Bible quiz
Books of the Bible Quiz
This books of the Bible quiz has 15 multiple-choice questions on the order of the books in most English Bibles, where the Old and New Testaments begin and end, and how famous books open. It mixes easy and harder questions, and every answer shows the verse that supports it (BSB).
- Mixed levels
- 15 questions
- About 4 min
- Answers checked against the BSB
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Hi, I’m Pip. 15 questions, about 4 minutes. Every answer comes with its verse.
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What does this books of the Bible quiz cover?
The questions follow the shape of the Bible itself. A few test the order of the books as printed in most English Bibles: what comes first, what closes the Old Testament, what opens the New Testament and what comes last. Others ask you to recognize a book from its opening line, such as the opening of Mark or the words of the Teacher, son of David.
Where a question asks who wrote a book, it only uses books that name their writer in the text, like Paul in Romans 1:1 or Amos in Amos 1:1. Each answer points to the first verse of the book (or the verse that settles the question), so you can open it and see for yourself. For the full list in order, see all 66 books with summaries.
How can I use it with a group or class?
Read each question aloud and let teams answer before you reveal the option. After each answer, have someone read the verse shown on screen. Hearing how Genesis, Mark, John or Proverbs actually begins is often what makes the book stick.
For younger learners, start with the order questions only and add the first-line questions on a second round. If your group is new to the Bible, spend two minutes first on how the Old and New Testaments differ: 39 books in the first part and 27 in the second in most Protestant Bibles.
What is the easiest way to remember the books in order?
Learn them in sections rather than as one long list of 66. In most English Bibles the Old Testament runs Law (Genesis to Deuteronomy), History (Joshua to Esther), Wisdom and poetry (Job to Song of Songs), and Prophets (Isaiah to Malachi). The New Testament runs Gospels, Acts, the letters and Revelation.
Once the sections are fixed, learn only the borders: Deuteronomy ends the Law, Esther ends History, Malachi ends the Old Testament, John ends the Gospels and Acts sits between the Gospels and Romans. Most quiz mistakes happen at those borders, so retake the quiz in a few days and watch for them.
All questions and answers
Try each question first, then open the answer to see the verse it comes from (Berean Standard Bible).
1. In most English Bibles, which book comes first?Easy
- Exodus
- Genesis
- Leviticus
- Job
Show answer
Answer: B. Genesis
Genesis is first, and it opens with God creating the heavens and the earth.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
2. In most English Bibles, which book comes right after Genesis?Easy
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Exodus
- Joshua
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Answer: C. Exodus
Exodus is second, and its first verse picks up with the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob.
“These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family:”
3. In most English Bibles, which book is fifth, completing the five books of the Law?Medium
- Deuteronomy
- Numbers
- Joshua
- Leviticus
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Answer: A. Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy is fifth; it opens with the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the wilderness east of the Jordan.
“These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel in the wilderness east of the Jordan—in the Arabah opposite Suph—between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.”
4. In most English Bibles, which book comes right after Ruth?Medium
- 2 Samuel
- Judges
- 1 Kings
- 1 Samuel
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Answer: D. 1 Samuel
1 Samuel follows Ruth and begins with Elkanah, a man from the hill country of Ephraim (Judges comes before Ruth).
“Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.”
5. In most English Bibles, which book closes the Old Testament?Medium
- Zechariah
- Malachi
- Haggai
- Nehemiah
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Answer: B. Malachi
Malachi is the last Old Testament book, opening with the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi.
“This is the burden of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi:”
6. In most English Bibles, which book opens the New Testament?Easy
- Matthew
- Mark
- Luke
- Romans
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Answer: A. Matthew
Matthew comes first and begins with the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
“This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:”
7. In most English Bibles, which book comes right after the four Gospels?Medium
- Romans
- Hebrews
- James
- Acts
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Answer: D. Acts
Acts follows John, and its writer opens by recalling his first book written to Theophilus.
“In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach,”
8. According to Romans 1:1, who wrote the letter to the Romans?Easy
- Peter
- Timothy
- Paul
- Barnabas
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Answer: C. Paul
The letter opens with Paul naming himself as a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle.
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God—”
9. In most English Bibles, which book comes last?Easy
- Jude
- 3 John
- Hebrews
- Revelation
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Answer: D. Revelation
Revelation is the last book, and its first verse says it was made known to God's servant John.
“This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,”
10. Which book begins with the words "In the beginning was the Word"?Easy
- John
- Genesis
- Mark
- Hebrews
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Answer: A. John
The Gospel of John opens this way, while Genesis begins with God creating the heavens and the earth.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
11. Which Gospel is written as an orderly account for "most excellent Theophilus"?Medium
- Matthew
- Mark
- Luke
- John
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Answer: C. Luke
Luke addresses Theophilus in Luke 1:3; Acts also names him, but Acts is not one of the four Gospels.
“Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,”
12. Which book opens with the words of "the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem"?Hard
- Ecclesiastes
- Proverbs
- Song of Songs
- Lamentations
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Answer: A. Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes begins with the words of the Teacher, while Proverbs opens with the proverbs of Solomon.
“These are the words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:”
13. Which Gospel opens with "the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God"?Medium
- Matthew
- Mark
- Luke
- John
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Answer: B. Mark
Mark begins this way, while Matthew opens with the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
“This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
14. Which prophet's book introduces him as one of the sheepherders of Tekoa?Hard
- Hosea
- Micah
- Joel
- Amos
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Answer: D. Amos
Amos 1:1 describes Amos as among the sheepherders of Tekoa in the days of King Uzziah of Judah.
“These are the words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders of Tekoa—what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, in the days when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.”
15. According to its first verse, whose proverbs open the book of Proverbs?Medium
- David
- Solomon
- Agur
- Lemuel
Show answer
Answer: B. Solomon
Proverbs 1:1 names Solomon son of David; Agur and Lemuel appear later, in chapters 30 and 31.
“These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,”
Frequently asked questions
How many books are in the Bible?
Most Protestant Bibles have 66 books: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Catholic and Orthodox Bibles include additional books in the Old Testament, so their count is higher.
What is the first book of the Bible?
Genesis is first in every English Bible. It opens with the creation of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).
Why do the questions say "in most English Bibles"?
The order is not the same everywhere. The Hebrew Bible groups its books as Law, Prophets and Writings and ends with Chronicles, while most English Bibles end the Old Testament with Malachi.
Does the Bible say who wrote each book?
Some books name their writer in the first verse, such as Romans (Romans 1:1) and Amos (Amos 1:1). Many others do not, and their authors are known only by tradition, so this quiz asks only about writers named in the text.
Which book comes last in the Bible?
Revelation is the last book in most English Bibles. Its first verse says it was made known to God's servant John (Revelation 1:1).