Books of the Bible
King James Version
The Old Testament
Book of GenesisGenesis answers two big questions: “How did God’s relationship with the world begin?” and “Where did the nation of Israel come from?” |
Book of ExodusGod saves Israel from slavery in Egypt, and then enters into a special relationship with them. |
Book of LeviticusGod gives Israel instructions for how to worship Him. |
Book of NumbersIsrael fails to trust and obey God, and wanders in the wilderness for 40 years. |
Book of DeuteronomyMoses gives Israel instructions (in some ways, a recap of the laws in Exodus–Numbers) for how to love and obey God in the Promised Land. |
Book of JoshuaJoshua (Israel’s new leader) leads Israel to conquer the Promised land, then parcels out territories to the twelve tribes of Israel. |
Book of JudgesIsrael enters a cycle of turning from God, falling captive to oppressive nations, calling out to God, and being rescued by leaders God sends their way (called “judges”). |
Book of RuthTwo widows lose everything, and find hope in Israel—which leads to the birth of the future King David. |
Book of 1st SamuelIsrael demands a king, who turns out to be quite a disappointment. |
Book of 2nd SamuelDavid, a man after God’s own heart, becomes king of Israel. |
Book of 1st KingsThe kingdom of Israel has a time of peace and prosperity under King Solomon, but afterward splits, and the two lines of kings turn away from God. |
Book of 2nd KingsBoth kingdoms ignore God and his prophets, until they both fall captive to other world empires. |
Book of 1st ChroniclesThis is a brief history of Israel from Adam to David, culminating with David commissioning the temple of God in Jerusalem. |
Book of 2nd ChroniclesDavid’s son Solomon builds the temple, but after centuries of rejecting God, the Babylonians take the southern Israelites captive and destroy the temple. |
Book of EzraThe Israelites rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and a scribe named Ezra teaches the people to once again obey God’s laws. |
Book of NehemiahThe city of Jerusalem is in bad shape, so Nehemiah rebuilds the wall around the city. |
Book of EstherSomeone hatches a genocidal plot to bring about Israel’s extinction, and Esther must face the emperor to ask for help. |
Book of JobSatan attacks a righteous man named Job, and Job and his friends argue about why terrible things are happening to him. |
Book of PsalmsA collection of 150 songs that Israel sang to God (and to each other)—kind of like a hymnal for the ancient Israelites. |
Book of ProverbsA collection of sayings written to help people make wise decisions that bring about justice. |
Book of EcclesiastesA philosophical exploration of the meaning of life—with a surprisingly nihilistic tone for the Bible. |
Book of Song of SongsA love song (or collection of love songs) celebrating love, desire, and marriage. |
Book of IsaiahGod sends the prophet Isaiah to warn Israel of future judgment—but also to tell them about a coming king and servant who will “bear the sins of many.” |
Book of JeremiahGod sends a prophet to warn Israel about the coming Babylonian captivity, but the people don’t take the news very well. |
Book of LamentationsA collection of dirges lamenting the fall of Jerusalem after the Babylonian attacks. |
Book of EzekielGod chooses a man to speak for Him to Israel, to tell them the error of their ways and teach them justice: Ezekiel. |
Book of DanielDaniel becomes a high-ranking wise man in the Babylonian and Persian empires, and has prophetic visions concerning Israel’s future. |
Book of HoseaHosea is told to marry a prostitute who leaves him, and he must bring her back: a picture of God’s relationship with Israel. |
Book of JoelGod sends a plague of locusts to Judge Israel, but his judgment on the surrounding nations is coming, too. |
Book of AmosA shepherd named Amos preaches against the injustice of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. |
Book of ObadiahObadiah warns the neighboring nation of Edom that they will be judged for plundering Jerusalem. |
Book of JonahA disobedient prophet runs from God, is swallowed by a great fish, and then preaches God’s message to the city of Nineveh. |
Book of MicahMicah confronts the leaders of Israel and Judah regarding their injustice, and prophecies that one day the Lord himself will rule in perfect justice. |
