📖 Old Testament / Hebrew Bible (39 Books)

Pentateuch (Torah)

1. Genesis
   • Author: Moses
   • Date: ~1446–1406 BC (some scholars: 10th–6th century BC)
2. Exodus
   • Author: Moses
   • Date: ~1446–1406 BC
3. Leviticus
   • Author: Moses
   • Date: ~1446–1406 BC
4. Numbers
   • Author: Moses
   • Date: ~1446–1406 BC
5. Deuteronomy
   • Author: Moses (and possibly Joshua)
   • Date: ~1406 BC

Historical Books

6. Joshua
   • Author: Joshua
   • Date: ~1400 BC
7. Judges
   • Author: Samuel (traditionally)
   • Date: ~1050–1000 BC
8. Ruth
   • Author: Samuel (traditionally)
   • Date: ~1000 BC
9. 1 Samuel
   • Author: Samuel; later prophets (Nathan, Gad)
   • Date: ~930 BC
10. 2 Samuel

• Author: Nathan, Gad (traditionally)
• Date: ~930 BC

11. 1 Kings

• Author: Jeremiah (traditionally)
• Date: ~560 BC

12. 2 Kings

• Author: Jeremiah (traditionally)
• Date: ~560 BC

13. 1 Chronicles

• Author: Ezra (traditionally)
• Date: ~450 BC

14. 2 Chronicles

• Author: Ezra (traditionally)
• Date: ~450 BC

15. Ezra

• Author: Ezra
• Date: ~440 BC

16. Nehemiah

• Author: Nehemiah (compiled by Ezra)
• Date: ~430 BC

17. Esther

• Author: Mordecai (traditionally)
• Date: ~400 BC

Wisdom & Poetry

18. Job

• Author: Unknown (possibly Moses)
• Date: ~2000–1000 BC (uncertain)

19. Psalms

• Author: David, Asaph, Sons of Korah, others
• Date: ~1000–400 BC

20. Proverbs

• Author: Solomon, Agur, Lemuel
• Date: ~950–700 BC

21. Ecclesiastes

• Author: Solomon
• Date: ~935 BC

22. Song of Songs

• Author: Solomon
• Date: ~950 BC

Major Prophets

23. Isaiah

• Author: Isaiah
• Date: ~740–680 BC

24. Jeremiah

• Author: Jeremiah
• Date: ~626–586 BC

25. Lamentations

• Author: Jeremiah
• Date: ~586 BC

26. Ezekiel

• Author: Ezekiel
• Date: ~593–571 BC

27. Daniel

• Author: Daniel
• Date: ~530 BC (some scholars: 2nd century BC)

Minor Prophets (The Book of the Twelve)

28. Hosea – Hosea (~755–710 BC)
29. Joel – Joel (~835 or ~400 BC)
30. Amos – Amos (~760 BC)
31. Obadiah – Obadiah (~586 BC or earlier)
32. Jonah – Jonah (~785–760 BC)
33. Micah – Micah (~740–700 BC)
34. Nahum – Nahum (~660–630 BC)
35. Habakkuk – Habakkuk (~609–597 BC)
36. Zephaniah – Zephaniah (~640–609 BC)
37. Haggai – Haggai (~520 BC)
38. Zechariah – Zechariah (~520–518 BC)
39. Malachi – Malachi (~430 BC)

📖 New Testament (27 Books)

Gospels & Acts

1. Matthew
   • Author: Matthew (Levi)
   • Date: ~50–70 AD
2. Mark
   • Author: John Mark
   • Date: ~50–65 AD
3. Luke
   • Author: Luke
   • Date: ~60–70 AD
4. John
   • Author: John the Apostle
   • Date: ~85–95 AD
5. Acts
   • Author: Luke
   • Date: ~62–70 AD

Pauline Epistles

6. Romans
   • Author: Paul
   • Date: ~57 AD
7. 1 Corinthians
   • Author: Paul
   • Date: ~55 AD
8. 2 Corinthians
   • Author: Paul
   • Date: ~56 AD
9. Galatians
   • Author: Paul
   • Date: ~49–55 AD
10. Ephesians

