Printable Bible Books List

Free Printable Bible Books List: All 66 Books in Order

Whether you are starting your first Bible reading plan, teaching a Sunday school class, or simply trying to memorize every book of Scripture, a printable Bible books list is one of the most practical tools you can have. The Bible contains 66 books  39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament  organized across multiple genres, authors, and centuries. This guide gives you a complete, print-ready reference covering every book in canonical order, chapter counts, genre groupings, and expert tips for your Scripture study journey. Best of all, a free downloadable PDF is included.

What Is a Printable Bible Books List and Why Do You Need One?

A printable Bible books list is a single-page reference sheet  or a short multi-page PDF  that displays all the books of the Bible in their canonical order, often with chapter counts, genres, and checkboxes for tracking your reading progress.

Think of it as a road map for Scripture. Without knowing the layout of the Bible, it is easy to feel lost flipping between the prophets and the epistles. Here is why having one matters:

  • Instant reference  Find any book without guessing where it sits in your Bible.
  • Reading plan accountability  Checkbox-style lists let you track which books you have read.
  • Teaching aid  Perfect for Sunday school, homeschool co-ops, and youth groups.
  • Memorization tool  A visible, posted list reinforces Bible book order through daily repetition.
  • Gift insert  Tuck one inside a new Bible as a helpful bookmark for a new believer.

All 66 Books of the Bible in Order (Old & New Testament)

The Protestant Bible canon contains 66 books arranged in two major divisions. The table below lists every book in order alongside its chapter count  ideal for printing and posting on a wall or study board.

#BookTestamentChapters
1GenesisOld50
2ExodusOld40
3LeviticusOld27
4NumbersOld36
5DeuteronomyOld34
6JoshuaOld24
7JudgesOld21
8RuthOld4
91 SamuelOld31
102 SamuelOld24
111 KingsOld22
122 KingsOld25
131 ChroniclesOld29
142 ChroniclesOld36
15EzraOld10
16NehemiahOld13
17EstherOld10
18JobOld42
19PsalmsOld150
20ProverbsOld31
21EcclesiastesOld12
22Song of SolomonOld8
23IsaiahOld66
24JeremiahOld52
25LamentationsOld5
26EzekielOld48
27DanielOld12
28HoseaOld14
29JoelOld3
30AmosOld9
31ObadiahOld1
32JonahOld4
33MicahOld7
34NahumOld3
35HabakkukOld3
36ZephaniahOld3
37HaggaiOld2
38ZechariahOld14
39MalachiOld4
40MatthewNew28
41MarkNew16
42LukeNew24
43JohnNew21
44ActsNew28
45RomansNew16
461 CorinthiansNew16
472 CorinthiansNew13
48GalatiansNew6
49EphesiansNew6
50PhilippiansNew4
51ColossiansNew4
521 ThessaloniansNew5
532 ThessaloniansNew3
541 TimothyNew6
552 TimothyNew4
56TitusNew3
57PhilemonNew1
58HebrewsNew13
59JamesNew5
601 PeterNew5
612 PeterNew3
621 JohnNew5
632 JohnNew1
643 JohnNew1
65JudeNew1
66RevelationNew22

Quick facts: The Old Testament has 929 chapters. The New Testament has 260 chapters. The entire Bible totals 1,189 chapters.

Free Printable Bible Books List PDF – Download in One Click

printable Bible books list

The easiest way to use this reference is to print it out. A clean, free printable PDF formatted for standard 8.5×11 paper gives you a durable, laminate-friendly sheet that works as:

  • A Bible reading checklist to tick off each book as you complete it
  • A classroom handout for Sunday school or homeschool Bible curriculum
  • A bookmark tucked into the inside cover of any study Bible
  • A memory aid posted on your refrigerator, desk, or prayer wall
  • A gift insert for a new Bible being given to a friend or family member

To create your own print-ready version, copy the table above into a Word document or Google Doc, set the font size to 10–11pt, and print in landscape mode for the best layout. Many Christian resource websites also offer beautifully designed, ready-made versions you can download instantly by searching free printable Bible books list PDF.

Old Testament Books in Order With Chapter Counts (Printable)

The Old Testament is divided into five main sections. Here is a summary by section to help you understand the layout at a glance:

The Law (Torah)  5 Books Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. These foundational books cover creation, the fall, the flood, the Exodus from Egypt, and God’s covenant law given to Israel through Moses.

History  12 Books Joshua through Esther. These books trace Israel’s entry into the Promised Land, the rise and fall of the monarchy, the exile, and the return to Jerusalem.

Poetry and Wisdom  5 Books Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon. These are the heart of Old Testament literature, rich with worship, lament, wisdom sayings, and reflections on the human condition.

Major Prophets  5 Books Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel. Called “major” due to their length, not their importance. Each contains sweeping visions, warnings, and promises pointing toward redemption.

Minor Prophets  12 Books Hosea through Malachi. Shorter in length but not lighter in message. These twelve books are sometimes called “The Book of the Twelve” in Jewish tradition.

New Testament Books in Order With Chapter Counts (Printable)

The New Testament opens with four accounts of Jesus’s life and closes with a prophetic vision of the end of history. Its sections are:

The Gospels  4 Books Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Each presents the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ from a unique perspective and audience.

Church History  1 Book Acts. Written by Luke, this book records the birth and spread of the early church from Jerusalem to Rome.

The Epistles (Letters)  21 Books Romans through Jude. Paul wrote 13 of these letters to churches and individuals. The remaining 8 are called General Epistles, written by James, Peter, John, and Jude.

