American King James Version (en-US)
Genesis
This book, which shows how it was like "at the beginning", narrates the creation, the relationship between God and mankind and the promise of God to Abraham and his descendants.
Exodus
The name Exodus means "exit". This book tells how God liberated Israelites from a life of misery and slavery in Egypt. God made a pact with them and gave them laws to order and govern their lives.
Leviticus
The name of the book is derived from the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The book records all laws and regulations regarding rituals and ceremonies.
Numbers
The Israelites wandered the desert for forty years, before entering Canaan, "the promised land". The name of the book derives from the censuses promoted during that time in the desert.
Deuteronomy
Moses delivered three farewell speeches just before he died. In them he recapitulated, with the people, all the laws of God for the Israelites. The name of the book expresses this "recap" or "second law".
Joshua
Joshua was the leader of the Israeli armies in his victories over his enemies, the Canaanites. The book ends by describing the division of the land between the twelve tribes of Israel.
Judges
The Israelites constantly disobeyed God and fell into the hands of oppresive countries. God appointed judges to liberate them from oppression.
Ruth
Ruth's love and dedication to her mother-in-law, Naomi, are the subject of this book.
1 Samuel
Samuel was the leader of Israel in the period between de Judges and Saul, the first king. When Saul's leadership failed, Samuel anointed David as king.
2 Samuel
Under David's reign, the nation was unified and strengthened. However, after David's sins, adultery and murder, both the nation and the king's family suffered greatly.
1 Kings
This book begins with Solomon's reign in Israel. After his death, the kingdom devided as a result of the civil war between North and South, resulting in the emergence of two nations: Israel in the North and Judah in the Sauth.
2 Kings
Israel was conquered by Assyria in 721 B.C. Judah, by Babylon, in 586 B.C. These events were considered as a punishment for the people for disobedience to the laws of God.
1 Chronicles
This book begins with the genealogies from Adam to David and then tells the events of David's reign.
2 Chronicles
This book covers the same period as II Kings, but with an emphasis on Judah, the southern kingdom and its rulers.
Ezra
After being held captive in Babylon for a few decades, God's people returned to Jerusalem. One of its leaders was Ezra. This book contains the admonition that Ezra gave the people to follow and honor the law of god.
Nehemiah
After the temple, the Jerusalem wall was also rebuilt. Nehemiah directed this undertaking. He also collaborated with Ezra to restore the people's religious fervor.
Esther
This book tells the story of a Jewish queen from Persia, who denounced a plot that aimed to destroy her countrymen. This prevented everyone from being annihilated.
Job
The question" Why do innocent people suffer?" Is addressed in this biblical story.
Psalms
These 150 prayers were used by the Hebrews to express their relationship with God. They cover the whole field of human emotions, from joy to hate, from hope to despair.
Proverbs
This is a book of maxims of wisdom, ethical teachings and common sense about how to live a right life.
Ecclesiastes
In his search for happiness and the meaning of life, this writer, known as "philosopher" ou "preacher", asks questions that are still present in contemporary society.
Song of Solomon
This poem describes the joy and ecstasy of love. Symbolically it has been applied to God's love for Israel and Chrit's love for the Church.
Isaiah
The prophet Isaiah brought the message of God's judgment to the nations, announced a future king, like David, and promised an era of peace and tranquility.
Jeremiah
Long before the destruction of Judah by Babylon, Jeremiah foretold God's righteous judgment. Although his message is mostly one of destruction, Jeremiah also apoke of the new covenant with God.
Lamentations
Just as Jeremiah had predicted, Jerusalem fell captive to Babylon. This book records five "laments" for the fallen city.
Ezekiel
Ezekiel's message was given to the Jewis captives in Babylon. Ezekiel used stories and parables to speak of Israel's judgment, hope and restoration.
Daniel
Daniel remained faithful to God, even though he faced many pressures when he was captive in Babylon. This book includes Daniel's prophetic visions.
Hosea
Hosea draws on his conjugal experience, in which he was dedicated to his wife, even though he knew she was unfaithful, to illustrate the adultery Israel had committed against God and to show how God's faithful love for his people never changes.
Joel
After a plague of locusts, Joel admonishes the people to repent.
Amos
During a time of prosperity, this prophet from Judah preached to Israel's rich leaders about God's judgment, he insisted that they think of the poor and oppressed, before thinking of their own satisfaction.
Obadiah
Obadiah prophesied the judment on Edom, a country neighboring Israel.
Jonah
Jonah did not want to preach to the people of Nineveh, who were enemies of their own country. When, finally, he took the ,essage sent by God, its inhabitants repented.
