The Bible is indeed the most translated and one of the most read books in history, comprising a collection of texts that are central to the religious beliefs and practices of billions of people around the world.
The Bible is divided into two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament, with the Old Testament being shared with the Jewish Tanakh.
Here’s a breakdown of the books in both sections, listed in their traditional order, then reading and chronological.
This is the traditional order
The traditional order of the books is not necessarily the chronological order of their composition or the events they describe. For a Bible reading plan, many people find it helpful to follow a chronological order or a thematic plan that aligns with their interests or spiritual needs. Bible study can be enhanced by reading commentaries or using study guides, especially for understanding historical context, literary styles, and theological themes.
Sorting the books of the Bible in chronological order can be challenging due to the complex history of their composition and the varying interpretations among scholars regarding the dates of these texts.
This order reflects a combination of the estimated historical context of the events described and the scholarly consensus on when the books were likely written or compiled. Some books, like the Psalms and Proverbs, are collections of writings from different periods, making it difficult to place them precisely in a chronological sequence.
The dating of some books, especially in the Old Testament, is subject to ongoing scholarly debate.
Following the order as they appear in most Bibles. This is the most straightforward approach but not necessarily chronological.
Reading the books in the order of the events they describe. This can help you understand the historical flow of the narrative.
Reading the books in the order they were likely written. This is more challenging but offers insights into the development of Jewish and Christian thought.
Focusing on the narrative books first to get the overall story (e.g., Genesis, Exodus, Joshua, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts).
Some find starting with the New Testament, particularly the Gospels, makes the Old Testament more understandable.
Alternating between books from the Old and New Testaments. This can provide variety and keep your reading fresh.
Focusing on themes (e.g., start with the Gospels for the life of Jesus, then read Genesis and Exodus for creation and the covenant, followed by Psalms and Proverbs for wisdom literature).
For beginners, starting with the Gospels, then reading Genesis, Exodus, and moving through the narrative books of the Old Testament, returning later to the more challenging books like the prophets and wisdom literature.
A more in-depth study might involve reading a book alongside a good commentary or study guide, starting with key books like Genesis, John, and Romans.
Many one-year plans are available that guide you through the entire Bible in a year, with daily readings from different sections.
Remember, there’s no one «correct» way to read the Bible. The best approach depends on your personal goals, interests, and the amount of time you can commit. Some people also find it helpful to join a study group or follow a plan provided by their religious community
Although there are many opinions about it and there is not a correct answer, we recommend starting with the old and then the new.
The old testament, the deuterocanon and the new testament.
Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
Historical books: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees
Wisdom books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach
Prophetic books: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Deuterocanon: Tobit, Judith, 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch.
The four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Historical book: Acts of the Apostles
Pauline epistles: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews
General epistles: James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude
Revelation
Pentateuch means «five rolls», from Greek pénte, «five», and teuchos, «rolls». It is formed by the first five books of the Old Testament:
The Pentateuch is the key to understanding the whole Bible, because it presents the beginnings of the revelation of God to the chosen people, and in it we find the first experiences and reflections on God’s plan of love with humanity.
Only by knowing the Pentateuch can we understand the richness of God’s revelation and the extraordinary history of salvation throughout the word of god until it reaches its fullness in Jesus Christ, God and man, the only savior of all humanity.
To learn and memorize, first you should have the holy bible. Then, organize the chapters according to their content and first memorize the groups (pentateuch, historical, etc).
The ones that are included and their order is known as biblical canons. It was the undivided church in the 5th century that decided the chapters that were included. Later the Catholic Church reaffirmed this in the 16th century.
The 12 are Hosea, Amos, Micah, Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi
So now you know more about it. If you want to read it you know where you can start. And all the parts that you need to complete all the story.
Yes, there are many songs about the bible books learning and study, for example this song and this song
Finally, you can find more about biblical books in the following online encyclopedia articles:
You can also explore the menu to find more articles about other religion, mystic or general knowledge related topics.
