1בראשית
Genesis
Bereshit, "In the beginning" · التكوين
The family album
How everything began. Then one family: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.
A first course, if you grew up outside Judaism and Christianity
The Torah and the Bible, one small step at a time
You don't need to know anything yet. We start with the smallest piece: the five books of the Torah. Then we add the rest of the Hebrew Bible. Then the New Testament. By the end you will know every book, the story in the order it happened, and how Jews and Christians read these books differently.
Start lesson 1Every underlined book name opens the free text in a new tab, so you can read along.
Get your bearings
Three boxes
In one sentence
Picture three boxes, one inside the other. The Torah is the smallest box, right at the start.
The Christian Bible66 books (Protestant count)
Hebrew Bible = Old Testament39 books · Jews count them as 24
Torah5 books
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
+ 34 more books: history, songs, wisdom, prophets
New Testament27 books
Jesus (Isa) and his first followers
- Jews read the olive box. They call it the Tanakh.
- Christians read the whole dashed box: the olive box, which they call the Old Testament, plus the red box, the New Testament.
- Both start with the same blue box: the Torah. Same five books, same order.
The words "Old" and "New" come from Christians. Jews don't call their Bible "old", because for them there is no new one. Many teachers today say "Hebrew Bible" to be fair to both.
Testament is an old word for covenant: an agreement between God and people.
Get your bearings
People you already know
In one sentence
If you know the Quran, you already know many of these books and people. English just gives them different names.
التوراةTawrat = Torah
The five books linked to Moses (Musa). Lessons 3 and 4.
Read the Torah free on Sefaria →الزبورZabur = Psalms
A book of 150 songs and prayers, many linked to David (Dawud). It is in the Writings, the third part of the Hebrew Bible.
Read the Psalms free on Sefaria →الإنجيلInjil = Gospel
Injil comes from the Greek word euangelion, "good news". The Quran speaks of one Injil given to Isa (5:46). Christians have four Gospels, written about Jesus by his followers.
Read the Gospels free on Bible Gateway →آدمAdamAdamGenesis 1–5
نوحNoahNuhGenesis 6–9
إبراهيمAbrahamIbrahimGenesis 11–25
لوطLotLutGenesis 11–19
إسماعيلIshmaelIsmailGenesis 16–17, 21, 25
إسحاقIsaacIshaqGenesis 21–35
يعقوبJacob (Israel)YaqubGenesis 25–50
يوسفJosephYusufGenesis 37–50
موسىMosesMusaExodus to Deuteronomy
هارونAaronHarunExodus to Numbers
فرعونPharaohFir'awnExodus 1–14
أيوبJobAyyubBook of Job
طالوتSaulTalut1 Samuel 9–31
جالوتGoliathJalut1 Samuel 17
داودDavidDawud1 Samuel 16 to 1 Kings 2
سليمانSolomonSulayman1 Kings 1–11
إلياسElijahIlyas1 Kings 17 to 2 Kings 2
اليسعElishaal-Yasa'1 Kings 19 to 2 Kings 13
يونسJonahYunusBook of Jonah
جبريلGabrielJibrilDaniel 8–9, Luke 1
زكرياZechariahZakariyyaLuke 1
يحيىJohn the BaptistYahyaThe Gospels
مريمMaryMaryamThe Gospels
عيسىJesusIsaThe Gospels
In the Torah
In the rest of the Hebrew Bible
In the New Testament
Some people in the Quran are not in the Bible: Hud, Salih and Luqman (a few writers link Hud to Eber in Genesis). Some important Bible people are not named in the Quran: Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Paul.
Part 2 · The Torah
Meet the Torah
In one sentence
Torah means "teaching". It is five books in Hebrew, from the creation of the world to the death of Moses.
5books
187chapters
304,805Hebrew letters in a Torah scroll
54weekly readings, one full cycle a year
2שמות
Exodus
Shemot, "Names" · الخروج
The great escape
Abraham's family, now a nation, becomes slaves in Egypt. Moses leads them out to Mount Sinai and the Ten Commandments.
3ויקרא
Leviticus
Vayikra, "And He called" · اللاويين
The rule book
Rules for worship, offerings, clean food and holy days. Also: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (19:18).
4במדבר
Numbers
Bamidbar, "In the desert" · العدد
The long road trip
The tribes are counted. The people complain, refuse to enter the land, and wander 40 years.
5דברים
Deuteronomy
Devarim, "Words" · التثنية
The goodbye speech
Moses repeats the law to the new generation, then dies just before they enter the land.
