66 Total Books
39 Old Testament
27 New Testament
1,189 Total Chapters
~40 Human Authors
Pentateuch — The Law (5 books)
| Book | Author | Date (approx.) | Chapters | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis | Moses | 1440–1400 BC | 50 | Creation, the fall of humanity, the great flood, and the stories of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph — laying the foundation of God's covenant with Israel. |
| Exodus | Moses | 1440–1400 BC | 40 | Israel's slavery in Egypt, Moses's call, the ten plagues, the Passover, the Exodus from Egypt, and the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. |
| Leviticus | Moses | 1440–1400 BC | 27 | Laws given to the Levitical priesthood governing worship, sacrifices, and holy living — teaching Israel how to approach a holy God. |
| Numbers | Moses | 1440–1400 BC | 36 | The census of Israel, forty years of wilderness wandering, faithlessness and its consequences, and preparation for entering the Promised Land. |
| Deuteronomy | Moses | 1407–1406 BC | 34 | Moses's farewell addresses to Israel — reviewing the Law, renewing the covenant, and exhorting the people to remain faithful before his death and their entry into Canaan. |
Historical Books (12 books)
| Book | Author | Date (approx.) | Chapters | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua | Joshua / editors | 1400–1370 BC | 24 | Israel's conquest of Canaan under Joshua's leadership, the allocation of land to the twelve tribes, and the renewal of the covenant at Shechem. |
| Judges | Samuel (tradition) | 1045–1000 BC | 21 | A cycle of Israel's apostasy, oppression, repentance, and deliverance through twelve judges including Deborah, Gideon, and Samson. |
| Ruth | Samuel (tradition) | 1011–931 BC | 4 | A Moabite widow's loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi, her redemption through Boaz, and her place in the lineage of King David — a picture of covenant love. |
| 1 Samuel | Samuel / Nathan / Gad | 931–722 BC | 31 | The transition from judges to kings — the prophet Samuel, Israel's first king Saul, and the rise of the shepherd-warrior David anointed to replace him. |
| 2 Samuel | Nathan / Gad | 931–722 BC | 24 | David's reign as king over all Israel — his military victories, spiritual heights, moral failures (Bathsheba and Uriah), and the consequences that followed. |
| 1 Kings | Unknown (Jeremiah tradition) | 561–538 BC | 22 | Solomon's glorious reign and temple construction, the kingdom's division after his death, and the ministries of prophets Elijah and Elisha amid Israel's spiritual decline. |
| 2 Kings | Unknown (Jeremiah tradition) | 561–538 BC | 25 | The fall of both the Northern Kingdom (Israel, 722 BC) and Southern Kingdom (Judah, 586 BC) — a sobering account of what national unfaithfulness brings. |
| 1 Chronicles | Ezra (tradition) | 450–425 BC | 29 | Genealogies from Adam through David, focusing on the priestly and Levitical lines, followed by David's reign emphasizing worship preparations for the Temple. |
| 2 Chronicles | Ezra (tradition) | 450–425 BC | 36 | Solomon's temple building and reign, followed by the history of Judah's kings — highlighting revival under faithful kings and decline under unfaithful ones. |
| Ezra | Ezra | 457–444 BC | 10 | The return of Jewish exiles from Babylon under Zerubbabel and Ezra, the rebuilding of the Temple, and Ezra's reforms to restore covenant faithfulness. |
| Nehemiah | Nehemiah | 445–420 BC | 13 | Nehemiah's leadership in rebuilding Jerusalem's walls in 52 days despite opposition, followed by social and spiritual reforms to restore the community. |
| Esther | Unknown (Mordecai tradition) | 483–471 BC | 10 | A Jewish queen's courageous intervention to save her people from genocide in Persia — God's providence working through human faithfulness even when He is not named. |
Poetical / Wisdom Books (5 books)
| Book | Author | Date (approx.) | Chapters | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job | Unknown (Job tradition) | Unknown (patriarchal era) | 42 | A righteous man's suffering, his debates with friends over why the innocent suffer, and God's powerful response from the whirlwind — wrestling with the deepest human questions. |
| Psalms | David and others | 1440–586 BC | 150 | 150 poems and songs covering the full range of human emotion — praise, lament, thanksgiving, and trust — used as Israel's hymnbook and still central in Christian worship. |
| Proverbs | Solomon and others | 971–700 BC | 31 | Collections of wisdom sayings on practical godly living — from child-rearing and business ethics to friendship and the fear of the Lord as wisdom's foundation. |
| Ecclesiastes | Solomon (Qoheleth) | 935 BC | 12 | A philosophical exploration of life's meaning "under the sun" — observing that wealth, pleasure, and wisdom without God lead to vanity. The conclusion: fear God and keep His commands. |
| Song of Solomon | Solomon | 971–965 BC | 8 | A lyrical celebration of love between a bride and groom — affirming the beauty of human love and traditionally read as an allegory of God's love for His people. |
