What are the books of the Bible? What does it mean that the Bible is composed of different books?
Answered from the commentary of The Bible Treasury, Leslie M. Grant, Numerical Bible Notes and 7 others
The Bible consists, in the usual count, of sixty-six books: the Old Testament has thirty-nine, from Genesis to Malachi, and the New Testament has twenty-seven, from Matthew to Revelation. Some count related books together, so the number differs under other arrangements.
That the Bible is composed of different books means it is a collection of writings by many authors, written at different times and in different circumstances, with varied styles and purposes. Each book has its own character and place, yet the books are linked in design and doctrine and form a harmonious whole, with one purpose running through them. Thus the differences among the books belong within their unity: the writers remain distinct, while one Spirit guides and pervades the whole.
Verses: 2 Timothy 3:15, Luke 24:44, Luke 24:27, John 20:30, John 20:31, Luke 1:1, Luke 1:2, Luke 1:3, Luke 1:4, 2 Peter 1:20, 2 Peter 1:21
The above is AI generated summary based on the writers below.
What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
To begin with, there are sixty-six books in the Bible, yet they form an organic whole. Bind together sixty-six medical works, or political works, or theological works, and you will find one writer denouncing what is affirmed by another; one writer praising loudly what another as loudly says is to be blamed; one writer stating as exalted truth what another considers gross folly.
There are many members in the human body. There are many books making together the Holy Scriptures. The members of the human body have different functions, yet act harmoniously in the life of the body. The Books of the Bible are very varied, some largely taken up with history, some with prophecy, some with doctrine, some with exhortation, and above all, the four Gospels presenting to us the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord. Yet all in perfect harmony, no contradiction between one part and another, though the writers might be separated by centuries, and be unknown to each other. All this goes to prove that the Bible is God-breathed, for in no other way could it bear the characteristics that it does, were it even partly of man’s production. There is a very solemn warning at the very close of the Bible (Rev. 22:18-19) as to adding to, or taking from the word of God. It is all of God and God alone from Genesis to Revelation.
"The story is told us in very varied ways. The Bible is really a literature and not a book. It contains historical records, laws, poems, visions, books of teachings, proverbs and prophecies. Some of it is very dry; other parts of it are the most beautiful pieces of writing the world has produced.
It may be mentioned, in conclusion, that the word Bible is really a plural noun, meaning the Books merely, i.e., of course the sacred books. And this plural character should never be lost sight of; for we may fall into serious mistakes if we forget the different times, and in part the different objects, of the several books making up the Bible.
The unity of Scripture is one of the most conclusive marks of its inspiration. To find a collection of sixty-six pamphlets, written by some forty authors, several of them unknown, and to find the whole marked by one controlling mind, distinctly raises the Bible as a book into a category of its own.
The Bible consists of two parts, the Old Testament containing thirty-nine books, and the New Testament containing twenty-seven books. Now, the first criticism that is sure to be raised is, "Why do you select these sixty-six books, and declare them to be direct communications from God, and yet rej ect the other books having similar claims — the Apocrypha — as entirely man-made?
The Bible might be conveniently divided into six main parts; the Old Testament into three, and the New Testament into three. The Old Testament Scriptures are familiarly spoken of as "Moses and the Prophets" (Luke 16:29; Matt. 11:13); but a fuller division of the 39 sacred books of the former revelation will be found contained in Luke 24:44 — "The law of Moses, the prophets, the psalms." The first comprises the books from Genesis to Deuteronomy; the second embraces the historical books from Joshua to Esther, and the more direct prophetic section from Isaiah to Malachi; the third, the remaining five books from Job to Song of Solomon.
Order and Divisions of the books.
The Old Testament. The Books of the Law: — Genesis. Exodus. Leviticus. Numbers. Deuteronomy. The Covenant-History: — Joshua. Judges. Ruth. Kings: — First Book (Samuel). Second Book (Kings). Captivity-Books: — Ezra. Nehemiah. Esther. Chronicles. The Prophets: — Isaiah. Jeremiah. Lamentations. Ezekiel. Daniel. The Book of Minor Prophets: — Hosea. Amos. Micah. Joel. Obadiah. Jonah. Nahum. Habakkuk. Zephaniah. Haggai. Zechariah. Malachi. The Psalm-books: — The Psalms. Job. Solomon's Song. Ecclesiastes. Proverbs. The New Testament. The Gospels: — Matthew. Mark. Luke. John. The Acts. The Pauline Epistles: — Romans. Galatians. Ephesians. Colossians Philemon. Philippians. Thessalonians First & Second Epistles. Corinthians First & Second Epistles. Hebrews. Timothy First & Second Epistles. Titus. The Catholic Epistles: — Peter First & Second Epistles. James. John First, Second & Third Epistles. Jude. Revelation.
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 Songs Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations of Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi
Matthew Mark Luke John Acts 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
Verses
- 2 Timothy 3:15and that from a child thou hast known the sacred letters, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which [is] in Christ Jesus.
- Luke 24:44And he said to them, These [are] the words which I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all that is written concerning me in the law of Moses and prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.
- Luke 24:27And having begun from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
- John 20:30–3130Many other signs therefore also Jesus did before his disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these are written that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life in his name.
- Luke 1:1–41Forasmuch as many have undertaken to draw up a relation concerning the matters fully believed among us, 2as those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses of and attendants on the Word have delivered them to us, 3it has seemed good to me also, accurately acquainted from the origin with all things, to write to thee with method, most excellent Theophilus, 4that thou mightest know the certainty of those things in which thou hast been instructed.