• Author: Paul
• Date: ~60–62 AD

11. Philippians

• Author: Paul
• Date: ~60–62 AD

12. Colossians

• Author: Paul
• Date: ~60–62 AD

13. 1 Thessalonians

• Author: Paul
• Date: ~50–51 AD

14. 2 Thessalonians

• Author: Paul
• Date: ~51–52 AD

15. 1 Timothy

• Author: Paul
• Date: ~62–64 AD

16. 2 Timothy

• Author: Paul
• Date: ~64–67 AD

17. Titus

• Author: Paul
• Date: ~63–65 AD

18. Philemon

• Author: Paul
• Date: ~60–62 AD

General Epistles

19. Hebrews

• Author: Unknown (possibly Paul, Barnabas, Apollos)
• Date: ~60–70 AD

20. James

• Author: James, brother of Jesus
• Date: ~45–50 AD

21. 1 Peter

• Author: Peter
• Date: ~60–64 AD

22. 2 Peter

• Author: Peter
• Date: ~64–68 AD

23. 1 John

• Author: John the Apostle
• Date: ~85–95 AD

24. 2 John

• Author: John the Apostle
• Date: ~85–95 AD

25. 3 John

• Author: John the Apostle
• Date: ~85–95 AD

26. Jude

• Author: Jude, brother of Jesus
• Date: ~65–80 AD

Prophecy

27. Revelation

• Author: John the Apostle
• Date: ~95–96 AD

1. Protestant Canon (66 books) – already listed above
2. Apocrypha / Deuterocanonical Books – accepted by Catholic, Orthodox, or some other Christian traditions
3. Pseudepigrapha – Jewish and Christian writings attributed to ancient figures, not part of most canons
4. Other Early Christian Writings – e.g., Church Fathers, Gnostic texts, Dead Sea Scrolls (selectively included)

📚 I. Apocrypha / Deuterocanonical Books

🟡 Books in Catholic and/or Orthodox Bibles

1. Tobit
   • Author: Unknown (possibly 3rd–2nd century BC)
   • Date: ~200–175 BC
2. Judith
   • Author: Unknown
   • Date: ~150 BC
3. Additions to Esther
   • Author: Hellenistic Jew(s)
   • Date: ~140–130 BC
4. Wisdom of Solomon (Book of Wisdom)
   • Author: Pseudo-Solomon
   • Date: ~100–50 BC
5. Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)
   • Author: Jesus ben Sirach
   • Date: ~180 BC
6. Baruch
   • Author: Attributed to Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe
   • Date: ~100–50 BC
7. Letter of Jeremiah
   • Author: Attributed to Jeremiah
   • Date: ~300–100 BC
8. Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Jews
   • Additions to Daniel
   • Date: ~100–50 BC
9. Susanna
   • Additions to Daniel
   • Date: ~100–50 BC
10. Bel and the Dragon
    • Additions to Daniel
    • Date: ~100–50 BC
11. 1 Maccabees
    • Author: Anonymous Hebrew author
    • Date: ~100 BC
12. 2 Maccabees
    • Author: Jason of Cyrene (abridged by another)
    • Date: ~124 BC

🔵 Books Included in the Eastern Orthodox Canon

13. 3 Maccabees
    • Author: Unknown
    • Date: ~100 BC
14. 4 Maccabees(in appendix of Orthodox Bibles)
    • Author: Hellenistic Jewish philosopher
    • Date: ~1st century AD
15. 1 Esdras (Greek Ezra)
    • Author: Unknown
    • Date: ~150–100 BC
16. 2 Esdras (also called 4 Ezra in Latin)
    • Author: Jewish apocalypticist
    • Date: ~90–100 AD
17. Prayer of Manasseh
    • Author: Unknown
    • Date: ~2nd–1st century BC
18. Psalm 151
    • Author: Attributed to David
    • Date: Found in Dead Sea Scrolls (~2nd–1st century BC)

📜 II. Pseudepigrapha

These are extra-canonical Jewish and Christian texts attributed to famous figures. Not part of any standard canon but important historically.

Jewish Pseudepigrapha

1. 1 Enoch (Ethiopic Enoch)
   • Attributed to Enoch
   • Date: ~300 BC to 100 BC
2. 2 Enoch (Slavonic Enoch)
   • Attributed to Enoch
   • Date: ~1st century AD
3. 3 Enoch (Hebrew Enoch)
   • Attributed to Rabbi Ishmael
   • Date: ~5th–6th century AD
4. Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
   • Attributed to sons of Jacob
   • Date: ~2nd century BC
5. Book of Jubilees
   • Attributed to Moses
   • Date: ~160–140 BC
6. Life of Adam and Eve (Apocalypse of Moses)
   • Author: Unknown
   • Date: ~1st century AD
7. Martyrdom and Ascension of Isaiah
   • Attributed to Isaiah
   • Date: ~1st century AD
8. Apocalypse of Abraham
   • Attributed to Abraham
   • Date: ~1st–2nd century AD
9. Sibylline Oracles
   • Author: Jewish-Hellenistic poets
   • Date: 2nd century BC–2nd century AD
10. Psalms of Solomon
    • Author: Pharisaic Jews
    • Date: ~50–1 BC
11. Joseph and Aseneth
    • Author: Unknown
    • Date: ~1st century BC–1st century AD
12. Testament of Abraham
    • Author: Unknown
    • Date: ~1st–2nd century AD