Major Prophets (5 books)
| Book | Author | Date (approx.) | Chapters | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaiah | Isaiah | 740–700 BC | 66 | Warnings of judgment for Judah's sin alongside breathtaking prophecies of future restoration, the Suffering Servant (Messiah), and a new creation — often called the "Fifth Gospel." |
| Jeremiah | Jeremiah | 627–585 BC | 52 | The "weeping prophet's" ministry spanning Judah's final years — calling for repentance before the Babylonian captivity and promising a coming New Covenant written on hearts. |
| Lamentations | Jeremiah | 586 BC | 5 | Five poems of grief over Jerusalem's destruction by Babylon — raw lament over suffering and loss, yet holding onto the great mercy of God that never ceases. |
| Ezekiel | Ezekiel | 593–571 BC | 48 | Visions of God's glory, dramatic prophetic sign-acts, oracles against nations, and the glorious vision of a restored Temple and a valley of dry bones returning to life. |
| Daniel | Daniel | 605–536 BC | 12 | A young man's faithfulness in Babylonian exile — famous stories of the fiery furnace and lions' den — alongside apocalyptic visions of world empires and the end of the age. |
Minor Prophets (12 books)
| Book | Author | Date (approx.) | Chapters | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hosea | Hosea | 755–715 BC | 14 | Hosea's marriage to an unfaithful wife illustrates God's covenant love for unfaithful Israel — a powerful portrait of divine mercy and the call to return. |
| Joel | Joel | 835–796 BC | 3 | A locust plague serves as a call to national repentance and a vision of "the Day of the Lord" — including the outpouring of God's Spirit on all people (quoted in Acts 2). |
| Amos | Amos | 760–753 BC | 9 | A shepherd turned prophet condemning Israel's social injustice and religious hypocrisy, warning of coming judgment and promising ultimate restoration. |
| Obadiah | Obadiah | 586–553 BC | 1 | The shortest Old Testament book — a single chapter condemning Edom for its pride and betrayal of Judah at Jerusalem's fall, with a promise of Israel's restoration. |
| Jonah | Jonah | 793–753 BC | 4 | A reluctant prophet flees God's call to preach to Nineveh, is swallowed by a great fish, and discovers that God's mercy extends even to Israel's enemies. |
| Micah | Micah | 742–687 BC | 7 | Alternating oracles of judgment and restoration — prophesying both Bethlehem as the Messiah's birthplace and the famous call to "do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly." |
| Nahum | Nahum | 663–612 BC | 3 | A vivid prophecy of Nineveh's destruction — 150 years after Jonah, the Assyrian capital falls as God's justice against their cruelty is finally enacted. |
| Habakkuk | Habakkuk | 612–588 BC | 3 | A dialogue between the prophet and God wrestling with unanswered suffering — concluding that "the just shall live by his faith," a verse central to Paul's theology. |
| Zephaniah | Zephaniah | 640–621 BC | 3 | Sweeping judgment against Judah and the nations followed by a tender promise of restoration — "The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save." |
| Haggai | Haggai | 520 BC | 2 | Calling the returned exiles to prioritize rebuilding the Temple over their own comfortable homes — promising that God's glory would fill the new Temple. |
| Zechariah | Zechariah | 520–480 BC | 14 | Eight night visions encouraging the rebuilding community, messianic prophecies fulfilled by Jesus (entering on a donkey, thirty pieces of silver), and end-times oracles. |
| Malachi | Malachi | 433–400 BC | 4 | The final Old Testament prophet confronts Israel's religious complacency and covenant unfaithfulness, ending with the promise of Elijah's coming before "the great and terrible day of the LORD." |
Gospels (4 books)
| Book | Author | Date (approx.) | Chapters | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew | Matthew (Levi) | AD 50–70 | 28 | Written for a Jewish audience proving Jesus is the promised Messiah — five major discourses, the Sermon on the Mount, and the Great Commission to disciple all nations. |
| Mark | John Mark | AD 50–65 | 16 | The shortest and most action-packed Gospel — "immediately" appears 41 times — presenting Jesus as a powerful Servant whose authority over sickness, nature, and death demands a response. |
| Luke | Luke (physician) | AD 60–61 | 24 | A careful, orderly account for Gentile audiences — emphasizing Jesus's compassion for the poor, women, and outcasts, and including 18 parables found nowhere else. |
| John | John the Apostle | AD 85–95 | 21 | A theological masterpiece opening with "In the beginning was the Word" — seven signs, seven "I Am" statements, and a clear purpose: "that you may believe Jesus is the Christ." |
History (1 book)
| Book | Author | Date (approx.) | Chapters | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acts | Luke | AD 62 | 28 | The early church's birth at Pentecost, the ministries of Peter and Paul, and the gospel spreading from Jerusalem to Rome — the Spirit-empowered expansion of the Kingdom. |
