The Complete List of Old and New Testament Books in the Bible with Their Counts
- Beena Bijoy
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Bible is one of the most widely read and studied books in the world. It is divided into two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Each section contains a collection of books that tell the story of faith, history, prophecy, poetry, and teachings. Understanding the number of books in each testament and their names helps readers navigate this sacred text more effectively. This post provides a clear and detailed list of the books in both the Old and New Testaments, along with their counts.
Number of Books in the Old Testament
The Old Testament contains 39 books in most Protestant Bibles. These books were written before the birth of Jesus Christ and cover a wide range of genres including law, history, poetry, and prophecy. The Old Testament forms the foundation of the Christian faith and also holds significant importance in Judaism.
Categories of Old Testament Books
The 39 books are traditionally grouped into four categories:
The Pentateuch (Torah or Law)
Historical Books
Wisdom and Poetry Books
Prophetic Books
List of Old Testament Books
Here is the complete list of the 39 books in the Old Testament:
The Pentateuch (5 books):
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Historical Books (12 books):
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
10. 2 Samuel
11. 1 Kings
12. 2 Kings
13. 1 Chronicles
14. 2 Chronicles
15. Ezra
16. Nehemiah
17. Esther
Wisdom and Poetry Books (5 books):
18. Job
19. Psalms
20. Proverbs
21. Ecclesiastes
22. Song of Solomon
Prophetic Books (17 books):
23. Isaiah
24. Jeremiah
25. Lamentations
26. Ezekiel
27. Daniel
28. Hosea
29. Joel
30. Amos
31. Obadiah
32. Jonah
33. Micah
34. Nahum
35. Habakkuk
36. Zephaniah
37. Haggai
38. Zechariah
39. Malachi
Number of Books in the New Testament
The New Testament contains 27 books. These books were written after the life of Jesus Christ and focus on His teachings, the early Christian church, and prophetic visions of the future. The New Testament is central to Christian belief and practice.
Categories of New Testament Books
The 27 books are grouped into four main categories:
The Gospels
History
Pauline Epistles (Letters)
General Epistles and Prophecy
List of New Testament Books
Here is the full list of the 27 books in the New Testament:
The Gospels (4 books):
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
History (1 book):
Acts
Pauline Epistles (13 books):
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
10. Ephesians
11. Philippians
12. Colossians
13. 1 Thessalonians
14. 2 Thessalonians
15. 1 Timothy
16. 2 Timothy
17. Titus
18. Philemon
General Epistles and Prophecy (9 books):
19. Hebrews
20. James
21. 1 Peter
22. 2 Peter
23. 1 John
24. 2 John
25. 3 John
26. Jude
27. Revelation
Understanding the Structure and Importance of These Books
Each book in the Bible serves a unique purpose and contributes to the overall message of the scriptures. The Old Testament books lay the groundwork for understanding God’s relationship with humanity, the history of Israel, and the prophecies about the coming Messiah. The New Testament books reveal the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, the growth of the early church, and the hope for the future.
Examples of Key Books and Their Roles
Genesis opens the Bible with the story of creation and the beginnings of humanity.
Psalms offers prayers and songs that express a wide range of human emotions.
Isaiah contains powerful prophecies about the coming Savior.
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised Messiah and King.
Acts records the spread of Christianity after Jesus’ resurrection.
Revelation provides a vision of the end times and the ultimate victory of good over evil.
Variations in the Number of Books
It is important to note that the number of books can vary depending on the religious tradition:
Catholic Bibles include additional books called the Deuterocanonical books, increasing the Old Testament count to 46.
Orthodox Bibles may include even more books in their Old Testament.
Protestant Bibles typically contain 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books.
This post focuses on the Protestant canon, which is widely used in many Christian communities.
How to Use This List
Knowing the names and order of the books helps readers:
Locate specific passages quickly.
Understand the flow of biblical history and teachings.
Prepare for Bible study or teaching.
Gain a clearer picture of the Bible’s overall message.
Comments