Topic 5 of 33 - Your Place in the Learning Journey
How Is the Bible Organized?
The number of books in the Bible varies by tradition - Protestant Bibles contain 66, Catholic Bibles 73, and Eastern Orthodox canons more still. But all traditions organize those books the same way: into two major sections, the Old Testament and the New Testament, each arranged by type rather than by the order the books were written.
The Old Testament groups its books into four categories: Law, History, Poetry & Wisdom, and Prophecy. The New Testament groups its books into five: Gospels, History, Paul's Letters, General Letters, and Prophecy.
Understanding this organization is like having a map - it helps you know where you are and where to look.
The Bible at a Glance
| Testament | Section | Books | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Testament 39 books |
Law (Torah) | 5 | Genesis through Deuteronomy - creation, the patriarchs, Moses, and God's law |
| History | 12 | Joshua through Esther - Israel's story from the Promised Land to exile | |
| Poetry & Wisdom | 5 | Job through Song of Solomon - prayer, praise, grief, and wisdom for daily life | |
| Prophecy | 17 | Isaiah through Malachi - God's messengers calling Israel back and pointing to the future | |
| New Testament 27 books |
Gospels | 4 | Matthew, Mark, Luke, John - four accounts of Jesus's life, death, and resurrection |
| History | 1 | Acts - the birth and spread of the early church | |
| Paul's Letters | 13 | Romans through Philemon - letters to churches and individuals | |
| General Letters | 8 | Hebrews through Jude - letters to broader audiences on faith and conduct | |
| Prophecy | 1 | Revelation - a vision of the end of history and God's ultimate victory |
Explore Further
The Old Testament at a Glance
The 39 books, their four categories, and what each section covers - a simple guide to the first half of the Bible.
Read more →The New Testament at a Glance
The 27 books, their five categories, and what each section covers - a simple guide to the second half of the Bible.
Read more →Why Aren't the Books in Order?
The books are arranged by type, not chronologically - here's why that matters and what the actual chronological order looks like.
Read more →Chapters and Verses
Who added chapter and verse numbers - and when? They are helpful tools but can sometimes lead to misreading the Bible.
Read more →The Apocrypha
The "extra" books found in some Bibles but not others - what they are, where they came from, and why some traditions include them.
Read more →A Visual Map of the Bible
A simple diagram showing all 66 books in their sections at a glance - a great reference to print and keep in your Bible.
Read more →