lan Warner
There are some books in the bible that are so long, it can feel like you’re not making any progress as you go through them (cough cough – looking at you Jeremiah). When you read the shortest book in the Bible, it allows you to build up some momentum.
As you feel accomplished for completing one book, you can move on to others on the list of the shortest books in the bible.
Here is the top 15 listed below.
l. 3 John — 1 chapter, 14 verses, 299 words 2. 2 John — 1 chapter, 13 verses, 303 words3. Philemon — 1 chapter, 25 verses, 445 words4. Jude — 1 chapter, 25 verses, 613 words5. Obadiah — 1 chapter, 21 verses, 670 words6. Titus — 3 chapters, 46 verses, 921 words7. 2 Thessalonians –3 chapters, 47 verses, 1042 words8. Haggai — 2 chapters, 38 verses, 1131 words9. Nahum — 3 chapters, 47 verses, 1285 words10. Jonah — 4 chapters, 48 verses, 1321 words11.Habakkuk –3 chapters, 56 verses12. 2 Peter –3 chapters, 61 verses13. Zephaniah — 3 chapters, 53 verses14. 2 Timothy –4 chapters, 83 verses 15. Malachi –3 chapters, 46 verses
Why It’s Important to Know The Shortest Books In The Bible
There are a few different reasons that it’s handy to know the shortest books. You may be a new believer or helping to disciple a new believer. They may not be big fans of reading and get intimidated by seeing how large and complex the Bible can be.
Starting with a theologically dense book like Romans is a great place to start. But if that seems too daunting for them, you may want to turn to a concise book in the Bible to help it not be as daunting.
It’s also very easy to overlook some of the small books in the Bible. Many of them don’t get talked about as much.
Shortest Books in The Bible and Their Main Themes
3 JohnMain Theme: John write this letter to commend Gaius for supporting traveling teachers and to rebuke and warn Diotrephes for not welcoming them.
2 JohnMain Theme: John writes to urge discernment in supporting traveling teachers, since false teachers were also running amok teaching heresy. The Gospel was spread by these travelling teachers and believers would usually take these people into their homes and help them on their journey.
PhilemonMain Theme: Paul urges Philemon to show grace to his runaway slave. He writes in a very tactful way to build rapport, persuade and move the emotions of Philemon.
JudeMain Theme: Jude writes to warn Christians about false teachers who are trying to convince them that being saved by grace gives people free reign to sin. He was was eager to write about salvation but felt a warning would be better.
ObadiahMain Theme: Obadiah prophesied judgement against the prideful Edomites who were gloating over Jerusalem’s devastation by foreign powers.
TitusMain Theme: Paul writes to instruct Titus concerning the care of the Church on the island of Crete. He wanted to provide Titus with guidance in meeting opposition, instructions about faith and conduct, and then some warnings.
2 ThessaloniansMain Theme: Paul writes to correct a misunderstanding concerning the Lord’s return and to exhort the Thessalonian believers to be steadfast and to work for a living.
Haggai
Main Theme: The prophet Haggai calls the complacent people of Judah to resume the rebuilding of the temple and in that way give glory to God. His prophecies point out the consequences of being disobedient.
Nahum
Main Theme: Nahum predicts the Lord’s judgement on Nineveh for her oppression, cruelty, idolatry and wickedness.
Jonah
Main Theme: Jonah is an unusual prophetic book that is a narrative following of Jonah’s calling to the city of Nineveh. His resistance, his imprisonment in a fish, his visit and finally the outcome. The story represents Israel’s jealousy of their favored relationship with the Lord and their unwillingness to share their compassion with other lands.
Dissect These Books
If you want to practice dissecting the text, using short books is a great place to start. When you examine the book, you go through it line by line slowly and try and pull out as much understanding and connection to other texts in the Bible.
The advantage of doing this with shorter books is that it won’t take as long to complete. You can get some practice going through books with a fine-tooth comb this way.
Contrast to the Longest Books In The Bible
The following books are the longest in the Bible. They are the opposite of the shortest books in the Bible. These books come with many different chapters and plenty of words to read.
Genesis and Exodus, for example, are much easier to get through because they are narrative text. Whereas Psalms is in poetry form, which is much different type of reading.
| 5 | Exodus | 25,957 |
| 4 | Ezekiel | 29,918 |
| 3 | Psalms | 30,147 |
| 2 | Genesis | 32,046 |
| 1 | Jeremiah | 33,002 |
