Books of the Bible in Order with Old and New Testament Lists

Looking for the books of the Bible in order? You’re in the right place.

Below you’ll find a clear guide to all 66 books of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament.

This guide is made to be simple, clear, and helpful whether you are a new believer, a parent, a Sunday school teacher, a Bible study leader, or someone who simply wants to understand how the Bible is organized.

The Protestant Bible contains 66 books total: 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. Catholic and Orthodox Christian traditions include additional books, but this article focuses on the 66-book Protestant Bible order commonly used in many English Bibles.

Complete List of the Books of the Bible in Order

Use the list below to see all 66 books of the Bible in order. View the full list, or focus only on the Old Testament or New Testament.

All 66 Books Old Testament New Testament

• 1.GenesisOT
  The Law / Pentateuch
• 2.ExodusOT
  The Law / Pentateuch
• 3.LeviticusOT
  The Law / Pentateuch
• 4.NumbersOT
  The Law / Pentateuch
• 5.DeuteronomyOT
  The Law / Pentateuch
• 6.JoshuaOT
  Old Testament History
• 7.JudgesOT
  Old Testament History
• 8.RuthOT
  Old Testament History
• 9.1 SamuelOT
  Old Testament History
• 10.2 SamuelOT
  Old Testament History
• 11.1 KingsOT
  Old Testament History
• 12.2 KingsOT
  Old Testament History
• 13.1 ChroniclesOT
  Old Testament History
• 14.2 ChroniclesOT
  Old Testament History
• 15.EzraOT
  Old Testament History
• 16.NehemiahOT
  Old Testament History
• 17.EstherOT
  Old Testament History
• 18.JobOT
  Wisdom and Poetry
• 19.PsalmsOT
  Wisdom and Poetry
• 20.ProverbsOT
  Wisdom and Poetry
• 21.EcclesiastesOT
  Wisdom and Poetry
• 22.Song of SolomonOT
  Wisdom and Poetry
• 23.IsaiahOT
  Major Prophets
• 24.JeremiahOT
  Major Prophets
• 25.LamentationsOT
  Major Prophets
• 26.EzekielOT
  Major Prophets
• 27.DanielOT
  Major Prophets
• 28.HoseaOT
  Minor Prophets
• 29.JoelOT
  Minor Prophets
• 30.AmosOT
  Minor Prophets
• 31.ObadiahOT
  Minor Prophets
• 32.JonahOT
  Minor Prophets
• 33.MicahOT
  Minor Prophets
• 34.NahumOT
  Minor Prophets
• 35.HabakkukOT
  Minor Prophets
• 36.ZephaniahOT
  Minor Prophets
• 37.HaggaiOT
  Minor Prophets
• 38.ZechariahOT
  Minor Prophets
• 39.MalachiOT
  Minor Prophets
• New Testament Begins
• 40.MatthewNT
  The Gospels
• 41.MarkNT
  The Gospels
• 42.LukeNT
  The Gospels
• 43.JohnNT
  The Gospels
• 44.ActsNT
  New Testament History
• 45.RomansNT
  Paul’s Letters
• 46.1 CorinthiansNT
  Paul’s Letters
• 47.2 CorinthiansNT
  Paul’s Letters
• 48.GalatiansNT
  Paul’s Letters
• 49.EphesiansNT
  Paul’s Letters
• 50.PhilippiansNT
  Paul’s Letters
• 51.ColossiansNT
  Paul’s Letters
• 52.1 ThessaloniansNT
  Paul’s Letters
• 53.2 ThessaloniansNT
  Paul’s Letters
• 54.1 TimothyNT
  Paul’s Letters
• 55.2 TimothyNT
  Paul’s Letters
• 56.TitusNT
  Paul’s Letters
• 57.PhilemonNT
  Paul’s Letters
• 58.HebrewsNT
  General Letters
• 59.JamesNT
  General Letters
• 60.1 PeterNT
  General Letters
• 61.2 PeterNT
  General Letters
• 62.1 JohnNT
  General Letters
• 63.2 JohnNT
  General Letters
• 64.3 JohnNT
  General Letters
• 65.JudeNT
  General Letters
• 66.RevelationNT
  Prophecy / Apocalyptic

The Bible begins with Genesis, the first book of the Bible, and ends with Revelation, the final book of the Bible.

