The 66 books of the Bible

Every book of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation: what it is about, who wrote it, when, and how long it is. Open the Bible Book Analysis.

The Law (Torah)

• Genesis Moses, 1491–1451 BC
  The book of beginnings: creation, the fall, the flood, the nations, and the families of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
• Exodus Moses, 1491–1451 BC
  Israel’s rescue from Egypt, the giving of the law at Sinai, and the building of the tabernacle.
• Leviticus Moses, 1491–1490 BC
  God’s instructions for sacrifice, priesthood, purity, and holy living, given at Sinai.
• Numbers Moses, 1491–1451 BC
  Israel’s census and wanderings in the wilderness, from Sinai to the plains of Moab.
• Deuteronomy Moses, 1451 BC
  Moses’ farewell speeches on the plains of Moab, renewing the covenant before Israel enters the land.

History

• Joshua Joshua, with a later addition by Eleazar or Phinehas, 1451–1425 BC
  Israel enters Canaan under Joshua: the crossing of the Jordan, the fall of Jericho, and the division of the land.
• Judges Unknown; Jewish tradition says Samuel, 1050–1010 BC
  The cycle of sin, oppression, and rescue under Israel’s judges, from Othniel to Samson.
• Ruth Unknown; Jewish tradition says Samuel, 1050–1010 BC
  A Moabite widow, Ruth, finds a home and a redeemer in Boaz, and becomes David’s great-grandmother.
• 1 Samuel Samuel, Nathan, and Gad (1 Chronicles 29:29), compiled later, 1010–930 BC
  The last judge, Samuel; the first king, Saul; and the rise of David.
• 2 Samuel Samuel, Nathan, and Gad (1 Chronicles 29:29), compiled later, 1010–930 BC
  David’s reign over Judah and then all Israel, his sin with Bathsheba, and the troubles that followed.
• 1 Kings Unknown; Jewish tradition says Jeremiah, 562–538 BC
  Solomon’s reign and the temple, the divided kingdom, and the ministry of Elijah.
• 2 Kings Unknown; Jewish tradition says Jeremiah, 562–538 BC
  The kings of Israel and Judah to the fall of Samaria in 721 BC and of Jerusalem in 588 BC, and Elisha’s ministry.
• 1 Chronicles Unknown; Jewish tradition says Ezra, 450–400 BC
  A retelling of Israel’s story from Adam through David, for the people who had returned from exile.
• 2 Chronicles Unknown; Jewish tradition says Ezra, 450–400 BC
  Solomon’s temple, the kings of Judah, the exile, and Cyrus’s decree that lets the people return.
• Ezra Ezra the priest and scribe, 467–445 BC
  The return from Babylon, the rebuilding of the temple, and Ezra’s reforms.
• Nehemiah Nehemiah (with the lists Ezra kept), 441–425 BC
  Nehemiah, the king’s cupbearer, rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem and renews the people’s covenant.
• Esther Unknown; some say Mordecai, 510–465 BC
  A Jewish queen in Persia, Esther, and her cousin Mordecai save their people from Haman’s plot; the origin of Purim.

Poetry and wisdom

• Job Unknown; some say Job, Elihu, Moses, or Solomon, 1500–1000 BC
  Why do the righteous suffer? Job, a wealthy man who loses everything, wrestles with God and his friends.
• Psalms David (73 psalms), Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses (Psalm 90), Heman, Ethan, and others, 1451–430 BC
  Israel’s songbook of 150 psalms: praise, lament, thanksgiving, and trust.
• Proverbs Solomon, with sayings of the wise, Agur, and Lemuel, 1000–700 BC
  Short sayings that teach wisdom for daily life, beginning with the fear of the LORD.
• Ecclesiastes Solomon (“the Preacher”), 985–975 BC
  A wise man’s search for meaning “under the sun,” ending with fearing God and keeping his commandments.
• Song of Solomon Solomon, 1020–1000 BC
  A love poem between a bride and bridegroom, celebrating marriage; read by the church also as a picture of Christ and his people.

Major prophets

• Isaiah Isaiah son of Amoz, 740–680 BC
  Isaiah’s visions of judgment and comfort, and of the suffering servant and the Messiah to come.
• Jeremiah Jeremiah, with Baruch as scribe, 629–585 BC
  Jeremiah’s warnings to Judah before Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, and his promise of a new covenant.
• Lamentations Jeremiah (by tradition), 588–586 BC
  Five poems of grief over the destruction of Jerusalem, with a note of hope in God’s faithful love.
• Ezekiel Ezekiel, a priest among the exiles in Babylon, 594–570 BC
  Ezekiel’s visions to the exiles: God’s glory leaves the temple, and a new heart, a new temple, and a new life come.
• Daniel Daniel, 607–535 BC
  Daniel, a Jewish exile in the courts of Babylon and Persia, and his visions of the kingdoms to come.

