66 Books of the Bible in Order: Complete List With Summaries

The Bible is a library of 66 books, written over many centuries by about 40 authors. Knowing the books in order — and what each one is about — makes it much easier to find passages, follow sermons and see how the whole story fits together.

Below you'll find every book from Genesis to Revelation in order, grouped into its section, with a one- or two-sentence summary and its number of chapters. Use the quick list to jump to any book.

Quick list: all 66 books in order

Old Testament (39): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

New Testament (27): Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation

How the Bible is organized

The order is by type of book rather than date. That's why, for example, the prophets come after all the history books even though they lived during that history. If you want to read in time order, try our chronological Bible reading plan.

Old Testament books (39)

The Old Testament was written mostly in Hebrew, with a few chapters in Aramaic, over about a thousand years. It tells the story of creation, Israel and God's promises of a coming Savior.

The Law (Genesis–Deuteronomy)

The first five books, also called the Pentateuch or Torah, tell the story from creation to Israel's arrival at the edge of the promised land, and record the covenant law God gave through Moses.

1. Genesis (50 chapters) — Creation, the fall, the flood and the beginnings of God's people through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. God promises to bless all nations through Abraham's family (12:3). Read the chapter-by-chapter summary.
2. Exodus (40 chapters) — God rescues Israel from slavery in Egypt through Moses, gives the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai and comes to live among His people in the tabernacle.
3. Leviticus (27 chapters) — Laws for sacrifices, priests, festivals and holy living, showing how a sinful people can live near a holy God. Chapter 16 describes the Day of Atonement.
4. Numbers (36 chapters) — Israel is counted, refuses to enter the promised land, and wanders forty years in the wilderness until a new generation is ready.
5. Deuteronomy (34 chapters) — Moses' farewell speeches before Israel enters Canaan, repeating God's law and calling the people to love the LORD with all their heart (6:4–5).

History (Joshua–Esther)

Twelve books trace Israel from the conquest of Canaan through the judges, the kings, the exile to Babylon and the return.

6. Joshua (24 chapters) — Joshua leads Israel across the Jordan, the walls of Jericho fall, and the land is conquered and divided among the twelve tribes.
7. Judges (21 chapters) — A repeating cycle of sin, oppression and rescue through judges such as Deborah, Gideon and Samson, in an age when “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (21:25).
8. Ruth (4 chapters) — A Moabite widow's loyal love for her mother-in-law Naomi. Ruth marries Boaz and becomes the great-grandmother of King David.
9. 1 Samuel (31 chapters) — Samuel, Israel's last judge, anoints Saul as the first king. Saul fails, and young David is anointed, defeats Goliath and flees Saul's jealousy.
10. 2 Samuel (24 chapters) — David's reign as king: Jerusalem becomes the capital, God promises David an everlasting throne (ch. 7), and David's sin with Bathsheba brings turmoil to his family.
11. 1 Kings (22 chapters) — Solomon's wisdom and temple, the kingdom's split into Israel and Judah, and the prophet Elijah's showdown with the prophets of Baal.
12. 2 Kings (25 chapters) — Elisha's ministry and the long decline of both kingdoms, ending with Israel's fall to Assyria and Judah's exile to Babylon.
13. 1 Chronicles (29 chapters) — Genealogies from Adam to the exile, then David's reign retold with a focus on worship and preparation for the temple.
14. 2 Chronicles (36 chapters) — Judah's history from Solomon to the exile, highlighting the temple and revivals under kings like Hezekiah and Josiah, and ending with Cyrus's decree to return.
15. Ezra (10 chapters) — Jewish exiles return from Babylon and rebuild the temple; later the scribe Ezra leads the people back to God's law.
16. Nehemiah (13 chapters) — Nehemiah leads the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls in 52 days despite opposition, followed by public reading of the law and renewal of the covenant.
17. Esther (10 chapters) — A Jewish queen of Persia risks her life to save her people from Haman's plot. God's name never appears, but His care is everywhere. The feast of Purim begins here.

Poetry and Wisdom (Job–Song of Solomon)

Five books of poetry, prayer and wisdom about suffering, worship, everyday life, the meaning of life and love.

