)
Letters of Paul: 13 books (Romans to Philemon)
General letters: 8 books (Hebrews to Jude)
Prophecy: 1 book (Revelation)
The order is by kind of writing, not by the date each book was written. Job is probably older than many history books. Paul's letters are arranged roughly from longest to shortest, so Romans comes first even though 1 Thessalonians or Galatians was written earlier. The Gospels also came after several of the letters. The Jewish order is different again: Law, Prophets and Writings, ending with Chronicles. When Jesus spoke of what was written about him in 'the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms' (Luke 24:44), he was using that threefold pattern.
The sections that follow give every book in order. Each one shows the author, the rough date, the genre and the number of chapters, then a one-sentence summary and a place to start. For the quiz version of this material, try the Bible trivia hub.
What are the five books of the Law?
The first five books are called the Law, the Torah or the Pentateuch, meaning 'five scrolls'. They tell the story from creation to the edge of the promised land and set out the covenant between God and Israel. Jewish and Christian tradition has long linked them to Moses, though scholars differ about how they were written, as explained further down.
1. Genesis
Author: Traditionally Moses; the book itself is anonymous. Written: tradition links it to Moses; many critical scholars see it as composed over centuries and reaching its final form after the exile, possibly in the 5th century BC. Genre: Narrative and family history. Chapters: 50.
Tells how God made the world, how human wrongdoing spread, and how he chose Abraham's family to bless every nation, ending with Joseph's family safe in Egypt. Start here if you want to know where the Bible's big story begins, with creation, the flood and the first families of faith.
2. Exodus
Author: Traditionally Moses. Written: tradition links it to Moses; many critical scholars see a first composition in the exile (6th century BC) with final revision in the Persian period (5th century BC). Those who read the events as history often place them in the 15th or 13th century BC, a question that is debated. Genre: Narrative and law. Chapters: 40.
Follows Israel from slavery in Egypt to Mount Sinai, where God gives the Ten Commandments and instructions for a tent of worship. Start here if you want the story of the Passover and the escape through the sea that later writers kept returning to.
3. Leviticus
Author: Traditionally Moses. Written: tradition links it to Moses; many scholars think it developed over a long period and reached its present form in the Persian period (538 to 332 BC), though this is disputed. Genre: Law and ritual instruction. Chapters: 27.
Explains how a people living near a holy God can worship, be forgiven and live clean, through rules for sacrifices, priests, feasts and daily life. Start here if you wonder why the New Testament speaks of sacrifice and atonement. Read it after Exodus, and begin with chapter 19, where the call to 'love your neighbor as yourself' appears (Leviticus 19:18, NIV).
4. Numbers
Author: Traditionally Moses. Written: tradition links it to Moses; many scholars place its final form in the early Persian period (5th century BC), using much older material. Genre: Narrative and law. Chapters: 36.
Follows Israel's forty years of wandering after Sinai, with two head-counts, a failure of nerve at the border of the promised land, and a new generation preparing to enter. Start here if you want the stories of the bronze snake (chapter 21) or Balaam and his donkey (chapter 22).
5. Deuteronomy
Author: Traditionally Moses. Written: tradition links it to Moses; most modern scholars date it to between the 7th and 5th centuries BC. Genre: Speeches and law. Chapters: 34.
Gathers Moses' farewell sermons, restating the law and urging a new generation to love God and keep the covenant before they cross the Jordan. Start here if you want the heart of the law in one place. Jesus quoted its great command, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength' (Deuteronomy 6:5, NIV).
What are the 12 history books of the Old Testament?
The history books carry Israel's story from the conquest of the promised land to the return from exile in Babylon. They were written as theology as much as chronicle: each asks what it means to live as God's people, and what happens when they forget him. Some contain violent episodes, which Christians read in different ways, so it helps to read them slowly and in context.
6. Joshua
Author: Unknown; tradition credits Joshua with part of it. Written: the events are traditionally placed c. 1400 to 1200 BC; scholars see the earliest material in the reign of Josiah (640 to 609 BC) and a finished book after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC or later. Genre: Historical narrative. Chapters: 24.
Tells how Israel enters and divides the promised land under Joshua, from the fall of Jericho to the people's renewed promise to serve the Lord. Start here if you want a story of courage and obedience, and you are ready to think carefully about the battle accounts.
7. Judges
Author: Unknown; Jewish tradition suggests Samuel. Written: events c. 1200 to 1050 BC; part of the Deuteronomistic history, which scholars date to roughly 630 to 540 BC. Genre: Historical narrative. Chapters: 21.
Shows Israel's repeated cycle of forgetting God, being oppressed, crying out and being rescued by leaders such as Deborah, Gideon and Samson, until the book closes in chaos. Start here if you like vivid, difficult stories. Its last verse sums up the mood: 'everyone did as they saw fit' (Judges 21:25, NIV).
8. Ruth
Author: Unknown; Jewish tradition suggests Samuel. Written: set in the time of the judges; many scholars place the writing in the Persian period (c. 550 to 330 BC). Genre: Short story. Chapters: 4.
