The Bible's 66 books can feel overwhelming at first. This overview gives one simple line for each book, grouped by section, so you can see the shape of the whole Bible at a glance.
Old Testament (39 books)
The Law (Pentateuch)
- Genesis – creation, the fall, the flood and the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.
- Exodus – God rescues Israel from slavery in Egypt and gives the Ten Commandments.
- Leviticus – laws for worship, sacrifice and holy living.
- Numbers – Israel's forty years in the wilderness.
- Deuteronomy – Moses' final speeches, renewing God's covenant before Israel enters the land.
History
- Joshua – Israel enters and settles the promised land.
- Judges – cycles of disobedience and rescue through leaders called judges.
- Ruth – a story of loyalty and God's care, in the family line of King David.
- 1 Samuel – Samuel, Saul and the rise of David.
- 2 Samuel – the reign of King David.
- 1 Kings – Solomon, the temple and the divided kingdom.
- 2 Kings – the decline and fall of Israel and Judah.
- 1 Chronicles – Israel's history retold, focusing on David.
- 2 Chronicles – the kings of Judah and the temple.
- Ezra – the return from exile and rebuilding of the temple.
- Nehemiah – rebuilding Jerusalem's walls and renewing the people.
- Esther – a Jewish queen in Persia saves her people.
Wisdom and Poetry
- Job – a righteous man's suffering and his questions to God.
- Psalms – 150 songs and prayers of praise, lament and trust.
- Proverbs – short sayings of practical wisdom.
- Ecclesiastes – reflections on the meaning of life "under the sun".
- Song of Solomon – a love poem celebrating love between husband and wife.
Major Prophets
- Isaiah – judgement and hope, with many promises of the coming Messiah.
- Jeremiah – warnings before the fall of Jerusalem and the promise of a new covenant.
- Lamentations – poems of grief over Jerusalem's destruction.
- Ezekiel – visions of God's glory during the exile.
- Daniel – faithfulness in Babylon and visions of God's kingdom.
Minor Prophets
- Hosea – God's faithful love for unfaithful Israel.
- Joel – a call to repent and a promise of God's Spirit.
- Amos – a call for justice and true worship.
- Obadiah – judgement on Edom.
- Jonah – a reluctant prophet and God's mercy to Nineveh.
- Micah – justice, mercy and humility; Bethlehem foretold.
- Nahum – the fall of Nineveh.
- Habakkuk – a prophet's questions and a call to live by faith.
- Zephaniah – the day of the Lord and future restoration.
- Haggai – a call to rebuild the temple.
- Zechariah – visions of restoration and the coming king.
- Malachi – a call to faithfulness and a promise of the messenger to come.
New Testament (27 books)
Gospels and History
- Matthew – Jesus as the promised King and Messiah.
- Mark – a fast-moving account of Jesus the servant.
- Luke – a careful account of Jesus' compassion for all.
- John – Jesus as the Son of God who gives eternal life.
- Acts – the Holy Spirit comes and the church spreads.
Paul's Letters
- Romans – the gospel explained.
- 1 Corinthians – correcting problems in a divided church.
- 2 Corinthians – Paul's ministry and strength in weakness.
- Galatians – freedom in Christ, not by the law.
- Ephesians – the church as one body in Christ.
- Philippians – joy in every circumstance.
- Colossians – the supremacy of Christ.
- 1 Thessalonians – encouragement and the return of Christ.
- 2 Thessalonians – standing firm until Christ returns.
- 1 Timothy – guidance for church leadership.
- 2 Timothy – Paul's last letter, urging faithfulness.
- Titus – sound teaching and good works.
- Philemon – a plea for a runaway slave, Onesimus.
General Letters and Prophecy
- Hebrews – Jesus is greater than everything before him.
- James – faith that shows itself in action.
- 1 Peter – hope in suffering.
- 2 Peter – warnings against false teaching.
- 1 John – love, light and assurance.
- 2 John – walking in truth and love.
- 3 John – hospitality to faithful workers.
- Jude – contend for the faith.
- Revelation – visions of Christ's victory and the new creation.
Where to start
New readers often start with Mark or John, then Acts, then a short letter such as Philippians, and then go back to Genesis. See how to read the Bible for the first time.