Notes

Last Updated: This site is now deprecated and won't be updated. Go to Byzantique to see my notes on biblical texts.

Scripture / Biblical

A list of biblical texts that a large number of Christian traditions accept as canonical or as beneficial for reading (in some capacity). It's not perfect, but I've got to organize my notes somehow! :P

Hebrew Bible (Tanakh, Old Testament)

There are a variety of ways these books can be (and have been) organized, including divisions into historical works, poetic and wisdom literature, and prophetic books. I've here opted to follow the convention used in publications of the Tanakh.

• Pentateuch (Law(s), Torah)
• Genesis (Bereshit)
• Exodus (Shemot)
• Leviticus (Vayiqra)
• Numbers (BaMidbar)
• Deuteronomy (Devarim)
• Prophets (Nevi'im)
• Former Prophets (Nevi'im Rishonim)
• Joshua (Yehoshua)
• Judges (Shophetim)
• Kingdoms / Reigns (I - IV)
• 1 Samuel (I Shmuel)
• 2 Samuel (II Shmuel)
• 1 Kings (I Melakhim)
• 2 Kings (II Melakhim)
• Latter Prophets (Nevi'im Aharonim)
• Isaiah (Yeshayahu)
• Jeremiah (Yirmiyahu)
• Ezekiel (Yehezqel)
• Twelve Prophets (Tere Asar)
• Hosea (Hoshea)
• Joel (Yoel)
• Amos
• Obadiah (Ovadyah)
• Jonah (Yonah)
• Micah (Mikhah)
• Nahum
• Habakkuk (Havakkuk)
• Zephaniah (Tsephanyah)
• Haggai
• Zechariah (Zekharyah)
• Malachi (Malakhi)
• Writings (Ketuvim)
• Psalms (Tehillim)
• Proverbs (Mishle)
• Job (Iyyov)
• Five Scrolls
• Song of Songs (Song of Songs / Shir haShirim)
• Ruth (Rut)
• Lamentations (Ekhah)
• Ecclesiastes (Qohelet)
• Esther (Ester)
• Daniel
• Ezra (1 Esdras)
• Nehemiah (Nehemyah / 2 Esdras)
• 1 Chronicles (I Supplements, I Paraleipomenon, I Divre haYamim)
• 2 Chronicles (II Supplements, II Paraleipomenon, II Divre haYamim)

Apocrypha

The apocryphal and deuterocanonical works can also be organized in numerous ways. Further, several of these works are additions to other works and are not distinguished from them in the Septuagint.

• Compositions
• Tobit
• Judith
• Wisdom of Solomon
• Ecclesiasticus (Sirach, Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach, Book of Ben Sira)
• Baruch
• Letter of Jeremiah (Baruch chapter 6)
• Histories
• 1 Maccabees
• 2 Maccabees
• Additions
• Greek Esther
• Additions to Greek Daniel
• Prayer of Azariah
• Song/Hymn of the Three Jews (Song of the Three Holy Children)
• Susanna (History of Susan)
• Bel and the Dragon (Vision 12, Part of the Prophecy of Habakkuk, Lesser Daniel)
• Prayer of Manasseh (Prayer of the House of Hananiah)
• In Greek or Slavonic Bibles or appendices
• 1 Esdras (2 Esdras in Slavonic, 3 Esdras in Vulgate Appendix, Pseudo-Ezra)
• 2 Esdras (3 Esdras in Slavonic, 4 Esdras in Vulgate Appendix, Ezra Apocalypse)
• 3 Maccabees (Ptolemaic Histories)
• 4 Maccabees
• Psalm 151

New Testament

I've grouped these by those books that are universally recognized (homolegoumena) vs. those whose canonicity have historically been disputed (or "spoken against", i.e., the antilegomena). They otherwise follow the conventional Christian order.

• Homologoumena
• Gospels
• Matthew
• Mark
• Luke
• John
• Acts of the Apostles
• Letters
• Romans
• 1 Corinthians
• 2 Corinthians
• Galatians
• Ephesians
• Philippians
• Colossians
• 1 Thessalonians
• 2 Thessalonians
• 1 Timothy
• 2 Timothy
• Titus
• Philemon
• 1 Peter
• 1 John
• Antilegomena
• Hebrews
• James
• 2 Peter
• 2 John
• 3 John
• Jude
• Revelation (Apocalypse of John)

Pseudepigraphal

Pseudepigraphal works. Technically, some of the Scripture / biblical writings may themselves be pseudepigraphal, and some of these are considered canonical in some Christian traditions. Don't get too hung up on the pre/post-Christian distinction (e.g., several "pre-Christian" works likely have Christian interpolations).

Pre-Christian

Pre-Christian pseudepigraphal texts. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list.

• Hebrew Bible Expansions / Legends
• Jubilees
• Apocalyptic
• 1 Enoch
• 2 Enoch
• 3 Enoch
• Sibylline Oracles

Post-Christian

Post-Christian (or contemporaneous) pseudepigraphal texts. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list.

• The Gospel according to Thomas

Patristic

Works of Church fathers (both saints and so-called heretics).

Apostolic Fathers

• Didache (Teaching of the Twelve/Apostles)
• Letter of Barnabas
• Shepherd of Hermas