The Order of the Books of the Bible

The Old Testament

The Pentateuch (Five Books of Moses)

Genesis • Exodus • Leviticus • Numbers • Deuteronomy

The Historical Books

Joshua • Judges • Ruth

• I Samuel • II Samuel • I Kings • II Kings • I Chronicles • II Chronicles

• Ezra • Nehemiah • Tobit • Judith • Esther • I Maccabees • II Maccabees

The Wisdom Books

Job • Psalms • Proverbs • Ecclesiastes • Song of Songs • Wisdom • Sirach

The Prophetic Books

Isaiah • Jeremiah • Lamentations • Baruch • Ezekiel • Daniel

Hosea • Joel • Amos • Obadiah • Jonah • Micah • Nahum • Habakkuk • Zephaniah • Haggai • Zechariah • Malachi

The New Testament

The Gospels

Matthew • Mark • Luke • John

The Early Church

Acts of the Apostles

Letters to Various Churches

Romans • I Corinthians • II Corinthians • Galatians • Ephesians • Philippians • Colossians • I Thessalonians • II Thessalonians • I Timothy • II Timothy • Titus • Philemon • Hebrews

The Catholic Letters

James • I Peter • II Peter • I John • II John • III John • Jude

Revelation

Why do we need to know the Order of the Books of the Bible?

There are several good reasons to know the Order of the Books of the Bible.

The first and most important reason is to reduce the amount of time you spend looking for various scripture passages, so that you can spend more time actually reading them and getting to know them.

A second reason is that, once you get to know the Bible through reading it, you will want to share it with your friends. Finding a passage that you want to show your friend is made much easier if you know where, approximately, to start looking for it.

Related to this, sometimes you will encounter strangers who want to discuss the Bible with you. If you decide that you would like to do this, the ability to find passages quickly, either in your own Bible or in a Bible that they lend to you, will make you seem more like a knowledgeable person. They will respect what you have to say more easily, if you are not fumbling around, say, in the Pentateuch looking for something that's actually in the Gospels.

Of course, knowing why you're looking in the Bible is also important. Read the Bible frequently, and get to know what it has to say.

Here are some places to start:

Adventure Stories

• Joshua and the Battle of Jericho - Joshua 6:1-26
• David and Goliath - I Samuel 17:1-54
• Noah and the Flood - Genesis 6-8
• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Fiery Furnace - Daniel 3:1-30
• Esther and the King of Persia - Esther 5 - 7
• Judith and Holofernes - Judith 12:10-13:9
• Susanna and the Elders - Daniel 13:1-64
• Samson and Delilah - Judges 16:4-31
• Daniel in the Lion's Den - Daniel 6:1-24
• Jesus is Tempted by the Devil - Matthew 4:1-1
• Jesus Walks on Water - John 6:16-21
• A Miraculous Catch of Fish - Luke 5:1-11
• Paul is Shipwrecked - Acts 27:6-28:16

Stories about Friendship

• Ruth and Naomi - Ruth 1- 4
• David and Jonathan - I Samuel 18:1-5 and I Samuel 20
• Mary and Elizabeth - Luke 1:39-56

Stories of the Rosary

• Gabriel Visits Mary - Luke 1:26-38
• Mary Visits Elizabeth - Luke 1:39-56
• Jesus is Born - Luke 2:1-21, Matthew 1:18 - 2:23
• The Baby Jesus is Presented in the Temple - Luke 2: 22-40
• The Child Jesus is found Preaching in the Temple - Luke 2:41-50

• The baptism of Our Lord in the River Jordan -Luke 3:21-22, Mark 1:6-11, Matthew 3:11-17
• The wedding at Cana, when Christ manifested himself - John 2:1-11
• The Proclamation of the Kingdom - Mark 1:14-21
• The Transfiguration of Our Lord - Matthew 17:1-9
• The Last Supper, when Our Lord gave us the Holy Eucharist - Matthew 26:17-30, John 6:53-65

• Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane - Matthew 26:36-46
• Jesus is Scourged - Matthew 27:25-26
• Jesus is Crowned with Thorns - Matthew 27:28-29
• Jesus Carries His Cross - John 19:17-18
• Jesus is Crucified - Luke 23:45-46

• Jesus Rises from the Dead - John 20
• Jesus Ascends into Heaven - Acts 1:6-12
• The Holy Spirit Descends upon the Church - Acts 2:1-13
• Mary ascends into Heaven - Revelation 11:19
• Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven -Revelation 12:1

Some Parables of Jesus

• The Prodigal Son - Luke 15:11-32
• The Marriage Feast - Matthew 22:1-14
• The Rich Man and Lazarus - Luke 16:19-31
• The Two Sons - Matthew 21:28-32
• The Ten Virgins - Matthew 25:1-13
• The Sheep and the Goats - Matthew 25:31-46

Conversion Stories in the Early Church

• Philip and the Ethiopian - Acts 8:26-40
• Paul on the Road to Damascus - Acts 9:1-19
• 3,000 at Pentecost - Acts 2:37-41
• Cornelius and the Gentiles - Acts 10:44-49

These are just a sampling of Bible stories that will get you started. As you page through the Scriptures to find these stories, you will also encounter other great stories of the Bible that will also help to enrich your faith in God and provide you with many hours of inspiration.

Sometimes the Bible is Confusing

When you have questions about what a particular passage of Scripture means, remember to write them down and bring them to class, or ask your parents and your priest. Parents, priests, and Religion teachers are always more than happy to help you understand your faith!

BACK to St. Pius X Junior High, Saturday Morning Religion Class