How Many Books Are In the New Testament?

The New Testament comprises about one-third of the Bible. While it’s a continuation of the story that started in the Old Testament, it reveals the era of the New Covenant that Jesus of Nazareth inaugurated through his death and resurrection. The New Testament contains books belonging to genres like biography, epistles or letters, historical accounts, and apocalyptic literature.

The New Testament contains 27 books. First, there are four Gospels, which read like biographies of Jesus Christ. Acts is next and tells of the history of the early church. Then, there are 21 letters, 13 of which the Apostle Paul wrote. Lastly, there is one book of apocalyptic literature, Revelation.

Why are there 27 books in the New Testament? Who wrote the 27 books? When were they written? Who were they written to? What is each book’s theme? What is a key verse for each book? Keep reading to learn the answers to these questions and others.

Also, see Who Wrote the New Testament? to learn more.

Why Are There 27 New Testament Books?

Bible scholar Bill Arnold writes, “The twenty-seven New Testament writings are the ones that earned the recognition of early Christians as having been inspired by God and given to the church ‘for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness’ (2 Tm 3:16, NRSV).” [1]

The Gospels: An Introductory Overview

Book 1	The Gospel of Matthew
Author	Matthew
Chapters	28
Date written	Between 50-70 A.D.
Audience	Jewish Christians; the broader church
Key theme	Jesus is the Messiah
Key verse	“Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'” (16:16)

Book 2	The Gospel of Mark
Author	Mark
Chapters	16
Date written	Between 50-60 A.D.
Audience	Gentile Christians; the broader church
Key theme	Jesus is the Son of God
Key verse	“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (10:45)

Book 3	The Gospel of Luke
Author	Luke
Chapters	24
Date written	Between 60-80 A.D.
Audience	Jews and Gentiles; the broader church
Key theme	Jesus is Lord and Savior of all people
Key verse	“And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” (15:1, the Prodigal Son)

Book 4	The Gospel of John
Author	John
Chapters	21
Date written	90s A.D.
Audience	Gentile Christians and unbelievers; the broader church
Key theme	Jesus is God in the flesh
Key verse	“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (3:16)

The Book of Acts

Book 5	Acts
Author	Luke
Chapters	28
Date written	Early to mid 60s A.D.
Audience	Christians
Key theme	The Holy Spirit’s power for missions
Key verse	“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (1:8)

Also, see How Many Chapters Are in the New Testament? to learn more.

Bible New Testament — What are the themes of Paul’s letters? See below

The Letters of Paul

Book 6	Romans
Author	Paul
Chapters	16
Date written	Mid 50s A.D.
Audience	The church at Rome
Key theme	Salvation is for Jews and Gentiles
Key verse	“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (6:23)

Book 7	1 Corinthians
Author	Paul
Chapters	16
Date written	Mid 50s A.D.
Audience	The church at Corinth
Key theme	Christians need to mature in their faith
Key verse	“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1:18)

Book 8	2 Corinthians
Author	Paul
Chapters	13
Date written	Mid 50s A.D.
Key theme	Embrace sound biblical teaching
Key verse	“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17)

Book 9	Galatians
Author	Paul
Chapters	6
Date written	Mid 40s to early 50s A.D.
Audience	The church in Galatia
Key theme	The gospel results in freedom, not legalism
Key verse	“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (2:20)

Book 10	Ephesians
Author	Paul
Chapters	6
Date written	Around 60 A.D.
Audience	The church at Ephesus
Key theme	The gospel results in Christian unity and victory
Key verse	“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12)

Book 11	Philippians
Author	Paul
Chapters	4
Date written	Early 60s A.D.
Audience	The church at Philippi
Key theme	Christians are joyful people
Key verse	“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (4:13)

Book 12	Colossians
Author	Paul
Chapters	4
Date written	Around 60 A.D.
Key theme	Jesus is greater than human philosophies
Key verse	“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (3:16)

Book 13	1 Thessalonians
Author	Paul
Chapters	5
Date written	Early 50s A.D.
Audience	The church at Thessalonica
Key theme	Live for Jesus’ return
Key verse	“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Thess. 4:14)

Book 14	2 Thessalonians
Author	Paul
Chapters	3
Date written	Early 50s A.D.
Audience	The church at Thessalonica
Key theme	Remain faithful to Jesus
Key verse	“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.” (2:15)

Book 15	1 Timothy
Author	Paul
Chapters	6
Date written	Late 50s to early 60s
Audience	Timothy, and the broader church
Key theme	Embrace biblical teaching
Key verse	“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the mana Christ Jesus.” (2:5)

Book 16	2 Timothy
Author	Paul
Chapters	4
Date written	Early to mid 60s
Audience	Timothy, and the broader church
Key theme	Faithfully proclaim and live out the gospel
Key verse	“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,c a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2:15)

Book 17	Titus
Author	Paul
Chapters	3
Date written	Late 50s to early 60s
Audience	Titus, and the broader church
Key theme	Support and care for the church
Key verse	“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” (2:1)

Book 18	Philemon
Author	Paul
Chapters	1
Date written	Around 60 A.D.
Audience	Philemon, and the broader church
Key theme	Show grace to each other
Key verse	“If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.” (v. 18)

Also, see What Is the New Testament? to learn more.

New Testament books — What is the key verse of Revelation? See below

The General Epistles

Book 19	Hebrews
Author	Unknown
Chapters	13
Date written	Early 60s A.D.
Audience	Jewish Christians
Key theme	The supremacy of Jesus in and over all things
Key verse	“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (11:1)

Book 20	James
Author	James
Chapters	5
Date written	Late 40s to 50s
Audience	James, and the broader church
Key theme	Genuine faith results in righteous behavior
Key verse	“For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” (2:26)

Book 21	1 Peter
Author	Peter
Chapters	5
Date written	Early 60s A.D.
Audience	Gentile Christians
Key theme	Persevere when suffering with God’s power
Key verse	“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1:3)

Book 22	2 Peter
Author	Peter
Chapters	3
Date written	Mid to late 60s A.D.
Audience	Gentile Christians
Key theme	Embrace biblical teaching
Key verse	“For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (1:21)

Book 23	1 John
Author	John
Chapters	5
Date written	90s A.D.
Audience	Christians around Ephesus
Key theme	Embrace biblical teaching about Jesus
Key verse	‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1:9)

Book 24	2 John
Author	John
Chapters	1
Date written	90s A.D.
Audience	Christians around Ephesus
Key theme	Use discernment when assessing teachers
Key verse	“And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.” (v. 5)

Book 25	3 John
Author	John
Chapters	1
Date written	90s A.D.
Audience	Christians around Ephesus; the broader church
Key theme	Support biblical teachers, reject false ones
Key verse	“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (v. 4)

Book 26	Jude
Author	Jude
Chapters	1
Date written	Between 50-80 A.D.
Audience	Christians exposed to false teaching
Key theme	Reject false teachers, embrace biblical ones
Key verse	“Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” (v. 3)

Revelation

Book 27	Revelation
Author	John
Chapters	22
Date written	Mid 90s A.D.
Audience	Seven churches in Rev. 2-3; the broader church
Key theme	Be faithful until Jesus returns
Key verse	“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.” (Rev. 19:11)

Also, see What Are the 46 Books of the Old Testament? to learn more.

References:
[1] Encountering the New Testament by Bill Arnold. p. 28.
[2] NIV Study Bible