Each Hebrew name is simply an important word near the start of the book. Bereshit is literally the first word of Genesis.
Jews also call the Torah the Five Books of Moses or the Chumash (from the Hebrew for "five"). Christians sometimes call it the Pentateuch (Greek for "five books").
In a synagogue, the Torah is read aloud from a hand-written scroll. A trained scribe copies every letter by hand, and one wrong letter makes the scroll unfit until it is fixed.
The Written Torah and the Oral Torah
Jews believe Moses also received spoken explanations, passed down by teachers. These were later written down as the Mishnah (around 200 CE) and the Talmud (around 500 CE). They work a bit like hadith: they explain how to live by the written text.
Who wrote it?
Jewish and Christian tradition says God gave it to Moses. Many modern historians think it was put together from older sources over several centuries and finished around the 500s or 400s BCE.
Part 2 · The Torah
The Torah story, in order
In one sentence
Good news: the five books of the Torah are already in time order. Read them front to back and the story flows.
Here are the 20 big moments. Tap a blue tag to read that passage for free. The teal tag shows where the Quran tells the same story. Where the two tell it differently, there is a short note.
- Genesis
- 1
God creates the world
In six days God makes light, sky, land, plants, animals and people. On the seventh day God rests.
Genesis 1–2Quran 7:54Different: The Torah says God rested. The Quran says no tiredness touched God (50:38).
- 2
Adam and Eve leave the garden
God puts Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They eat from the one tree God told them not to eat from, and they must leave.
Genesis 2–3Quran 2:35–38, 7:19–25, 20:115–123Different: In the Torah a snake tempts Eve, and Eve gives the fruit to Adam. In the Quran, Shaytan tempts them both (7:20), or Adam alone (20:120). Eve is never blamed on her own, and God forgives Adam (2:37).
- 3
Cain kills Abel
Their sons Cain and Abel bring offerings. God accepts Abel's. Cain kills his brother out of jealousy.
Genesis 4Quran 5:27–31Different: The Quran tells it without names. "Qabil and Habil" come from later Muslim writers.
- 4
Noah and the flood
People become very wicked. God tells Noah to build an ark (a huge boat) for his family and the animals. A flood covers the earth.
Genesis 6–9Quran 11:25–48, Surah 71Different: In the Quran one son of Noah refuses to board and drowns (11:42–43). In the Torah all three sons are saved.
- 5
The Tower of Babel
People build a tower to reach the sky. God mixes up their languages and scatters them.
Genesis 11Not told in the Quran - 6
God calls Abraham
God tells Abram to leave his home in Mesopotamia and go to Canaan. God promises him land and a great nation, and renames him Abraham.
Genesis 12–17Quran 21:71, 29:26Different: The Quran's story of Ibrahim breaking his people's idols (21:51–70) is not in the Torah. Jewish tradition tells a similar story outside the Torah, in the Midrash.
- 7
Ishmael is born
Abraham's wife Sarah has no children, so her servant Hagar gives Abraham his first son, Ishmael. Later Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael away into the desert.
Genesis 16, 21Quran 14:37Different: The Torah does not mention Mecca. The Quran says Ibrahim and Ismail raised the House together (2:127).
- 8
Isaac is born, Sodom is destroyed
Angels visit Abraham and promise old Sarah a son, Isaac. Then the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed, and Lot is saved.
Genesis 18–21Quran 11:69–83, 51:24–37 - 9
The test of the son
God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son. At the last moment God stops him and provides a ram instead.
Genesis 22Quran 37:99–111Different: The Torah names the son as Isaac. The Quran does not name him, and most Muslim scholars today say it was Ismail. Early scholars were divided.
- 10
Jacob and Esau
Isaac's twin sons compete from birth. Jacob gets his father's blessing, runs away, and later wrestles with a mysterious man (an angel, says Hosea 12:4). God renames him Israel. That is why his family is called the Children of Israel, Bani Isra'il in the Quran.
Genesis 25–35Quran 2:132–133 names Yaqub - 11
Twelve sons, twelve tribes
Jacob has twelve sons. Their families grow into the twelve tribes of Israel.
Genesis 29–35Quran 7:160 - 12
Joseph in Egypt
Joseph's jealous brothers sell him. In Egypt he goes to prison, explains Pharaoh's dreams, and becomes a ruler. His whole family moves to Egypt.
