The Bible is made up of 66 books:
The Old Testament has thirty-nine books (Memory help: there are three letters in the word old and nine in the word testament= 39).
The first five are called the Pentateuch, and they are written by Moses. They are:
The next twelve are the books of history. They are:
Then come the books of poetry:
The New Testament has twenty-seven books (Memory help: three letters in the word new times nine letters in the word testament equals twenty-seven.)
The first four books are about the life of Christ and are called The Gospels (Good News):
The one book of History:
The Pauline (written by Paul) epistles (letters):
The non-Pauline epistles (named after the authors):
One book of Prophecy (Written by Jesus' disciple John):
- 39 from the Old Testament and
- 27 from the New.
The Old Testament has thirty-nine books (Memory help: there are three letters in the word old and nine in the word testament= 39).
The first five are called the Pentateuch, and they are written by Moses. They are:
- Genesis (Creation through the life of Joseph)
- Exodus (The Israelites leaving Egypt and traveling to the promised land)
- Leviticus (Various laws given by God)
- Numbers (The numbering of Israel and various laws)
- Deuteronomy (Various Laws)
The next twelve are the books of history. They are:
- Joshua (written by Joshua telling of Israel's conquering of the promised land)
- Judges (The history of Israel under the rule of judges, from Joshua to Samuel. We don't really know who the author was. Possibly Ezra.)
- Ruth (A romance story. Again, we don't know the author.)
- 1 Samuel (The birth of Samuel, crowning of Saul as the first king. Written by Samuel?)
- 2 Samuel (The story of David and Saul. Author likely various court recorders, or Ezra summarizing previous records. the same for the next four books.)
- 1 Kings (The history of Judah and Israel, from a kingly perspective, from Solomon to the captivity. Authorship unknown.)
- 2 Kings (The history of Judah and Israel, from a kingly perspective, from Solomon to the captivity. Authorship unknown.)
- 1 Chronicles (The history of Judah and Israel, from a priestly perspective, from Solomon to the captivity, Probably written by Ezra.)
- 2 Chronicles (The history of Judah and Israel, from a priestly perspective, from Solomon to the captivity. Probably written by Ezra.)
- Ezra (Israel returns to Jerusalem after the Babylonian Captivity. Written by Ezra.)
- Nehemiah (Israel returns to Jerusalem after the Babylonian Captivity. Written by Nehemiah. In the Jewish writings, Ezra and Nehemiah are one book.)
- Ester (A story of God’s provision and protection, though the book does not use the name of God anywhere at all. Probably written by either Ezra or Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a servant in the royal courts shortly after Ester would have happened.)
Then come the books of poetry:
- Job (The trials of a righteous man and a debate about the nature of God. Probably written by Job. There is debate as to just when, though. Tradition says it was written at the time of Abraham, though some evidence says it was written about the time of captivity.)
- Psalms (Songs. About half were written by David. Some by Solomon. The rest by several different people.)
- Proverbs (Wise sayings by Solomon.)
- Ecclesiastics (A discussion on the purpose of life by Solomon.)
- Song of Songs (or Solomon; a poetic love story by Solomon.)
- Isaiah (Tells of the coming destruction of many countries as well as the ending history of Judah.)
- Jeremiah (Tells of the coming destruction of Judah and of its actual end. He was there when it happened.)
- Lamentations (written by Jeremiah to mourn the death of the king.)
- Ezekiel (many prophecies from the end of Judah to the coming of Christ.)
- Daniel (the story of the Captivity and prophecies concerning the rest of the history of the Israelite people).
- Hosea (Prophecy of the coming Assyrian Captivity and an example of God’s love for Israel.)
- Joel (A description of a coming plague, a call to repentance, and prophecy of the coming Messiah.)
- Amos (The shepherd prophet; coming judgment on Israel’s enemies and Israel herself. A call to repentance.)
- Obadiah (Judgment pronounced on Edom.)
- Jonah (A story about rebellion and redemption with a very unsatisfying ending.)
- Micah (The story of Israel’s sin, judgment and restoration.)
- Nahum (Nineveh is doomed.)
- Habakkuk (Prophecy of Judah’s destruction.)
- Zephaniah (Prophecy of Israel’s destruction and restoration.)
- Haggai (An exhortation for the restored Israel to finish the Temple.)
- Zechariah (Prophecy of the coming Messiah and His work.)
- Malachi (God’s answers to man’s questions. A call to righteousness.)
The New Testament has twenty-seven books (Memory help: three letters in the word new times nine letters in the word testament equals twenty-seven.)
The first four books are about the life of Christ and are called The Gospels (Good News):
- Matthew (From the Hebrew perspective. Written by Matthew, eyewitness to the life of Christ.)
- Mark (From the Roman perspective. Written by Mark as told to him by Peter, eyewitness to the life of Christ.)
- Luke (From the Greek perspective. Written by Dr. Luke as told to him by Paul and other Christians in Rome.)
- John (From the Savior’s perspective. Written either by the disciple John, eyewitness to the life of Christ, or by John the Elder as told to him by Lazarus, also an eyewitness.)
The one book of History:
- Acts (The history of the early church. Could be called the second half of the book of Luke. Written by Dr. Luke, participant in some of the later events in the book.)
The Pauline (written by Paul) epistles (letters):
- Romans (Written to the church at Rome. The “Constitution of the Christian Church.”)
- 1 Corinthians (Written to the church at Corinth. Practical Theology.)
- 2 Corinthians (Information and Instruction to the Corinthian Church.)
- Galatians (Written to the church at Galatia. Justification is by Grace, not Law.)
- Ephesians (Written to the church at Ephesus. Explanation of relationships and roles.)
- Philippians (Written to the church at Philippi. Joy in the Christian walk.)
- Colossians (Written to the church at Colossae. Salvation is through Christ alone.)
- 1 Thessalonians (Written to the church at Thessalonica. Correct doctrine and instruction to the church.)
- 2 Thessalonians (Written to the church at Thessalonica. More of the same.)
- 1 Timothy (Written to his apprentice Timothy. The Leadership manual for the Church.)
- 2 Timothy (Written to his apprentice Timothy. Paul’s final words and instructions to Timothy.)
- Titus (Written to his friend Titus. Much the same theme as in Timothy.)
- Philemon (Written to his friend Philemon about a runaway slave who had come to Christ.)
- Hebrews (We don't know for sure who wrote this book. Some attribute it to Paul, though the Greek grammar used is different than that in his other letters. Others speculate it was written by Apollos, Timothy, or other ministers of the time. It was written to Hebrews still in Jerusalem.)
The non-Pauline epistles (named after the authors):
- James (Practical application of the Gospel.)
- 1 Peter (To persecuted Christians.)
- 2 Peter (An exhortation to continue growing in God.)
- 1 John (Strengthening believers and refuting heretics.)
- 2 John (“Stay the course.” These three "Johns" have the same grammar as St John, but different grammar than Revelation. So, were these also written by John the Elder, sidekick or Lazarus? That would possibly make the "beloved sister" they are written to Mary or Martha.)
- 3 John (Commendation to Gaius and Condemnation to Diotrephes.)
- Jude (Encouragement to remain doctrinally pure.)
One book of Prophecy (Written by Jesus' disciple John):
- Revelation (Foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem and the ending of the Jewish nation. This book tells us five times it is written by John. The grammar is that of one not very well educated, unlike the other "John" books. Revelation is very likely written by the Disciple John.)