Who wrote the Bible? Complete (but concise) list of Bible books, their authors, and when they were written
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Since most books in the Bible were written anonymously (not uncommon in Biblical days), much of what we know for certain about the authorship comes from logical deduction. What follows is the opinion of the majority of contemporary scholars along with the traditional views of authorship (both Jewish and Christian).
Date written are estimates only.
Hover over highlighted names for additional history and facts about the book.
Old TestamentOld Testament groups are not necessarily ordered chronologically (they are ordered more by “type”). |
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Pentateuch (Books of Moses) or TorahNote that the last eight verses in Deuteronomy, which describe Moses’ death, were obviously written by another (unknown) author. Also, some theorize that the Pentateuch does not have a single author and that its composition took place over centuries. |
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| Book | Author | Date |
| Genesis (Book of Genesis) | Moses | 1445 BC |
| Exodus (Book of Exodus) | Moses | 1445 BC |
| Leviticus (Book of Leviticus) | Moses | 1445 BC |
| Numbers (Book of Numbers) | Moses | 1445 BC |
| Deuteronomy (Book of Deuteronomy) | Moses | 1445 BC |
The Books of HistoryNamed “The Books of History” because they contain historical records. |
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| Book | Author | Date |
| Joshua (Book of Joshua) | Joshua, possibly Eleazar or Phinehas | 1405 BC |
| Judges (Book of Judges) | Samuel | 1043 BC |
| Ruth (Book of Ruth) | Anonymous or possibly Samuel | 1030 BC |
| 1 Samuel | Samuel, possible additions by prophets Gad and Nathan | 931 BC |
| 2 Samuel | Samuel, possible additions by prophets Gad and Nathan | 931 BC |
| 1 Kings | Possibly Jeremiah | 561 BC |
| 2 Kings | Possibly Jeremiah | 561 BC |
| 1 Chronicles | Anonymous, possibly Ezra | 450 BC |
| 2 Chronicles | Anonymous, possibly Ezra | 450 BC |
| Ezra | Ezra | 457 BC |
| Nehemiah (Book of Nehemiah) | Ezra or Nehemiah | 424 BC |
| Esther (Book of Esther) | Anonymous or Mordecai, Possibly Nehemiah | 450 BC |
The Books of Poetry or books of Writings |
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| Book | Author | Date |
| Job (Book of Job) | Anonymous, possibly Moses | ? |
| Psalms (Book of Psalms) | Various: David (73) Asaph (12) Sons of Korah (11) Solomon (2) Moses (1) Ethan (1) Hemen (1) Unknown (50) |
1410 BC |
| Proverbs (The Proverbs) | Various Solomon (29) Agur (1) Lemuel (1) |
971 BC |
| Ecclesiastes | Solomon | 940 BC |
| Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) | Solomon | 971 BC |
Major ProphetsNamed “Major Prophets” because the books are longer (not because they were more important) |
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| Book | Author | Date |
| Isaiah (Book of the Prophet Isaiah) | Isaiah | 700 BC |
| Jeremiah (Book of Jeremiah) | Jeremiah | 586 BC |
| Lamentations (Lamentations of Jeremiah or Book of Lamentations) | Multiple anonymous authors, possibly Jeremiah | 586 BC |
| Ezekiel (Book of Ezekiel) | Ezekiel | 590 BC |
| Daniel (Book of Daniel) | Daniel | 536 BC |
Minor ProphetsNamed “Minor Prophets” because they were shorter (not because they were less important) |
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| Book | Author | Date |
| Hosea (Book of Hosea) | Hosea | 750 BC |
| Joel (Book of Joel) | Joel | 835 BC |
| Amos (Book of Amos) | Amos | 750 BC |
| Obadiah (Book of Obadiah) | Obadiah | 850 BC |
| Jonah (Book of Jonah) | Jonah | 775 BC |
| Micah (Book of Micah) | Micah | 735 BC |
| Nahum (Book of Nahum) | Nahum | 650 BC |
| Habakkuk (Book of Habakkuk) | Habakkuk | 615 BC |
| Zephaniah (Book of Zephaniah) | Zephaniah | 635 BC |
| Haggai (Book of Haggai) | Haggai | 520 BC |
| Zechariah (Book of Zechariah) | Zechariah | 480 BC |
| Malachi (Book of Malachi) | Malachi | 433 BC |
New Testament |
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Gospels |
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| Book | Author | Date |
| Matthew (Gospel according to Matthew) | Matthew | 50 AD |
| Mark (Gospel according to Mark) | Mark | 50 AD |
| Luke (Gospel according to Luke) | Luke | 60 AD |
| John (Gospel according to John) | John | 80 AD |
History |
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| Book | Author | Date |
| Acts (Acts of the Apostles) | Luke | 62 AD |
| Romans (Epistle to the Romans) | Paul | 56 AD |
| 1 Corinthians (First Epistle to the Corinthians) | Paul | 55 AD |
| 2 Corinthians (Second Epistle to the Corinthians) | Paul | 56 AD |
| Galatians (Epistle to the Galatians) | Paul | 49 AD |
| Ephesians (Epistle to the Ephesians) | Paul | 60 AD |
| Philippians (Epistle to the Philippians) | Paul | 60 AD |
| Colossians (Epistle to the Colossians) | Paul | 60 AD |
| 1 Thessalonians (First Epistle to the Thessalonians) | Paul | 51 AD |
| 2 Thessalonians (Second Epistle to the Thessalonians) | Paul | 52 AD |
| 1 Timothy (First Epistle to Timothy) | Paul | 62 AD |
| 2 Timothy (Second Epistle to Timothy) | Paul | 66 AD |
| Titus (Epistle to Titus) | Paul | 62 AD |
| Philemon (Epistle to Philemon) | Paul | 60 AD |
General Epistles |
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| Book | Author | Date |
| Hebrews (Epistle to the Hebrews) | Unknown, possibly Paul, Mark, Apollos, or Priscilla | 67 AD |
| James (Epistle of James) | James (brother of Jesus) | 44 AD |
| 1 Peter (First Epistle of Peter) | Peter | 64 AD |
| 2 Peter (Second Epistle of Peter) | Unknown, possibly Peter | 67 AD |
| 1 John (First Epistle of John) | John | 90 AD |
| 2 John (Second Epistle of John) | John | 90 AD |
| 3 John (Third Epistle of John) | John | 90 AD |
| Jude (General Epistle of Jude) | Jude | 68 AD |
Prophecy |
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| Book | Author | Date |
| Revelation (Book of Revelation) | Likely John | 94 AD |
Apocrypha |
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| Book | Author | Date |
| 1 Esdras (First Book of Esdras) | ||
| 2 Esdras (Second Book of Esdras) | 100 AD | |
| Tobit | 200 BC | |
| Judith | 150 BC | |
| Additions to Esther (Rest of Esther) | 170 BC | |
| Wisdom (Wisdom of Solomon) | 100 BC | |
| Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) | 200 BC | |
| Baruch | 150 BC | |
| Song of the Three Children (Song of the Three Holy Children) | ||
| Story of Susanna (History of Susanna) | ||
| History of the Destruction of Bel and the Dragon (Bel and the Dragon) | 150 BC | |
| Prayer of Manasseh | ||
| 1 Maccabees (First Book of the Maccabees) | 100 BC | |
| 2 Maccabees (Second Book of the Maccabees) | 10 AD | |
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