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Books of the Bible in Order: The Complete List
The Bible contains 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Here is the complete list in order, with every book grouped by section, plus guidance on where to start reading.
What's in the Bible?
The Bible contains 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.
The Old Testament opens with the five books of the Law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), followed by twelve books of History (Joshua through to Esther), five books of Poetry and Wisdom (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon), five Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel), and twelve Minor Prophets (Hosea through to Malachi).
The New Testament contains four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), one book of history (Acts), thirteen letters written by Paul, eight general letters (Hebrews through to Jude), and the book of Revelation.
Catholic Bibles include seven additional books known as the deuterocanonical books: Tobit, Judith, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, and Baruch.
Books of the Bible in Order: The Complete List
The Bible contains 66 books. 39 are in the Old Testament. 27 are in the New Testament.
Those books were written across roughly 1,500 years, in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), by more than 40 different writers. They range from a few paragraphs (Obadiah, Philemon, 3 John) to many chapters (Psalms has 150, Isaiah has 66).
Below is the complete list in canonical order, grouped by section, with a short description of each. Whether you are reading through the Bible for the first time, looking for a specific book, or trying to understand how it all fits together — this is where to start.
Use our Bible Finder if you want help choosing the right Bible translation and edition for reading through.
The Old Testament: 39 Books
The Old Testament tells the story of God's relationship with the people of Israel, from the creation of the world to the period just before the birth of Jesus. It is arranged in four broad sections.
The Law: 5 books
Also called the Pentateuch or the Torah, these five books form the foundation of the entire Bible. They cover creation, the fall, the stories of the patriarchs, the Exodus from Egypt, and the laws given to Israel at Sinai.
Where to start: Genesis is one of the most readable books in the Bible. Leviticus is the most challenging for new readers; it helps to read it knowing what comes before and after it.
History: 12 books
These books cover Israel's entry into the Promised Land, the period of the judges, the rise and fall of the monarchy, the exile to Babylon, and the return to Jerusalem. They read like narrative history. They’re full of drama, war, betrayal, faithfulness, and failure.
Where to start: Ruth is four chapters and reads like a short story. 1 Samuel picks up pace quickly and reads almost like a novel.
Poetry and Wisdom: 5 books
These books are not narrative. They are poetry, song, reflection, and collected wisdom. They sit at the heart of the Old Testament and are some of the most widely read texts in the Bible.
Where to start: Psalms is the most widely read book in the Old Testament. Ecclesiastes rewards readers who have thought seriously about meaning and purpose.
The Major Prophets: 5 books
The Major Prophets are called "major" because of their length, not their importance relative to the Minor Prophets. They were written during and around the period of the Assyrian and Babylonian empires.
The Minor Prophets: 12 books
Twelve shorter prophetic books covering a wide range of periods and themes. Together they are sometimes called "The Book of the Twelve" in the Hebrew tradition.
The Gospels: 4 books
The four Gospels each tell the story of Jesus's life, ministry, death, and resurrection from a different angle and for a different audience.
Where to start: Most people recommend Mark for first-time readers — it moves quickly and is the shortest. John is the most distinctive and rewards reading after you know the basic story.
History: 1 book
Paul's Letters: 13 books
Paul wrote letters to churches and individuals across the Roman world. They are arranged roughly in order of length (longest first) within the New Testament, not in the order Paul wrote them.
Where to start: Philippians is four chapters, overflows with joy, and is one of the easiest New Testament letters to read. Romans rewards serious reading but benefits from a good study Bible.
The General Letters: 8 books
Written by various authors to broader audiences rather than specific churches.
Prophecy: 1 book
The Deuterocanonical Books: Catholic Bibles, 7 Books
Catholic Bibles include seven books not found in Protestant Bibles. These are books written in the period between the Old and New Testaments, included in the Greek Septuagint but not in the Hebrew canon. They are:
- Tobit: A story of faithfulness, healing, and God's care for his people
- Judith: A widow who delivers her people through courage and cunning
- 1 Maccabees: The history of the Maccabean revolt against Greek oppression
- 2 Maccabees: A parallel account of the same period, with theological reflection
- Wisdom (Wisdom of Solomon): Wisdom poetry, partly similar to Proverbs
- Sirach (Ecclesiasticus): Extensive wisdom literature from Ben Sira
- Baruch: A short prophetic book attributed to Jeremiah's secretary
Protestant Bibles have 66 books. Catholic Bibles have 73. The additional books are arranged in slightly different positions depending on the edition.
Books of the Bible in Alphabetical Order
For reference, all 66 books are listed alphabetically:
Acts, Amos, Chronicles (1 and 2), Colossians, Corinthians (1 and 2), Daniel, Deuteronomy, Ecclesiastes, Ephesians, Esther, Exodus, Ezekiel, Ezra, Galatians, Genesis, Habakkuk, Haggai, Hebrews, Hosea, Isaiah, James, Jeremiah, Job, Joel, John (Gospel and 1–3 John), Jonah, Joshua, Jude, Judges, Kings (1 and 2), Lamentations, Leviticus, Luke, Malachi, Mark, Matthew, Micah, Nahum, Nehemiah, Numbers, Obadiah, Peter (1 and 2), Philemon, Philippians, Proverbs, Psalms, Revelation, Romans, Ruth, Samuel (1 and 2), Song of Solomon, Thessalonians (1 and 2), Timothy (1 and 2), Titus, Zechariah, Zephaniah
Which translation should I read the Bible in?
The books listed above appear in the same order in every major English Bible translation. What varies is how they are worded.
For a first read-through, the NLT (New Living Translation) is the most readable and is recommended for anyone coming to the Bible without much background. For a more accurate rendering of the original texts, the NIV is the most widely used in UK churches. For word-for-word precision alongside good readability, the ESV is the standard choice for study and preaching.
If you are not sure which translation to use, our Bible Finder will help you choose based on how you read and what you plan to do with it.
FAQ
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