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Bible

The Bible is a collection of 66 books (73 in the Catholic tradition), written over about a thousand years in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Here you will find every book with a summary, author and date, the differences between the Bibles of each church and where to start reading.

What is the Bible?

The word “Bible” comes from the Greek ta biblia, “the books”. It is not one book but a library: history, law, poetry, proverbs, prophecy, accounts of Jesus’ life and letters. For Jews and Christians it is the Word of God conveyed through human authors.

It has two parts. The Old Testament corresponds to the Scriptures of Israel, written in Hebrew (with some Aramaic) between about 1000 and 150 BC. The New Testament, written in Greek in the 1st century AD, tells the life of Jesus and the beginnings of the Church. Learn more in who wrote the Bible.

All the books of the Bible

The books are listed below in the order of Protestant and Catholic Bibles, grouped by type. Each has a summary, traditional author, date and its best-known chapters.

Old Testament

    Pentateuch

    • GenesisTradition: Moses · final form c. 5th century BC · 50 chaptersGenesis tells of the creation of the world, the fall, the flood and the origin of the nations, and then the story of the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. It ends with Jacob’s family living in Egypt.
    • ExodusTradition: Moses · final form c. 5th century BC · 40 chaptersExodus tells of Israel’s slavery in Egypt, the call of Moses, the plagues, the crossing of the sea and the covenant at Mount Sinai. It includes the Ten Commandments and the instructions for the tabernacle.
    • LeviticusTradition: Moses · final form c. 5th century BC · 27 chaptersLeviticus gathers Israel’s laws on sacrifice, priesthood, purity and festivals. Its central theme is holiness: “ye shall be holy; for I am holy”.
    • NumbersTradition: Moses · final form c. 5th century BC · 36 chaptersNumbers follows Israel from Sinai to the edge of Canaan during forty years in the wilderness. The name comes from the two censuses of the people; in between come rebellions, judgments and God’s faithfulness.
    • DeuteronomyTradition: Moses · final form c. 5th century BC · 34 chaptersDeuteronomy gathers Moses’ final speeches before Israel enters Canaan. It repeats and explains the Law, calls the people to faithfulness and ends with Moses’ death.

    Historical

    • JoshuaTradition: Joshua · composed c. 7th–6th century BC · 24 chaptersJoshua tells of Israel’s entry into Canaan under Joshua, Moses’ successor, and the division of the land among the tribes.
    • JudgesTradition: Samuel · composed c. 7th–6th century BC · 21 chaptersJudges covers the period between Joshua and the monarchy, with cycles of unfaithfulness, oppression and deliverance by leaders such as Deborah, Gideon and Samson.
    • RuthUnknown author · date debated · 4 chaptersRuth tells the story of a Moabite woman who stays loyal to her mother-in-law Naomi, goes to Bethlehem and marries Boaz. She becomes the great-grandmother of King David.
    • 1 SamuelTradition: Samuel, Nathan and Gad · composed c. 7th–6th century BC · 31 chapters1 Samuel tells of the shift from the judges to the monarchy: the prophet Samuel, the reign of Saul and the rise of young David.
    • 2 SamuelTradition: Samuel, Nathan and Gad · composed c. 7th–6th century BC · 24 chapters2 Samuel tells of David’s reign: the capture of Jerusalem, the promise of an everlasting dynasty, his sin with Bathsheba and the revolts within his own family.
    • 1 KingsTradition: Jeremiah · composed c. 6th century BC · 22 chapters1 Kings tells of Solomon’s reign, the building of the temple in Jerusalem and the split of the kingdom into Israel (north) and Judah (south). It ends with the prophet Elijah.
    • 2 KingsTradition: Jeremiah · composed c. 6th century BC · 25 chapters2 Kings follows the kingdoms of Israel and Judah to the end: the fall of Samaria to Assyria (722 BC) and the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon (586 BC).
    • 1 ChroniclesTradition: Ezra · c. 4th century BC · 29 chapters1 Chronicles opens with genealogies from Adam to the exile and retells David’s reign, with a focus on the ark of the covenant and preparations for the temple.
    • 2 ChroniclesTradition: Ezra · c. 4th century BC · 36 chapters2 Chronicles tells of Solomon’s reign and the history of the kings of Judah up to the exile, ending with the decree of Cyrus that allows the return to Jerusalem.
    • EzraTradition: Ezra · c. 5th–4th century BC · 10 chaptersEzra tells of the exiles’ return from Babylon, the rebuilding of the temple and the mission of Ezra the scribe to teach the Law of Moses to the people.
    • NehemiahNehemiah (memoirs) · c. 5th–4th century BC · 13 chaptersNehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king, returns to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls in the face of opposition and reorganizes the people’s life around the Law.
    • EstherUnknown author · c. 4th century BC · 10 chaptersEsther tells how a young Jewish woman becomes queen of Persia and risks her life to stop the destruction of her people, planned by the minister Haman. The story explains the origin of the feast of Purim.

