lan Warner
It’s helpful to have a full list of books in the bible to help you find what you need in the right moment. When you know the theme of a book and the popular characters that come from a story it can make it easier to remember the books going forward. The more you know about each book, the easier it is to use the book to help others.
The Complete List of Books in The Bible
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
- Joshua
- Judges
- Ruth
- 1 Samuel
- 2 Samuel
- 1 Kings
- 2 Kings
- 1 Chronicles
- 2 Chronicles
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- Esther
- Job
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Song of Solomon
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Lamentations
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
- Hosea
- Joel
- Amos
- Obadiah
- Jonah
- Micah
- Nahum
- Habakkuk
- Zephaniah
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- Malachi
- Matthew
- Mark
- Luke
- John
- Acts (of the Apostles)
- Romans
- 1 Corinthians
- 2 Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians
- Philippians
- Colossians
- 1 Thessalonians
- 2 Thessalonians
- 1 Timothy
- 2 Timothy
- Titus
- Philemon
- Hebrews
- James
- 1 Peter
- 2 Peter
- 1 John
- 2 John
- 3 John
- Jude
- Revelation
Old Testament – List of Books in The Bible
Abel
Exodus
Author: MosesAudience: God’s chosen peopleTheme: God reveals himself and delivers his people from slavery in Egypt and establishes a covenant with them. In this book the law is introduced as well as God’s name, attributes, and how he is to be worshiped. Popular Characters:
- Moses
- Pharaoh
- Aaron
Leviticus
Author: MosesAudience: God’s chosen peopleTheme: God’s chosen people receive instructions from God about how to live. The book serves as a manual of regulations for living right and worshipping God in a holy manner. Popular Characters:
- Moses
- Aaron
Numbers
Author: MosesAudience: God’s chosen peopleTheme: God’s chosen people are unwilling to enter Canaan so their generation must wander the desert for 38 years. The book speaks to rebellion and then judgement for it. Popular Characters:
- Moses
- Aaron
- Balaam
Deuteronomy
Author: MosesAudience: God’s chosen peopleTheme: Moses says farewell and exhorts the next generation of Israelites to live as his obedient people in the promised land. The book serves as a reminder to God’s people. Popular Characters:
- Moses
Joshua
Author: Unknown but some sections may be from Joshua himselfAudience: God’s chosen peopleTheme: God enables Joshua to lead armies to have victory over the Canaanites in the promised land. Popular Characters:
- Joshua
- Rehab and the Spies
Judges
Author: Unknown but some sections may be from Samuel Audience: God’s chosen peopleTheme: In danger of losing the promised land, the Israelites keep needing to be delivered by God through leaders known as Judges. The book depicts the death of judges to the rise of a monarchy. Foreign oppression is fought off and the land is restored to peace. Popular Characters:
- Judah
- Gideon
- Samson & Delilah
Ruth
Author: Unknown Audience: God’s chosen peopleTheme: Ruth proves to be a model of faithfulness and God recognizes her for it. Popular Characters:
- Ruth
- Naomi
- Boaz
1 Samuel
Author: Unknown Audience: God’s chosen peopleTheme: The transition from being led by judges to being led by God through kings. The first king chosen ends up being a massive failure. Popular Characters:
- Saul
- Samuel
- David
- Goliath
- Jonathan
2 Samuel
Author: Unknown Audience: God’s chosen peopleTheme: The story of David’s 40-year reign as king. It marks his model rise to become king and ending with his subsequent decline caused by sin. Popular Characters:
- David
- Abner
- Nathan
1 Kings
Author: Unknown Audience: God’s chosen peopleTheme: After solomon dies the nation is torn between Israel and Judah. The book depicts how subsequent kings keep failing to answer to God’s call. Popular Characters:
- Solomon
- David
- Elijah
2 Kings
Author: Unknown Audience: God’s chosen peopleTheme: The book carries the historical account of Judah and Israel going forward. The common theme occurs where the kings don’t live up to God’s standard and they are eventually exiled. Popular Characters:
- Elijah
1 Chronicles
Author: Unknown (maybe Ezra)Audience: The people of Judah who had returned from exile in Babylonia.Theme: Begins with Israel’s genealogy from Adam to King Saul and then zooms in on King David’s reign as king.
2 Chronicles
Author: Unknown (maybe Ezra)Audience: The people of Judah who had returned from exile in Babylonia.Theme: Begins with Solomon’s reign to the Babylonian exile.
Ezra
Author: Unknown (maybe Ezra)Audience: The people of Judah who had returned from exile in Babylonia.Theme: The book depicts how God’s people were restored from exile to the covenant land. They were rebuilding the temple under God’s direction.
