Have you ever picked up a Bible? I mean, really picked it up and thought, “Okay, I’m going to learn about this.” It’s a big book. It feels old and important. But it can also be very hard to follow. For instance, the pages are thin and the words are small. You also see two columns with lots of numbers. If this has ever worried you, you are not alone. In fact, many people want to know, “How Is the Bible Organised?”
I remember when I first tried to read it. I thought, “I’ll just start on page one. Genesis had great stories. However, when I got to the laws in Leviticus, I read about things I did not understand. I got so lost that I just gave up. So, my plan did not work at all. Much later, someone told me the secret. If you’ve ever asked, how is the Bible organised?, then you are asking the right question. The answer is the key to the whole book.
The truth is that the Bible is not one book. Instead, you can think of it as a library. It holds 66 smaller books. About 40 different authors wrote these books over 1,500 years. A library has a history section and a poetry section. Likewise, the Bible does too. Once you learn its layout, it stops being scary. Then, it starts to make sense. So, let’s look at this layout together.
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How Is the Bible Organised? What Are the Two Main Sections of the Bible?
Before we look at the details, we must start with the biggest split in the Bible. When you open it, you’ll see it has two main parts. They are the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The word “testament” is an old word. It basically means “promise.” Therefore, you can think of these two parts as the story of God’s two big promises to people.
The Old Testament is the first part. It is also the larger part. It starts with the world’s creation. Many authors wrote it in Hebrew long before Jesus was born.
Then, the New Testament tells the rest of the story. It is much shorter. It tells about the life of Jesus, the promised Messiah. Then it tells what happened after he left. It follows the start and growth of the early church. Authors wrote this part in Greek. They wrote it after Jesus died and rose again. So, you have one main way it is sorted: before Jesus and after Jesus. It’s a simple start. But it is the base for everything else.
How is the Bible Organised in the Old Testament Books?
Okay, so we have the Old Testament. But when you open that part, you still have 39 books to deal with. Here’s the next big secret: the Bible does not sort the books by date! This is where many people get lost. It’s not a story from start to finish. Instead, the Bible groups the Old Testament books by their type of writing. We call this their genre. This system is not in time order. It is a key part of knowing how is the bible organised.
How is the Bible Organised in the First Five Books?
People call the first group of books in the Old Testament the Pentateuch. This word means “five scrolls.” People also call it the Torah, which is a Hebrew word for “law.” These are the first five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
These books are the base for the whole Bible. Genesis tells the story of the world’s start. It also tells about the start of God’s special link with Abraham and his family. Then, Exodus tells how God saved his people from slavery in Egypt. After that, the next books give the laws and rules for how God’s people should live. I tried to read a law book like a story book. It makes more sense when you know its goal. For a great breakdown of these books, you can check out resources from places like Dallas Theological Seminary, which offer clear information.
Which Old Testament Books Tell the History of Israel?
After the books of Law, you get a big group of books that tell Israel’s history. This part goes from the book of Joshua to the book of Esther. These 12 books tell about Israel entering the promised land. They tell about the time of the judges and the stories of their kings. They also tell about their exile and their return home.
If you want a clear story, this part is the closest you’ll get in the Old Testament. It moves through time in a way that feels normal to us. But you should remember that experts call it “history with a message.” This means the book tells a story to make a point. It shares a message about God and his people. It does not just list facts.
What Are the Wisdom and Poetry Books of the Bible?
Right in the middle of the Old Testament, the style changes. After the history, you find five books of poetry and wisdom. They are Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. This part does not move the story of Israel forward. Instead, it focuses on human life.
- Job is a long poem. It asks why good people have hard times.
- Psalms is a songbook. It holds 150 poems and songs about all human feelings.
- Proverbs is a group of short, wise sayings about how to live a good life.
- Ecclesiastes is a book of deep thoughts about the meaning of life.
- Song of Solomon is a love poem.
Knowing about this section is very helpful. It gives you the freedom to read these books in a new way. For instance, you don’t read Proverbs like a history book. You should read it slowly. Then you can think about what it says.
Who Are the Major Prophets in the Old Testament?
After the poetry, we get to the prophets. The Bible’s editors did not sort these books by date either. Instead, they split them into two groups based on how long they are. The first group is the Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel.
We call them “major” just because their books are longer. It does not mean they were more important. Prophets were God’s messengers. Their job was to speak God’s word to the people. They often told people to turn back to God. They also brought messages of hope.
Why Are Some Prophets Called the Minor Prophets?
Finally, the Old Testament ends with the 12 Minor Prophets. They run from Hosea to Malachi. Again, we call them “minor” only because their books are much shorter. In fact, in old scrolls, writers often put all 12 of these books on one single scroll.
Their message is much like the Major Prophets. They bring words of warning and hope from God. Reading them can feel fast and powerful because their messages are so packed in.
How Is the Bible Organised in the New Testament?
When you turn the page to the New Testament, you find a smaller group of 27 books. And just like the Old Testament, learning how is the Bible organised here is about knowing the types of writing. The New Testament editors also grouped these books by their type, not by date.
What Are the Four Gospels and Why Are They Different?
The New Testament starts with four books we call the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The word “gospel” means “good news.” These four books tell the story of Jesus’s life, death, and return to life.
People often ask, “Why are there four of them? And why do they seem different?” I used to ask that too. The key is to think of them like four paintings of the same person. A different artist painted each one for a different group of people. So, they each show different parts of who Jesus was. For example, Matthew wrote to a Jewish group. He showed how Jesus was the one promised in the Old Testament. John, on the other hand, thinks more about the deep meaning of who Jesus is. They do not go against each other. They add to each other.
