For centuries, the Bible has been an important source of faith and guidance for Christians around the world.
But do you know how many chapters are in it? If not, don’t worry – this blog post is here to give you a quick overview of the chapters found in The Bible.
We’ll take a look at some interesting facts about its structure and content so that you can gain insight into this divinely inspired collection of religious writings.
Total Number of Chapters in the Bible
The Bible comprises two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Within these sections, the Bible contains 76 books written by various authors over the years.
In the Old Testament, there are 1082 chapters spread across 49 books, while in the New Testament, 260 chapters can be found within 27 books. This brings the total number of chapters in the entire Bible to 1,342, which includes both the Old and New Testaments.
The chapters vary in length, with the longest chapter being Psalm 119 and the shortest chapter of the Bible being Psalm 117. Here’s a brief overview of the number of chapters in some well-known books of the Bible:
| Book | Number of Chapters |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 50 |
| Exodus | 40 |
| Matthew | 28 |
| John | 21 |
It is important to note that chapter and verse divisions were not present in the original manuscripts of the Bible. They were added much later to help readers navigate through the text more easily. Different translations and editions of the Bible might have different chapter or verse numbers, but these variations are typically minimal.
Read Also: What is The Longest Book in The Bible?
Chapters in The Old Testament
The Old Testament, also known as the Jewish Tanakh, is the first part of the Christian Bible and comprises 49 books. These books are further divided into various sections, including the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Poetic Books, Major Prophets, and Minor Prophets.
Pentateuch
The Pentateuch, also known as the Torah or the Five Books of Moses, contains the foundational stories and laws of the Jewish faith. It comprises 187 chapters across the following five books:
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
Historical Books
The Historical Books cover the history of the Jewish people from the conquest of Canaan to the post-exilic period. This section includes a total of 326 chapters in the following books:
- Joshua
- Judges
- Ruth
- 1 Samuel
- 2 Samuel
- 1 Kings
- 2 Kings
- 1 Chronicles
- 2 Chronicles
- 1 Esdras
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- Tobit
- Judith
- Esther
- 1 Maccabees
- 2 Maccabees
- 3 Maccabees
Poetic Books
The Poetic Books, also known as Wisdom Literature, consists of 313 chapters in five books that provide wisdom and insight for daily living:
- Job
- Psalms (151 in number)
- Proverbs of Solomon
- Ecclesiastes
- Song of Songs
- Wisdom of Solomon
- Wisdom of Sirach
Major Prophets
The Major Prophets are so named due to the length of their writings. These books contain 189 chapters and include the following:
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Baruch
- Lamentations of Jeremiah
- Epistle of Jeremiah
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
Minor Prophets
The Minor Prophets, in contrast to the Major Prophets, are shorter in length. This section contains 67 chapters across these 12 books:
- Hosea
- Joel
- Amos
- Obadiah
- Jonah
- Micah
- Nahum
- Habakkuk
- Zephaniah
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- Malachi
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Chapters in the New Testament
The New Testament of the Bible has a total of 260 chapters distributed across 27 books. These books are divided into five main sections: Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Pauline Epistles, General Epistles, and Revelation.
Gospels
The Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – are the first four books of the New Testament and contain 89 chapters in total. They provide a narrative of the life, teachings, and works of Jesus Christ. Here’s a summary of each Gospel’s chapters:
- Matthew – 28 chapters
- Mark – 16 chapters
- Luke – 24 chapters
- John – 21 chapters
Acts of the Apostles
Acts of the Apostles is the fifth book in the New Testament and contains 28 chapters. It narrates the spread of Christianity by the apostles after Jesus’ ascension and the events surrounding the early Christian church.