If you are learning the books for the first time, start by looking at the full 66-book list so you understand the whole order. After that, practice in smaller sections, beginning with the Old Testament and New Testament separately.

Old Testament Books in Order

The Old Testament has 39 books. These books tell the story of creation, humanity’s fall into sin, God’s covenant promises, Israel’s history, worship, wisdom, prophecy, judgment, and hope.

The Old Testament begins with Genesis and ends with Malachi.

A simple way to understand the Old Testament is to see it in five main sections:

• The Law / Pentateuch
• Old Testament History
• Wisdom and Poetry
• Major Prophets
• Minor Prophets

These sections help readers understand that the Old Testament is not just a long list of names. It is a carefully arranged collection of books that shows God’s work in creation, covenant, worship, judgment, mercy, and promise.

New Testament Books in Order

The New Testament has 27 books. These books focus on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the birth and growth of the early church, Christian teaching, and the hope of Christ’s return.

The New Testament begins with Matthew and ends with Revelation.

A simple way to understand the New Testament is to see it in five main sections:

• The Gospels
• New Testament History
• Paul’s Letters
• General Letters
• Prophecy / Apocalyptic

The New Testament shows how God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ and how believers are called to live by faith in Him.

Books of the Bible by Category

The Bible is easier to understand when you learn its main categories.

The books are not only arranged as a long list. They are grouped by type of writing, such as history, poetry, prophecy, Gospel, and letters.

Here is a simple breakdown of the books of the Bible by category.

The Law / Pentateuch

Books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

These are the first five books of the Bible. They are often called the Law, the Torah, or the Pentateuch.

They tell about creation, the beginning of humanity, the fall into sin, God’s covenant promises, the calling of Abraham, the rescue of Israel from Egypt, and the giving of God’s law through Moses.

These books lay the foundation for much of the rest of the Bible.

Old Testament History

Books: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

These books tell the history of Israel after the time of Moses.

They include the entrance into the Promised Land, the period of the judges, the rise of Israel’s kings, the division of the kingdom, exile, return, and rebuilding.

These books show both God’s faithfulness and the serious consequences of turning away from Him.

Wisdom and Poetry

Books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon

These books include prayers, songs, wisdom sayings, reflections on suffering, worship, love, and the meaning of life.

Psalms teaches us how to pray and worship. Proverbs gives practical wisdom. Job wrestles with suffering. Ecclesiastes reflects on life’s meaning. Song of Solomon celebrates love.

Major Prophets

Books: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel

These books are called the Major Prophets because they are generally longer, not because they are more important.

They contain messages of warning, judgment, hope, restoration, and future promise.

The prophets called God’s people back to faithfulness and pointed forward to God’s ultimate plan.

Minor Prophets

Books: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

These books are called the Minor Prophets because they are shorter than the Major Prophets.

Their messages are still powerful and important.

They speak about repentance, justice, mercy, judgment, worship, and hope. Many of them also point forward to God’s future work of redemption.

The Gospels

Books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

The four Gospels tell the good news of Jesus Christ.

They describe His birth, ministry, miracles, teachings, death, burial, and resurrection.

Each Gospel presents Jesus truthfully, but with its own emphasis. Together, they help us see who Jesus is and why He came.

New Testament History

Book: Acts

Acts tells the story of the early church after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.

It shows the Holy Spirit empowering believers, the spread of the gospel, the ministry of the apostles, and the growth of the church from Jerusalem to the wider world.

Paul’s Letters

Books: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon

Paul’s letters were written to churches and individuals.

They teach about salvation, grace, faith, Christian living, church life, spiritual gifts, leadership, endurance, and love.

These letters help Christians understand what it means to follow Jesus in everyday life.

General Letters

Books: Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude

These letters were written to Christians more broadly or to specific believers and communities.

They encourage faithfulness, endurance, obedience, love, sound doctrine, and hope in Christ.

Prophecy / Apocalyptic

Book: Revelation

Revelation is the final book of the Bible.

It uses vivid imagery and prophetic language to show Christ’s victory, God’s judgment, the defeat of evil, and the future hope of a new heaven and new earth.

It reminds believers that Jesus reigns and that God’s story ends in victory.

What Are the Books of the Bible?

The Bible is not one single book in the ordinary sense. It is a collection of books.

