How Is the Bible Organized?

The English word “bible” comes from the Greek word for books or scrolls: biblia (plural). In 2 Timothy 4:13, Paul asks Timothy to bring his “books” (biblia) when he comes to visit him in prison. Our word “Bible” is singular because it refers to the entire collection of sixty-six books: thirty-nine in the Old Testament (books about God’s relationship with Israel) and twenty-seven in the New Testament (books about Jesus and the early church). Grouping the books as follows helps understand how they are arranged and what they contain.

Pentateuch Historical Books Psalms Wisdom Books Prophets
Genesis Joshua Psalms Job Isaiah
Exodus Judges    Proverbs Jeremiah
Leviticus Ruth    Ecclesiastes Lamentations
Numbers 1–2 Samuel    Song of Songs Ezekiel
Deuteronomy 1–2 Kings       Daniel
   1–2 Chronicles       Minor Prophets:
   Ezra       Hosea
   Nehemiah       Joel
   Esther       Amos
            Obadiah
            Jonah
            Micah
            Nahum
            Habakkuk
            Zephaniah
            Haggai
            Zechariah
            Malachi

Gospels Acts Letters of Paul General Letters Revelation
Matthew Acts Romans Hebrews Revelation
Mark    1–2 Corinthians James   
Luke    Galatians 1–2 Peter   
John    Ephesians 1–3 John   
      Philippians Jude   
      Colossians      
      1–2 Thessalonians      
      1–2 Timothy      
      Titus      
      Philemon      

The word “testament” comes from the word testamentum, the Latin translation of the Hebrew and Greek words for “covenant.” The English word “testament” refers to a covenant. Christians accept both the Old Testament and the New Testament, while Jews who reject Jesus as Messiah reject the new covenant or testament. In the biblical sense, a covenant refers to what God has done to establish a relationship with human beings. Over time, the term “testament” came to refer to the writings that describe the covenant.