A widow from Moab stays loyal to her mother-in-law Naomi, finds protection and a husband in Boaz, and becomes the great-grandmother of King David. Start here if you want a short, gentle book you can read in one sitting. Ruth's pledge to Naomi, 'Where you go I will go', is in chapter 1 (verse 16, NIV).
9. 1 Samuel
Author: Unknown; Jewish tradition names Samuel, with additions by Gad and Nathan. Written: events c. 1100 to 1010 BC; modern scholars see it as part of the Deuteronomistic history, composed c. 630 to 540 BC. Genre: Historical narrative. Chapters: 31.
Traces Israel's shift from judges to kings through Samuel's call, Saul's rise and rejection, and young David's victory over Goliath. Start here if you want David's story from the beginning.
10. 2 Samuel
Author: Unknown, as for 1 Samuel. Written: events c. 1010 to 970 BC; part of the same history as 1 Samuel. Genre: Historical narrative. Chapters: 24.
Follows David as king, from his capture of Jerusalem and God's promise of a lasting throne to his serious wrongs against Bathsheba and Uriah and the family troubles that followed. Start here if you want an honest portrait of a great leader whose failures the Bible does not hide.
11. 1 Kings
Author: Unknown; Jewish tradition suggests Jeremiah. Written: events c. 970 to 850 BC; scholars see a first edition in the late 7th century BC and a final edition about 560 BC, during the exile. Genre: Historical narrative. Chapters: 22.
Covers Solomon's wisdom and temple, the split of the kingdom into north and south, and the prophet Elijah's contest with the prophets of Baal. Start here if you want Elijah on Mount Carmel (chapter 18).
12. 2 Kings
Author: Unknown, as for 1 Kings. Written: events c. 850 to 560 BC; the same two editions as 1 Kings. Genre: Historical narrative. Chapters: 25.
Follows the two kingdoms to their ends, with Israel falling to Assyria in 722 BC and Judah to Babylon in 586 BC, alongside the ministry of Elisha. Start here if you want to understand why the exile happened.
13. 1 Chronicles
Author: Unknown; Jewish and Christian tradition long credited Ezra. Written: scholars generally date Chronicles between about 400 and 250 BC. Genre: Genealogy and history. Chapters: 29.
Retells Israel's story from Adam to David through long family lists, stressing David's preparations for the temple and the unity of God's people. Start here if you have read Samuel and Kings and want the same history from a priestly angle. On a first pass, skim the family lists.
14. 2 Chronicles
Author: Unknown, as for 1 Chronicles. Written: c. 400 to 250 BC, as for 1 Chronicles. Genre: History. Chapters: 36.
Retells the story from Solomon's temple to the exile, judging each king by whether he sought the Lord, and ends with the Persian king Cyrus allowing the exiles to return. Start here if you want to see how the Old Testament history ends on a note of hope.
15. Ezra
Author: Unknown; Jewish tradition suggests Ezra himself. Written: events c. 538 to 458 BC; Ezra and Nehemiah were originally one book, written in the Persian period. Genre: Historical narrative. Chapters: 10.
Records the return of exiles from Babylon, the rebuilding of the temple, and Ezra's work to teach the law and renew the community. Start here if you are interested in how a broken community starts again.
16. Nehemiah
Author: A first-person memoir by Nehemiah is generally thought to lie behind it, with later additions. Written: events c. 445 to 430 BC; originally one book with Ezra. Genre: Historical narrative. Chapters: 13.
Tells how Nehemiah rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days despite opposition and leads a public renewal of the covenant. Start here if you want a book about leadership, prayer and perseverance under pressure.
17. Esther
Author: Unknown. Written: set under the Persian king Xerxes, c. 483 to 473 BC; the date of writing is uncertain, with proposals from the Persian to the Hellenistic period. Genre: Historical story. Chapters: 10.
Esther, a Jewish queen in Persia, risks her life to save her people from a plot, in a book that never names God yet shows his hidden hand. Start here if you like suspense and reversals. Mordecai's challenge to Esther, 'for such a time as this' (Esther 4:14, NIV), is its best-known line.
What are the five books of wisdom and poetry?
These five books are the Bible's songs, sayings and arguments about how to live. They are written as poetry, which Hebrew writers used to make truth memorable, so they are best read slowly and aloud. They speak to ordinary life: suffering, work, love, grief and doubt.
18. Job
Author: Unknown. Written: uncertain; the USCCB introduction suggests between the 7th and 5th centuries BC, and other scholars favour the Persian period (540 to 330 BC). It is generally read as a literary composition and not a record of events. Genre: Wisdom poetry and dialogue. Chapters: 42.
Job loses his family, wealth and health, argues with friends who insist he must have sinned, and meets God, who answers from the storm without explaining the reason for his pain. Start here if you are suffering, or you are sitting with someone who is. Read the speeches with care, because God says in chapter 42 that Job's friends did not speak rightly about him.
19. Psalms
Author: 73 psalms carry David's name in their headings, with others attributed to Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon and Moses (Psalm 90), and many anonymous. Many modern scholars treat the headings as traditional attributions and not proof of authorship. Written: composed over several centuries and gathered into five books, with the collection reaching its final form after the exile; dating individual psalms is notoriously difficult. Genre: Songs, prayers and praise. Chapters: 150.
