BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

THE NEW TESTAMENT

description
An account of the life, teachings, and ministry of Jesus Christ. It emphasises Jesus'
fulfilment of Jewish prophecy and his role as the Messiah. Matthew's gospel also contains
teachings of Jesus, including the Sermon on the Mount and the parables, which are central
to Christian morality and ethics. The book was written in Greek, likely for a Jewish-
Christian community, and its purpose was to demonstrate that Jesus is the Christ and to
encourage the growth of the early Christian Church.
MARK 16
CHAPTERS
author
John Mark, a close associate of the apostles Peter and Paul.

description
The shortest of the four Gospels, Mark provides a fast-paced and action-packed account of
the life, teachings and miracles of Jesus Christ. It focuses on Jesus' ministry as a servant,
miracle worker, and suffering Messiah. Mark's gospel was written in Greek, likely for a
Roman audience, and its purpose was to present Jesus as the powerful and mighty Son of
God, who brings salvation to all who believe in him.
LUKE 24
CHAPTERS
author
Luke, a physician and companion of the apostle Paul.

description
A comprehensive and orderly account of the life, teachings, and ministry of Jesus Christ. It
is notable for its emphasis on the compassion of Jesus for the marginalised and outcast,
including women, the poor, and the sick. Luke's gospel also contains teachings of Jesus,
such as the parables and the accounts of the Last Supper. The book was written in Greek,
likely for a Gentile audience, and its purpose was to present an accurate and orderly
account of the life of Jesus.
JOHN 21
CHAPTERS
author
John the Apostle, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus.

description
John focuses on the teachings and works of Jesus Christ, portraying him as the son of God
and the saviour of the world. It emphasises themes of love, belief in Jesus, and the essence
of Jesus as the Word of God. The book also includes the famous "I Am" statements by
Jesus, such as "I am the bread of life" and "I am the light of the world". The book of John
aims to bring the readers to a deeper understanding and faith in Jesus as the Messiah.
ACTS 28
CHAPTERS
author
Luke, a physician and companion of the apostle Paul.

description
Acts provides an historical account of the early Christian church following the ascension
of Jesus Christ. It details the work of the apostles who spread the gospel message to
various regions, including Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the Gentile world. The book
highlights the growth and development of the church and the challenges it faced, including
persecution and opposition.
ROMANS 16
CHAPTERS
author
The apostle Paul.

description
A letter written by the apostle Paul addressed to the Christian community in Rome. It is
considered one of Paul's most significant works and the cornerstone of his theology. Paul
discusses several important themes, including the nature of sin and righteousness, the role
of the law, and God's plan for salvation. He emphasises the importance of faith in Jesus
Christ as the means of justification and the way to receive God's grace. He also highlights
the equality of all people before God.
1 CORINTHIANS 16
CHAPTERS
author
The apostle Paul.

description
A letter written by the apostle Paul addressed to the Christian community in Corinth. It
addresses a number of issues and challenges faced by the Corinthian church, including
division and factionalism, sexual immorality, lawsuits and misuse of spiritual gifts. Paul
emphasises the importance of living a life worthy of the gospel and maintaining unity
within the church. He also provides instruction and guidance on various topics such as
marriage, women and spiritual gifts.
2 CORINTHIANS 13
CHAPTERS
author
The apostle Paul.

description
A follow-up letter to the Corinthians, addressing additional issues that had arisen in the
church since then. Paul writes about his experiences as an apostle, including his trials and
sufferings, and emphasises the importance of relying on God's grace and strength in
difficult times. He also addresses accusations made against him by false apostles, and
defends his ministry and apostleship. Paul emphasises themes of reconciliation,
forgiveness, and the nature of true Christian ministry.
GALATIANS 6
CHAPTERS
author
The apostle Paul.