Pauline Epistles (13 books)
| Book | Author | Date (approx.) | Chapters | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romans | Paul | AD 57 | 16 | Paul's most systematic theological letter — explaining sin, justification by faith alone, sanctification, God's plan for Israel, and practical Christian living. The heart of the gospel. |
| 1 Corinthians | Paul | AD 55 | 16 | Addressing division, immorality, and confusion in the Corinthian church — including classic passages on love (chapter 13) and the resurrection (chapter 15). |
| 2 Corinthians | Paul | AD 55–56 | 13 | Paul's most personal letter — defending his apostolic ministry, describing his sufferings, and articulating how God's power is made perfect in human weakness. |
| Galatians | Paul | AD 49 | 6 | A sharp defense of salvation by grace through faith against those adding works of the Law — "There is neither Jew nor Greek... for you are all one in Christ Jesus." |
| Ephesians | Paul | AD 60–62 | 6 | The church as the body of Christ, seated with Him in heavenly places — with practical instructions on unity, family relationships, and putting on the full armor of God. |
| Philippians | Paul | AD 61 | 4 | A joyful letter written from prison — "Rejoice in the Lord always" — emphasizing humility, the mind of Christ, and contentment in all circumstances. |
| Colossians | Paul | AD 60–62 | 4 | Christ's supreme preeminence over all creation and all false philosophy — warning against empty traditions while exhorting believers to set their minds on things above. |
| 1 Thessalonians | Paul | AD 51 | 5 | Encouragement to a young church facing persecution and questions about the dead in Christ — including a key passage on the return of the Lord and the resurrection. |
| 2 Thessalonians | Paul | AD 51–52 | 3 | Correcting confusion about the Day of the Lord, describing events that must precede it, and exhorting the church not to be idle while waiting for Christ's return. |
| 1 Timothy | Paul | AD 63–65 | 6 | Pastoral instructions to Paul's young protégé Timothy on church leadership, worship, qualifications for elders and deacons, and guarding sound doctrine. |
| 2 Timothy | Paul | AD 67 | 4 | Paul's final letter, written from death row — urging Timothy to preach the Word faithfully, reminding him that "all Scripture is God-breathed and profitable." |
| Titus | Paul | AD 63–65 | 3 | Practical guidance for Titus leading churches on Crete — appointing qualified elders, silencing false teachers, and living out sound doctrine in every life stage. |
| Philemon | Paul | AD 60–62 | 1 | A personal letter interceding for the runaway slave Onesimus — appealing to Philemon to receive him back as a brother in Christ rather than a slave. |
General Epistles (8 books)
| Book | Author | Date (approx.) | Chapters | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hebrews | Unknown (Paul tradition) | AD 64–69 | 13 | Jesus as the superior fulfillment of all Old Testament types — better than angels, Moses, Aaron, and the Levitical system — urging Hebrew believers not to turn back from faith. |
| James | James (brother of Jesus) | AD 44–49 | 5 | A practical letter on authentic faith that produces action — "faith without works is dead" — covering trials, temptation, speech, wisdom, prayer, and care for the poor. |
| 1 Peter | Peter | AD 62–64 | 5 | Encouragement to scattered believers facing suffering — calling them "a royal priesthood, a holy nation" and urging holy living as "strangers and pilgrims" in a hostile world. |
| 2 Peter | Peter | AD 67–68 | 3 | Peter's final warning against false teachers who twist Scripture, with a reminder that the Lord is patient about His return, "not wishing that any should perish." |
| 1 John | John the Apostle | AD 85–90 | 5 | Tests of genuine Christian life — walking in light, obeying God's commands, loving one another — and the assurance that "God is love" and we can know we have eternal life. |
| 2 John | John the Apostle | AD 85–90 | 1 | A brief letter to "the chosen lady" urging continued love and obedience while warning not to welcome those who deny Christ's incarnation into fellowship. |
| 3 John | John the Apostle | AD 85–90 | 1 | A personal letter commending Gaius for his hospitality to traveling missionaries and contrasting his generosity with the prideful opposition of Diotrephes. |
| Jude | Jude (brother of Jesus) | AD 65–80 | 1 | A passionate call to "contend earnestly for the faith" against ungodly teachers who have crept into the church, ending with the famous doxology of praise to God. |
Prophecy (1 book)
| Book | Author | Date (approx.) | Chapters | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revelation | John the Apostle | AD 94–96 | 22 | Apocalyptic visions given to John on Patmos — letters to seven churches, the Lamb who is worthy, the great tribulation, the final defeat of evil, and the new heaven and earth where God dwells with humanity forever. |