66 Books of the Bible – Old Testament & New Testament (Complete List & Descriptions)

Here is a complete list of the books of the Bible in the Old and New Testament, including their names and brief descriptions:

Old Testament

Here are the books of the Old Testament:

Genesis

The book of beginnings, which tells the story of creation, Adam and Eve, Noah’s ark, and the patriarchs.

Exodus

The story of the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt, and the giving of the Ten Commandments.

Leviticus

A collection of laws and regulations given to the Israelites, including rules for sacrifices and worship.

Numbers

A record of the Israelites’ wandering in the desert, including their rebellion and punishment.

Deuteronomy

A restatement of the laws given in Exodus and Leviticus, and a call to obedience.

Joshua

The conquest of Canaan by the Israelites under Joshua’s leadership.

Judges

The story of Israel’s leaders, called judges, who delivered the people from oppression.

Ruth

The story of a Moabite woman who became the great-grandmother of King David.

1 Samuel

The story of the prophet Samuel and the rise of King Saul.

2 Samuel

The reign of King David and his family.

1 Kings

The reigns of King Solomon and his successors.

2 Kings

The history of the Israelite kingdom from the reign of Ahaziah to the fall of Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles

A genealogy of the Israelites, from Adam to King David.

2 Chronicles

The history of the Israelites from the reign of Solomon to the Babylonian exile.

Ezra

The return of the exiles to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple.

Nehemiah

The rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and the restoration of the city.

Esther

The story of a Jewish woman who became queen of Persia and saved her people from destruction.

Job

A poetic exploration of the problem of suffering.

Psalms

A collection of 150 prayers, hymns, and poems.

Proverbs

A collection of wise sayings and advice.

Ecclesiastes

A reflection on the meaning of life and the pursuit of happiness.

Song of Solomon

A love poem between a man and a woman.

Isaiah

A prophetic book that offers hope to the Israelites and foretells the coming of the Messiah.

Jeremiah

A prophetic book that warns the Israelites of impending doom and calls them to repentance.

Lamentations

A series of poems mourning the destruction of Jerusalem.

Ezekiel

A prophetic book that offers hope for restoration and the coming of a new temple.

Daniel

A collection of stories and visions, including the story of Daniel in the lions’ den.

Hosea

A prophetic book that uses the metaphor of a marriage to illustrate God’s relationship with Israel.

Joel

A prophetic book that foretells the coming of the Day of the Lord.

Amos

A prophetic book that denounces the social injustices of the Israelites.

Obadiah

A prophetic book that warns the Edomites of their impending destruction.

Jonah

The story of a reluctant prophet who is sent to preach to the city of Nineveh.

Micah

A prophetic book that denounces corruption and calls for justice.

Nahum

A prophetic book that foretells the destruction of Nineveh.

Habakkuk

A prophetic book that questions why God allows evil to exist.

Zephaniah

A prophetic book that warns of the Day of the Lord and the judgment of the nations.

Haggai

A prophetic book that encourages the rebuilding of the temple.

Zechariah

A prophetic book that offers hope for the restoration of Jerusalem and the coming of the Messiah.

Malachi

A prophetic book that denounces the Israelites’ spiritual apathy and warns of the coming of the messenger of the Lord.

These 39 books of the Old Testament are organized into several categories, including the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), the Historical Books (Joshua through Esther), the Poetry Books (Job through Song of Solomon), and the Prophets (Isaiah through Malachi).

New Testament

Here are the books of the New Testament:

Matthew

The life and teachings of Jesus, emphasizing his role as the Messiah.

Mark

The life and teachings of Jesus, emphasizing his actions more than his words.

Luke

The life and teachings of Jesus, emphasizing his compassion and concern for the poor.

John

The life and teachings of Jesus, emphasizing his divine nature and the importance of belief.

Acts

The history of the early Christian church, including the spread of the gospel and the work of the apostles.

Romans

A letter from the apostle Paul to the church in Rome, explaining the nature of salvation and the role of faith.

1 Corinthians

A letter from Paul to the church in Corinth, addressing various problems and conflicts.

2 Corinthians

A follow-up letter from Paul to the church in Corinth, defending his authority and addressing more issues.

Galatians

A letter from Paul to the churches in Galatia, refuting the idea that Gentile Christians must follow Jewish law.

Ephesians

A letter from Paul to the church in Ephesus, emphasizing the unity of the church and the importance of spiritual growth.