18. Job (42 chapters) — A righteous man loses everything. Through long debates with his friends and an encounter with God in the whirlwind, the book wrestles with suffering and God's wisdom.
19. Psalms (150 chapters) — One hundred fifty songs and prayers of praise, lament, thanksgiving and confession — Israel's hymnbook and a guide for honest prayer.
20. Proverbs (31 chapters) — Short, practical sayings of wisdom for work, words, money, family and friendship. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (1:7).
21. Ecclesiastes (12 chapters) — The Preacher searches for meaning in work, pleasure and wisdom “under the sun” and concludes: “Fear God, and keep his commandments” (12:13).
22. Song of Solomon (8 chapters) — A poem celebrating the love between a bride and her bridegroom, honoring the gift of love and marriage.

Major Prophets (Isaiah–Daniel)

“Major” refers to their length, not their importance. These prophets warned of judgment and promised restoration and a coming Messiah.

23. Isaiah (66 chapters) — Warnings of judgment and promises of comfort, including prophecies of Immanuel, the suffering Servant (ch. 53) and new heavens and a new earth. Read the chapter-by-chapter summary.
24. Jeremiah (52 chapters) — The “weeping prophet” warns Judah for decades before Jerusalem falls, and promises a new covenant written on the heart (31:31–34).
25. Lamentations (5 chapters) — Five poems of grief over Jerusalem's destruction, with hope at the center: God's compassions “are new every morning” (3:22–23).
26. Ezekiel (48 chapters) — A priest-prophet among the exiles in Babylon sees visions of God's glory, the valley of dry bones (ch. 37) and a restored temple.
27. Daniel (12 chapters) — Daniel and his friends stay faithful in Babylon — the fiery furnace, the lions' den — and Daniel receives visions of empires and God's everlasting kingdom.

Minor Prophets (Hosea–Malachi)

Twelve shorter prophetic books, called “The Twelve” in the Hebrew Bible, spanning about four centuries.

28. Hosea (14 chapters) — Hosea's marriage to an unfaithful wife pictures God's faithful, persistent love for unfaithful Israel.
29. Joel (3 chapters) — A plague of locusts warns of the day of the LORD, with the promise that God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh (2:28), fulfilled at Pentecost.
30. Amos (9 chapters) — A shepherd from Judah condemns Israel's injustice and empty worship: “let judgment run down as waters” (5:24).
31. Obadiah (1 chapter) — A short prophecy of judgment on Edom for gloating over Jerusalem's downfall. The shortest book in the Old Testament.
32. Jonah (4 chapters) — Jonah runs from God's call, is swallowed by a great fish, then preaches to Nineveh, which repents — showing God's mercy even to Israel's enemies.
33. Micah (7 chapters) — Judgment and hope for Judah, the prophecy of a ruler born in Bethlehem (5:2), and the call to “do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly” (6:8).
34. Nahum (3 chapters) — Announces the fall of Nineveh, the capital of cruel Assyria, as proof that God judges evil.
35. Habakkuk (3 chapters) — The prophet asks why God allows evil and learns to trust Him: “the just shall live by his faith” (2:4).
36. Zephaniah (3 chapters) — Warns of the coming day of the LORD, but ends with God rejoicing over His people with singing (3:17).
37. Haggai (2 chapters) — Urges the returned exiles to stop neglecting God's house and finish rebuilding the temple.
38. Zechariah (14 chapters) — Visions encouraging the temple rebuilders, with prophecies of a humble King riding on a donkey (9:9).
39. Malachi (4 chapters) — The last Old Testament prophet rebukes careless worship and withheld tithes and promises a messenger to prepare the way of the Lord.

New Testament books (27)

The New Testament was written in Greek in the first century AD. It tells the story of Jesus Christ and the early church and explains what it means to follow Him.

The Gospels (Matthew–John)

Four accounts of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

40. Matthew (28 chapters) — Jesus as the promised Messiah and King, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy. Includes the Sermon on the Mount and the Great Commission (28:19–20).
41. Mark (16 chapters) — The shortest, fastest-moving Gospel, presenting Jesus as the Servant who “came… to give his life a ransom for many” (10:45).
42. Luke (24 chapters) — A carefully researched account of Jesus' life, highlighting His compassion for outsiders, with parables like the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son.
43. John (21 chapters) — Written “that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (20:31), with seven signs and seven “I am” sayings.

History (Acts)

The story of the early church, from Jesus' ascension to Paul's imprisonment in Rome.