    Poetic

    • JobUnknown author · date debated (c. 6th–4th century BC) · 42 chaptersJob is a righteous man who loses his wealth, his children and his health. In long poetic dialogues he and his friends argue about why the righteous suffer, until God answers out of the whirlwind.
    • PsalmsTradition: David and others · 10th–5th century BC · 150 chaptersPsalms gathers 150 poems of praise, lament, trust and wisdom, used in Jewish and Christian prayer for more than two thousand years.
    • ProverbsTradition: Solomon and others · collections from the 10th to the 5th century BC · 31 chaptersProverbs gathers short sayings about work, speech, family, money and relationships, with one theme running through it all: “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”.
    • EcclesiastesTradition: Solomon (“the Preacher”) · c. 4th–3rd century BC · 12 chaptersEcclesiastes, or Qohelet, reflects on the meaning of life “under the sun”: work, wealth and pleasure pass like a breath. Its conclusion is to enjoy life as God’s gift and to fear him.
    • Song of SongsTradition: Solomon · date debated · 8 chaptersThe Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) is a collection of love poems between a man and a woman, full of images of gardens, vineyards and fragrances.

    Major Prophets

    • IsaiahTradition: Isaiah (8th century BC) · ch. 40–66 from the exile and after · 66 chaptersIsaiah gathers prophecies of judgment, comfort and hope for the people of Israel, from the 8th century BC to the end of the exile in Babylon.
    • JeremiahTradition: Jeremiah and the scribe Baruch · c. 627–586 BC · 52 chaptersJeremiah is the book of the prophet who was active in Jerusalem from about 627 to 586 BC, before and during the city’s destruction by the Babylonians. It has 52 chapters and combines oracles, narratives and letters.
    • LamentationsTradition: Jeremiah · shortly after 586 BC · 5 chaptersLamentations gathers five poems of mourning for the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Babylonians, without hiding the pain or the question of meaning.
    • EzekielEzekiel · c. 593–571 BC · 48 chaptersEzekiel, a priest taken to Babylon, announces the fall of Jerusalem and then the restoration of Israel, with striking visions of God’s glory.
    • DanielTradition: Daniel (6th century BC) · many scholars: c. 165 BC · 12 chaptersDaniel tells of the faithfulness of young Jews at the Babylonian court, as in the lions’ den and the fiery furnace, and contains visions of empires and the kingdom of God.

    Minor Prophets

    • HoseaHosea · 8th century BC (northern kingdom) · 14 chaptersHosea uses his own marriage to an unfaithful wife as an image of God’s love for an unfaithful Israel, whom he keeps calling back.
    • JoelJoel · date uncertain · 3 chaptersJoel starts from a plague of locusts to speak of “the day of the Lord”, calls the people to repentance and promises the outpouring of the Spirit.
    • AmosAmos · c. 760–750 BC · 9 chaptersAmos, a shepherd from Tekoa, denounces wealth built on exploiting the poor and religious worship without justice.
    • ObadiahObadiah · probably after 586 BC · 1 chapterObadiah, the shortest book of the Old Testament, announces judgment on Edom, which rejoiced at Jerusalem’s fall, and the restoration of Israel.
    • JonahUnknown author · date debated · 4 chaptersJonah runs from his mission to preach in Nineveh, is swallowed by a great fish and, when he finally preaches, is angry to see God forgive the enemy city.
    • MicahMicah · 8th century BC · 7 chaptersMicah, a contemporary of Isaiah, denounces the corruption of Judah’s leaders and announces a ruler to be born in Bethlehem.
    • NahumNahum · c. 663–612 BC · 3 chaptersNahum announces the fall of Nineveh, capital of the cruel Assyrian empire, as a sign that God is just and a refuge for those who trust him.
    • HabakkukHabakkuk · c. late 7th century BC · 3 chaptersHabakkuk asks God why violence goes unpunished and why he will use the even more violent Babylonians to judge Judah. The book ends with a song of trust.
    • ZephaniahZephaniah · c. 640–609 BC · 3 chaptersZephaniah announces “the day of the Lord” as judgment on Judah and the nations, but ends with one of the most joyful images in the Bible: God rejoicing over his people.
    • HaggaiHaggai · 520 BC · 2 chaptersHaggai, in four messages dated to 520 BC, urges the Jews who returned from exile to resume rebuilding the temple, which had stalled for years.
    • ZechariahZechariah · from 520 BC (ch. 9–14 possibly later) · 14 chaptersZechariah, a contemporary of Haggai, records eight night visions about the restoration of Jerusalem and announces a humble king and the coming of God.
    • MalachiMalachi · c. 5th century BC · 4 chaptersMalachi, in question-and-answer dialogues, criticizes careless worship, broken marriages and unpaid tithes, and announces the messenger who will prepare the way of the Lord.