Philippians

A letter from Paul to the church in Philippi, expressing his gratitude and encouragement.

Colossians

A letter from Paul to the church in Colossae, refuting false teachings and emphasizing the supremacy of Christ.

1 Thessalonians

A letter from Paul to the church in Thessalonica, encouraging them to continue in faith and love.

2 Thessalonians

A follow-up letter from Paul to the church in Thessalonica, addressing misunderstandings about the second coming of Christ.

1 Timothy

A letter from Paul to his young protégé, Timothy, giving him advice on leadership and addressing false teaching.

2 Timothy

A second letter from Paul to Timothy, encouraging him to persevere in his faith.

Titus

A letter from Paul to Titus, instructing him on how to appoint elders and oppose false teaching.

Philemon

A letter from Paul to Philemon, asking him to forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus.

Hebrews

An anonymous letter to Jewish Christians, explaining the superiority of Christ and the significance of his sacrifice.

James

A letter from James, the brother of Jesus, addressing issues of faith and works.

1 Peter

A letter from Peter, encouraging Christians who are facing persecution.

2 Peter

A second letter from Peter, warning against false teaching and emphasizing the importance of faith and morality.

1 John

A letter from the apostle John, emphasizing the importance of love and warning against false teaching.

2 John

A second letter from John, warning against false teaching and encouraging love and hospitality.

3 John

A third letter from John, praising hospitality and warning against a church leader named Diotrephes.

Jude

A letter from Jude, warning against false teaching and encouraging faith and prayer.

Revelation

A vision given to the apostle John, describing the end of the world and the triumph of Christ over evil.

Explaining ALL 66 BOOKS of the Bible

FAQs – Books of the Bible: Old Testament & New Testament

Why are there different names for the books of the Bible in different versions?

Different versions of the Bible may use different names for the books based on translations from the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic texts.
Additionally, the ordering of the books may vary between versions, leading to differences in the names.

How many books are in the Bible?

There are 66 books in the Bible, with 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.

What is the difference between the Old and New Testament?

The Old Testament primarily documents the history of the Jewish people and contains prophetic books that foretell the coming of a Messiah.
The New Testament documents the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the early Christian church.

Why are some books of the Bible named after people, while others are not?

Some books of the Bible are named after the author, such as the books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) and the letters of Paul (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, etc.).

Other books are named after a key figure or theme, such as Esther or Proverbs.

What are the major themes in the Old and New Testament?

Some major themes in the Old Testament include the creation of the world, God’s covenant with the Israelites, the role of prophets, and the concept of salvation.

In the New Testament, major themes include the life and teachings of Jesus, salvation through faith, and the establishment and growth of the early Christian church.

What is the difference between a letter and a gospel in the New Testament?

The letters in the New Testament are written by apostles and other early Christian leaders to various churches or individuals, offering guidance, instruction, and encouragement.

The gospels, on the other hand, are a narrative account of the life and teachings of Jesus.

Are there any books that are only included in certain versions of the Bible?

Yes, there are several books that are only included in certain versions of the Bible, known as the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical books.

These books are included in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles but not in Protestant Bibles.

What is the Apocrypha?

The Apocrypha refers to a collection of religious texts that are included in some versions of the Bible, but not in others.
The term “apocrypha” means “hidden” or “obscure,” and these books were not considered part of the Jewish or Protestant biblical canons.
However, the Catholic and Orthodox churches have traditionally included them in their versions of the Bible.
The Apocrypha includes books such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (also known as Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, and 1 and 2 Maccabees.
These books offer historical narratives, wisdom teachings, and stories of heroic figures. While they are not considered part of the Protestant biblical canon, they are still considered valuable and meaningful by many Christians.

What are the Deuterocanonical books?

The Deuterocanonical books are a group of seven books that are included in the Catholic and Orthodox versions of the Bible, but not in the Jewish or Protestant Bibles.
The Deuterocanonical books are also known as the “Apocrypha” by Protestants, but Catholics and Orthodox Christians consider them to be part of the biblical canon.
The seven Deuterocanonical books are Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (also known as Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, and 1 and 2 Maccabees.
These books were written in the period between the Old and New Testaments, and provide historical narratives, wisdom teachings, and stories of heroic figures that are relevant to the Christian faith.
While the inclusion of the Deuterocanonical books has been a point of contention among different branches of Christianity, they continue to be read and valued by many Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

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