Popular Characters:
- Ezra
- Darius
Nehemiah
Author: Unknown (maybe Ezra from Nehemiah’s memoirs)Audience: The people of Judah who had returned from exile in Babylonia.Theme: Nehemiah leads the Jews in rebuilding the city walls. The book documents challenges God’s chosen people face in their restored homeland.
Popular Characters:
- Nehemiah
Esther
Author: Unknown Audience: The Jewish PeopleTheme: The Jews of Persia are saved from destruction. The book depicts Esther becoming queen of Persia as a Jew to save her people.
Popular Characters:
- Esther
- Haman
Job
Author: Unknown Audience: God’s peopleTheme: This wisdom book deals with the question of whether God is a God of justice in the light of all of life’s paint and suffering.
Popular Characters:
- Job
- Job’s Friends (Bildad, Zophar, Eliphaz)
Psalms
Author: David, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Heman, Ethan, Moses and Unknown authors. Audience: God’s peopleTheme: A collection of ancient hymns, prayers and poems. Psalms focuses on how you should feel in different circumstances.
Popular Characters:
- David
- Solomon
- Moses
Proverbs
Author: King Solomon and other wise menAudience: God’s peopleTheme: Proverbs describes the importance of living wisely and in the fear of the Lord instead of following the path of a fool.
Ecclesiastes
Author: Unknown (maybe King Solomon)Audience: God’s peopleTheme: The wisdom in this book reveals the meaninglessness of all human works without God being front and center in your life.
Song of Songs
Author: Unknown (maybe King Solomon)Audience: God’s peopleTheme: The wisdom in this book celebrates the sexual union between man and a woman as a joyful part of marital life in God’s good creation. The book gives words to the feelings of love.
Isaiah
Author: The prophet IsaiahAudience: The people of Judah and JerusalemTheme: Isaiah predicts judgement but eventual restoration for the people.
Jeremiah
Author: JeremiahAudience: The people of Judah and Jerusalem during the reigns of their last 5 Kings. Theme: Jeremiah predicts Judah’s Babylonian exile and the ultimate restoration. The book digs into his personal life and struggles more than other prophets.
Lamentations
Author: Probably JeremiahAudience: Jews in Babylonian exile who are lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem. Theme: Jews lament the devastation of their city by the Babylonians. The book uses powerful and poetic language.
Ezekiel
Author: EzekielAudience: Jews taken captive to BabyloniaTheme: Ezekiel assures Jews that God will one day return to them and restore the temple.
Daniel
Author: DanielAudience: Jewish exiles to BabyloniaTheme: The Most High God is sovereign over all Human Kingdoms. His life and visions point to God’s plans of redemption and sovereign control.
Hosea
Author: HoseaAudience: The northern kingdom of IsraelTheme: Hosea proclaims God’s compassion and covenant love that cannot let Israel go. His life serves as a parable of God’s faithfulness to unfaithful people.
Joel
Author: JoelAudience: The people of JudahTheme: Restoration and blessing will come to the people of Judah but judgement and repentance must come first.
Amos
Author: AmosAudience: Idolatrous and indulgent peopleTheme: Amos calls for social justice.
Obadiah
Author: ObadiahAudience: The people of Judah suffering the treachery of the Edomites, descendants of Esau. Theme: Obadiah prophesied judgment against the proud edomites who were gloating over Jerusalem.
Jonah
Author: Unknown Audience: The northern kingdom of IsraelTheme: The stubbornly reluctant Jonah represents Israel’s jealousy of its favor being shared with other nations. The story covers his mission to the city of Nineveh.
Micah
Author: MicahAudience: The people of Israel and Judah, especially the oppressive ones who supported corruption in politics and religion. Theme: Alternates between prophecies of doom and hope to represent judgement and deliverance.
Nahum
Author: NahumAudience: The people of JudahTheme: Nahum predicts the Lord’s judgement on Nineveh for her oppression, cruelty, idolatry and wickedness.
Habakkuk
Author: HabakkukAudience: The people of Judah struggling to understand how God worksTheme: He argues with God over his ways because he can’t wrap his head around the suffering of his people. Habakkuk responds with a confession of faith.
Zephaniah
Author: ZephaniahAudience: The people of JudahTheme: The prophet Zephaniah predicts the coming of the day of the Lord, when God will severely punish the nations, including apostate Judah, but will yet be merciful to his people.
Haggai
Author: HaggaiAudience: The postexilic Jews living in Judah Theme: Haggai calls the complacent people of Judah to resume the rebuilding of the temple and give glory to God.
Zechariah
Author: ZechariahAudience: The postexilic Jews living in JudahTheme: The prophet Zechariah rebukes and encourages exiles who have returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.