Micah
Micah's message to Judah was one of judgment, rather than forgivness, hope and restoration. Especially notable is a verse that summarizes what God requires of us (6.8).
Nahum
Nahum announced that God would destroy the people of Nineveh for their cruelty in war.
Habakkuk
This book presents a dialogue between God and Habakkuk about justice and suffering.
Zephaniah
This prophet announced the Day of the Lord, which would bring judgment to Judah and the surrounding nations. That day, which was to come, would be one of destruction for many, but a small remnant, always faithful to God, would survive to bless the entire world.
Haggai
After the people returned from exile, Haggai admonished them to give priority to God and rebuild the temple in the first place, even before they rebuilt their houses.
Zechariah
Like Haggai, Zechariah urged the people to rebuild the temple, assuring them of God's help and blessings. His visions pointed to a bright future.
Malachi
After the return from exile, the people again neglected their religious life. Malachi began to inspire them again, speaking to them about the "Lord's Day".
Matthew
This Gospel quotes many texts from the Old Testament. It was primarily aimed at the Jewish public, for whom it presented Jesus as the promised Messiah in the Old Testament Scriptures. Matthew tells the story of Jesus from his birth to his resurrection and places special emphasis on the teachings of the Master.
Mark
Mark wrote a short, concise and action-filled Gospel. His goal was to deepen the faith and dedication of the community for which he wrote.
Luke
his Gospel emphasizes how salvation in Jesus is available to everyone. The evangelist shows how Jesus was in contact with poor people, the needy and those who are despised by society.
John
The Gospel of John, by its form, stands apart from the other three. John organizes his message by focusing on seven signs that point to Jesus as the Son of God. His literaly style is reflective and full of images and figures.
Acts of the Apostles
When Jesus left his disciples, the Holy Spirit came to live with them. This book was writtern by Luke to complement his Gospel. He recounts events in the history and action of the early Christian church, showing how faith spread in the Mediterranean world at the time.
Romans
In this important letter, Paul writes to the Romans about life in the Spirit, which is given by faith to those who believe in Christ. The apostle reaffirms the great goodness of God and declares that, through Jesus Christ, God accepts us and liberates us from our sins.
I Corinthians
This letter specifically addresses the problems that the Corinthian cruch was facing: dissension, immorality, problems with the form of public worship and confusion about the gifts of the Spirit.
II Corinthians
In this letter the apostle Paul writes about his relationship with the Corinthian church and the difficulties that some false prophet had brought to his ministry.
Galatians
This letter exposes the freedom of the person who believes in Christ with respect to the law. Paul declares that it is only by faith that people are reconciled to God.
Ephesians
The central theme of this letter is the eternal purpose of God: Jesus Christ is the head of the Church, which is fromed from many nations and races.
Philippians
The emphasis of his letter is on the joy that the believer in Christ finds in all circumstances of life. The apostle Paul wrote it when he was incarcerated.
Colossians
In this letter the apostle Paul tells the Christians of Colossae to abandon their superstitions and that Christ is the center of their life.
I Thessalonians
The apostle Paul gives guidance to Christians in Thessalonica about Jesus' return to the world.
II Thessalonians
As in his first letter, the apostle Paul speaks of Jesus' return to the world. It is also about preparing Christians for the coming of the Lord.
I Timothy
This letter serves as guide to Timothy, a young leader of the early church. The apostle Paul gives him advice on worship, ministry and relationships within the church.
II Timothy
This is the last letter written by the apostle Paul. It launches a final challenge to his co-workers.
Titus
Titus was a minister in Crete. In this letter the apostle Paul guides you on how to help new Christians.
Philemon
Philemon is urged to forgive his slave, Onesimus, who had fled. Philemon should take him back as a friend in Christ.
Hebrews
This letter exhorts new Christians to no longer observe traditional rituals and ceremonies, for in Christ they have already been fulfilled.
James
James advises Christians to live their faith in practice and, in addition, offers ideas on how it can be done.
I Peter
This letter was written to comfort Christians in the early church who were being persecuted for their faith.
II Peter
In this letter the apostle Peter warns Christians about false teachers and encourages them to remain loyal to God.
I John
This letter explains basic truths about the Christian life with an emphasis on the commandment to love one another.
II John
This letter, addressed to "elected lady and her children", warns Christians of false prophets.
III John
In contrast to his Second Letter, it speaks of the need to receive those who preach Christ.
Jude
Jude warns his readers about the bad influence of people outside the Christian brotherhood.
Revelation
This book was written to encourage Christians who were being persecuted and to establish them in the confidence that God will take care of the,. Using symbols and visions, the writer illustrates the triumph of good over evil annd the creation of a new earth and a new heaven.