John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Start Your Journey
Below is the easiest way to start reading the Bible. You would think it would be at the beginning right? Actually it isn't. As Jesus followers we need to know who Jesus is, and his story. What does it mean to be Christian, Why we go to church etc. Reading the Bible in the Order below puts a lot of our questions in perspective and we get our answers from Jesus' teachings and how having faith in Jesus' brings us closer to the Word.
This list is not in order according to the how it is in the Bible.
The list below, are the Books you should read in order, to help guide you through Jesus' story and The Word. You will start in the New Testament
The Gospels, means "Good News," they convey the message of Jesus Christ and the salvation he offers to humanity. Each Gospel presents a unique perspective on Jesus' life and death, His teachings, and the transformative power of faith. They invite readers to explore the depth of God's love and the hope found in following Jesus. Ultimately, the Gospels serve as a foundation for understanding the Christian faith and its promise of eternal life.
I know when I picked up the Bible I said to myself, 'there is no way I'm going to understand this'. (psst.... your not going to at first. Even if you don't understand what you read, KEEP READING. You will come to understand it in time.
Proverbs 2:6-8 GNT It is the LORD who gives wisdom; from him come knowledge and understanding. He provides help and protection for those who are righteous and honest.
THE NEW TESTAMENT
John-
Author: Attributed to John, the disciple whom Jesus love (John 21:7, brother of James and son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21).
Date: Around AD 90s as the last of the written Gospel.
Matthew
Author : Attributed to Matthew named (Levi)
Date: Approximately AD 70, Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem.
Mark
Author: Attributed to Mark named (John Mark), Missionary companion of Paul and Barnabas and an associate of Apostle Peter (Simon).
Date: Around AD 60
Luke
Author: Attributed to Luke, Gentile physician, missionary companion to apostle Paul (Saul)
Date: Around AD 70s-80s
Acts
Author: Attributed to Luke, Gentile physician, a missionary companion of the apostle Paul (Saul) author of the Gospel of Luke.
Date: Covers AD 30s-60s, written around AD 62-80.
1 Timothy
Author: The Apostle Paul (Saul) his letter to Timothy
Date: Approximately AD 63
2 Timothy
Author: Apostle Paul (Saul) 1:1 his letter to Timothy
Date: Around the mid-60s AD
James
Author: James (1:1) probable a brother of Jesus (see Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3).
Date: Approximately AD 60.
Galatians
Author: The apostle Paul (Saul) 1:1
Date: Around AD 49 one of Paul's earlies letters.
1 Thessalonians
Author: The apostle Paul (Saul) along with Silas and Timothy (1:1)
Date: Early AD 50s
2 Thessalonians
Author: The apostle Paul (Saul) along with Silas and Timothy (1:1)
Date: Early AD 50s perhaps Paul's second oldest letters
1 Corinthians
Author: The apostle Paul (Saul) with assistance of Sosthenes (1:1)
Date: Around AD 55-57
2 Corinthians
Author: The apostle Paul (Saul) with Timothy's assistance (1:1)
Date: Approximately AD 55-57 shortly after 1 Corinthians.
Romans
Author: Apostle Paul (Saul) 1:1 assistance of Tertius (16:22)
Date: Approximately AD 57
Ephesians
Author: The apostle Paul (Saul) 1:1
Date: Around AD 62, toward the end of Paul's life.
Colossians
Author: The apostle Paul, along with Timothy (1:1)
Date: Around early AD 60s
Philippians
Author: The apostle Paul (Saul), assisted by Timothy (1:1)
Date: Around early AD 69s
Philemon
Author: Apostle Paul (Saul)
Date: Around AD 63 when Paul was imprisoned in Rome.
Titus
Author: The apostle Paul (1:1)
Date Approximately AD 63
1 Peter
Author: The apostle Peter (Simon) 1:1 with the assistance of Silas (5:12)
Date: Approximately AD 65
2 Peter
Author: The apostle Peter (Simon) 1:1
Date: Around the late 60s AD, shortly before Peter's execution.
Hebrews
Author: Not stated, Paul, Luke, Barnabas, and Apollos have all been suggested.
Date: Sometime before AD 70
Jude
Author: Jude (1:1) possibly Jesus' half brother (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3)
Date: Approximately AD 82
1 John
Author: Not stated, but associated to the apostle John.
Date: Approximately AD 92.
2 John
Author: Identified as "the elder" 1:1. It is implied by the early church as the apostle John.
Date: Approximately AD 92
3 John
Author: Identified as "the elder" 1:1. It is implied by the early church as the apostle John.