A collection of 150 songs covering praise, thanks, anger, grief, trust and repentance, giving the people of God words to bring everything to God honestly. Start here if you want words for prayer. Begin with Psalm 23 ('The Lord is my shepherd', verse 1, NIV) and Psalm 119:105 ('Your word is a lamp for my feet', NIV), then read one psalm a day.
20. Proverbs
Author: Traditionally Solomon, with other sections credited to Agur, Lemuel and unnamed sages (Proverbs 25:1 mentions Hezekiah's men copying out Solomon's sayings). Written: parts may be very old, but many scholars see the final form as coming from the Persian or Hellenistic period. Genre: Wisdom sayings. Chapters: 31.
Short, practical sayings on work, money, speech, friendship and family, built on the idea that 'the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge' (Proverbs 1:7, NIV). Start here if you want guidance for everyday decisions. There are 31 chapters, so you can read one a day for a month.
21. Ecclesiastes
Author: The author calls himself Qoheleth ('the Teacher'), a son of David in Jerusalem; tradition says Solomon, though many scholars favour a later author. Written: uncertain; Solomon's reign (10th century BC) on the traditional view, but many scholars place it in the 3rd century BC, partly because of its language. Genre: Reflective wisdom. Chapters: 12.
The Teacher asks whether anything under the sun lasts, finds that pleasure, work and wisdom all fall short on their own, and concludes that life is a gift to be received with reverence for God. Start here if you are asking whether life has meaning. Chapter 3 begins with 'There is a time for everything' (verse 1, NIV).
22. Song of Songs
Author: Traditionally Solomon, because of the title in 1:1; many scholars think an unknown poet gathered love poems at a later date. Written: uncertain; many scholars suggest a date after the exile (after 538 BC), and its authorship, date and origins remain debated. Genre: Love poetry. Chapters: 8.
A woman and a man speak to each other, and to their friends, in a sequence of poems celebrating love and longing, which Jewish and Christian readers have also taken as a picture of God's love for his people. Start here if you want to see that the Bible speaks openly about love and desire. Read it as poetry, not as a plot.
Who are the five major prophets?
Prophets in the Bible speak for God to their own generation. They warn, comfort and call people back to the covenant, and sometimes look ahead. The 'major' prophets are called that because their books are longer, not because they matter more. The five are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel.
23. Isaiah
Author: Isaiah son of Amoz prophesied in Jerusalem; many scholars see chapters 40 to 55 as the work of an anonymous poet near the end of the exile and chapters 56 to 66 as later again, while others hold to a single author. Written: the prophet's ministry ran from about 742 to 701 BC or later; the book as a whole was shaped over several centuries. Genre: Prophecy and poetry. Chapters: 66.
Isaiah warns Judah of judgement for injustice, promises comfort after the exile, and speaks of a suffering servant and a coming king that Christians read as pointing to Jesus. Start here if you want the prophet most quoted in the New Testament. Start at chapter 6 (his call) or chapter 53 (the suffering servant).
24. Jeremiah
Author: Jeremiah, with help from his scribe Baruch. Written: his ministry ran c. 626 to 586 BC; the book was edited after the exile, and the Greek and Hebrew editions differ. Genre: Prophecy, poetry and biography. Chapters: 52.
Jeremiah warns Judah that Babylon is coming, suffers for saying so, and also promises a new covenant written on hearts (chapter 31). Start here if you want a prophet's honest struggles. Chapter 29 is a letter to people in exile and a good place to begin.
25. Lamentations
Author: Unnamed; tradition says Jeremiah, though most scholars since the 19th century doubt it. Written: soon after Jerusalem fell in 586 BC. Genre: Poetry of grief (five laments). Chapters: 5.
Five poems mourn the destruction of Jerusalem, with a centre of quiet hope that God's mercies 'are new every morning' (Lamentations 3:23, NIV). Start here if you are grieving and want a book that does not rush to cheer you up.
26. Ezekiel
Author: Ezekiel, a priest taken to Babylon. Written: the book dates its visions from 593 to 571 BC. Genre: Prophecy, visions and symbolic acts. Chapters: 48.
Ezekiel sees God's glory leave the temple, announces judgement, then promises a new heart and new life for Israel, pictured in the valley of dry bones. Start here if you want strong images. Chapter 37, the valley of dry bones, is the clearest entry.
27. Daniel
Author: Unknown; the story concerns Daniel, taken to Babylon in the 6th century BC, but the book names no author. Written: set in the 6th century BC exile; most critical scholars date the finished book to about 167 to 164 BC, during the persecution under Antiochus IV, while traditional readers hold to a 6th century BC date. Genre: Stories (chapters 1 to 6) and visions (chapters 7 to 12). Chapters: 12.
Daniel and his friends stay faithful in a foreign empire, surviving the fiery furnace and the lions' den, and then receive visions of kingdoms rising and falling under God's rule. Start here if you want stories of faithfulness under pressure. Read chapters 1 to 6 first, and leave the visions until you have read more of the Bible.
Who are the 12 minor prophets?