Apocalyptic Literature  1 Book Revelation. Written by the Apostle John, this book uses vivid symbolic imagery to describe the ultimate triumph of God over evil.

Bible Books Organized by Genre

Understanding the literary genres of the Bible dramatically improves how you read and apply Scripture. Each genre has its own rules of interpretation:

GenreBooks IncludedKey Feature
LawGenesis – DeuteronomyCovenant commands and narratives
HistoryJoshua – EstherIsrael’s national story
Poetry & WisdomJob – Song of SolomonEmotion, reflection, and practical wisdom
Major ProphecyIsaiah – DanielLong prophetic oracles
Minor ProphecyHosea – MalachiShorter but equally urgent calls to repentance
GospelsMatthew – JohnThe life and teachings of Jesus
ActsActsThe early church’s growth and mission
EpistlesRomans – JudeDoctrinal and pastoral letters
ApocalypticRevelationSymbolic end-times vision

When planning a chronological Bible reading plan, grouping books by genre first helps you understand the historical and literary context before diving into chapter-by-chapter reading.

How to Use a Bible Books Checklist for Your Reading Plan

A Bible reading checklist is more than a to-do list  it is a spiritual commitment tracker. Here is a simple system that works for beginners and experienced readers alike:

  1. Choose your reading pace. Decide whether you want to read the entire Bible in a year (about 3–4 chapters daily), in 18 months, or book by book at your own speed.
  2. Print or save the list. Keep it somewhere visible in your journal, desk, or phone’s home screen photo.
  3. Check off each book as you finish it. Visual progress is a powerful motivator that keeps you consistent.
  4. Add brief notes. Write one key verse or takeaway beside each book title  this deepens retention significantly.
  5. Review monthly. A monthly glance at your checklist shows momentum and quickly reveals any gaps.

Popular Bible reading plans that pair perfectly with a printed checklist include the M’Cheyne Plan, the One-Year Bible plan, and the Canonical Order plan.

Printable Bible Books List for Sunday School and Homeschool Teachers

Teachers and parents will find Bible books printable and invaluable in the classroom. Here are practical, tested ways to use it:

  • Laminated wall chart  Post a large-format version as a permanent classroom reference that students can point to during lessons.
  • Fill-in-the-blank worksheets  Remove book names and have students fill them in from memory as a weekly quiz.
  • Book bingo cards  Use the 66 book names to create custom Bible bingo for youth groups or vacation Bible school.
  • Sorting activity  Print individual book names on cards and have children sort them into Old and New Testament piles, then arrange them in the correct order.
  • Chapter-count math  Use the chapter counts as data for simple math exercises covering totals, averages, and comparisons.

For homeschool Bible curriculum, a printed list doubles as a spine for building a whole-year study plan, working through one genre or section at a time in a structured, meaningful way.

Tips for Memorizing All 66 Books of the Bible Using a Printable Sheet

printable Bible books list

Memorizing all 66 books of the Bible in order is a rewarding challenge that pays dividends for life. These proven techniques turn a simple printed list into a powerful memory tool:

  1. Chunking by section. Learn the five books of the Law first, then the 12 History books, and so on. Never try to memorize all 66 at once; it feels overwhelming and rarely sticks.
  2. Acronym mnemonics. Create a memorable acronym or silly sentence using the first letter of each book within a group.
  3. Songs and rhymes. Classic Sunday school songs set the books to a tune  the melody acts as a memory anchor that lasts for decades. Search “Books of the Bible song” on YouTube for options suited to all age groups.
  4. Daily tracing. Trace your finger down the printed list each morning while saying the names aloud. Combining auditory and kinesthetic repetition accelerates recall faster than reading alone.
  5. The cover-and-recall method. Cover half the list with a sticky note and recite what is hidden. Move the note down one section each day as your confidence grows.
  6. Spaced repetition. Test yourself on the list every day for one week, then every week for a month. This technique locks the order into long-term memory far more effectively than cramming.

Most people can memorize all 66 books within 4–6 weeks using daily five-minute practice sessions with their printed list.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Books of the Bible

How many books are in the Bible?

The Protestant Bible contains 66 books 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Catholic and Orthodox Bibles include additional books called the Deuterocanon or Apocrypha.

What is the shortest book in the Bible?

3 John, Obadiah, Philemon, 2 John, and Jude each contain only one chapter; 3 John has just 219 words in the original Greek, making it the shortest by word count.

What is the longest book in the Bible?

Psalms is the longest book with 150 chapters. Jeremiah holds the most words in the Old Testament, while Luke is the longest New Testament book by word count.

Are the books of the Bible in chronological order?

No , the canonical order groups books by type (law, history, poetry, prophecy) rather than by the date they were written or the events they describe.

Can I use this list for Catholic or Orthodox Bibles?

This list reflects the 66-book Protestant canon. Catholic Bibles add 7 deuterocanonical books such as Tobit, Judith, and Maccabees, so teachers should clarify which canon their students are using before printing.

Conclusion

A printable Bible books list is one of the simplest yet most effective tools in any believer’s study toolkit. Whether you are building a yearly reading plan, teaching children the books of the Bible in order, or working to memorize all 66 books by name, having a clear and well-organized reference sheet keeps you oriented in Scripture at every stage of your journey.

Print the table from this guide, post it somewhere visible, and let it become the foundation of a consistent, enriching Bible study routine. The more familiar you become with the layout of God’s Word, the more confidently you will navigate its pages and the more deeply its truths will take root in your daily life.

Similar Posts