There is also the question, when you say chronological order, of whether you the date of the events described or the date of writing is meant – and there can be a wide divergence (as with Moses relating of the earliest events of mankind in Genesis). Still, the first five books (“of Moses”) are universally first in the OT just like the gospels are in the NT, with the book of Revelation universally last. This is certainly understandable inasmuch as the chronology of the life and ministry of the apostle Paul is very problematic, especially in regard to the dates of his epistles (see esp. The earliest and best semi-complete manuscript of the New Testament, codex Sinaiticus, places Hebrews before Paul’s pastoral epistles, and Acts comes before James. The order of the Hebrew Bible, for example, is somewhat different from the order you are no doubt familiar with (e.g., 1&2 Chronicles are the very last books, with Daniel placed along with Ezra and Nehemiah just before them). New Testament (n.b., this is a “higher chronology” than you will find elsewhere = dates are earlier numbers in bold represent the traditional New Testament English order parenthetical bold numbers are the traditional order in the Bible overall):Ĭommentary: While the canon of scripture is indeed inspired, the placement of the books is not. Period of Hezekiah to the exile (686 – 586): Period of Rehoboam to Hezekiah (931 – 686):

Old Testament (n.b., this is a “higher chronology” than you will find elsewhere = dates are earlier than in many liberal sources numbers in bold represent the traditional English order):ģ. Order of Writing for the Books of the Bible Please note that the numbers below in bold are the traditional English order: “Chronological order of the books of the Bible.”

Timeline of bible books written