The twelve minor prophets are short books, grouped as one scroll in the Hebrew Bible and known as 'the Twelve'. They are called 'minor' only because of their length. Most can be read in one sitting. They are arranged roughly by date in the English Bible, though several dates are debated.
28. Hosea
Author: Hosea. Written: 8th century BC, in the northern kingdom, with later editing. Genre: Prophecy. Chapters: 14.
Hosea's own marriage to an unfaithful wife becomes a picture of God's stubborn love for an unfaithful Israel. Start here if you want to see how the Bible describes God's faithful love.
29. Joel
Author: Joel son of Pethuel. Written: uncertain; scholars propose dates from the 9th to the 4th century BC. Genre: Prophecy. Chapters: 3.
A plague of locusts becomes a warning of the coming 'day of the Lord', followed by a promise that God will 'pour out my Spirit on all people' (Joel 2:28, NIV). Start here if you want to understand Peter's sermon in Acts 2, which quotes this promise.
30. Amos
Author: Amos, a shepherd and fig farmer from Tekoa. Written: c. 750 BC, in the reign of Jeroboam II. Genre: Prophecy. Chapters: 9.
Amos condemns religion without justice in a prosperous Israel and calls for 'justice [to] roll on like a river' (Amos 5:24, NIV). Start here if you care about fairness and the poor.
31. Obadiah
Author: Obadiah. Written: most scholars date it shortly after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC; some propose the 5th or 4th century BC. Genre: Prophecy. Chapters: 1.
The shortest Old Testament book, with 21 verses, announces judgement on Edom for gloating over its neighbour's disaster. Start here if you want a short book to read in two minutes.
32. Jonah
Author: Unnamed; the story concerns the prophet Jonah son of Amittai (2 Kings 14:25). Written: set in the 8th century BC; most scholars think it was written after the exile, and many read it as a parable or satire, while others read it as history. Genre: Prophetic story. Chapters: 4.
Jonah runs from God's call to warn Nineveh, is swallowed by a great fish, preaches reluctantly, and then resents God's mercy on the repentant city. Start here if you want a short story with a sting in its tail. God's character, 'a gracious and compassionate God' (Jonah 4:2, NIV), is the point.
33. Micah
Author: Micah of Moresheth. Written: 8th century BC. Genre: Prophecy. Chapters: 7.
Micah condemns corruption in Judah and Israel, names Bethlehem as the origin of a future ruler (5:2), and sums up what God asks: 'to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God' (Micah 6:8, NIV). Start here if you want one verse that sums up faithful living.
34. Nahum
Author: Nahum of Elkosh. Written: the setting falls between about 663 and 612 BC, though proposed dates range more widely. Genre: Prophecy and poetry. Chapters: 3.
Nahum announces the fall of Nineveh, the Assyrian capital that had once repented in Jonah's day, showing that God is 'slow to anger but great in power' (Nahum 1:3, NIV). Start here if you are interested in how the Bible handles justice against oppressors.
35. Habakkuk
Author: Habakkuk. Written: most scholars place it in the reign of Jehoiakim (609 to 597 BC). Genre: Prophetic dialogue and prayer. Chapters: 3.
Habakkuk questions God about violence in Judah and the rise of Babylon, and ends in trust: 'the righteous person will live by his faithfulness' (Habakkuk 2:4, NIV). Start here if you have honest questions for God. Paul quotes this line in Romans 1:17.
36. Zephaniah
Author: Zephaniah. Written: most often placed in the reign of Josiah (late 7th century BC); some scholars argue for a later date. Genre: Prophecy. Chapters: 3.
Zephaniah warns of the day of the Lord, then promises that God will rejoice over his restored people, 'he will take great delight in you' (Zephaniah 3:17, NIV). Start here if you need a word of God's delight after a book of warnings.
37. Haggai
Author: Haggai. Written: 520 BC. Genre: Prophecy. Chapters: 2.
Haggai urges the returned exiles to stop building their own houses and finish the temple, promising that God is with them. Start here if you are putting things off that matter most.
38. Zechariah
Author: Zechariah; some scholars see chapters 9 to 14 as from a later hand. Written: chapters 1 to 8 date from 520 to 518 BC. Genre: Prophecy and visions. Chapters: 14.
Zechariah encourages the returned community with eight night visions and promises a humble king riding a donkey (9:9), which the Gospels apply to Jesus. Start here if you want to see where Palm Sunday's imagery comes from.
39. Malachi
Author: Malachi, which means 'my messenger' and may be a name or a title. Written: 5th century BC, after the return from exile. Genre: Prophecy and dialogue. Chapters: 4.
Malachi challenges careless worship and unfaithfulness in the restored community, and promises a messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord, closing the Old Testament in expectation. Start here if you want to see how the Old Testament ends, and why the New Testament opens by talking about a coming messenger.
What are the Gospels and the book of Acts?
The New Testament opens with four accounts of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. 'Gospel' means 'good news'. Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the Synoptic Gospels because they share much material and can be read side by side. John is different in structure and style. Acts then continues Luke's story into the early church. Our full guide, Who Was Jesus Christ? walks through the same story in order.
