What Is the Shortest Book in the Bible? We Reveal It

In high school, for instance, my English teacher gave us a hard task. We had to write a full story in only six words. A famous example is, “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” It’s a very sad story in just a few words, and because of it, I learned a big lesson: a message can be deep even if it is short. This lesson is especially true when looking for the answer to what is the shortest book in the bible, a question whose answer is as brief as it is powerful.

The same topic came up years later during a Bible study. We were talking about long books like Isaiah when someone suddenly asked, “What is the opposite of that?” The room went quiet. While we knew the long books, the shortest one was a mystery to us. Consequently, that question sent me on the fun search that led to this article.

So, if you want a fun fact, you are in the right place. Together, we will look at why short messages can be so strong. The answer, however, is not as simple as you think. Indeed, it tells us a lot about how the Bible was made and also shows the strong messages in its smallest parts.

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The Technical Answer: It Depends on How You Count

So, what is the answer? For a trivia game, the quick answer is the Third Epistle of John, or 3 John. But wait, because it is a bit tricky. The answer really depends on how you count. For example, do you count verses? Or do you count words in the old Greek language?

• By Verses: In this case, the winner is the Second Epistle of John (2 John). It has only 13 verses.
• By Words: By this count, however, the winner is the Third Epistle of John (3 John). It has only 219 words in the old Greek. In comparison, 2 John has 245 words.

Why does 3 John have more verses but fewer words? The verses in 3 John are just much shorter. For this reason, most people say 3 John is the shortest book. In fact, it is so short you could write it all on one postcard.

This simple answer, of course, leads to more questions. Who wrote these short letters? Why were they so brief? What big message could possibly fit in so few words?

What Is the Shortest Book in the Bible and What Does It Say?

To really get it, we need to look at 2 John and 3 John at the same time, because they are like two postcards from the same person. These letters were likely written between 85 and 95 AD. Most experts think “John the Elder” wrote them. While some think he was John the Apostle, one of Jesus’s disciples, others believe he was a different church leader. He simply calls himself “the elder,” which was a title of respect.

These letters are certainly not like the long book of Romans. Instead, they are short, personal notes. Furthermore, they focus on one big problem in the early church: false teachers.

3 John: A Personal Note on Hospitality

Let’s start with 3 John. The letter is to a man named Gaius, who was a friend the elder loved and respected. The main message of this short book, therefore, is about being welcoming.

• The Good Guy (Gaius): The elder thanks Gaius for his faith. He also praises him for welcoming true Christian teachers to his home and church. Back then, traveling teachers needed help from local people for food and a place to stay. Clearly, Gaius was doing a great job helping them.
• The Bad Guy (Diotrephes): Then, the elder warns Gaius about a man named Diotrephes. This man was proud and wanted power, and he would not welcome the elder’s teachers. Even worse, he kicked people out of the church if they helped the teachers.
• The Core Issue: Ultimately, the letter is a warning and a note of support. The elder says, “Keep helping the good guys. Watch out for Diotrephes. I will take care of him when I arrive.”

This note shows us what daily life was like in the early church. This personal touch is often missed when people only ask What Is the Shortest Book in the Bible as a trivia question. For more on this, you can look at sites like the Biblical Archaeology Society, which tells stories about early church life.

2 John: A Warning Against Welcoming False Teachers

Now let’s look at 2 John. This letter is also personal, but its tone is much more serious. It is written “to the lady chosen by God and to her children,” which could be a real woman and her family, or it could be a code for a local church.

The message here is the reverse of 3 John. While 3 John says to welcome good teachers, 2 John, on the other hand, says do not welcome bad teachers. The elder warns the church about liars who said Jesus did not come in a real body. This, of course, was a false teaching.

The elder gives a strong order, telling them not to let these people in their house or even greet them. This sounds mean to us today. But back then, welcoming someone to your home meant you agreed with them. To help a false teacher was to help spread lies. Therefore, this short letter has a strong warning to protect the truth. You can read it for yourself in about a minute on a site like Bible Gateway.

The Old Testament Answer to What Is the Shortest Book in the Bible

When we ask what is the shortest book in the bible, we often talk about the New Testament. However, the Old Testament has its own short book. It is a strong book of prophecy with only one chapter and 21 verses called the Book of Obadiah.

Obadiah is an angry message against the country of Edom. The people of Edom came from Esau, Jacob’s brother, so they were like a brother nation to Israel. But they fought a lot.

The book scolds Edom for being proud. It also scolds them for what they did when Jerusalem was beaten by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Instead of helping their brothers, the Edomites were happy about it. They also stole things and even caught people who were trying to run away, handing them over to the enemy. For this reason, Obadiah says Edom will be destroyed. It’s a clear lesson about what happens when you are proud and mean.

Why Are Such Short Books Included in the Bible?

This is a great question. With so many writings available in the ancient world, why did the early church leaders put these tiny postcards and this short prophecy in the Bible? The answer helps give a fuller context to the question of What Is the Shortest Book in the Bible.

The answer has a few key parts:

1. Written by Leaders: First, the letters of 2 and 3 John were from a key leader, “the elder,” who was close to the Apostle John. This made the letters important. Obadiah was also seen as a true prophet. You can find more on how books were chosen from schools like the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.
2. Helpful for the Church: Second, these books dealt with big problems that are still around today. We still need to support true teachers and reject lies. Therefore, these short books gave clear advice.
3. Shows the Full Story: Finally, these personal letters give us a better human picture of the early church. Life was not just big speeches; it was also about friends, travel plans, and tough people.

How to Best Read What Is the Shortest Book in the Bible

The best part about these short books is that they are easy to read. You can read 2 John, 3 John, or Obadiah in just a few minutes. Here’s a good way to read them:

1. Read it All at Once: First, this is the best way because you get the full message.
2. Read it Out Loud: Also, hearing the words helps you feel the tone. You can feel the warmth in 3 John or the anger in Obadiah.
3. Read the Books Near It: Finally, for 2 and 3 John, read 1 John first since they talk about the same ideas. For Obadiah, reading about Jerusalem’s fall in 2 Kings 25 helps you see what Edom did wrong.

The Power of a Small Message for Shortest Book in the Bible

In the end, knowing what is the shortest book in the bible is more than a fun fact. Indeed, it reminds us that size is not what is important. Our world is full of noise and information. These tiny books, however, teach us that strong messages are often short and clear.

They show a God who cares about big history but also cares about the small problems of a man like Gaius. Furthermore, He cares about a local church and a nation that was betrayed. These examples show that even in small books, you can find big truth and a strong story. Like that six-word story, their message is strong and stays with you.

FAQ – What Is the Shortest Book in the Bible