Date: Approximately AD 92
Revelations
Author: John 1:1, probably the apostle.
Date: Approximately AD 95
Old Testament
Genesis
Author: Not stated but traditionally attributed to Moses
Date: Moses lived around 1400s BC, but the events of Genesis date to the very beginning of time.
Exodus
Author: Attributed to Moses. In Exodus 34:27 God tells Moses, "Write thou these words," and Jesus, in Mark 12;26, quotes from Exodus as "the book of Moses,"
Date: Approximately the mid 1400's BC.
Leviticus
Author: Attributed to Moses.
Date: Approximately the mid 1400s BC.
Numbers
Author: Attributed to Moses.
Date: Approximately 1400 BC
Deuteronomy
Author: Attributed to Moses
Date: Approximately 1400 BC
Joshua
Author: Attributed to Joshua himself, except for the final five verses (24:29-33) these describe Joshua's death and legacy.
Date: Approximately 1375 BC.
Judges
Author: Unknown, some suggest the prophet Samuel.
Date: Approximately 1050 BC, covering events that occurred as far back as 1375 BC.
Ruth
Author: Not stated; some suggest Samuel.
Date: Ruth, the great-grandmother of King David (Who reigned approx. 1010-970 BC), probably lived around 1100 BC.
1 Samuel
Author: Not state, some say Samuel himself.
Date: Approximately 1100-1000 BC
2 Samuel
Author: Unknown, events were taken place after his death. Some suggest Abiathar the priest (15:35)
Date: Approximately 1010-970 BC, the reign of King David.
1 Kings
Author: Unknown, some claim it was wrote by Jeremiah.
Date: Covers 970-850 BC, written approx. 586 BC
2 Kings
Author: Unknown, some claim it was wrote by Jeremiah.
Date: Covering 300 hundred years from the 800s BC. Written approx. 586 BC
1 Chronicles
Author: Not stated but attributed to Ezra the priest.
Date: Covers history of Israel 1010 BC to 970 BC
2 Chronicles
Author: Not stated but attributed to Ezra the priest.
Date: Covers Israelite history 970 BC to 500 BC
Ezra
Author: Not stated but attributed to Ezra the priest.
Date: Approximately 530 BC - mid 400s BC
Nehemiah
Author: Tributed to the priest Ezra according to writings
Date: Approximately 445 BC
Esther
Author: Not stated but perhaps Ezra or Nehemiah.
Date: Approximately 486-465 BC. Esther became queen around 479 BC
Job
Author: Not Stated
Dated: Unclear, but many believe Job is one of the oldest stories of the Bible. Approx 2000BC
Psalms
Author: Many contribute over half to king David, many psalms don't mention and author.
Date: Approximately the 1400s BC - 500s BC.
Proverbs
Author: Primarily Solomon
Date: Approximately 970-930 BC
Ecclesiastes
Author: Not stated, but contributed to Solomon
Date: 900s BC
Songs of Solomon
Author: Attributed to Solomon
Date: Solomon ruled 970-930 BC
Isaiah
Author: Isaiah, son of Amoz
Date: Around 740-700 BC
Jeremiah
Author: Jeremiah (1:1), and a scribe named Baruch (36:4)
Lamentations
Author: Unstated but attributed to Jeremiah
Date: Around 586 BC
Ezekiel
Author: Ezekiel, a priest 1:1-3
Date: Approximately 590-570s BC
Daniel
Author: Likely Daniel, some are written in the first person, Chapters 1-6 written in the third person.
Date: Approximately 605-538 BC.
Hosea
Author: Attributed to Hosea himself, but some of the book is written in the third person.
Date: Sometime between 750 and 722 BC
Joel
Author: Joel, son of Pethuel (1:1)
Date: Around 586 BC
Amos
Author: Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa.
Date: Approximately 760s BC
Obadiah
Author: Believed written by Obadiah
Date: Unclear but around thirty years after Babylon's invastion of Judah in 586 BC.
Jonah
Author: Unclear, it is written in the third person about Jonah.
Date: Approximately 760 BC
Micah
Author: Micah wrote the prophecies or he dictated them to another.
Date: Approximately 700 BC
Habakkuk
Author: Habakkuk, nothing is written about his background
Date: Approximately 600 BC
Zephaniah
Author: Zephaniah (1:1)
Date: Approximately 640-620 BC.
Haggai
Author: Haggai (1:1)
Date: 520 BC
Zechariah
Author: Zechariah, some believe an unnamed writer contributed to chapters of 9-14.
Date: Approximately 520-475 BC.
Malachi
Author Malachi (1:1)
Date: Approximately 450 BC