44. Acts (28 chapters) — The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost, and the church spreads from Jerusalem to Rome through the ministries of Peter and Paul.

Paul's Letters (Romans–Philemon)

Thirteen letters from the apostle Paul, arranged roughly from longest to shortest: nine to churches, then four to individuals.

45. Romans (16 chapters) — Paul's fullest explanation of the gospel: all have sinned, we are justified by faith in Christ, and we live new lives by the Spirit.
46. 1 Corinthians (16 chapters) — Paul addresses divisions and problems in the Corinthian church, with great chapters on love (13) and the resurrection (15).
47. 2 Corinthians (13 chapters) — Paul's most personal letter, defending his ministry and learning that God's “strength is made perfect in weakness” (12:9).
48. Galatians (6 chapters) — Paul defends the gospel of grace against those adding the law, celebrating freedom in Christ and the fruit of the Spirit (5:22–23).
49. Ephesians (6 chapters) — Every spiritual blessing in Christ, salvation by grace through faith (2:8–9), the unity of the church and the armor of God (ch. 6).
50. Philippians (4 chapters) — A joyful letter written from prison, celebrating Christ's humility (2:5–11) and contentment in every circumstance (4:11–13).
51. Colossians (4 chapters) — Christ is supreme over all creation and all powers, and believers are complete in Him.
52. 1 Thessalonians (5 chapters) — Encouragement for a young church facing persecution, with teaching on Christ's return (4:13–18).
53. 2 Thessalonians (3 chapters) — Corrects confusion about the day of the Lord and urges believers to keep working faithfully while they wait.
54. 1 Timothy (6 chapters) — Paul's instructions to Timothy for leading the church in Ephesus: qualifications for leaders, worship and dealing with false teaching.
55. 2 Timothy (4 chapters) — Paul's final letter before his death: “I have fought a good fight” (4:7), with a charge to preach the inspired Scriptures (3:16–4:2).
56. Titus (3 chapters) — Instructions for appointing leaders and teaching sound doctrine in the churches of Crete, showing that grace leads to good works.
57. Philemon (1 chapter) — A short personal letter asking Philemon to welcome back his runaway slave Onesimus as a brother in Christ.

General Letters (Hebrews–Jude)

Eight letters written to a wider Christian audience, named after their authors or (for Hebrews) their recipients.

58. Hebrews (13 chapters) — Jesus is greater than angels, Moses and the priesthood, the perfect sacrifice once for all. Chapter 11 is the Bible's “hall of faith.”
59. James (5 chapters) — Practical wisdom for living out faith: trials, controlling the tongue and caring for the poor, because “faith without works is dead” (2:26).
60. 1 Peter (5 chapters) — Hope and strength for Christians suffering for their faith, following Christ's example.
61. 2 Peter (3 chapters) — Warnings against false teachers and assurance that the Lord's return is certain.
62. 1 John (5 chapters) — Assurance for believers, a call to walk in the light and love one another, because “God is love” (4:8).
63. 2 John (1 chapter) — A short letter urging believers to walk in truth and love and to beware of deceivers.
64. 3 John (1 chapter) — Praise for Gaius's hospitality to traveling teachers and a rebuke of the proud Diotrephes.
65. Jude (1 chapter) — An urgent call to “earnestly contend for the faith” (v. 3) against false teachers.

Prophecy (Revelation)

The Bible's final book, revealing Christ's ultimate victory and the new creation.

66. Revelation (22 chapters) — Visions given to John: letters to seven churches, God's judgments, Christ's victory over evil, and a new heaven and new earth.

Tips to memorize the books of the Bible

1. Learn them in groups. Five books of Law, twelve History books, five Poetry books, five Major and twelve Minor Prophets; then four Gospels, Acts, thirteen of Paul's letters, eight General letters and Revelation.
2. Notice patterns. Paul's letters to churches come first, then his letters to people (Timothy, Titus, Philemon). Most books with “1” and “2” sit side by side.
3. Sing them. Many children's Bible songs set the books to a tune, and they work for adults too.
4. Practice with a game. A sword drill or a books-of-the-Bible relay makes it fun. See our Bible games for teens and youth groups.
5. Learn a few a week. At five books a week, you'll know all 66 in about three months.

Want to know who wrote each book and when? See books of the Bible and their authors, or check the number of chapters and verses in each book.

Frequently asked questions