40. Matthew
Author: Anonymous; early tradition (Papias) names Matthew, the tax collector and apostle. Written: most scholars place it in the last quarter of the first century AD; a minority argue for the 40s or 50s. Genre: Gospel. Chapters: 28.
Presents Jesus as the promised Messiah and a teacher greater than Moses, gathering his teaching into five great sermons including the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5 to 7). Start here if you want to see how Jesus fulfils the Old Testament, or you want his best-known teaching in one place.
41. Mark
Author: Anonymous; tradition names John Mark, a companion of Peter. Written: c. AD 65 to 70, around the time of the First Jewish-Roman War, and probably the earliest Gospel. Genre: Gospel. Chapters: 16.
The shortest and fastest Gospel, which moves quickly from Jesus' baptism to the cross and stresses what he did, and how the disciples struggled to understand him. Start here if you are new to the Bible. Its opening line, 'The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God' (Mark 1:1, NIV), tells you at once what it is. Many readers are told to begin here.
42. Luke
Author: Anonymous; tradition names Luke, the doctor and companion of Paul, and he says he investigated everything carefully (Luke 1:3). Written: most scholars date Luke and Acts to about AD 80 to 90; a few argue for an earlier date near AD 62, and a minority for the early 2nd century. Genre: Gospel (volume one of a two-volume work). Chapters: 24.
Tells the story of Jesus for a wide audience, with special attention to the poor, women and outsiders, and includes the parables of the good Samaritan and the prodigal son. Start here if you want the most complete birth story and the best-loved parables.
43. John
Author: Anonymous; it points to 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' as its source and perhaps its author, and tradition names John the apostle. Written: most scholars date it to about AD 90 to 100. Genre: Gospel. Chapters: 21.
Written in the author's own words so that 'you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God' (John 20:31, NIV), it is built around seven signs, the 'I am' sayings and Jesus' long farewell to his friends. Start here if you want a gentle but deep introduction to who Jesus is. It is the most widely recommended first book for new readers, together with Mark.
44. Acts
Author: Anonymous; tradition names Luke, the author of the third Gospel, and some passages are written in the first person ('we'). Written: usually dated to about AD 80 to 90; the earliest possible date is around AD 62. Genre: History. Chapters: 28.
Follows the first Christians from Jesus' ascension, through the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, to the gospel reaching Rome, with Peter and then Paul at the centre. Jesus' promise sets the pattern: 'you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you' (Acts 1:8, NIV). Start here if you wonder how the church began. Chapter 2 tells the story of Pentecost.
What are the 13 letters of Paul?
The next 13 books are letters written to churches and individuals, arranged from the longest to the shortest. Most are traditionally credited to Paul, a Pharisee turned follower of Jesus who travelled around the Mediterranean. Scholars broadly accept seven as Paul's own: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians and Philemon. Many question Ephesians, Colossians and 2 Thessalonians, and a larger number question the three 'pastoral letters', 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. Others defend Paul's authorship of all thirteen. Whichever view you take, all thirteen are in the Bible, and all were written to real people in real situations.
45. Romans
Author: Paul, with Tertius writing it down (Romans 16:22). Written: about AD 55 to 57, probably from Corinth. Genre: Letter. Chapters: 16.
Paul sets out the heart of the Christian message: all have sinned, all are put right with God through faith in Jesus, and that new life is lived out in the Spirit and in love. Start here if you want the clearest explanation of salvation. Its summary is, 'I am not ashamed of the gospel' (Romans 1:16, NIV). Read the first eight chapters in order.
46. 1 Corinthians
Author: Paul, with Sosthenes; its authorship is undisputed. Written: about AD 53 to 57, probably from Ephesus. Genre: Letter. Chapters: 16.
Paul answers a divided, gifted and troubled church about unity, morality, worship, spiritual gifts, the resurrection and, in chapter 13, the greatest of all gifts, love. Start here if you want practical help with church life and relationships. Chapter 13 is often read at weddings.
47. 2 Corinthians
Author: Paul, with Timothy; some scholars think it combines more than one letter. Written: in the mid-50s AD, from Macedonia on the traditional view. Genre: Letter. Chapters: 13.
Paul defends his ministry, speaks of his own weakness and hardship, and learns that God's power works through weakness: 'My grace is sufficient for you' (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV). Start here if you feel weak, tired or unqualified.
48. Galatians
Author: Paul; its authorship is widely accepted. Written: the majority of scholars say the late 40s to early 50s AD; scholars differ over whether it was sent to southern or central Galatia. Genre: Letter. Chapters: 6.
Paul insists that people are put right with God by faith in Christ and not by keeping the law, and describes the fruit of the Spirit in chapter 5. Start here if you want to understand grace and freedom. It is short enough to read in one sitting.
49. Ephesians
Author: Paul by tradition; many modern scholars think a later follower of Paul wrote it. Written: about AD 61 to 63 if Paul wrote it from prison; about AD 80 to 100 if a follower did. Genre: Letter. Chapters: 6.
Describes the church as one new people made from Jews and Gentiles, saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8, 9), and closes with the 'armour of God' for daily life. Start here if you want a calm summary of what Christians believe. Read it in one sitting.