Malachi
Author: MalachiAudience: The postexilic Jews living in JudahTheme: The prophet Malachi assures the Jewish community that the Messianic King will come to judge, restore and bless his people. 
New Testament – List of Books in The Bible
Matthew
Author: MatthewAudience: Greek-speaking Jewish ChristiansTheme: Presents Jesus as the Jewish Messiah sent by God to fulfill the prophecy
Mark
Author: MarkAudience: Gentile Christians Theme: To encourage readers to persevere through suffering and persecution, Mark presents Jesus as the Servant -Messiah and Son of God who died as a ransom of sinners.
Luke
Author: LukeAudience: Addressed to Theophilus but intended for all believersTheme: Luke presents Jesus as the Lord whose saving grace is available to all people.
John
Author: JohnAudience: Gentile believers and seeking unbelievers Theme: John presents Jesus as the Word, the Messiah and the Son of God, who has come to reveal the Father and bring eternal life to all who believe in him.
Acts
Author: LukeAudience: Addressed to Theophilus but intended for all believersTheme: Luke shows how the Gospel spread rapidly in the early church
Romans
Author: PaulAudience: The church in Rome of Gentiles and a minority of JewsTheme: Paul writes to present the Gospel: God’s plan for salvation for all people.
1 Corinthians
Author: PaulAudience: Believers at Corinth whose church was torn apart by immaturityTheme: Paul addresses problems in the church and answers questions from the church.
2 Corinthians
Author: PaulAudience: Believers at CorinthTheme: Paul encourages the Corinthian believers to be reconciled with him and to reject false apostles who are challenging his authority.
Galatians
Author: PaulAudience: Churches around Galatia founded by Paul during his missions workTheme: Paul writes to counter claims of legalistic Judaizers who were telling the Galatian believers that they must keep the law of moses to be saved.
Ephesians
Author: PaulAudience: Believers in the church at EphesusTheme: Paul summarizes his gospel of salvation by grace through faith alone.
Philippians
Author: PaulAudience: Believers at PhilippiTheme: Paul writes to encourage the Christians to live Joyfully in every circumstance.
1 Thessalonians
Author: PaulAudience: The largely Gentile church at ThessalonicaTheme: Paul praises the Thessalonians for their spiritual maturity and perseverance and encourages more growth towards Christs return.
2 Thessalonians
Author: PaulAudience: The church at ThessalonicaTheme: Paul writes to correct a misunderstanding concerning the Lord’s return and to encourage them to be steadfast and to work.
1 Timothy
Author: PaulAudience: Timothy, who is one of Paul’s associates Theme: Paul instructs him on how to care for the church.
2 Timothy
Author: PaulAudience: Timothy, who is one of Paul’s associates Theme: Paul encourages Timothy to carry on the ministry and gaurd the Gospel.
Titus
Author: PaulAudience: Titus, who is one of Paul’s associates Theme: Paul instructs Titus on how to care for the church.
Philemon
Author: PaulAudience: Philemon and the Colossae church Theme: Paul urges Philemon to show grace to Onesimus, his runway slave.
Hebrews
Author: Paul (his last book)Audience: Jewish Christians Theme: Author demonstrates the absolute supremacy of Jesus Christ.
James
Author: James Audience: Jewish Christians Theme: James emphasizes vital Christianity by good deeds and a faith that works.
1 Peter
Author: Peter Audience: Gentile and Jewish believers in Pontus, Galatia, Western Asia Minor and Bithynia. Theme: Peter gives instructions on how to live holy while suffering persecution.
2 Peter
Author: Peter Audience: Christians in Western Asia Minor Theme: Peter teaches how to deal with false teachers and evil doers.
1 John
Author: JohnAudience: Believers in Western Asia Minor Theme: John writes to assure believers of the certainty of their faith and to push back against teachings that Jesus was not fully human and fully divine.
2 John
Author: JohnAudience: Believers in Western Asia Minor Theme: John writes to assure believers of the certainty of their faith and to push back against teachings that Jesus was not fully human and fully divine.
3 John
Author: JohnAudience: Gaius – Church leader in Western Asia MinorTheme: John writes this letter to commend Gaius for supporting travelling teachers and to rebuke Diotrephes for refusing them.
Jude
Author: JudeAudience: Christians being threatened by false teachers Theme: Warning that being saved by grace is not a license to sin.
Revelations
Author: JohnAudience: Seven churches in Western Asia MinorTheme: John writes to encourage the faithful to stand firm against the persecution and compromise in the light of the imminent return of Christ to deliver and judge.
Use the complete list of books in the Bible to find a book to read at the right moment. All of the books cover a number of different situations that you could be facing in life.
The more familiar you get with these books, the better you will be at using the Bible as your guiding light.