What Is the Book of Acts About?
After the four Gospels, there is one book that stands by itself: the Book of Acts. This book is a history book. In fact, Luke, the same person who wrote the Gospel of Luke, wrote Acts as Part 2 of his story.
The Gospels end with Jesus going up to heaven. Then, the Book of Acts starts the story from there. It tells what the apostles and other early believers did next.
How is the Bible Organised Among Paul’s Letters?
The next large part of the New Testament is a group of letters. People also call them epistles. The apostle Paul wrote the first 13 of these letters. This is another area where knowing how is the Bible organised helps a lot. The Bible does not list these letters in the order Paul wrote them. Instead, editors sorted them by how long they are. The longest is Romans. The shortest is Philemon. This sorting by length is a theme in how the Bible is organised.
Paul wrote these letters to churches he had started. He also wrote to people he was helping. They have deep thoughts, tips for Christian living, and answers to problems in the young churches. You can learn more about the New Testament’s layout from trusted sources like Bible.org.
What Are the General Epistles in the New Testament?
Following Paul’s letters is another group of eight letters. We call them the General Epistles. They run from Hebrews to Jude. Other important early church leaders, like Peter, John, and James, wrote these.
These letters have the “general” name because their authors wrote them for a wider group, not just one church. They have a goal like Paul’s letters, as they offer hope, lessons, and warnings to the early Christians.
What Is the Meaning of the Book of Revelation?
The whole Bible ends with one of the most famous books: the Book of Revelation. This book has its own style. An author wrote it as a prophecy with symbols and visions.
For years, people have talked about its meaning. But its main goal was to give hope to early Christians. They were being treated badly at the time. It shows a vision of God’s final win over evil. It is a powerful and hopeful way to end the big story of the Bible.
How is the Bible Organised for Practical Navigation?
Okay, so now you know the basic layout. But how does this help you? Knowing the layout completely changes how you read the Bible.
Why Were Chapter and Verse Numbers Added to the Bible?
First, let’s talk about the small numbers. The first authors did not put chapter and verse numbers in the text. In fact, experts added them much later, in the Middle Ages. The numbers are not part of the core text. They are just an address system. People added them to make it easy to find a certain sentence.
So, don’t let the numbers control how you read. You do not have to stop at the end of a chapter. Sometimes a chapter ends in the middle of a thought. Therefore, you can feel free to read right past them! You can learn more about the Bible’s history at websites for places like the Museum of the Bible.
How Does Knowing the Bible’s Genre Change How You Read?
This is the biggest lesson for understanding how is the Bible organised. You don’t read a cookbook the same way you read a novel. In the same way, you don’t read a law book like Leviticus the same way you read the songs in Psalms.
When you’re in Proverbs, a book of wisdom, you should read slowly. For instance, you might just read one or two sayings a day. You can think about how they fit your life. But when you are in Acts, a history book, you can read a few chapters at a time. This helps you follow the story. Ultimately, knowing the type of writing tells you what to expect. It also tells you how to read it.
Where Should a Beginner Start Reading the Bible?
This leads to a very real question. If you should not start at Genesis 1:1 and read straight through, where should you start? Most people suggest that a new reader should start in the New Testament with a Gospel. Many find the Gospel of John a popular place to start because it is all about who Jesus is. The Gospel of Mark is another great pick. It is short and full of action.
Starting with a Gospel shows you Jesus. Indeed, he is the main person in the whole Bible. After that, you could read Acts to see what happened next. Then, maybe you can jump to a poetry book like Psalms or a wisdom book like Proverbs. By jumping between the library sections, you get a much better feel for the whole group of books.
What Is the Big Picture of How the Bible is Organised?
The Bible can feel like a mixed-up book at first. But it’s not. Once you see the smart and logical layout, it all makes sense. You see that the Bible’s setup is around its two big promises, the Old and New Testaments. And in those parts, the editors sorted it by the type of writing, just like a library. It has law books, history books, songbooks, wisdom books, letters, and prophecy.
In the end, knowing this layout removes the fear. It gives you a roadmap. It also helps you understand what you are reading and why someone wrote it. The Bible changes from a single, scary book into a friendly library. It is full of different kinds of writing that all tell one big story. It’s a story that you can now go and look at without fear.
FAQ – How Is the Bible Organised
What practical advantage does understanding the Bible’s organisation provide to readers?
Knowing how the Bible is organised helps readers navigate the text more effectively, understand the type of writing they are reading, and interpret passages appropriately, making their reading more meaningful and less overwhelming.
How are the Gospels in the New Testament different from each other?
The four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—each present a different perspective on Jesus’s life and teachings. They are written by different authors for different audiences, providing a comprehensive picture of who Jesus was.
Why are some prophets called Major Prophets and others Minor Prophets?
Prophets are called Major or Minor based on the length of their books, not their importance. The Major Prophets have longer books like Isaiah and Jeremiah, while the Minor Prophets have shorter books, such as Hosea and Malachi.
How are the books of the Old Testament organised?
The Old Testament books are organised by their genre or type of writing rather than chronological order. They are grouped into sections such as the Pentateuch (law books), historical books, poetry and wisdom books, and the writings of the prophets.
What are the two main sections of the Bible and what do they represent?
The two main sections of the Bible are the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament covers the story from creation up to the period before Jesus Christ, while the New Testament focuses on the life of Jesus, the early church, and the message of salvation.