50. Philippians
Author: Paul, with Timothy; most scholars accept it as Paul's, though some think it combines several letters. Written: most likely about AD 62 from Rome; some propose Ephesus (AD 52 to 55) or Caesarea (AD 57 to 59). Genre: Letter. Chapters: 4.
A warm letter of thanks and encouragement that calls the church to humility after the pattern of Christ (chapter 2) and to joy and prayer in every circumstance. Start here if you need encouragement. It is the 'joy' letter, written by someone in chains.
51. Colossians
Author: Paul, with Timothy by tradition; many scholars attribute it to an early follower of Paul, while others defend it as his. Written: about AD 62 if Paul wrote it from prison; as late as AD 90 if it is by a follower. Genre: Letter. Chapters: 4.
Argues that Jesus is supreme over everything, and that believers need nothing added to him, and then applies this to daily life in the home and the church. Start here if you want to see how the New Testament describes who Jesus is. Read 1:15 to 20.
52. 1 Thessalonians
Author: Paul, with Silas and Timothy; its authorship is undisputed. Written: about AD 49 to 51, probably from Corinth; one of the earliest New Testament writings. Genre: Letter. Chapters: 5.
Paul encourages a young church facing opposition, reminding them of his example and assuring them that Jesus will return and that those who have died are not lost. Start here if you are grieving, or you want to know what the early church believed about Jesus' return.
53. 2 Thessalonians
Author: Paul by tradition; scholars are about evenly divided on whether he wrote it. Written: about AD 51 to 52 if Paul wrote it, soon after 1 Thessalonians. Genre: Letter. Chapters: 3.
Corrects confusion about the 'day of the Lord' and urges believers to stand firm and keep working while they wait. Start here if you have questions about the end times. Read it straight after 1 Thessalonians.
54. 1 Timothy
Author: Paul by tradition; most modern scholars think a follower wrote it after Paul's death, though a smaller number still defend Paul. Written: c. AD 62 to 65 if Paul wrote it; the late 1st or early 2nd century on the more common critical view, with a wide margin of uncertainty. Genre: Pastoral letter. Chapters: 6.
Gives young Timothy advice on guarding true teaching, on worship, on choosing leaders and on caring for different groups in the church. Start here if you lead or serve in a church. It is one of the three 'pastoral letters'.
55. 2 Timothy
Author: Paul by tradition and said to be his last letter; since the early 19th century many scholars have seen it as the work of an unknown follower, while others defend Paul. Written: c. AD 64 to 67 if Paul wrote it, shortly before his death; later if a follower did. Genre: Pastoral letter. Chapters: 4.
Paul's last letter, written near the end of his life, urges Timothy to be faithful despite suffering. It includes the verse, 'All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness' (2 Timothy 3:16, NIV). Start here if you want to know what the Bible says about itself, or you want a heartfelt farewell.
56. Titus
Author: Paul by tradition; most modern scholars think a follower wrote it. Written: c. AD 62 to 65 if Paul wrote it; most critical scholars say between AD 80 and 100. Genre: Pastoral letter. Chapters: 3.
Paul sets out how Titus should appoint leaders on Crete and teaches that grace shapes ordinary, good living. Start here if you want a short, practical letter on how belief shapes behaviour.
57. Philemon
Author: Paul, with Timothy; its authorship is undisputed. Written: about AD 57 to 62, from prison in Caesarea or Rome. Genre: Personal letter. Chapters: 1.
Paul asks Philemon to welcome back his runaway slave Onesimus 'no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother' (Philemon 1:16, NIV). Start here if you want the shortest book of Paul's letters, and a lesson in forgiveness and reconciliation. Christians have long read it as a challenge to slavery as well.
What are the general letters?
The next eight books are letters named after their authors or, in Hebrews, left unnamed. They are sometimes called the general or 'catholic' letters (the word means 'universal') because most are addressed to wide groups of Christians instead of one church. They deal with suffering, false teaching and living out faith.
58. Hebrews
Author: Unknown. The early church in the East accepted it as Paul's, but the modern consensus is that Paul did not write it; Barnabas, Apollos, and Priscilla and Aquila have all been suggested, with no agreement. Written: after AD 49 and before about AD 96, when Clement of Rome probably cites it; many scholars favour a date before the destruction of the temple in AD 70. Genre: Sermon in the form of a letter. Chapters: 13.
Argues that Jesus is greater than the angels, Moses and the Old Testament priests, and calls tired believers to hold on, with a roll call of faith in chapter 11. Start here if you grew up with the Old Testament and want to see how it points to Jesus. Hebrews 11:1 begins, 'Now faith is confidence in what we hope for' (NIV).
59. James
Author: James, traditionally the brother of Jesus (James the Just). Written: dated by scholars anywhere between the mid-1st and mid-2nd century AD, a range that follows the debate over who wrote it. Genre: Wisdom letter. Chapters: 5.
A practical letter about taming the tongue, caring for the poor and showing faith in action: 'faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead' (James 2:17, NIV). Start here if you want a down-to-earth book that reads like Proverbs. It is short and easy to read in one sitting.