Genesis 37–50Surah Yusuf (12)Different: Very close, with a few differences. In the Torah Jacob believes the brothers' lie; in the Quran Yaqub doubts it from the start (12:18). The Quran calls Egypt's ruler "the king", not Pharaoh (12:43), and adds the women who cut their hands (12:31).
- Exodus
- 13
Slavery and baby Moses
Jacob's family grows into a nation. A new Pharaoh makes them slaves and orders baby boys killed. Moses' mother puts him in a basket on the Nile, and he grows up in the palace.
Exodus 1–2Quran 28:7–13Different: In the Torah, Pharaoh's daughter adopts Moses. In the Quran, it is Pharaoh's wife (28:9).
- 14
The burning bush
Moses flees to Midian. God speaks to him from a bush that burns but is not burned up, and sends him back to free his people, with his brother Aaron.
Exodus 3–4Quran 20:9–36, 28:29–35 - 15
Ten plagues and the sea
Pharaoh says no. God sends ten plagues on Egypt. The Israelites leave, and God splits the sea so they can cross. Jews remember this every year at Passover.
Exodus 5–15Quran 7:133, 26:60–66Different: The Quran speaks of nine signs (17:101), and adds that Pharaoh declared belief as he drowned (10:90).
- 16
Mount Sinai
God speaks the Ten Commandments and makes a covenant with the people. Later God gives Moses two stone tablets with the commandments written on them.
Exodus 19–24, 31Quran 7:142–145 - 17
The golden calf
While Moses is on the mountain, the people make a golden calf and worship it. Moses breaks the tablets in anger.
Exodus 32Quran 20:83–98, 7:148–152Different: In the Torah, Aaron makes the calf. In the Quran, a man called al-Samiri makes it, and Harun tries to stop the people (20:90). Musa throws the tablets down but later picks them up (7:150, 7:154).
- Leviticus
- 18
Rules for holy living
The people build the Tabernacle, a holy tent they carry with them. Leviticus gives its rules: offerings, priests, clean and unclean food, holy days.
Exodus 25–40, LeviticusNot told in detail in the Quran - Numbers
- 19
Forty years in the desert
Twelve spies check the Promised Land. Most are afraid, so the people refuse to go in. They must wander 40 years until a new generation grows up.
Numbers 13–14Quran 5:20–26 - Deuteronomy
- 20
Moses says goodbye
Moses gives long farewell speeches and repeats the law. He sees the Promised Land from a mountain, dies, and Joshua takes over.
Deuteronomy 1–34Not in the Quran
Part 3 · The Hebrew Bible
The rest of the Hebrew Bible
In one sentence
Jews call their whole Bible the Tanakh, a word made from the first letters of its three parts: T, N and K.
Tתורה
Torah · "Teaching"
5 books
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
Nנביאים
Nevi'im · "Prophets"
8 books · stories
- Joshua
- Judges
- Samuel
- Kings
messages
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Ezekiel
- The Twelve (Hosea to Malachi, one book)
Kכתובים
Ketuvim · "Writings"
11 books
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Job
- Song of Songs
- Ruth
- Lamentations
- Ecclesiastes
- Esther
- Daniel
- Ezra–Nehemiah
- Chronicles
Jews count 24 books. Protestant Christians count 39. Same books!
Nothing is missing. Christians just cut some books in two and count the short prophets one by one.
BookJewsProtestants
Samuel, Kings, Chronicles36
Ezra–Nehemiah12
The Twelve short prophets112
Everything else1919
Total2439
Christians also arrange the same books in four groups: Law, History, Poetry & Wisdom, and Prophets. "Major" prophets are just the long books. "Minor" prophets are the short ones. It says nothing about importance.
Catholic Bibles have 7 extra books (46 in total), and Orthodox Bibles a few more. Examples are Tobit, Judith and 1–2 Maccabees. Protestants call them the Apocrypha; Catholics call them Deuterocanonical ("second list"). They come from the time between the two Testaments. Jews and Protestants don't count them as scripture.
Part 3 · The Hebrew Bible
The whole Old Testament story, in order
In one sentence
After the Torah the books are no longer in time order, so here is the story the way it happened, era by era.
Dates are approximate. For eras 2 to 5, Jewish tradition, Christian tradition and historians give different dates, so those ranges are wide on purpose. From about 900 BCE on, dates are much more certain.
- Era 1Long, long ago
The beginning
Creation, Adam, Noah and the flood, the Tower of Babel.
Adam · AdamNoah · NuhBooks: Genesis 1–11
- Era 2~2100–1450 BCE
The fathers
Four generations of one family, from Abraham to Joseph, ending in Egypt.