    New Testament

      Gospels

      • MatthewTradition: the apostle Matthew · c. AD 80–90 · 28 chaptersMatthew presents Jesus as the Messiah promised in Israel’s Scriptures, with five great discourses, including the Sermon on the Mount.
      • MarkTradition: John Mark, a disciple of Peter · c. AD 65–70 · 16 chaptersMark tells the life of Jesus at a fast pace, focusing on his actions, miracles and the cross, and shows disciples who often fail to understand.
      • LukeTradition: Luke, the physician and companion of Paul · c. AD 80–90 · 24 chaptersLuke writes an orderly account of the life of Jesus, with attention to the poor, women and the marginalized, and the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son.
      • JohnTradition: the apostle John · c. AD 90–100 · 21 chaptersThe Gospel of John is the fourth Gospel, attributed by tradition to the apostle John and written around AD 90–100. It has 21 chapters and was written “that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ” (John 20:31).

      Acts

      • ActsTradition: Luke · c. AD 80–90 · 28 chaptersThe Acts of the Apostles tells how Christianity spread from Jerusalem to Rome: Pentecost, Peter’s preaching, Paul’s conversion and his missionary journeys.

      Pauline Epistles

      • RomansPaul · c. AD 57 · 16 chaptersRomans is the fullest statement of Paul’s message: all have sinned, and God justifies by faith in Christ, Jews and Gentiles alike.
      • 1 CorinthiansPaul · c. AD 53–55 · 16 chaptersPaul responds to the problems of a young, divided church in Corinth: factions, immorality, marriage, the Lord’s Supper, spiritual gifts and the resurrection.
      • 2 CorinthiansPaul · c. AD 55–56 · 13 chaptersIn his most personal letter, Paul defends his ministry against critics and speaks of God’s power made perfect in human weakness.
      • GalatiansPaul · c. AD 48–55 · 6 chaptersIn Galatians Paul argues forcefully that salvation comes by faith in Christ, not by keeping the Law, and calls Christians to live in freedom, led by the Spirit.
      • EphesiansTradition: Paul, in prison · c. AD 60–62 (authorship debated) · 6 chaptersEphesians celebrates God’s plan to gather all things in Christ, the unity of Jews and Gentiles in the Church and the new life in family and society.
      • PhilippiansPaul, in prison · c. AD 60–62 · 4 chaptersPhilippians is the apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi, the first Christian community he founded in Europe (Acts 16). Written from prison, it has 4 chapters and speaks of joy, humility and trust.
      • ColossiansTradition: Paul, in prison · c. AD 60–62 (authorship debated) · 4 chaptersColossians affirms Christ’s supremacy over all things and warns against philosophies and religious rules that lead faith astray.
      • 1 ThessaloniansPaul · c. AD 50–51 · 5 chaptersPaul encourages a young, persecuted church in Thessalonica and answers questions about those who died before Christ’s return.
      • 2 ThessaloniansTradition: Paul · c. AD 51 (authorship debated) · 3 chaptersPaul corrects the idea that “the day of the Lord” had already come and urges Christians to keep working while they wait.
      • 1 TimothyTradition: Paul · c. AD 62–65 (many scholars: late 1st century) · 6 chaptersPaul guides Timothy, his young co-worker in Ephesus, on false teaching, prayer, church leaders and the use of money.
      • 2 TimothyTradition: Paul, imprisoned in Rome · c. AD 64–67 · 4 chaptersIn the last letter attributed to Paul, imprisoned and near death, he urges Timothy to stand firm, guard the gospel and preach the word.
      • TitusTradition: Paul · c. AD 62–65 (authorship debated) · 3 chaptersPaul instructs Titus to appoint leaders in the churches of Crete and to teach a life consistent with God’s grace.
      • PhilemonPaul, in prison · c. AD 60–62 · 1 chapterIn Paul’s shortest letter he asks Philemon to welcome back Onesimus, a runaway slave who became a Christian, “not now as a servant, but… a brother beloved”.