Minor prophets

• Hosea Hosea, 790–725 BC
  God’s faithful love for unfaithful Israel, pictured in Hosea’s marriage to Gomer.
• Joel Joel son of Pethuel, 808–800 BC
  A plague of locusts becomes a warning of the day of the LORD and a promise that God will pour out his Spirit.
• Amos Amos, a shepherd of Tekoa, 790–788 BC
  A herdsman from Judah calls Israel to justice and righteousness, two years before the earthquake.
• Obadiah Obadiah, 587–585 BC
  A short prophecy against Edom for its pride and for gloating when Jerusalem fell.
• Jonah Jonah son of Amittai (2 Kings 14:25), 800–780 BC
  A prophet runs from God, is swallowed by a great fish, and then preaches in Nineveh, which repents.
• Micah Micah of Moresheth, 740–700 BC
  Judgment on Samaria and Jerusalem, and the promise of a ruler born in Bethlehem.
• Nahum Nahum of Elkosh, 663–612 BC
  A prophecy of Nineveh’s fall, which comforts Judah with the news that God judges cruelty.
• Habakkuk Habakkuk, 609–605 BC
  A prophet asks why God allows evil and learns that “the righteous will live by his faith.”
• Zephaniah Zephaniah, a descendant of Hezekiah, 630–622 BC
  A warning of the great day of the LORD against Judah and the nations, and a promise of a restored remnant.
• Haggai Haggai, 520 BC
  Haggai urges the returned exiles to rebuild the temple, in the second year of Darius.
• Zechariah Zechariah, a priest, 520–480 BC
  Visions and promises to encourage the rebuilding, including the coming king riding on a donkey.
• Malachi Malachi, 420–410 BC
  The last Old Testament prophet calls a lax people back to the LORD and promises a messenger before the great day.

Gospels and Acts

• Matthew Matthew (Levi), the tax collector and apostle, AD 58–62
  The Gospel of the King: Jesus as the promised Messiah, Son of David, and Son of Abraham.
• Mark John Mark, drawing on the preaching of Peter, AD 55–62
  A fast-moving Gospel of Jesus as the suffering servant and Son of God.
• Luke Luke, the physician and companion of Paul, AD 58–62
  An orderly account of Jesus’ life for Theophilus, with special attention to the poor, women, and the outcast.
• John John the apostle, “the disciple whom Jesus loved”, AD 85–95
  The Gospel of the Word made flesh, written “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.”
• Acts Luke, AD 60–63
  The spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome, through Peter and Paul.

Paul's letters

• Romans Paul, AD 56–57
  Paul’s fullest explanation of the gospel: sin, justification by faith, life in the Spirit, and Israel’s place.
• 1 Corinthians Paul, AD 54–55
  Paul answers a divided, troubled church: divisions, lawsuits, marriage, worship, the Lord’s Supper, spiritual gifts, and the resurrection.
• 2 Corinthians Paul, AD 55–56
  Paul defends his ministry, speaks of weakness and comfort, and appeals for a collection for Jerusalem.
• Galatians Paul, AD 48–49
  Paul defends the gospel of grace: we are justified by faith, not by works of the law.
• Ephesians Paul, AD 60–61
  The church as Christ’s body: God’s plan to unite all things in Christ, and how believers should live.
• Philippians Paul, AD 61–62
  A letter of joy from prison to a church Paul loved, with the great hymn of Christ’s humility (2:5–11).
• Colossians Paul, AD 60–61
  Christ is supreme over all creation and enough for the church, against false teaching.
• 1 Thessalonians Paul, with Silas and Timothy, AD 50–51
  Encouragement to a young church, with the hope of the Lord’s coming.
• 2 Thessalonians Paul, with Silas and Timothy, AD 51–52
  A follow-up to the Thessalonians about the day of the Lord and steady, diligent living.
• 1 Timothy Paul, AD 62–64
  Paul’s instructions to Timothy, his young coworker, on caring for the church in Ephesus.
• 2 Timothy Paul, AD 66–67
  Paul’s last letter, from a Roman cell, urging Timothy to guard the gospel and “preach the word.”
• Titus Paul, AD 62–64
  Paul tells Titus how to appoint elders and put in order the churches on Crete.
• Philemon Paul, AD 60–61
  A short personal letter asking Philemon to welcome back his runaway slave Onesimus as a brother.

General letters and Revelation

• Hebrews Unknown; some say Paul, Barnabas, or Apollos, AD 64–68
  A call to hold on to Christ, who is greater than angels, Moses, and the priests of old.
• James James, the Lord’s brother, AD 45–49
  Practical wisdom for believers: faith shows itself in works, taming the tongue, and caring for the poor.
• 1 Peter Peter the apostle, with Silvanus as scribe, AD 62–64
  Encouragement for believers suffering for their faith: a living hope, and following Christ’s example.
• 2 Peter Peter the apostle, AD 65–67
  Peter’s farewell: grow in knowledge, beware of false teachers, and look for the Lord’s return.
• 1 John John the apostle, AD 85–95
  John writes so that believers may know they have eternal life, and tests of truth, love, and obedience.
• 2 John John the apostle, “the elder”, AD 85–95
  A brief letter warning a church not to welcome false teachers, and calling them to love.
• 3 John John the apostle, “the elder”, AD 85–95
  A letter to Gaius, praising his hospitality to traveling teachers and rebuking Diotrephes.
• Jude Jude, brother of James and of the Lord, AD 65–80
  A call to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” against ungodly teachers.
• Revelation John, on the island of Patmos, AD 90–96
  Jesus Christ reveals what must soon take place: letters to seven churches, visions of judgment, and a new heaven and new earth.