The Old Testament was originally only 22 books, it was Jerome a Catholic translator (the translators were all Catholic) who gave us our present enumeration of 39 books for the Old Testament rather than the original 22 enumeration. The incorrect order of the King James version is deliberate to confuse the reader. The present arrangement exalts “Rome” and the Gentiles as being in authority over Christian affairs, rather than “Jerusalem” and the early Jewish apostles.
The following is how the original 22 books of the old Testament would be outlined.
| I. THE LAW 1) Genesis 2) Exodus 3) Leviticus 4) Numbers 5) Deuteronomy |
II. THE PROPHETS 6. Joshua/Judges 7. The Book of Kingdoms 8. Isaiah 9. Jeremiah 10. Ezekiel 11. The Twelve |
III. THE HOLY WRITINGS 12. Psalms 13. Proverbs 14. Job 15. Song of Songs 16. Ruth 17. Lamentations 18. Ecclesiastes 19. Esther 20. Daniel 21. Ezra/Nehemiah 22. The Book of Chronicles |
Reading Plan
The books of the Bible can be organized in a way that places them in an order
( places where timelines weave together or overlap) that makes it easier to follow what is happening.
The books below have been placed in an order so that there is no break in the flow of the events
with the rest of the books placed following these events.
For a first time reader the following order would be helpful in getting a better grasp on scripture. This reading plan introduces you to the major people and events of the Bible in a chronological order, beginning with the creation.
Customize your reading plan to fit your own pace, but it can some times be
hard to due. You might find that taking the last half hour of the day before bed
can also relax you for a better nights sleep, but feel free to use any time that works consistently for you.
Highlight verses as you read along, and make notes on either a page in the front
of your bible or note pad by subject as you find them. Read the Bible for the sake of learning, not simply to accomplish your next reading.
Say a short prayer before you begin, asking for the Holy Spirit to give you understanding and wisdom as you read.
You can use this Online Bible to look up the verses.
| Chapter | Description |
| John 1 | In the Beginning was the Word |
| Genesis 1 | The Creation |
| Genesis 2 | The Garden of Eden |
| Genesis 3 | The Fall of Man |
| Genesis 4 | Cain kills Abel |
| Genesis 5 | From Adam to Noah |
| Genesis 6 – 10 | The Great Flood |
| Job 1 – 42 | Job’s Suffering and Faith |
| Genesis 11 | The Tower of Babel |
| Genesis 12 | God Sends Abram to Egypt |
| Genesis 13 | Abram and Lot Part Ways |
| Genesis 14 – 50 | The Descendants of Abraham. |
| Exodus 1 – 3 | Israel in Egypt |
| Exodus 4 – 40 | The Ten Plagues on Egypt |
| Leviticus 1 – 27 | Laws of God |
| Numbers 1 – 36 | Census, Tribes, Duties |
| Psalms | Wisdom Writings |
| Deuteronomy 1 – 34 | Summary of Laws of God, Israel’s History |
| Joshua 1 – 24 | Joshua Leads Israel Into Canaan. |
| Judges 1 – 21 | Israel’s relationship with Canaan. |
| Ruth 1 – 4 | Naomi, Ruth and Boaz |
| 1 Samuel 1 – 20 | Samuel, Saul, and David |
| 1 Samuel 21 | David at Nob and Gath |
| 1 Samuel 22 | Saul Slays the Priests of Nob |
| 1 Samuel 23 | David Flees Saul |
| 1 Samuel 24 – 31 | David vs. Saul |
| 2 Samuel 1 – 4 | David’s Children |
| 1 Chronicles 1 – 10 | Genealogies of the Israelites |
| 2 Samuel 5 | David Reigns over All Israel |
| 1 Chronicles 11 – 15 | David Reigns over All Israel |
