The Bible is a holy and sacred text of scriptures that has been revered and studied for many centuries. It is the most widely read and influential text of all of the world’s religions, and is considered by many to be the world’s most influential book. It comprises books considered to be divinely inspired and, as such, is acknowledged by millions of people around the world as an authoritative source of spiritual and moral guidance.
For many, understanding what order the books of the Bible come in can be confusing and overwhelming. To make things easier, here is a list of the books of the Bible in chronological order, from the earliest books to the latest:
Genesis: This is the first book of the bible and deals with the creation of the Earth and mankind, the fall of man, the judgement of man, and the beginning of the nations.
Exodus: This book of the Bible deals with the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land.
Leviticus: This book is the third book of the Bible and focuses on the laws and ordinances given to Moses by God.
Numbers: The fourth book of the Bible, numbers recounts the history of the Israelites in the Wilderness, their wanderings and the battles they faced.
Deuteronomy: The fifth book of the Bible and the final book of the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy records the last words of Moses as well as the laws of God.
Joshua: This book deals with the conquest of the Promised Land by the Israelites.
Judges: This book covers the period known as the “Judges” when there were no kings to lead the people of Israel. It also tells of the Judges who served as the leaders for this period.
Ruth: This book is a short story about the life of Ruth, a Moabite woman who chose to follow God.
1 Samuel: This first book of the “Former Prophets” records the stories of the first kings of Israel, Saul and David.
2 Samuel: The second book of the “Former Prophets”, this book continues the story of Saul and David, as well as the story of David’s son, Solomon.
1 Kings
1 Kings is the third book of the “Former Prophets” and records the reigns of the first three kings of the United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David and Solomon. It also recounts the stories of the prophets Elijah and Elisha.
2 Kings: The fourth book of the “Former Prophets”, 2 Kings follows the reigns of the kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the reigns of the kings of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. It also includes stories of the prophets Elijah, Elisha and some of the other prophets.
1 Chronicles: This book tells the history of the people of Israel from the time of David, recounting the stories of his reign and that of his son Solomon.
2 Chronicles: The second book of the “Former Prophets”, 2 Chronicles follows the stories found in 1 Chronicles and deals with the reigns of the kings of the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
Ezra
Ezra is the fifth book of the “Former Prophets” and recounts the rebuilding of the Temple after the Babylonian Captivity. It also tells of the return of the Jews from exile and the reestablishment of the laws of God.
Nehemiah: This book tells of Nehemiah’s mission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and the reestablishment of the law of God.
Esther: The book of Esther recounts the story of the Jewish girl Esther and her rise to become queen of Persia, as well as the deliverance of the Jewish people from genocide.
Job
The book of Job portrays Job’s incredible faith in God despite immense suffering. It also highlights various aspects of human nature and suffering throughout the story.
Psalms: This book of the Bible is a collection of poems, songs, and hymns used in worship at the Temple.
Proverbs: Proverbs is a collection of wisdom teachings about everyday life, covering topics such as relationships, work, money, and more.
Ecclesiastes
The book of Ecclesiastes, also known as the “Teacher”, is a collection of sayings and stories from an unknown author that reflect on the vanity of life and the brevity of material and spiritual pursuits.
Song of Songs: This is the love poem of the Bible and is composed of a series of love songs between a man and woman.
Isaiah: This book of the “Latter Prophets”written by the prophet Isaiah is a collection of prophecies regarding the exile of the Jews and the impending restoration of Israel.
Jeremiah
Jeremiah is the second book of the “Latter Prophets” and is written by the prophet Jeremiah. It deals with the theme of God’s judgement on the people of Israel and Judah, their exile and return to the land.
Lamentations: This book is a collection of five laments written to mourn the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem.
Ezekiel: Ezekiel is another book of prophecies written by the prophet Ezekiel. It deals with the exile of the Jews and their eventual restoration.
Daniel
Daniel is the fourth book of the “Latter Prophets” and recounts the stories of Daniel and other heroes in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar. It also deals with Daniel’s prophecies regarding the end times.
Hosea: Hosea is the fifth book of the “Latter Prophets” and is written by the prophet Hosea. It centers around the faithfulness of God towards His people and is a call for Israel to repent of its idolatry and return to Him.
Joel: This book of the “Latter Prophets” is a prophecy of judgment and restoration for Israel and the nations of the world.
Amos
Amos is the sixth book of the “Latter Prophets” and tells of the coming judgement and destruction of Israel unless they repent and turn to God.
Obadiah: Obadiah is the seventh book of the “Latter Prophets” and predicts that the proud Edomites will be judged and cast down by God.
Jonah: The book of Jonah is a story about the prophet Jonah and his mission to preach repentance to the city of Nineveh.
Micah
Micah is the eighth book of the “Latter Prophets” and contains prophecies regarding the destruction of Samaria and Judah and the subsequent restoration.
Nahum: This book is a prophecy of destruction for Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, and is written by the prophet Nahum.
Habakkuk: This book of the “Latter Prophets” is written by the prophet Habakkuk and is about faith in the face of suffering and judgment.
Zephaniah
Zephaniah is the ninth book of the “Latter Prophets” and contains prophecies regarding the judgement and destruction of Judah, as well as its eventual restoration.
Haggai: This book is a prophecy regarding the rebuilding of the Temple and is written by the prophet Haggai.
Zechariah: This book of the “Latter Prophets” is a collection of prophecies and visions written by the prophet Zechariah.
Malachi
Malachi is the last book of the “Latter Prophets” and contains prophecies regarding the coming of the Messiah and the judgement of the wicked.
