Summary of Books of the Bible
1. Genesis 1:1
How did Gods relationship with the world begin? and
Where did the nation of Israel come from?
Author: Traditionally Moses, but the stories are much older.
Most of the famous Bible stories you have 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, Jacobs ladder, and Josephs coat of many colors are recorded.
2. Exodus 1:1
God saves Israel from slavery in Egypt,
and then enters into a special relationship with them.
Author: Traditionally Moses
3. Leviticus 1:1
God gives Israel instructions for how to worship Him.
Author: Traditionally Moses
4. Numbers 1:1
Israel fails to trust and obey God, and wanders in the wilderness for 40 years.
Author: Traditionally Moses
5. Deuteronomy 1:1
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 1:1
Joshua (Israels new leader) leads Israel to conquer the Promised land, then parcels out territories to the twelve tribes of Israel.
Author: Unknown
Youve 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 1:1
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: Unknown
8. Ruth 1:1
Two widows lose everything, and find hope in Israel which leads to the birth of the future King David.
Author: Unknown
9. 1 Samuel 1:1
Israel demands a king, who turns out to be quite a disappointment.
Author: Unknown
10. 2 Samuel 1:1
David, a man after Gods own heart, becomes king of Israel.
Author: Unknown
11. 1 Kings 1:1
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: Unknown
12. 2 Kings 1:1
Both kingdoms ignore God and his prophets, until they both fall captive to other world empires.
Author: Unknown
13. 1 Chronicles 1:1
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 1:1
Davids 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 1:1
The Israelites rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and a scribe named Ezra teaches the people to once again obey Gods laws.
Author: Ezra
16. Nehemiah 1:1
The city of Jerusalem is in bad shape, so Nehemiah rebuilds the wall around the city.
Author: Nehemiah
17. Esther 1:1 Haman the Agagite, the royal vizier hatches a genocidal plot to bring about Israels extinction, and Esther must face the emperor to ask for help.
Author: Unknown Books of Poetry in the Old Testament
18. Job 1:1 Satan attacks a righteous man named Job, and Job and his friends argue about why terrible things are happening to him.
Author: Unknown
19. Psalms 1:1 A collection of 150 songs that Israel sang to God (and to each other) kind of like a hymnal for the ancient Israelites.
Author: Many authors
20. Proverbs 1:1 A collection of sayings written to help people make wise decisions that bring about justice.
Author: Solomon and other wise men
21. Ecclesiastes 1:1 A philosophical exploration of the meaning of life with a surprisingly nihilistic tone for the Bible.
Author: Traditionally Solomon
22. Song of Solomon 1:1
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 1:1
God sends the prophet Isaiah to warn Israel of future judgmentbut 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 1:1
God sends a prophet to warn Israel about the coming Babylonian captivity, but the people dont take the news very well.
Author: Jeremiah
25. Lamentations 1:1
A collection of dirges lamenting the fall of Jerusalem after the Babylonian attacks.
Author: Traditionally Jeremiah
26. Ezekiel 1:1 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 1:1
Daniel becomes a high-ranking wise man in the Babylonian and Persian empires, and has prophetic visions concerning Israels future.
Author: Daniel (with other contributors)
28. Hosea 1:1
Hosea is told to marry a prostitute who leaves him, and he must bring her back: a picture of Gods relationship with Israel.
Author: Hosea
29. Joel 1:1
God sends a plague of locusts to Judge Israel, but his judgment on the surrounding nations is coming, too.
Author: Joel
30. Amos 1:1 A shepherd named Amos preaches against the injustice of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Author: Amos
31. Obadiah 1:1
Obadiah warns the neighboring nation of Edom that they will be judged for plundering Jerusalem.
Author: Obadiah
32. Jonah 1:1
A disobedient prophet runs from God, is swallowed by a great fish, and then preaches Gods message to the city of Nineveh.
Author: Traditionally Jonah
33. Micah 1:1
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 1:1 Nahum foretells of Gods judgment on Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.
Author: Nahum
35. Habakkuk 1:1
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 1:1 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 1:1 The people have abandoned the work of restoring Gods temple in Jerusalem, and so Haggai takes them to task.
Author: Haggai
38. Zechariah 1:1 The prophet Zechariah calls Israel to return to God, and records prophetic visions that show whats happening behind the scenes.
39. Malachi 1:1
God has been faithful to Israel, but they continue to live disconnected from himso 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. Matthew 1:1
This is an account of Jesus life, death, and resurrection, focusing on Jesus role as the true king of the Jews.
Author: Matthew
41. Mark 1:1 This brief account of Jesus earthly ministry highlights Jesus authority and servanthood.
Author: John Mark
42. Luke 1:1
Luke writes the most thorough account of Jesus life, pulling together eyewitness testimonies to tell the full story of Jesus.
Author: Luke
43. John 1:1
John lists stories of signs and miracles with the hope that readers will believe in Jesus.
Author: John
History
44. Acts 1:1 Jesus returns to the Father, the Holy Spirit comes to the church, and the gospel of Jesus spreads throughout the world.
Author: Luke, Pauls epistles
Epistiles
45. Romans 1:1 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 1:1
Paul writes a disciplinary letter to a fractured church in Corinth, and answers some questions that theyve had about how Christians should behave.
Author: Paul
47. 2 Corinthians 1:1
Paul writes a letter of reconciliation to the church at Corinth, and clears up some concerns that they have.
Author: Paul
48. Galatians 1:1
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 1:1
Paul writes to the church at Ephesus about how to walk in grace, peace, and love.
Author: Paul
50. Philippians 1:1 An encouraging letter to the church of Philippi from Paul, telling them how to have joy in Christ.
Author: Paul
51. Colossians 1:1 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 1:1
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 1:1 Paul instructs the Thessalonians on how to stand firm until the coming of Jesus.
Author: Paul
54. 1 Timothy 1:1
Paul gives his proteg Timothy instruction on how to lead a church with sound teaching and a godly example.
Author: Paul
55. 2 Timothy 1:1
Paul is nearing the end of his life, and encourages Timothy to continue preaching the word.
Author: Paul
56. Titus 1:1
Paul advises Titus on how to lead orderly, counter-cultural churches on the island of Crete. Author: Paul
57. Philemon 1:1 Paul strongly recommends that Philemon accept his runaway slave as a brother, not a slave.
Author: Paul The general, or Catholic, epistles
58. Hebrews 1:1
A letter encouraging Christians to cling to Christ despite persecution, because he is greater.
Author: Unknown
59. James 1:1
A letter telling Christians to live in ways that demonstrate their faith in action.
Author: James (likely the brother of Jesus)
60. 1 Peter 1:1
Peter writes to Christians who are being persecuted, encouraging them to testify to the truth and live accordingly.
Author: Peter
61. 2 Peter 1:1
Peter writes a letter reminding Christians about the truth of Jesus, and warning them that false teachers will come.
Author: Peter
62. 1 John 1:1
John writes a letter to Christians about keeping Jesus commands, loving one another, and important things they should know.
Author: John
63. 2 John 1:1
A very brief letter about walking in truth, love, and obedience. Author: John
64. 3 John 1:1
An even shorter letter about Christian fellowship.
Author: John
65. Jude 1:1
A letter encouraging Christians to contend for the faith, even though ungodly persons have crept in unnoticed.
Author: Jude
Revelation
66. Revelation 1:1
John sees visions of things that have been, things that are, and things that are yet to come.
Author: John/Jesus