| 2 Samuel 6 – 8 | The Ark is Brought to Jerusalem |
| 1 Chronicles 16 | David’s festival sacrifice |
| 1 Chronicles 17 – 18 | David Purposes to build a Temple |
| 2 Samuel 9 – 10 | David and Mephibosheth |
| 1 Chronicles 19 – 20 | David Defeats Ammon and Aram |
| 2 Samuel 11 – 12 | David and Bathsheba |
| 2 Samuel 13 – 14 | Amnon and Tamar |
| 1 Chronicles 21 – 27 | David has a Census |
| 2 Samuel 15 – 16 | Absalom’s Conspiracy |
| 2 Samuel 17 | Hushai’s Warning Saves David |
| 2 Samuel 18 – 23 | Absalom Slain by Joab |
| 2 Samuel 24 | David Counts the Fighting Men |
| 1 Chronicles 28 – 29 | David’s last days |
| 1 Kings 1 – 2 | David’s last days |
| 2 Chronicles 1 | Solomon Asks for Wisdom |
| 1 Kings 3 | Solomon Asks for Wisdom |
| 1 Kings 4 – 9 | Solomon’s Wisdom |
| 2 Chronicles 2 – 7 | Solomon Prepares for a Temple |
| 2 Chronicles 8 | Solomon’s buildings |
| Proverbs 1 – 31 | The Proverbs (Wisdom) of Solomon |
| 1 Kings 10 | The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon |
| 2 Chronicles 9 | The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon |
| 1 Kings 11 | Solomon’s Wives and Idolatry |
| Ecclesiastes 1 – 12 | Ecclesiastes Words of the Preacher |
| 1 Kings 12 – 13 | The Kingdom is Divided |
| 2 Chronicles 10 – 12 | Israelites Rebel against Rehoboam |
| 1 Kings 14 – 15 | Ahijah’s Prophecies against Jeroboam |
| 2 Chronicles 13 – 14 | Civil War against Jeroboam |
| 1 Kings 16 | Jehu’s prophecy against Baasha |
| 2 Chronicles 15 – 17 | Asa’s Reforms |
| 1 Kings 17 – 22 | Elijah Prays for Drought |
| Obadiah 1 | The Vision of Obadiah |
| 2 Chronicles 18 – 21 | Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab |
| 2 Kings 1 – 11 | Elisha |
| 2 Chronicles 22 – 24 | Ahaziah Succeeds Jehoram in Judah |
| 2 Chronicles 23 | Jehoiada Makes Joash King |
| 2 Kings 12 | Joash Reigns Well |
| Joel 1 – 3 | The Word of the LORD to Joel |
| 2 Kings 13 – 14 | Jehoahaz’s wicked reign |
| 2 Chronicles 25 | Amaziah’s good reign |
| 2 Kings 15 | Azariah’s good reign |
| 2 Chronicles 26 | Uzziah Reigns in Judah |
| Amos 1 – 9 | The Words of Amos |
| Jonah 1 – 4 | Jonah Sent to Nineveh |
| Hosea 1 – 14 | Hosea’s Prophecies |
| 2 Chronicles 27 – 28 | Jotham Succeeds Uzziah |
| 2 Kings 16 | Wicked Reign of Ahaz |
| Isaiah 1 – 7 | Isaiah Complains of Zion’s Corruption |
| Micah 1 – 7 | The Word of the LORD to Micah |
| Isaiah 8 – 25 | Uriah and Zechariah |
| 2 Kings 17 | Hoshea the Last King of Israel |
| 2 Chronicles 29 – 31 | Hezekiah’s Good Reign |
| 2 Kings 20 | Hezekiah’s Illness and Healing |
| Isaiah 38 – 66 | Hezekiah Shows Treasures |
| 2 Kings 18 | Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem |
| Isaiah 36 | Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem |
| 2 Chronicles 32 | Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem |
| 2 Kings 19 | Hezekiah’s Prayer |
| Isaiah 37 | Hezekiah’s Prayer |
| Nahum 1 – 3 | The Vision of Nahum |
| 2 Kings 21 | Manasseh’s Wicked Reign |
| 2 Chronicles 33 | Manasseh’s Wicked Reign |
| 2 Kings 22 | Josiah’s good reign |
| 2 Chronicles 34 | Josiah’s good reign |
| Zephaniah 1 – 3 | The Word of the LORD to Zephaniah |
| Jeremiah 1 – 10 | The Call of Jeremiah |
| Habakkuk 1 – 3 | The Oracle to Habakkuk |
| Jeremiah 11 – 12 | Jeremiah Proclaims God’s Covenant |
| 2 Kings 22 – 23 | Josiah Prepares for Temple Repair |
| 2 Chronicles 35 – 36 | Josiah Celebrates the Passover |