description
A letter to the Christian communities of Galatia which addresses a specific challenge faced
by these communities: false teachers who were promoting a different gospel and calling
into question the gospel that Paul had previously taught them. Paul emphasises the concept
of grace through faith in Jesus Christ, as opposed to trying to be justified by following the
law. He also highlights the equality of all people before God, both Jew and Gentile.
EPHESIANS 6
CHAPTERS
author
The apostle Paul, likely written while imprisoned in Rome.

description
A letter to the Christian community in Ephesus. It is considered to be one of Paul's most
profound and theologically rich letters. He emphasises the centrality of the gospel message
and the importance of living a life worthy of God's calling. He also writes about the unity
of all people in Christ, both Jew and Gentile, and the significance of the Church as the
body of Christ. Ephesians is notable for its teachings on the nature of the Church and the
role of spiritual gifts.
PHILLIPIANS 4
CHAPTERS
author
The apostle Paul, written while imprisoned in Rome.

description
A letter to the Christian community in the city of Philippi. It is one of Paul's most personal
and joyful letters. Paul expresses his gratitude for the support and encouragement he has
received from the Philippians. He encourages them to live a life that is worthy of the
gospel, by living humbly, joyfully and in unity with one another. It also details how to deal
with difficult situations, and how to maintain a positive attitude in the midst of adversity.
COLOSSIANS 4
CHAPTERS
author
The apostle Paul, likely written while imprisoned in Rome.

description
A letter to the Christian community in the city of Colossae. Paul emphasises the centrality
of Christ and the importance of living a life worthy of the gospel. He also writes about the
supremacy of Christ over all things. It also provides instruction on how to live a life that is
pleasing to God, including instructions on how to relate to one another, dealing with
difficult situations, and living a life filled with the Spirit.
1 THESSALONIANS 5
CHAPTERS
author
The apostle Paul.

description
A letter to the Christian community in the city of Thessalonica. It is one of Paul's earliest
letters and was written to address several issues that had arisen in the church.
Paul expresses his love and concern for the Thessalonian Christians, and reminds them of
the gospel message that he shared with them. He also writes about living a life that is
pleasing to God, filled with faith, love, and hope. 1 Thessalonians is notable for its
teachings on the second coming of Christ.
2 THESSALONIANS 3
CHAPTERS
author
The apostle Paul.

description
A follow-up letter to the Christian community in the city of Thessalonica. Paul addresses
and corrects several issues that had arisen in the church, including false teaching and
misunderstandings about Christ's second coming. He encourages the Thessalonian
Christians to remain steadfast in their faith. The book is notable for its teachings on
Christ's second coming and the end times. It provides insights into early Christian thought
and the relationship between the early church and Judaism.
1 TIMOTHY 6
CHAPTERS
author
The apostle Paul.

description
One of three letters written by Paul to a fellow minister Timothy (the others being 2
Timothy and Titus). Paul writes to encourage Timothy in his role as a leader of the
Christian community in the city of Ephesus. He provides guidance on the church's
organisation, structure, qualifications for leaders, sound teaching, and how to deal with
false teachers and other challenges that the community may face. Paul also writes about
the importance of personal piety and godliness.
2 TIMOTHY 4
CHAPTERS
author
The apostle Paul.

description
Paul writes to encourage Timothy as he faces opposition and challenges in his ministry. He
reminds Timothy of his calling and urges him to remain steadfast, bold and courageous.
Paul writes about the importance of sound doctrine and the dangers of false teaching. 2
Timothy provides important insight into the challenges faced by early Christian leaders
and the importance of perseverance and faithfulness in ministry.
TITUS 3
CHAPTERS
author
The apostle Paul.

description
Paul writes to encourage fellow minister Titus in his role overseeing the church in Crete.
He emphasises the importance of sound doctrine and living a life that is consistent with
one's faith. Paul instructs Titus on how to appoint qualified leaders and deal with false
teachers. He also provides guidance on how to work with various groups within the
church, including older men, older women, younger women, and slaves. Paul encourages
Titus to model these values in his own life and leadership.
PHILEMON 1
CHAPTER
author
The apostle Paul.