These books were written by different human authors in different times, places, and situations. Christians believe these human authors wrote under God’s inspiration, so Scripture is God’s Word.

The Bible includes history, law, poetry, prophecy, wisdom, biography, letters, and apocalyptic writing.

Even though the Bible contains many books, Christians believe it tells one united story: God’s creation, humanity’s sin, God’s promises, the coming of Jesus Christ, salvation through Him, and the hope of God making all things new.

How Many Books Are in the Bible?

The Protestant Bible has 66 books.

That includes:

• 39 books in the Old Testament
• 27 books in the New Testament

Together, these make up the 66 books of the Bible.

Catholic and Orthodox Bibles include additional books in the Old Testament, depending on the tradition. These are often called deuterocanonical books by Catholics and are sometimes called the Apocrypha by Protestants.

This article is focused on the 66-book Protestant Bible order.

Why Are the Books of the Bible in This Order?

The books of the Bible are generally arranged by type of writing, not strictly by the exact date each book was written or when each event happened.

For example, the Old Testament begins with the Law, then moves into historical books, wisdom and poetry, and the prophets.

The New Testament begins with the four Gospels, then Acts, then letters, and finally Revelation.

This order helps readers move through the major sections of Scripture in a clear and organized way.

So when you look at the Bible’s table of contents, you are not only seeing a timeline. You are seeing a library arranged by category.

Are the Books of the Bible in Chronological Order?

No, the standard books of the Bible are not fully in chronological order.

Some books are arranged by category rather than by when the events happened.

For example, the book of Job may describe events from a very early time, but it appears later in the Old Testament among the wisdom books.

The prophets also overlap with the historical books. Some prophets spoke during the time of the kings, but their books are grouped later in the Old Testament.

The four Gospels all tell about the life of Jesus, but they are placed together as a category rather than separated into a strict timeline.

A chronological Bible reading plan is different from the standard table of contents order. A chronological plan tries to arrange the readings according to when events happened.

The standard Bible order is still very helpful because it groups similar kinds of books together.

Short Summary of Each Book of the Bible

Here is a simple one-sentence summary of each of the 66 books of the Bible.

Old Testament Book Summaries

1. Genesis
Genesis tells about creation, the fall, the flood, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and the beginning of God’s covenant promises.

2. Exodus
Exodus tells how God rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt and gave His law through Moses.

3. Leviticus
Leviticus teaches about worship, holiness, sacrifice, and how God’s people were called to live before Him.

4. Numbers
Numbers follows Israel’s journey through the wilderness and shows both God’s faithfulness and Israel’s struggles.

5. Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy records Moses’ final messages to Israel before they entered the Promised Land.

6. Joshua
Joshua tells how Israel entered and settled in the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership.

7. Judges
Judges shows a repeated cycle of Israel turning from God, suffering, crying out, and being rescued.

8. Ruth
Ruth is a beautiful story of loyalty, kindness, redemption, and God’s providence.

9. 1 Samuel
1 Samuel tells about Samuel, Saul, and the rise of David.

10. 2 Samuel
2 Samuel focuses on David’s reign as king, including his victories, failures, and family troubles.

11. 1 Kings
1 Kings tells about Solomon, the temple, the divided kingdom, and the spiritual decline of Israel.

12. 2 Kings
2 Kings continues the story of the divided kingdom and the exile of Israel and Judah.

13. 1 Chronicles
1 Chronicles retells Israel’s history with a focus on David, worship, and the temple.

14. 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles continues the story from Solomon through Judah’s kings and the exile.

15. Ezra
Ezra tells about the return from exile and the rebuilding of the temple.

16. Nehemiah
Nehemiah tells how Jerusalem’s walls were rebuilt and how the people renewed their commitment to God.

17. Esther
Esther shows how God protected His people through Esther’s courage, even though God’s name is not directly mentioned.

18. Job
Job wrestles with suffering, faith, and trusting God when life does not make sense.

19. Psalms
Psalms is a collection of prayers, songs, and poems for worship, sorrow, praise, confession, and trust.

20. Proverbs
Proverbs gives practical wisdom for living faithfully before God.

21. Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes reflects on life’s meaning and points readers to fear God and keep His commandments.