| Jeremiah 13 – 47 | Jeremiah Proclaims Covenant Is Broken |
| Daniel 1 – 2 | Daniel Refuses the King’s Portion |
| 2 Kings 24 | Rebellion of Jehoiakim |
| Ezekiel 1 – 19 | Ezekiel’s Prophecy at Chebar |
| Ezekiel 20 – 23 | Ezekiel Sees God Refuse the Elders |
| 2 Kings 25 | Siege of Jerusalem Begins |
| Jeremiah 48 – 49 | Jeremiah Prophesies against Moab |
| Ezekiel 24 – 25 | Siege of Jerusalem Begins |
| 2 Kings 25 | The Fall of Jerusalem |
| Jeremiah 50, 51 | Jeremiah Prophesies against Babylon |
| Lamentations 1 – 5 | Jeremiah’s Lamentations |
| Ezekiel 26 – 39 | Ezekiel Pronounces Judgment on Tyre |
| Daniel 3 – 4 | Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego |
| Ezekiel 40 – 48 | Ezekiel’s Second Temple Vision |
| Daniel 5 – 12 | Daniel Interprets Handwriting on the Wall |
| Ezra 1 – 5 | The Proclamation of Cyrus |
| Haggai 1 – 2 | The Word of the LORD by Haggai |
| Zechariah 1 – 14 | The Word of the LORD to Zechariah |
| Ezra 6 | Temple Work Resumed by Darius’ Decree |
| Esther 1 – 10 | Queen Vashti Deposed |
| Ezra 7 – 10 | Ezra Journeys to Jerusalem |
| Nehemiah 1 – 13 | Nehemiah’s Prayer for the Exiles |
| Malachi 1 – 4 | The Word of the LORD by Malachi |
| Luke 1 – 2 | Birth of John the Baptist |
| Mathew 1 | Augustus Taxes the Roman Empire |
| Matthew 2 | Visit of the Magi |
| Matthew 3 | John the Baptist Prepares the Way |
| Mark 1 | John the Baptist Prepares the Way |
| Luke 3 | John the Baptist Prepares the Way |
| Matthew 4 | Temptation of Jesus |
| Luke 4 | Temptation of Jesus |
| Luke 5 | Jesus Calls his First Disciples |
| John 2 – 4 | Wedding at Cana |
| Matthew 5 – 7 | Sermon on the Mount |
| Matthew 8 | Jesus Ministers in Galilee |
| Mark 2 | Jesus Ministers in Galilee |
| John 5 | The Pool of Bethesda |
| Matthew 12 | Jesus Lord of the Sabbath |
| Mark 3 | Jesus Lord of the Sabbath |
| Luke 6 | Jesus Lord of the Sabbath |
| Matthew 11 | Jesus Answers John’s Disciples |
| Luke 7 | Jesus Answers John’s Disciples |
| Matthew 13 | Jesus Speaks Many Parables |
| Mark 4 | Jesus Speaks Many Parables |
| Luke 8 | Jesus Speaks Many Parables |
| Mark 5 | Jesus Heals a Demoniac |
| Matthew 9 | Jesus Heals a Paralytic |
| Matthew 10 | Jesus Sends out His Twelve Apostles |
| Mark 6 | John the Baptist Beheaded |
| Matthew 14 | John the Baptist Beheaded |
| Luke 9 | Jesus Feeds the 5,000 |
| John 6 | Jesus Feeds the 5,000 |
| Matthew 15 | Teachings on Clean and Unclean |
| Mark 7 | Teachings on Clean and Unclean |
| Matthew 16 | Peter’s Confession of Christ |
| Mark 8 | Peter’s Confession of Christ |
| Matthew 17 | The Transfiguration |
| Mark 9 | The Transfiguration |
| Matthew 18 | Greatest and Least in the Kingdom |
| Luke 10 – 11 | Jesus Sends out the Seventy-two |
| John 7 – 10 | Jesus Teaches at the Feast of Tabernacles |
| Luke 12 – 17 | Jesus Speaks More Parables |
| John 11 | Jesus Raises Lazarus |
| Matthew 19 – 20 | Final Journey to Jerusalem |
| Mark 10 | Final Journey to Jerusalem |
| Luke 18 | Final Journey to Jerusalem |
| Matthew 21 | The Triumphal Entry |
| Mark 11 | The Triumphal Entry |
| Luke 19 | The Triumphal Entry |
| John 12 | The Triumphal Entry |
| Matthew 22 – 24 | Closing Ministry in Jerusalem |
| Matthew 25 | Closing Ministry in Jerusalem |
| Mark 12 – 13 | Closing Ministry in Jerusalem |
| Luke 20 – 21 | Thursday Before Passover |
| John 14 – 17 | Jesus Comforts His Disciples |
| Matthew 27 | Jesus’ Betrayal, Trial, Crucifixion |
