As you can see, the books of the new testament are not in chronological order. The name refers to the new covenant or promise between god and humanity through the death and resurrection of jesus christ. One of the earliest epistles is james, written in 49 a. The new testament is a collection of 27 books, usually placed after the old testament in most christian bibles. This is apparently the latest writing in the new testament, quoting from jude, assuming a knowledge of the pauline. Although written in peters name, it is quite obviously pseudepigraphical and uses a good deal of material from the epistle of jude, which actually selfidentifies as a secondcentury work. The book placed in there last is usually revelation. Chronological order of the books of the new testament. In what order were the books in the new testament written. The last book written could be 1, 2, or 3 john, or, revelation.
It is somewhat uncertain which new testament book was written last. It is generally accepted that pauls undisputed epistles romans, 1 corinthians, 2 corinthians, philemon, galatians, philippians and 1 thessalonians were written by about 60 ce. The following list arranges the books of the bible according to their most probable dates. Books of the bible list order complete new and old testament. The old testament didnt originally conclude with the book of malachi. When was the last book of the new testament written answers. Last versesnew testament books of the bible, bible quiz. While no arrangement of these books can be made with absolute confidence, the following dates are sufficiently reliable to serve the purpose of the bible. The new testament was written by, or its writing was supervised by, the chosen disciples of jesus christ. Pauls letters were probably first, beginning with 1 timothy and galatians. The last book to be written in the new testament is believed to have been 2 peter. Bible scholars say that 2 peter includes material based on the epistle of jude, which selfidentifies as a secondcentury. Asked in the bible, bible statistics and history, new testament. The following chart provides the dates when the new testament books were written.
In the cases in which historians disagree on the date, we have identified the prominent historians who support the earliest and lastest possible dates. The grace of our lord jesus christ be with you all. The last book in the bible is the book of revelation, it is by john. However, the last book written was probably one of the writings of john. There is no exact date for when the books were written though some can be estimated within at least a years time. For example, matthew, the first gospel, is actually the 20th book, written between 60 and 69 a. Romans was a middling book, 2 timothy was probably his last.
To some people, jamess emphasis on good works contradicts the all important christian doctrine of justification by faith alone. Most new testament scholars believe the book now known as peters second epistle was written pseudepigraphically late in the first half of the second century. The last book in the old testament is definitely malachi, but ill explain more. The four tables give the most commonly accepted dates or ranges of dates for the old. What was the last written book and when in the new testament. What is the last book of the new testament answers. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the. What new testament book was the last to be written. It was probably the last book in the new testament to be written. Revelation is about the last things and the second coming of jesus, so it makes sense that it comes at the end. Turn to any bible you have right now and look at the table of contents. While no arrangement of these books can be made with absolute confidence, the following dates are sufficiently reliable to serve the purpose of the bible student. The decretum gelasianum, which is a work written by an anonymous scholar between 519 and 553, contains a list of books of scripture presented. It is comprised of a series of letters to the early churches, written by a man named john.
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