These 66 books together tell the story of God’s relationship with humanity, from creation to redemption, and provide guidance and inspiration for believers to follow today.
Old Testament:
- Genesis: The book of beginnings. It covers the creation of the world, the first humans, and the early history of humanity up to the time of Joseph in Egypt.
- Exodus: The story of the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt, and their journey through the wilderness to Mount Sinai, where they receive the Ten Commandments and instructions for building the tabernacle.
- Leviticus: A book of laws and regulations for the Israelite community, including guidelines for worship and sacrifice, cleanliness and hygiene, and social justice.
- Numbers: The story of the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness, including their struggles with faith and obedience, and the counting of the people.
- Deuteronomy: Moses’ farewell speeches to the Israelites, in which he reminds them of God’s covenant and instructs them to follow His commands.
- Joshua: The story of the conquest of Canaan and the settlement of the Israelites in the Promised Land, under the leadership of Joshua.
- Judges: The story of the period of the judges, when Israel was ruled by a series of charismatic leaders who delivered the people from oppression.
- Ruth: The story of a Moabite woman who marries an Israelite and becomes an ancestor of King David.
- 1 Samuel: The story of the prophet Samuel and the reigns of the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David.
- 2 Samuel: The story of David’s reign as king of Israel, including his victories and his sins.
- 1 Kings: The story of the reigns of Solomon, the wisest king of Israel, and his son Rehoboam, who causes the kingdom to split in two.
- 2 Kings: The story of the kings of Israel and Judah, from the divided kingdom to the fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile.
- 1 Chronicles: A genealogy of the descendants of Adam, and a history of the kings of Israel from Saul to David.
- 2 Chronicles: A history of the kings of Judah, from Solomon to the Babylonian exile, with an emphasis on religious reform and worship.
- Ezra: The story of the return of the exiles to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah.
- Nehemiah: The story of Nehemiah’s leadership in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and restoring the faith and worship of the people.
- Esther: The story of a Jewish girl who becomes queen of Persia and saves her people from a plot to exterminate them.
- Job: The story of a righteous man who suffers great losses and afflictions, and questions the justice and wisdom of God.
- Psalms: A collection of 150 poems and hymns, expressing a range of emotions and experiences in praise and lament to God.
- Proverbs: A collection of wise sayings and advice on a variety of topics, including morality, relationships, and work.
- Ecclesiastes: The reflections of the “Preacher” on the meaninglessness of life apart from God.
- Song of Solomon: A love poem celebrating the beauty and intimacy of romantic love, often interpreted as an allegory of the love between God and His people.
- Isaiah: A prophetic book containing messages of judgment and hope for the nation of Israel and the world.
- Jeremiah: A prophetic book containing messages of judgment and lamentation for the sins of Israel, as well as promises of restoration and redemption.
- Lamentations: A collection of poems mourning the destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering of its people.
- Ezekiel: A prophetic book containing visions of judgment and restoration for Israel, as well as messages of warning to the surrounding nations.
- Daniel: A book of apocalyptic visions and stories set during the Babylonian exile, including the famous stories of Daniel in the lion’s den and the fiery furnace.
- Hosea: A prophet who lived during the reign of Jeroboam II, who calls for the repentance of Israel and the restoration of their relationship with God, using the metaphor of a broken marriage.
- Joel: A prophet who calls for national repentance in the face of a locust plague and prophesies about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the last days.
- Amos: A prophet who speaks out against social injustice, religious hypocrisy, and the abuse of power, calling Israel to repentance and warning of impending judgment.
- Obadiah: A prophet who declares God’s judgment against the nation of Edom, who had mistreated and betrayed Israel.
- Jonah: A prophet who initially resists God’s call to preach to Nineveh, but eventually obeys and sees the city repent and turn to God.
- Micah: A prophet who denounces corruption, idolatry, and injustice among the leaders of Israel and Judah and prophesies the coming of the Messiah.