22. Song of Solomon
Song of Solomon celebrates love, beauty, and marriage.

23. Isaiah
Isaiah speaks of judgment, hope, restoration, and the coming servant of the Lord.

24. Jeremiah
Jeremiah warns Judah of judgment while also pointing to God’s promise of a new covenant.

25. Lamentations
Lamentations grieves the destruction of Jerusalem and teaches sorrow, repentance, and hope in God’s mercy.

26. Ezekiel
Ezekiel speaks to exiles with visions of judgment, restoration, and God’s glory.

27. Daniel
Daniel shows God’s faithfulness during exile and His rule over earthly kingdoms.

28. Hosea
Hosea uses the picture of marriage to show God’s faithful love toward an unfaithful people.

29. Joel
Joel calls God’s people to repentance and speaks of the coming day of the Lord.

30. Amos
Amos warns against injustice, empty religion, and oppression.

31. Obadiah
Obadiah announces judgment against Edom and reminds readers that God rules over the nations.

32. Jonah
Jonah tells of God’s mercy toward Nineveh and challenges the prophet’s lack of compassion.

33. Micah
Micah calls for justice, mercy, humility, and hope in God’s coming ruler.

34. Nahum
Nahum announces God’s judgment against Nineveh.

35. Habakkuk
Habakkuk wrestles with hard questions and learns to live by faith.

36. Zephaniah
Zephaniah warns of the day of the Lord and promises restoration for the humble.

37. Haggai
Haggai urges the returned exiles to rebuild the temple and put God first.

38. Zechariah
Zechariah encourages God’s people with visions of restoration, hope, and the coming King.

39. Malachi
Malachi calls God’s people back to faithful worship and points toward the coming messenger.

New Testament Book Summaries

40. Matthew
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised Messiah and King.

41. Mark
Mark gives a fast-moving account of Jesus’ ministry, suffering, death, and resurrection.

42. Luke
Luke emphasizes Jesus’ compassion, salvation, and care for the lost and overlooked.

43. John
John shows that Jesus is the Son of God and invites readers to believe in Him.

44. Acts
Acts tells how the Holy Spirit empowered the early church to spread the gospel.

45. Romans
Romans explains sin, salvation, grace, faith, righteousness, and life in Christ.

46. 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians addresses problems in the church and teaches about unity, love, worship, and resurrection.

47. 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians shows Paul’s heart as a servant of Christ and teaches strength through weakness.

48. Galatians
Galatians defends the gospel of grace and teaches that believers are justified by faith, not works of the law.

49. Ephesians
Ephesians celebrates God’s grace and explains the church’s identity and unity in Christ.

50. Philippians
Philippians encourages joy, humility, perseverance, and contentment in Christ.

51. Colossians
Colossians teaches the supremacy of Christ over all things.

52. 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians encourages believers to remain faithful and hopeful as they wait for Christ’s return.

53. 2 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians gives further teaching about Christ’s return and faithful endurance.

54. 1 Timothy
1 Timothy gives guidance about church leadership, sound teaching, and godly living.

55. 2 Timothy
2 Timothy is Paul’s final encouragement to remain faithful to Christ and Scripture.

56. Titus
Titus teaches about church order, leadership, good works, and sound doctrine.

57. Philemon
Philemon is a personal letter about forgiveness, reconciliation, and Christian love.

58. Hebrews
Hebrews shows that Jesus is greater than all and is the perfect High Priest and sacrifice.

59. James
James teaches that genuine faith shows itself through obedience, wisdom, and good works.

60. 1 Peter
1 Peter encourages suffering Christians to stand firm in hope and holiness.

61. 2 Peter
2 Peter warns against false teachers and urges believers to grow in grace and knowledge.

62. 1 John
1 John teaches assurance, truth, obedience, and love.

63. 2 John
2 John encourages believers to walk in truth and love while rejecting false teaching.

64. 3 John
3 John commends faithful hospitality and support for gospel workers.

65. Jude
Jude urges believers to contend for the faith and remain faithful to Christ.

66. Revelation
Revelation reveals Christ’s victory, God’s final judgment, and the hope of a new heaven and new earth.

Easy Way to Memorize the Books of the Bible

Memorizing the books of the Bible may feel difficult at first, but it becomes much easier when you break the list into smaller parts.

