Is Writing In The Bible A Sin

All 66 Books of the Bible

News flash: the Bible is huge: about 611,000 words long, all divvied up across 66 smaller documents called the "books" of the Bible.

That's because the Bible is a collection of writings from different authors writing at different times. In some ways, that makes it easier to approach the Bible: we can read it in "chunks" rather than needing to read the whole Bible at once.

But it also makes it a bit confusing. The Bible itself is a book. In fact, the word "bible" comes from the Latin and Greek words for "book" (biblia andbiblos, respectively). But it's a book of books. That means if you want to know the Bible better, you'll need to get acquainted with the 66 documents it comprises.

That can take a while, so . . .

Here's a snapshot of every book of the Bible

I've written a one-sentence overview of every book of the Bible. They're listed in the order they show up in the Protestant Bible. If you want more, I've linked to quick, 3-minute guides to every book of the Bible, too.

This is a lot to take in, so if you want to start with baby steps,check out this list of the shortest books of the Bible.

Old Testament books of the Bible

The Old Testament includes 39 books which were written long before Jesus was born.

The first five books of the Bible are called the Torah, or the Law of Moses.

1. Genesis

Genesis answers two big questions: "How did God's relationship with the world begin?" and "Where did the nation of Israel come from?"

Author:Traditionally Moses, but the stories are much older.

Fun fact:Most of the famous Bible stories you've heard about are probably found in the book of Genesis. This is where the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and the Ark, the Tower of Babel, Abraham and Isaac, Jacob's ladder, and Joseph's coat of many colors are recorded.

2. Exodus

God saves Israel from slavery in Egypt, and then enters into a special relationship with them.

Author:Traditionally Moses

3. Leviticus

God gives Israel instructions for how to worship Him.

Author:traditionally Moses

4. Numbers

Israel fails to trust and obey God, and wanders in the wilderness for 40 years.

Author:Traditionally Moses

5. Deuteronomy

Moses 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.

Author:Traditionally Moses

6. Joshua

Joshua (Israel's new leader) leads Israel to conquer the Promised land, then parcels out territories to the twelve tribes of Israel.

Author:Nobody knows

Fun fact:You've probably heard of a few fantastic stories from this book (the Battle of Jericho and the day the sun stood still), but most of the action happens in the first half of this book. The last half is pretty much all about divvying up the real estate.

7. Judges

Israel 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").

Author:Nobody knows

8. Ruth

Two widows lose everything, and find hope in Israel—which leads to the birth of the future King David.

Author:Nobody knows

9. 1 Samuel

Israel demands a king, who turns out to be quite a disappointment.

Author:Nobody knows

10. 2 Samuel

David, a man after God's own heart, becomes king of Israel.

Author:Nobody knows

11. 1 Kings

The 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.

Author:Nobody knows

12. 2 Kings

Both kingdoms ignore God and his prophets, until they both fall captive to other world empires.

Author:Nobody knows

13. 1 Chronicles

This is a brief history of Israel from Adam to David, culminating with David commissioning the temple of God in Jerusalem.

Author:Traditionally Ezra

14. 2 Chronicles

David's son Solomon builds the temple, but after centuries of rejecting God, the Babylonians take the southern Israelites captive and destroy the temple.

Author:Traditionally Ezra

15. Ezra

The Israelites rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and a scribe named Ezra teaches the people to once again obey God's laws.

Author: Ezra

16. Nehemiah

The city of Jerusalem is in bad shape, so Nehemiah rebuilds the wall around the city.

Author:Nehemiah

17. Esther

Someone hatches a genocidal plot to bring about Israel's extinction, and Esther must face the emperor to ask for help.

Author:Nobody knows

Books of Poetry in the Old Testament

18. Job

Satan attacks a righteous man named Job, and Job and his friends argue about why terrible things are happening to him.

Author:Nobody knows

19. Psalms

A collection of 150 songs that Israel sang to God (and to each other)—kind of like a hymnal for the ancient Israelites.

Author:So many authors—meet them all here!

20. Proverbs

A collection of sayings written to help people make wise decisions that bring about justice.

Author: Solomon and other wise men

21. Ecclesiastes

A philosophical exploration of the meaning of life—with a surprisingly nihilistic tone for the Bible.

Author:Traditionally Solomon

22. Song of Solomon (Song of Songs)

A love song (or collection of love songs) celebrating love, desire, and marriage.

Author:Traditionally Solomon (but it could have been written about Solomon, or in the style of Solomon)

Books of prophecy in the Old Testament

23. Isaiah

God 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."

Author:Isaiah (and maybe some of his followers)

24. Jeremiah

God sends a prophet to warn Israel about the coming Babylonian captivity, but the people don't take the news very well.

Author:Jeremiah

25. Lamentations

A collection of dirges lamenting the fall of Jerusalem after the Babylonian attacks.

Author:Traditionally Jeremiah

26. Ezekiel

God chooses a man to speak for Him to Israel, to tell them the error of their ways and teach them justice: Ezekiel.