- Nahum: A prophet who prophesies the downfall of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, for their oppression of Israel.
- Habakkuk: A prophet who struggles with the problem of evil and injustice and receives a vision of God’s sovereignty and justice.
- Zephaniah: A prophet who warns of God’s impending judgment on Judah and the surrounding nations and calls for repentance.
- Haggai: A prophet who encourages the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem after the exile and challenges the people to put God first in their lives.
- Zechariah: A prophet who encourages the rebuilding of the temple and prophesies about the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of his kingdom.
- Malachi: A prophet who rebukes the priests and the people for their spiritual apathy and moral compromise and calls them to return to God and renew their covenant with him.
New Testament:
- Matthew: The first of the four Gospels, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah and King of Israel, and emphasizing His teachings and miracles.
- Mark: The second Gospel, presenting Jesus as a servant and a miracle-worker, and emphasizing His actions rather than His teachings.
- Luke: The third Gospel, presenting Jesus as the Son of Man and the Savior of all people, and emphasizing His compassion and concern for the outcasts of society.
- John: The fourth Gospel, presenting Jesus as the Son of God and emphasizing His divine nature and eternal life.
- Acts: The history of the early Christian church, from the ascension of Jesus to the imprisonment of Paul in Rome, including the spread of the Gospel and the growth of the church.
- Romans: Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, presenting the Gospel message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and emphasizing the righteousness of God.
- 1 Corinthians: Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, addressing various issues of moral and theological concern, and emphasizing the importance of love and unity.
- 2 Corinthians: Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, expressing his personal feelings and defending his apostolic authority.
- Galatians: Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia, refuting the false teachings of the Judaizers and emphasizing salvation by grace through faith.
- Ephesians: Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, emphasizing the unity of the church and the spiritual blessings of believers in Christ.
- Philippians: Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, expressing his joy and gratitude for their partnership in the Gospel, and encouraging them to persevere in faith and unity.
- Colossians: Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae, refuting the false teachings of Gnosticism and emphasizing the preeminence of Christ.
- 1 Thessalonians: Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica, encouraging them to continue in faith and hope, and giving them instruction on the second coming of Christ.
- 2 Thessalonians: Paul’s second letter to the church in Thessalonica, addressing misunderstandings about the second coming of Christ and encouraging the believers to persevere in faith.
- 1 Timothy: Paul’s letter to Timothy, his protege and fellow worker in the Gospel, giving him instructions on leadership and the organization of the church.
- 2 Timothy: Paul’s second letter to Timothy, encouraging him to persevere in faith and ministry, and warning him about false teachers.
- Titus: Paul’s letter to Titus, another of his fellow workers, giving him instructions on appointing church leaders and maintaining sound doctrine.
- Philemon: Paul’s personal letter to Philemon, a slave owner, requesting that he forgive his runaway slave Onesimus and receive him back as a brother in Christ.
- Hebrews: An anonymous letter to Jewish Christians, emphasizing the superiority of Christ over the Old Testament system of worship and encouraging them to persevere in faith.
- James: A letter of practical wisdom and ethical instruction, emphasizing the importance of faith and works in the Christian life.
- 1 Peter: Peter’s letter to the dispersed Christians of Asia Minor, encouraging them to persevere in faith and endure suffering for the sake of Christ.
- 2 Peter: Peter’s second letter, warning against false teachers and emphasizing the certainty of Christ’s return.
- 1 John: John’s letter to the church, emphasizing the importance of love for God and for one another as evidence of true faith.
- 2 John: John’s second letter, emphasizing the importance of walking in truth and avoiding false teachers.
- 3 John: John’s third letter, commending Gaius for his hospitality and warning against the negative influence of a man named Diotrephes.
- Jude: A letter warning against false teachers and encouraging believers to contend for the faith.
- Revelation: A highly symbolic and apocalyptic book of prophecy, revealing the ultimate victory of Christ over evil and the establishment of His kingdom on earth.
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