      General Epistles

      • HebrewsUnknown author · c. AD 60–90 · 13 chaptersHebrews presents Jesus as greater than the angels, Moses and the temple priesthood, and encourages weary Christians to persevere in faith.
      • JamesTradition: James, the brother of Jesus · c. AD 45–62 · 5 chaptersJames is a practical letter about trials, controlling the tongue, caring for the poor and a faith that shows itself in works.
      • 1 PeterTradition: the apostle Peter · c. AD 62–90 · 5 chaptersPeter writes to Christians scattered across Asia Minor who were suffering for their faith, recalling the “lively hope” of the resurrection and calling them to an exemplary life.
      • 2 PeterTradition: the apostle Peter · many scholars: early 2nd century · 3 chapters2 Peter warns against false teachers and answers those who mocked the delay of Christ’s return: “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years”.
      • 1 JohnTradition: the apostle John · c. AD 90–110 · 5 chapters1 John insists that knowing God shows itself in love for one another and in faith in Jesus who came in the flesh, against a group that had left the community.
      • 2 JohnTradition: the apostle John (“the Elder”) · c. AD 90–110 · 1 chapterA short note from “the Elder” to an “elect lady”, probably a church, urging its members to walk in love and not to welcome false teachers.
      • 3 JohnTradition: the apostle John (“the Elder”) · c. AD 90–110 · 1 chapterA personal letter from “the Elder” to Gaius, praising his hospitality to missionaries and criticizing Diotrephes, “who loveth to have the preeminence”.
      • JudeTradition: Jude, brother of James · c. AD 50–90 · 1 chapterJude urges Christians to “contend for the faith” against people who twisted grace, using examples from the Old Testament and Jewish tradition.

      Prophecy

      • RevelationTradition: the apostle John, on Patmos · c. AD 95 · 22 chaptersRevelation describes, in visions full of symbols, the struggle between good and evil, God’s judgment and Christ’s final victory, ending with a new heaven and a new earth.

      How many books are in the Bible in each church?

      The difference lies in the Old Testament. Protestants follow the Hebrew Bible; Catholics and Orthodox also include books found in the Greek translation used by the early Christians, called deuterocanonical (or Apocrypha, in Protestant usage). The New Testament is the same for all: 27 books.

      TraditionBooksWhat changes
      Protestant66Follows the canon of the Hebrew Bible in the Old Testament.
      Catholic73Adds Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach and Baruch, plus Greek sections of Esther and Daniel.
      Orthodox76 or moreAlso includes books such as 1 Esdras, 3 Maccabees, the Prayer of Manasseh and Psalm 151, depending on the church.
      Ethiopian Orthodox81Includes books no other church has, such as Enoch and Jubilees.

      See the details in how many books are in the Bible. VersePath presents the 66 books shared by all traditions and, step by step, the deuterocanonical books.

      Which English Bible translations are there?

      The main translations differ in style (more literal or more readable) and in the tradition they come from:

      TranslationStyleTradition
      King James Version (KJV)Classic, 1611 EnglishProtestant (widely used)
      New King James Version (NKJV)Traditional, updated languageProtestant
      English Standard Version (ESV)Essentially literalProtestant
      New International Version (NIV)Balance of accuracy and clarityProtestant
      New Living Translation (NLT)Readable, thought-for-thoughtProtestant
      New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)Academic, ecumenicalEcumenical
      New American Bible (NABRE)Used in the US Catholic liturgyCatholic

      Most modern translations are under copyright. On VersePath the Bible text comes from open translations, such as the King James Version (public domain in most countries), so it can be read and quoted freely. See how we work.

      How do you read a Bible reference?

      A reference such as John 3:16 gives the book (John), the chapter (3) and the verse (16). “Ps 23:1–4” means Psalm 23, verses 1 to 4. Chapter divisions date from the 13th century, and New Testament verses were numbered in the 16th century.

      Where should you start reading the Bible?

      For beginners, a good path is a Gospel (Mark or John), then Genesis and the Psalms. See the full guide on where to start reading the Bible and some of the most read passages:

      Or explore by theme: hope, prayer, family and wisdom.

      Frequently asked questions

      How many books are in the Bible?

      The Protestant Bible has 66 books (39 in the Old and 27 in the New Testament). The Catholic Bible has 73, and Orthodox Bibles have even more.

      Who wrote the Bible?

      Dozens of authors over about a thousand years: prophets, kings, priests, sages and apostles. Jews and Christians believe God inspired them.

      What language was the Bible written in?

      The Old Testament in Hebrew, with some Aramaic; the New Testament in Greek.

      What is the difference between the Catholic and Protestant Bible?

      The Catholic Bible has seven more books in the Old Testament (the deuterocanonical books) and Greek additions to Esther and Daniel. The New Testament is the same.

      What is the best Bible translation?

      It depends on the purpose: more literal translations help with study, more readable ones with continuous reading. Many people use two side by side.