Author:Ezekiel

27. Daniel

Daniel becomes a high-ranking wise man in the Babylonian and Persian empires, and has prophetic visions concerning Israel's future.

Author:Daniel (with other contributors)

28. Hosea

Hosea is told to marry a prostitute who leaves him, and he must bring her back: a picture of God's relationship with Israel.

Author:Hosea

29. Joel

God sends a plague of locusts to Judge Israel, but his judgment on the surrounding nations is coming, too.

Author:Joel

30. Amos

A shepherd named Amos preaches against the injustice of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

Author:Amos

31. Obadiah

Obadiah warns the neighboring nation of Edom that they will be judged for plundering Jerusalem.

Author:Obadiah

32. Jonah

A disobedient prophet runs from God, is swallowed by a great fish, and then preaches God's message to the city of Nineveh.

Author: Traditionally Jonah

33. Micah

Micah confronts the leaders of Israel and Judah regarding their injustice, and prophecies that one day the Lord himself will rule in perfect justice.

Author:Micah

34. Nahum

Nahum foretells of God's judgment on Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.

Author:Nahum

35. Habakkuk

Habakkuk 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.

Author:Habakkuk

36. Zephaniah

God warns that he will judge Israel and the surrounding nations, but also that he will restore them in peace and justice.

Author:Zephaniah

37. Haggai

The people have abandoned the work of restoring God's temple in Jerusalem, and so Haggai takes them to task.

Author:Haggai

38. Zechariah

The prophet Zechariah calls Israel to return to God, and records prophetic visions that show what's happening behind the scenes.

39. Malachi

God has been faithful to Israel, but they continue to live disconnected from him—so God sends Malachi to call them out.

New Testament books of the Bible

The New Testament includes 27 books about Jesus' ministry and what it means to follow him. The first four books of the New Testament are called the Gospels.

40. The Gospel of Matthew

This is an account of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, focusing on Jesus' role as the true king of the Jews.

Author:Matthew

41. The Gospel of Mark

This brief account of Jesus' earthly ministry highlights Jesus' authority and servanthood.

Author:John Mark

42. The Gospel of Luke

Luke writes the most thorough account of Jesus' life, pulling together eyewitness testimonies to tell the full story of Jesus.

Author:Luke

43. The Gospel of John

John lists stories of signs and miracles with the hope that readers will believe in Jesus.

Author:John

44. Acts

Jesus returns to the Father, the Holy Spirit comes to the church, and the gospel of Jesus spreads throughout the world.

Author:Luke

Paul's epistles

45. Romans

Paul summarizes how the gospel of Jesus works in a letter to the churches at Rome, where he plans to visit.

Author:Paul

46. 1 Corinthians

Paul writes a disciplinary letter to a fractured church in Corinth, and answers some questions that they've had about how Christians should behave.

Author:Paul

47. 2 Corinthians

Paul writes a letter of reconciliation to the church at Corinth, and clears up some concerns that they have.

Author:Paul

48. Galatians

Paul 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.

Author:Paul

49. Ephesians

Paul writes to the church at Ephesus about how to walk in grace, peace, and love.

Author:Paul

50. Philippians

An encouraging letter to the church of Philippi from Paul, telling them how to have joy in Christ.

Author:Paul

51. Colossians

Paul writes the church at Colossae a letter about who they are in Christ, and how to walk in Christ.

Author:Paul

52. 1 Thessalonians

Paul has heard a good report on the church at Thessalonica, and encourages them to "excel still more" in faith, hope, and love.

Author:Paul

53. 2 Thessalonians

Paul instructs the Thessalonians on how to stand firm until the coming of Jesus.

Author:Paul

54. 1 Timothy

Paul gives his protegé Timothy instruction on how to lead a church with sound teaching and a godly example.

Author:Paul

55. 2 Timothy

Paul is nearing the end of his life, and encourages Timothy to continue preaching the word.

Author:Paul

56. Titus

Paul advises Titus on how to lead orderly, counter-cultural churches on the island of Crete.

Author:Paul

57. Philemon

Paul strongly recommends that Philemon accept his runaway slave as a brother, not a slave.

Author:Paul

The general, or Catholic, epistles

58. Hebrews

A letter encouraging Christians to cling to Christ despite persecution, because he is greater.

Author:Nobody knows

59. James

A letter telling Christians to live in ways that demonstrate their faith in action.

Author: James (likely the brother of Jesus)

60. 1 Peter

Peter writes to Christians who are being persecuted, encouraging them to testify to the truth and live accordingly.

Author:Peter

61. 2 Peter

Peter writes a letter reminding Christians about the truth of Jesus, and warning them that false teachers will come.

Author:Peter

62. 1 John

John writes a letter to Christians about keeping Jesus' commands, loving one another, and important things they should know.

Author:John

63. 2 John

A very brief letter about walking in truth, love, and obedience.

Author: John

64. 3 John

An even shorter letter about Christian fellowship.

Author:John

65. Jude

A letter encouraging Christians to contend for the faith, even though ungodly persons have crept in unnoticed.

Author:Jude

66. Revelation

John sees visions of things that have been, things that are, and things that are yet to come.

Author:John