You do not have to memorize all 66 books at once. First, look at the complete list so you understand the full order. Then practice one section at a time.

1. Start with the Old and New Testament sections

The Old Testament has 39 books and the New Testament has 27 books. Learning them separately makes the full list easier to remember.

You might begin with the first five books of the Old Testament, then learn the four Gospels, and then continue section by section.

2. Learn the categories

Instead of memorizing one long list, learn the Bible’s main categories:

• Law
• History
• Wisdom and Poetry
• Major Prophets
• Minor Prophets
• Gospels
• Acts
• Paul’s Letters
• General Letters
• Revelation

Once you know the categories, the order starts to make more sense.

3. Use a song

Many people learn the books of the Bible through a song.

Songs help because they give the list a rhythm. You may remember the tune before you remember the words, and that can make memorization much easier.

4. Use flashcards

Write one book of the Bible on each card. Then practice putting the cards in order.

You can also make category cards and sort each book into the correct section.

5. Write the list repeatedly

Writing helps your memory.

Try writing the first five books every day until you know them. Then add the next five. Over time, you can work your way through the full list.

6. Quiz yourself

Quizzing yourself helps you remember the order instead of only recognizing the names.

Start with simple questions:

• What are the first five books?
• What book comes after Ruth?
• What are the four Gospels?
• What is the last book of the Bible?

You can also use the quiz below to practice what book comes next in the Bible order.

7. Practice with family, church, or Sunday school

Learning with others can make it more fun.

Parents can practice with children. Sunday school teachers can turn the list into a group activity. Bible study groups can review one section each week.

Books of the Bible Quiz

A books of the Bible quiz is a great way to test your memory and practice the order of the Bible books.

Use the quiz below to practice which book comes next. This can help you move from simply reading the list to actually remembering the order.

Test your memory of the books of the Bible in order. Choose the book that comes next.

You can also keep practicing manually by writing the full list from memory and then checking your answers with the list above.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Books of the Bible

How many books are in the Bible?

The Protestant Bible has 66 books: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Catholic and Orthodox Bibles include additional books, depending on the tradition.

What are the first 5 books of the Bible?

The first five books of the Bible are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

These books are often called the Law, the Torah, or the Pentateuch.

What are the 4 Gospels?

The four Gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

They tell about the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

What is the longest book in the Bible?

The longest book in the Bible is usually considered Psalms, based on its number of chapters and overall length.

What is the shortest book in the Bible?

The shortest book in the Bible is usually considered 3 John, based on word count in many English translations.

What is the first book of the Bible?

The first book of the Bible is Genesis.

Genesis begins with creation and introduces many foundational themes of Scripture.

What is the last book of the Bible?

The last book of the Bible is Revelation.

Revelation speaks of Christ’s victory, final judgment, and the hope of God making all things new.

Are the books of the Bible in chronological order?

No, the standard order of the books of the Bible is not fully chronological.

The Bible is generally arranged by type of writing, such as Law, History, Poetry, Prophecy, Gospels, Letters, and Revelation.

What are the books of the Old Testament?

The Old Testament books are Genesis through Malachi. There are 39 Old Testament books in the Protestant Bible.

They include the Law, historical books, wisdom and poetry, and the prophets.

What are the books of the New Testament?

The New Testament books are Matthew through Revelation. There are 27 New Testament books.

They include the Gospels, Acts, Paul’s letters, general letters, and Revelation.

Why do some Bibles have more than 66 books?

Some Christian traditions, including Catholic and Orthodox traditions, include additional Old Testament books.

Protestants usually refer to these books as the Apocrypha, while Catholics often call them deuterocanonical books.

This article uses the 66-book Protestant order.

What is the easiest way to memorize the books of the Bible?

The easiest way is to learn the books by section. Start by understanding the full 66-book order, then practice the Old Testament and New Testament separately. After that, learn the categories, use songs or flashcards, write the list repeatedly, and quiz yourself often.

Final Encouragement

Learning the books of the Bible in order is a simple but powerful step in becoming more familiar with Scripture.

You do not have to learn everything at once.

Start with Genesis through Deuteronomy. Then learn the Gospels. Then slowly add more sections until the whole Bible feels more familiar.

The goal is not just to know a list.

The goal is to better know God’s Word, understand the story of Scripture, and grow in your walk with Jesus.