60. 1 Peter
Author: Peter the apostle by tradition, with Silvanus helping (1 Peter 5:12); many scholars think it reflects the Roman Christian tradition linked to Peter instead of coming from him directly. Written: the 60s AD if Peter wrote it, probably from Rome (called 'Babylon' in 5:13); about AD 81 or later on the view that it reflects persecution under Domitian. Genre: Letter. Chapters: 5.
Encourages believers who are suffering for their faith to live well among their neighbours and to trust that Christ also suffered and is now Lord. Start here if you are facing opposition or discouragement.
61. 2 Peter
Author: Peter by tradition; the USCCB notes wide agreement among modern scholars that a later author wrote in Peter's name. Written: scholars estimate anywhere from AD 60 to 150; many think it is the latest New Testament book, from the early 2nd century. Genre: Letter. Chapters: 3.
Warns about false teachers, urges growth in knowledge of Christ, and explains that the Lord's return is delayed because he is patient. Start here if you have questions about why Jesus has not yet returned.
62. 1 John
Author: Anonymous; early tradition names John the apostle, and it is closely related to the Gospel of John. Written: toward the end of the first century, probably about AD 90 to 110. Genre: Letter. Chapters: 5.
Gives believers confidence in their faith through the tests of belief, obedience and love, because 'God is love' (1 John 4:8, NIV). Start here if you want to hear the New Testament's simplest and warmest description of Christian life. Read it after the Gospel of John.
63. 2 John
Author: 'The elder'; tradition names John, though most modern scholars think the author was another person or a group. Written: the end of the 1st century or soon after, about AD 90 to 110. Genre: Short letter. Chapters: 1.
A note to a congregation to keep loving one another and to be careful about teachers who deny that Jesus came in the flesh. Start here if you want to see how brief a New Testament letter can be.
64. 3 John
Author: 'The elder'; tradition names John, though most modern scholars think the author was another person or a group. Written: near the end of the 1st century or soon after, about AD 90 to 110. Genre: Personal letter. Chapters: 1.
Praises Gaius for welcoming travelling teachers and gently rebukes a church leader named Diotrephes for refusing to. Start here if you want a picture of early Christian hospitality.
65. Jude
Author: Jude, 'a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James' (Jude 1), so traditionally a brother of Jesus; many interpreters think a later author wrote in his name. Written: c. AD 80 if the historical Jude wrote it; the end of the 1st century or later if it is pseudonymous. Genre: Letter. Chapters: 1.
Urges readers to 'contend for the faith' against false teachers who twist grace, and closes with one of the Bible's best-known blessings. Start here if you want a very short book with strong images. Jude quotes writings outside the Bible, which Christians have discussed for centuries.
What is the last book of the Bible?
The last book of the Bible is Revelation. It is the only book of New Testament prophecy, written in the vivid, symbolic style called apocalyptic. It is also one of the most debated. Christians read it differently: some see it mostly as describing the first century, some as the whole history of the church, some as events still to come, and some as a picture of the spiritual struggle in every age. This page does not choose between them.
66. Revelation
Author: A man named John (Revelation 1:1, 4, 9), exiled to Patmos. Early church writers disagreed on whether he was John the apostle, and the USCCB notes that its style makes it doubtful that he also wrote the Gospel. Written: probably near the end of the reign of Domitian (AD 81 to 96), about AD 95. Genre: Apocalyptic prophecy, written as a letter to seven churches. Chapters: 22.
Shows the risen Jesus speaking to seven churches, then uses visions of judgement and hope to promise that evil will end and God will make a new heaven and earth: 'I am making everything new' (Revelation 21:5, NIV). Start here if you are ready for rich imagery. Read chapters 1 to 3 for the letters to the churches, and chapters 21 and 22 for the ending of the whole Bible.
How can you memorise the order of the books of the Bible?
You can learn the books of the Bible in order by learning them in small groups rather than all 66 at once. The structure of the list does most of the work for you.
Learn the sections first. Say the count of each group aloud: 5 Law, 12 History, 5 Wisdom, 17 Prophets (5 major, 12 minor). The New Testament is 5 Gospels and Acts, 13 letters of Paul, 8 general letters and 1 Revelation.
Use a memory phrase for each group. For the Law, try 'God Expects Loving Neighbours Daily', which gives Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Make your own for the groups you find hardest.
Split the long lists. The minor prophets are two sets of six: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, then Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
Notice the pattern in Paul's letters. The first nine are to churches (Romans to 2 Thessalonians) and the last four to individuals (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon), each group running from longer to shorter.
Say them aloud and check yourself. Say one section a day, then write the whole list out from memory at the end of the week. Try our Bible trivia quiz to test what you have learned.
Where should a beginner start reading the Bible?
A beginner should not start at Genesis 1 and push through to Revelation. Many people stall in Leviticus or Numbers. A better route is to begin with Jesus, then look at what came before and after him. This four-step path is a suggestion, and our longer guide, How to Start Reading the Bible, explains how to read well once you begin.
Step 1: Meet Jesus. Read Mark (16 chapters), then John (21 chapters). One chapter a day takes about five weeks for both.