Book of NahumNahum foretells of God’s judgment on Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. |
Book of HabakkukHabakkuk pleads with God to stop the injustice and violence in Judah, but is surprised to find that God will use the even more violent Babylonians to do so. |
Book of ZephaniahGod warns that he will judge Israel and the surrounding nations, but also that he will restore them in peace and justice. |
Book of HaggaiThe people have abandoned the work of restoring God’s temple in Jerusalem, and so Haggai takes them to task. |
Book of ZechariahThe prophet Zechariah calls Israel to return to God, and records prophetic visions that show what’s happening behind the scenes. |
Book of MalachiGod has been faithful to Israel, but they continue to live disconnected from him—so God sends Malachi to call them out. |
Holy Books of the Bible |
The New Testament
Book of MatthewThis is an account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, focusing on Jesus’ role as the true king of the Jews. |
Book of MarkThis brief account of Jesus’ earthly ministry highlights Jesus’ authority and servanthood. |
Book of LukeLuke writes the most thorough account of Jesus’ life, pulling together eyewitness testimonies to tell the full story of Jesus. |
Book of JohnJohn lists stories of signs and miracles with the hope that readers will believe in Jesus. |
Book of ActsJesus returns to the Father, the Holy Spirit comes to the church, and the gospel of Jesus spreads throughout the world. |
Book of RomansPaul summarizes how the gospel of Jesus works in a letter to the churches at Rome, where he plans to visit. |
Book of 1st CorinthiansPaul writes a disciplinary letter to a fractured church in Corinth, and answers some questions that they’ve had about how Christians should behave. |
Book of 2nd CorinthiansPaul writes a letter of reconciliation to the church at Corinth, and clears up some concerns that they have. |
Book of GalatiansPaul hears that the Galatian churches have been lead to think that salvation comes from the law of Moses, and writes a (rather heated) letter telling them where the false teachers have it wrong. |
Book of EphesiansPaul writes to the church at Ephesus about how to walk in grace, peace, and love. |
Book of PhilippiansAn encouraging letter to the church of Philippi from Paul, telling them how to have joy in Christ. |
Book of ColossiansPaul writes the church at Colossae a letter about who they are in Christ, and how to walk in Christ. |
Book of 1st ThessaloniansPaul has heard a good report on the church at Thessalonica, and encourages them to “excel still more” in faith, hope, and love. |
Book of 2nd ThessaloniansPaul instructs the Thessalonians on how to stand firm until the coming of Jesus. |
Book of 1st TimothyPaul gives his protegé Timothy instruction on how to lead a church with sound teaching and a godly example. |
Book of 2nd TimothyPaul is nearing the end of his life, and encourages Timothy to continue preaching the word. |
Book of TitusPaul advises Titus on how to lead orderly, counter-cultural churches on the island of Crete. |
Book of PhilemonPaul strongly recommends that Philemon accept his runaway slave as a brother, not a slave. |
Book of HebrewsA letter encouraging Christians to cling to Christ despite persecution, because he is greater. |
Book of JamesA letter telling Christians to live in ways that demonstrate their faith in action. |
Book of 1st PeterPeter writes to Christians who are being persecuted, encouraging them to testify to the truth and live accordingly. |
Book of 2nd PeterPeter writes a letter reminding Christians about the truth of Jesus, and warning them that false teachers will come. |
Book of 1st JohnJohn writes a letter to Christians about keeping Jesus’ commands, loving one another, and important things they should know. |
Book of 2nd JohnA very brief letter about walking in truth, love, and obedience. |
Book of 3rd JohnAn even shorter letter about Christian fellowship. |
Book of JudeA letter encouraging Christians to contend for the faith, even though ungodly persons have crept in unnoticed |
Book of RevelationJohn sees visions of things that have been, things that are, and things that are yet to come. |
Holy Books of the Bible |
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