| Mark 15 | Jesus’ Betrayal, Trial, Crucifixion |
| Luke 23 | Jesus’ Betrayal, Trial, Crucifixion |
| John 18 – 19 | Jesus’ Betrayal, Trial, Crucifixion |
| Matthew 28 | Jesus’ Resurrection |
| Mark 16 | Jesus’ Resurrection |
| Luke 24 | Jesus’ Resurrection |
| John 20 – 21 | Jesus’ Resurrection |
| Acts 1 | The Ascension |
| Acts 2 – 12 | The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost |
| James 1 – 5 | James Writes his Letter |
| Acts 13 – 18 | Paul’s First Missionary Journey |
| 1 Thessalonians 1 – 5 | Paul Writes to the Thessalonians |
| 2 Thessalonians 1 – 3 | Paul Writes again to the Thessalonians |
| Acts 19 | Paul in Ephesus |
| 1 Corinthians 1 – 16 | Paul Writes to the Corinthians |
| Galatians 1 – 6 | Paul Writes to the Galatians |
| Acts 20 | Paul in Macedonia and Greece |
| Romans 1 – 16 | Paul Writes to the Romans |
| 2 Corinthians 1 – 13 | Paul Writes again to the Corinthians |
| Acts 21 – 28 | Paul Returns to Jerusalem |
| Ephesians 1 – 6 | Paul Writes to the Ephesians |
| Philippians 1 – 4 | Paul Writes to the Philippians |
| Colossians 1 – 4 | Paul Writes to the Colossians |
| Philemon 1 | Paul Writes to Philemon |
| 1 Timothy 1 – 6 | Paul Writes to Timothy |
| 1 Peter 1 – 5 | Peter Writes his First Letter |
| Titus 1 – 3 | Paul Writes to Titus |
| 2 Timothy 1 – 4 | Paul Writes Again to Timothy |
| 2 Peter 1 – 3 | Peter Writes his Second Letter |
| Hebrews 1 – 13 | Letter to the Hebrews |
| Jude 1 | Jude Writes his Letter |
| 1 John 1 – 5 | John Writes his First Letter |
| 2 John 1 | John Writes his Second Letter |
| 3 John 1 | John Writes his Third Letter |
| Revelation 1 – 22 | John’s End Time Revelations |
Chronological Order
The following is what most theologians think is the correct chronological (as
recorded) order of the
Bible.
|
Old Testament Genesis 1 - 22 Job Genesis 23 - 50 Exodus Psalm 90 Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Psalm 91 Joshua Judges Ruth I Samuel 1 - 16:13 Psalm 23 I Samuel 16:14 - 19:11 Psalm 59 I Samuel 19:12 - 21:15 Psalms 34, 56 I Samuel 22:1, 2 Psalms 57, 142 I Samuel 22:3-23 Psalm 52 I Samuel 23 Psalms 54, 63 I Samuel 24 - 31 II Samuel 1 - 7 Psalm 30 II Samuel 8:1-14 Psalm 60 II Samuel 8:15 - 12:14 Psalms 51, 32 II Samuel 12:15 - 15:37 Psalms 3, 69 II Samuel 16 - 20 Psalms 64, 70 II Samuel 21, 22 Psalm 18 II Samuel 23, 24 Psalms 4 - 9, 11 - 17, 19 - 22, 24 - 29, 31, 35 - 41, 53, 55, 58, 61, 62, Psalms 65, 68, 72, 86, 101, 103, 108 - 110, 138 - 141, 143 - 145 I Kings 1 - 4 Proverbs Song of Solomon I Kings 5 - 11 Ecclesiastes I Kings 12 - 22 II Kings 1 - 14:25 Jonah II Kings 14:26-29 Amos II Kings 15 - 25 Psalms 1, 2, 10, 33, 43, 66, 67, 71, 89, 92 - 100, Psalms 102, 104 - 106, 111 - 125, 127 - 136, 146 - 150 I Chronicles 1 - 16 Psalms 42, 44 - 50, 73 - 85, 87, 88 I Chronicles 17 - 29 II Chronicles 1 - 21 Obadiah II Chronicles 22 Joel II Chronicles 23 - 26:8 Isaiah 1 - 5 II Chronicles 26:9 - 23 Isaiah 6 II Chronicles 27 - 32 Isaiah 7 - 66 Hosea Micah Nahum II Chronicles 33, 34 Zephaniah II Chronicles 35 Habakkuk Jeremiah 1 - 6, 11, 12, 26, 7 - 10, 14 - 20, 35, 36, 45, 25, 46 - 49, Jeremiah 13, 22 - 24, 27 - 29, 50, 51, 30 - 33, 21, 34, 37 - 39, 52, 40 - 44 Lamentations II Chronicles 36:1 - 8 Daniel II Chronicles 36:9 - 21 Psalm 137 Ezekiel II Chronicles 36:22, 23 Ezra 1 - 5:1 Haggai Zechariah Psalms 107, 126 Ezra 5:2 - 6:22 Esther Ezra 7 - 10 Nehemiah Malachi Psalm 119:105 |
New Testament
Matthew
|