Pauline Epistles
Pauline Epistles is a collection of 13 epistles (letters) attributed to the Apostle Paul, comprising chapters 29 through 260 of the New Testament. These letters are divided into two groups:
- Paul’s Letters to the churches – 86 chapters
- Paul’s personal letters – 18 chapters
For a comprehensive list of these epistles and their chapter counts, you can refer to the table below:
| Epistle | Chapters |
|---|---|
| Romans | 16 |
| 1 Corinthians | 16 |
| 2 Corinthians | 13 |
| Galatians | 6 |
| Ephesians | 6 |
| Philippians | 4 |
| Colossians | 4 |
| 1 Thessalonians | 5 |
| 2 Thessalonians | 3 |
| 1 Timothy | 6 |
| 2 Timothy | 4 |
| Titus | 3 |
| Philemon | 1 |
General Epistles
The General Epistles are a collection of eight letters not attributed to Paul but to other apostles or early Christian leaders. These epistles include the following:
- Hebrews – 13 chapters
- James – 5 chapters
- 1 Peter – 5 chapters
- 2 Peter – 3 chapters
- 1 John – 5 chapters
- 2 John – 1 chapter
- 3 John – 1 chapter
- Jude – 1 chapter
Revelation
Revelation, also known as the Book of Revelation or the Apocalypse of John, is the last book of the New Testament and has 22 chapters. The book presents a series of prophetic visions experienced by John that describe the ultimate triumph of God and the final judgment of humanity.
Chapter Division History
The process of dividing the Bible into chapters and verses took place over several centuries. The chapter divisions we see today were primarily developed by Stephen Langton, an Archbishop of Canterbury, around A.D. 1227. Langton introduced these divisions in the Latin Vulgate, and they were later transferred into the Hebrew Bible.
As for the verse divisions, they were added later by others. The first Bible to include both chapter and verse divisions was the Latin Vulgate edition of Robert Stephanus in 1555. The Geneva Bible of 1557 followed suit and became the first English Bible to include chapters and verses.
The Bible is made up of 1,342 chapters in total. The Old Testament contains 1082 chapters, while the New Testament consists of 260 chapters. The chapters in the Old Testament are spread across various types of books:
- 187 chapters in the Pentateuch
- 326 chapters in the Historical books
- 313 chapters in the Poetic books (“Wisdom”)
- 189 chapters in the Major prophets
- 67 chapters in the Minor prophets
Meanwhile, the New Testament chapters are divided as follows:
- 89 chapters in the Gospels
- 28 chapters in Acts
Overall, there are verses in the 35,649 Bible, with 27,690 in the Old Testament and 7,959 in the New Testament. The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119, which contains 176 verses.
Popular Chapters and Verses
The Bible is full of meaningful verses that have resonated with readers throughout history. While each individual may have their favorites, there are certain chapters and verses that have become particularly popular and beloved among believers. Here are a few examples:
Psalm 23: Also known as the “Shepherd’s Psalm”, this chapter is a prophecy of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It begins with the well-known verse, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” and continues to offer a message of guidance and protection.
John 3:16: This verse is one of the most quoted and memorized, as it summarizes the core belief of Christianity: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Romans 8:28: An uplifting and reassuring verse, Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Proverbs 3:5-6: Many turn to these verses for wisdom and guidance in decision-making: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
1 Corinthians 13: Commonly known as the “Love Chapter”, this passage is often used in weddings and discussions on what it means to love one another. It includes the famous line, “Love is patient, love is kind.”
These chapters and verses are just a few examples of the many passages found within the Bible that have inspired and brought comfort to readers over the centuries.
Final Thoughts
In summary, the Bible is composed of 76 books and contains approximately 1,342 chapters in total. The Old Testament consists of 1082 chapters, while the New Testament has 260 chapters, distributed among its 27 books.
Additionally, the Bible has approximately 35,649 verses. Of these, 27,690 verses are found in the Old Testament, and 7,957 verses are in the New Testament. These numbers might vary depending on the Bible version used.
Understanding the number of chapters and verses in the Bible can provide readers with an organized framework for studying and referencing this sacred text. The division of the Bible into chapters and verses has undeniably facilitated its interpretation and comprehension, making it more accessible to people worldwide.
Charalampos
Charalampos is an Orthodox Christian who wants to help others learn about Christianity. His main goal is to help people understand the Bible and how to apply its teachings in their everyday lives. He also enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and hiking.
Connecting with God is essential to praying effectively and receiving answers. Our FREE cheat sheet will help you build a strong relationship with God and create an effective prayer life.
