The Bible is organized into two main sections (testaments), containing 66 books divided into chapters and verses. Understanding this structure is essential for building Bible applications and reference tools.
Old Testament (39 Books)
The Old Testament contains 39 books covering creation through roughly 400 BC. Major divisions include the Pentateuch/Torah (Genesis-Deuteronomy), Historical Books (Joshua-Esther), Wisdom Literature (Job-Song of Solomon), Major Prophets (Isaiah-Daniel), and Minor Prophets (Hosea-Malachi).
New Testament (27 Books)
The New Testament covers the life of Jesus and the early church. Divisions include the Gospels (Matthew-John), Acts (church history), Pauline Epistles (Romans-Philemon), General Epistles (Hebrews-Jude), and Revelation (prophecy).
Chapters and Verses
Chapter divisions were added in the 13th century, and verse numbers in the 16th century. While not original to the text, they provide essential reference points. Chapter counts range from 1 (Obadiah, Philemon, 2 John, 3 John, Jude) to 150 (Psalms).
Book Naming Conventions
Books are referenced by name, chapter, and verse (e.g., John 3:16). Numbered books use formats like "1 Corinthians" or "I Corinthians". Common abbreviations exist (Gen, Ex, Ps, Matt, Rom) but vary by tradition.