Christian Pseudepigrapha

1. Gospel of Thomas
   • Attributed to Didymus Thomas
   • Date: ~50–140 AD
2. Gospel of Peter
   • Attributed to Peter
   • Date: ~100–150 AD
3. Infancy Gospel of James (Protoevangelium of James)
   • Author: Unknown
   • Date: ~150 AD
4. Infancy Gospel of Thomas
   • Author: Unknown
   • Date: ~2nd century AD
5. Acts of Paul and Thecla
   • Author: Unknown
   • Date: ~160 AD
6. Apocalypse of Peter
   • Attributed to Peter
   • Date: ~135 AD
7. Shepherd of Hermas
   • Author: Hermas of Rome
   • Date: ~100–140 AD
8. Epistle of Barnabas
   • Author: Unknown (traditionally Barnabas)
   • Date: ~70–130 AD
9. Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles)
   • Author: Unknown
   • Date: ~50–100 AD
10. 2 Clement
    • Author: Unknown (not Clement)
    • Date: ~100–150 AD
11. Gospel of Mary (Magdalene)
    • Attributed to Mary Magdalene
    • Date: ~2nd century AD
12. Odes of Solomon
    • Author: Unknown
    • Date: ~1st–2nd century AD

The works of the Christian Pseudepigrapha have been largely discredited as canonical Scripture for several reasons. These reasons are historical, theological, literary, and ecclesial. Here’s a breakdown of the key factors:

⚖️ 1. Apostolic Authority Was Lacking

The early Church recognized canonical books based on apostolic origin or connection to the apostles.

• Many pseudepigraphal works were written in the name of apostles (e.g., Gospel of Peter, Acts of Paul, Gospel of Thomas), but clearly post-date the apostles’ lifetimes.
• Early church leaders identified these texts as inauthentic, attributing them to later communities trying to borrow apostolic authority to gain legitimacy.

Example:
The Gospel of Thomas claims to be by Didymus Judas Thomas, but it is dated well into the 2nd century—long after Thomas’s death.

🧪 2. Theological Inconsistencies

Many pseudepigraphal writings include ideas that conflict with the theological core of the New Testament.

• Gnostic influences (hidden knowledge, dualism, denial of the physical resurrection) appear in texts like:
  • Gospel of Thomas
  • Gospel of Mary
  • Apocalypse of Peter
• Some promote mythological or fanciful tales inconsistent with apostolic doctrine or sober teaching.

Example:
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas describes the boy Jesus cursing children and raising clay birds to life—not reflective of the Jesus portrayed in the canonical Gospels.

📜 3. Late Date of Composition

Most Christian pseudepigrapha were written in the 2nd to 4th centuries AD, well after the apostolic era.

• The canon of the New Testament began forming within the 1st century, and was being stabilized by the mid-2nd century.
• Documents written later could not have been part of the “faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).

Example:
The Shepherd of Hermas, written ~100–140 AD, was valued for devotion but ultimately excluded due to late authorship and lack of apostolic backing.

🧩 4. Use in Worship and Church Consensus

Early church communities naturally gravitated toward certain writings for worship, teaching, and instruction.

• Books that were read publicly in churches, used in baptismal preparation, and quoted by early Church Fathers became the core canon.
• Pseudepigraphal texts were often regionally used, not universally accepted, and sometimes even condemned.

Example:
The Didache was used for training catechumens but never treated as divinely inspired Scripture.

🔍 5. Rejected by Early Church Fathers

Key Church Fathers and councils discerned and defended the canon, rejecting the pseudepigrapha as spurious or dangerous:

• Irenaeus (c. 180 AD): defended the fourfold Gospel and rejected Gnostic texts
• Origen, Athanasius, Eusebius: catalogued genuine vs. false writings
• Muratorian Fragment (c. 170 AD): an early canon list that excludes many pseudepigrapha

Example:
The Gospel of Peter was condemned by Serapion of Antioch for Docetism (denial of Christ’s true humanity).

🛑 6. Pseudonymity Was Seen as Deceptive

While pseudonymity (writing under another’s name) was common in the Greco-Roman world, the early Church considered it dishonest in sacred writings.

• The Holy Spirit does not lie, they reasoned.
• Therefore, a false claim of authorship disqualified a text from being Scripture.

Example:
Books falsely attributed to apostles were understood to be forgeries rather than inspired works.

✅ Summary Table