List of Books of the Holy Bible: Old and New Testaments

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What are the Books of the Bible?

Many people ask, “What are the books of the bible?” or “How many books are there in the Bible? That can be a difficult question to answer directly because different churches recognize and accept the different books.

In fact, the books are listed differently in Judaism, Catholic, Protestant, Greek Orthodox, Slavonic Orthodox, Georgian, Armenian Apostolic, Syriac, and Ethiopian churches. However, there is substantial overlap in the list of books in the bible across the various religions.

The Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic churches have minor differences in their lists of the accepted books of the bible.

Who wrote the Bible?

In truth, nobody knows exactly who wrote the bible. Many people agree that it does not have a single author. In addition, most people agree that its writing and compilation took place over the course of centuries and had many different authors. Some believe it was written over as long as fifteen hundred years. However, certain sections were believed to be written by specific persons, such as these apostles.

The Bible has been translated many times in many different languages worldwide. One of the most commonly known translations is the King James Bible. The King James Version is an English translation of the Christian Bible by the Church of England. The translation of the King James Bible by the Church of England began in 1604 and was completed in 1611.

List of Books in the King James Holy Bible

New International Version, Old Testament

Following is a list of books in the King James holy bible, in the Old Testament, along with a brief description:

  • Book of Genesis – written by Moses. Genesis means origin or beginning.
  • Book of Exodus – Written by Moses, Exodus tells the story of the departure of the Israelite nation from Egypt.
  • Book of Leviticus – In the Book of Leviticus, God explains to the Israelites and their priests the process of making offerings in the Tabernacle. Also, he explains how they should behave when camping near the holy tent sanctuary.
  • Numbers – Numbers tells how the Israelites wandered for almost 40 years in the desert after disobeying God.
  • Deuteronomy – Deuteronomy contains the last known words of Moses, which were said to be spoken during the last days of his life.
  • Joshua – When Moses dies, God asks Joshua to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the promised land.
  • Judges – Named for the various military leaders, the Book of Judges tells how these leaders helped the Israelites understand the impact of their sins. In addition, readers learn the consequences of being unfaithful to god, though they can still repent their sins.
  • Ruth – The prophet Samuel wrote the book of Ruth, which explains how Ruth accepted God and the Israelite people.
  • 1 SAMUEL – Also known as the first book of Samuel, the book tells the story of the life of the prophet Samuel, set in the land of Israel.
  • 2 SAMUEL – Also known as Second Samuel, the second book of Samuel chronicles the establishment of King David’s dynasty and the expansion of Israel.
  • 1 KINGS – The first book of Kings includes chapters on The Davidic Succession, Solomon, and Elijah.
  • 2 KINGS – The Second Book of Kings describes the history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Additionally, the second book of Kings focuses on each kingdom’s spiritual successes and failures. Also, Kings two explains why Israel and Judah lost God’s protection.
  • 1 Chronicles – Also referred to as First Chronicles, or Chronicles 1, this book presents the biblical narrative beginning with Adam, the first human being. The Chronicles story continues with the history of ancient Judah and Israel until the proclamation of King Cyrus the Great.
  • 2 CHRONICLES – In Chronicles 2, Solomon builds a temple in the name of the Lord.
  • EZRA – Ezra covers the return from the Babylonian exile after seventy years. In addition, Ezra describes the events surrounding the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.
  • Nehemiah – The book of Nehemiah describes Nehemiah’s work in rebuilding Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. Nehemiah was governor of Persian Judea under Artaxerxes I of Persia.
  • Esther – Esther tells the story of a Hebrew woman in Persia, who was born with the name of Hadassah, but later became known as Esther. Esther went on to become the queen of Persia and ultimately saves her people from genocide.
  • Job – The book of Job focuses on God’s relationship with humans and the condition of human suffering. God teaches us to trust in his wisdom and his character.
  • Psalms – The book of Psalms is a collection of lyrical poems that were written by multiple authors. 
  • Proverbs – Proverbs give information and wisdom on how to live a peaceful and happy life. This is accomplished by honoring and respecting God as all good and all-powerful.
  • Ecclesiastes – Ecclesiastes is one of the 24 books of Tanakh. The title of the book may mean the assembler or collector of wisdom.
  • Song of Songs – Also known as Song of Solomon, is one of the wisdom books of Hebrew scripture.
  • Isaiah – Isaiah is one of the prophets who was said to have predicted the birth of Jesus Christ.
  • Jeremiah – This chapter describes the prophecies against Judah, Jerusalem, and other nations. Also, it provides more information about Jeremiah. Plus, it includes a historical appendix.
  • Lamentations – The Book of Lamentations is a poetic reflection on the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Israelites. It expresses profound grief and mourning over the devastation, portraying the city as desolate and its people suffering greatly. Through vivid and emotional language, it laments the loss of Jerusalem’s former glory, the hardships endured by the inhabitants, and the consequences of their disobedience. The book calls for repentance and appeals to God for mercy, serving as a poignant reminder of the consequences of sin and the need for reconciliation with God.
  • Ezekiel – The Book of Ezekiel in the Bible is a prophetic work that recounts the visions and messages received by the prophet Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile. It addresses themes of divine judgment, restoration, and the sovereignty of God, utilizing vivid imagery and symbolic actions to convey its powerful messages.
  • Daniel – The Book of Daniel in the Bible is a collection of narratives and visions featuring the prophet Daniel, who, while in captivity in Babylon, interprets dreams and receives apocalyptic revelations. It explores themes of faithfulness, divine intervention, and the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom over earthly powers.
  • Hosea – The Book of Hosea in the Bible is a prophetic work that illustrates the relationship between God and Israel through the personal experiences of the prophet Hosea. Using the metaphor of a troubled marriage, Hosea’s message emphasizes God’s steadfast love, Israel’s unfaithfulness, and the call to repentance for restoration.
  • Joel – The Book of Joel in the Bible is a prophetic work that addresses a devastating locust plague as a metaphor for divine judgment and a call to repentance. Joel emphasizes the urgency of returning to God, promising restoration and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for those seeking reconciliation.
  • Amos –
  • Obadiah –
  • Jonah –
  • Micah –
  • NAHUM
  • HABAKKUK
  • ZEPHANIAH
  • HAGGAI
  • ZECHARIAH
  • Malachi

List of Books in the Holy Bible

New International Version, New Testament

  • Matthew
  • Mark
  • Luke
  • John
  • Book of ACTS
  • Book of ROMANS
  • Book of 1 Corinthians
  • Book of 2 CORINTHIANS
  • Book of GALATIANS
  • Book of EPHESIANS
  • Book of PHILIPPIANS
  • Book of COLOSSIANS
  • Book of 1 THESSALONIANS
  • Book of 2 THESSALONIANS
  • Book of 1 TIMOTHY
  • Book of 2 TIMOTHY
  • Book of TITUS
  • Book of PHILEMON
  • Book of HEBREWS
  • Book of JAMES
  • Book of 1 Peter
  • Book of 2 Peter
  • Book of 1 John
  • Book of 2 John
  • Book of 3 John
  • Book of Jude
  • Book of Revelation

Questions and Comments

If you have any questions about the books of the bible, please leave a comment below. Also, view more Lists of Lists.

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