description
Paul writes to a wealthy Christian living in Colossae by the name Philemon, encouraging
him to forgive a runaway slave called Onesimus. Philemon is considered one of the most
personal and intimate of Paul's letters. It is also significant for its teaching on Christian
relationships, including the themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and the unity of
believers in Christ regardless of their social status.
HEBREWS 13
CHAPTERS
author
Unknown, but thought to be the apostle Paul.

description
A letter addressed to Jewish Christians who were facing persecution and temptation to
abandon their faith. The author emphasises the superiority of Jesus Christ over the angels,
the Levitical priesthood, and the Old Testament sacrifices and festivals.
The letter also presents Jesus as the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin, and urges the
readers to persevere in their faith in the face of persecution and difficulty.
JAMES 5
CHAPTERS
author
James, one of Jesus' apostle, and his half brother.

description
A letter addressed to Jewish Christians who had been dispersed throughout the Roman
Empire. It is often considered a book of wisdom and practical advice, as James focuses on
the importance of good works and moral conduct in the life of a Christian. The book also
addresses topics such as wisdom, temptation, the use of the tongue, and wealth and
poverty. Throughout the book, James encourages his readers to live a life of love,
compassion, and humility.
1 PETER 5
CHAPTERS
author
The apostle Peter.

description
Written to the Christians in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) who were facing persecution
and suffering for their faith. Peter emphasises the importance of living a holy life and
maintaining hope in the face of suffering. He reminds them to strive for unity in their
relationships and that they have been chosen by God to be a holy nation and a people set
apart for His purpose. He also encourages them to love one another and to submit to
governing authorities, even when they are unjust.
2 PETER 3
CHAPTERS
author
The apostle Peter.

description
2 Peter is a reminder to the early Christian communities to remain steadfast in their faith,
to grow in their understanding of Christ, and to reject false teachings. The letter was
written to the early Christian communities, near the end of Peter's life, around 60-65 A.D.
His letter focuses on themes such as growth in the knowledge and understanding of Christ,
the importance of godly living, and the rejection of false teachings that were spreading
among the early Christian communities.
1 JOHN 5
CHAPTERS
author
The apostle John.

description
A letter written to early Christian communities. It emphasises the themes of love, truth,
and fellowship. Its purpose is to affirm the readers in their faith and to counter false
teachings that had arisen among them. The letter encourages early Christians to live in a
manner consistent with the truth they have received, and to love one another as Jesus loved
them. It also stresses the importance of belief in the incarnation of Jesus Christ as the Son
of God and the importance of obedience to his commands.
2 JOHN 1
CHAPTER
author
The apostle John.

description
A brief letter addressed to an "elect lady" and her children, who are believed to be a local
Christian community. The author writes to encourage them in their faith and to warn them
against false teachings that were spreading within the early Christian community. The
letter emphasises the importance of maintaining the truth of the gospel and of loving one
another in a practical and genuine way.
3 JOHN 1
CHAPTER
author
The apostle John.

description
A short letter written to a man named Gaius. The letter offers greetings and encouragement
to Gaius, who is commended for his hospitality and support of traveling missionaries. John
also mentions Diotrephes, a leader in the local church who is rejecting John's authority and
opposing the mission work. The letter ends with greetings and a blessing for Gaius.
JUDE 1
CHAPTER
author
Not specified, but thought to be Jude, the brother of James.

description
Jude emphasises the need to defend the faith against false teachers and to persevere in the
face of persecution. Jude urges his readers to remember the teachings of the apostles and
to build themselves up in their most holy faith. He also emphasises the importance of
mercy and lovingkindness.
REVELATIONS 22
CHAPTERS
author
The apostle John.

description
The final book of the New Testament, considered to be a work of prophecy and
apocalyptic literature. Revelations describes a series of visions and events that take place
in the end of times and the eventual triumph of God over evil. The book features symbols,
imagery, and language that can be difficult to interpret and has been the subject of much
debate and study throughout history.