Step 2: See how the church began. Read Acts, then Romans 1 to 8 for the core of the message.
Step 3: Go back to the story. Read Genesis 1 to 12, Exodus 1 to 20, then the short books of Ruth and Jonah.
Step 4: Add prayer and wisdom. Read a psalm a day and a chapter of Proverbs, and then fill in the gaps, using the list above to choose the next book.
If you want to understand Jesus' life before you read the Gospels, our guide Who Was Jesus Christ? lays it out in order.
Where do scholars disagree about who wrote the books?
Every date and author on this page comes from the text itself or long-standing tradition, checked against the book introductions published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and standard encyclopaedia summaries. Several are disputed. These are the main points of difference, which are matters of scholarship and not of faith alone.
The Pentateuch. Jewish and Christian tradition credits Moses. Many scholars, using the documentary hypothesis and later models described by Encyclopaedia Britannica, think the books came together from several sources over centuries. Others defend Mosaic authorship of most of the material.
Isaiah and Daniel. Conservative readers take each as the work of one author in the era the book describes. Many critical scholars see Isaiah 40 to 66 as later, and Daniel as finished in the 2nd century BC.
The Gospels. The Gospels are anonymous, and the names come from early church tradition. Most scholars think Mark was written first and that Matthew and Luke used it, though not all agree.
Paul's letters. Seven are widely accepted as Paul's. The others are debated, with some scholars suggesting they were written by his followers and others defending Paul as the author.
Hebrews and the later letters. Nobody knows who wrote Hebrews. 2 Peter, Jude, James and the letters of John are also debated.
Revelation. The author names himself John. Whether he is John the apostle has been discussed since the 2nd century.
None of this changes the books on the list. Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Christians all treat the 27 books of the New Testament as Scripture, and they all use the same Gospels.
Is there a free printable list of the books of the Bible?
Yes. Jesus Light Studio has a free printable overview of all 66 books with chapter counts, which you can keep in a Bible or on a fridge. It includes the same note about Catholic and Orthodox Bibles as this page, so you know which list you are holding.
You can find more printables on the Free Christian Downloads page.
Where should you go next?
If you want to read, begin with Mark or John, then follow the path above. If you want to test yourself, take the Bible trivia quiz, where every answer is checked against the NIV. For the story of the central figure of the New Testament, see 100 Facts About Jesus.
To see how these books fit into the whole picture, read an introduction to Christianity first or alongside.
Frequently asked questions
How many books are in the Bible?
The Protestant Bible has 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. The Catholic Bible has 73, because it includes seven further Old Testament books, and Orthodox Bibles have a few more again. The Jewish Bible has the same writings as the Protestant Old Testament, counted as 24 books.
What is the order of the books of the Bible?
The Old Testament runs from Genesis to Malachi, and the New Testament runs from Matthew to Revelation. Within each testament the books are grouped by type: law, history, wisdom and poetry, and prophets in the Old Testament; Gospels and Acts, letters of Paul, general letters and Revelation in the New Testament. The full list is on this page in order.
What are the books of the Old Testament and the New Testament?
The 39 Old Testament books start with Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, and end with Zechariah and Malachi. The 27 New Testament books start with Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts, and end with Jude and Revelation. Each is listed here with its author, date and summary.
Why do Catholic and Orthodox Bibles have more books?
These churches use the Greek version of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, which was widely read by early Christians and included extra books. Protestant churches follow the shorter Hebrew canon, a decision which came out of the Reformation. Catholics, Orthodox Christians and Protestants all share the same 27 New Testament books.
Which book of the Bible should I read first?
Most guides suggest starting with the Gospel of Mark or the Gospel of John, because they tell the story of Jesus clearly. Then read Acts, Romans 1 to 8, and a few Psalms. Once you know the story, go back to Genesis and read the Old Testament with that in mind.
Who wrote the books of the Bible?
The Bible was written by dozens of authors over roughly 1,000 years or more, including shepherds, kings, prophets, a doctor and fishermen. Some books name their author, some do not, and scholars differ on several. This page gives the traditional author and notes where there is debate.
Key takeaways
The Protestant Bible has 66 books: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament, with 1,189 chapters in all.
Catholic Bibles have 73 books and Orthodox Bibles a few more, but all three share the same 27 New Testament books.
The books are grouped by type of writing, not by date: law, history, wisdom, prophets, Gospels, letters and prophecy.
Authorship and dates are sometimes disputed, and good scholars on different sides of the question still read the same Bible.
A good place for a beginner to start is Mark or John, followed by Acts and Romans, before going back to Genesis.
Further reading
Encyclopaedia Britannica: Biblical literature for a scholarly overview of the Old Testament canon, the Christian canon and the questions of authorship.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Books of the Bible for the Catholic list of 73 books, with introductions to each.
Bible Gateway: New International Version (NIV) for the translation quoted on this page and its copyright terms.
Conclusion
The books of the Bible are 66 different pieces of writing, from law and poetry to letters and visions, that Christians read as one story pointing to Jesus. Knowing the order and the type of each book makes the whole Bible easier to open and easier to understand.
Explore more Christian guides on jesuslightstudio.com, and pick one book from this list to read this week.
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