Abraham · IbrahimIshmael · IsmailIsaac · IshaqJacob · YaqubJoseph · YusufBooks: Genesis 12–50. Job is often set in this time too.
- Era 3~1450–1250 BCE
Slavery and freedom
Slavery in Egypt, the Exodus, Mount Sinai, 40 years in the desert.
Moses · MusaAaron · HarunPharaoh · Fir'awnBooks: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
- Era 4~1400–1200 BCE
Into the land
Joshua leads the tribes into Canaan. The walls of Jericho fall. The land is divided among the twelve tribes.
JoshuaBooks: Joshua
- Era 5~1350–1050 BCE
The judges
No king yet. The people turn from God, get into trouble, cry out, and God sends a hero called a "judge". This repeats again and again.
DeborahGideonSamsonRuthBooks: Judges, Ruth
- Era 6~1050–930 BCE
The first kings
The prophet Samuel anoints Saul as the first king. Young David defeats Goliath and later becomes king. His son Solomon builds the First Temple in Jerusalem.
SamuelSaul · TalutGoliath · JalutDavid · DawudSolomon · SulaymanBooks: 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 Kings 1–11. Traditionally linked to David and Solomon: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs.
- Era 7930–722 BCE
Two kingdoms
After Solomon the kingdom splits: Israel in the north (ten tribes) and Judah in the south. Prophets warn the kings. In 722 BCE Assyria destroys the north. Isaiah and Micah keep preaching in the south until about 700 BCE.
Elijah · IlyasElisha · al-Yasa'Jonah · YunusAmosHoseaIsaiahMicahBooks: 1 Kings 12–22, 2 Kings 1–17, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah
- Era 8722–586 BCE
Judah alone
Only the south is left. Some kings are good, most are not. In 586 BCE Babylon destroys Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple.
JeremiahNahumHabakkukZephaniahBooks: 2 Kings 18–25, Jeremiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah
- Era 9586–538 BCE
Exile in Babylon
Many Jews are taken to Babylon. Prophets there give hope. Daniel serves at the king's court and survives the lions' den.
DanielEzekielBooks: Daniel, Ezekiel, Lamentations, Obadiah
- Era 10538–430 BCE
Coming home
Cyrus, king of Persia, lets the Jews go home. They finish the Second Temple in 516 BCE and rebuild Jerusalem's walls. Meanwhile in Persia, Queen Esther saves her people. Malachi is the last prophet.
EzraNehemiahEstherHaggaiZechariahMalachiBooks: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, and Joel (date unsure). 1 & 2 Chronicles are written a little later (around 400–300 BCE) and mostly retell eras 6 to 9.
- Between the Testaments~430–5 BCE
The quiet years
In Jewish tradition, prophecy ended with Malachi, so no new books were added. (Many historians think a few books, such as Daniel, reached their final form in this period.) Alexander the Great conquers the region (332 BCE). Translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek begins (the Septuagint). The Maccabees win back the Temple in 164 BCE, the story behind Hanukkah. Rome takes over in 63 BCE. Then the New Testament begins.
Books: only the Catholic and Orthodox extra books, such as 1 & 2 Maccabees
Part 4 · The New Testament
Why Christians have a New Testament
In one sentence
Christians believe Jesus (Isa) is the Messiah the Hebrew prophets promised, and the New Testament tells his life and what his followers did next.
Jesus was a Jew, and so were his first followers. They read the Hebrew Bible. After Jesus, his followers wrote new books in Greek, the common language of the eastern Roman Empire. Christians placed these 27 books after the Hebrew Bible.
Messiah means "anointed one" (Hebrew Mashiach, Arabic المسيح al-Masih): a king chosen by God. The Hebrew prophets promised one. Christians say Jesus is that king. Jews say the Messiah has not come yet. The Quran also calls Isa al-Masih (3:45).
4
Gospels
The life story
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Four writers tell the same life, like four people describing one event.
1
History
What happened next
Acts: how the first followers spread the message from Jerusalem to Rome.
21
Letters
Mail to new churches
13 letters that carry Paul's name, plus 8 by other leaders, giving advice to young communities.
1
Prophecy
A dream about the end
Revelation: visions of the end of the world and a new heaven and earth.
Matthew, Mark and Luke are very alike. Scholars call them the "synoptic" Gospels, meaning "seen together". John is written in a different style.
| Judaism | Christianity | Islam | |
|---|---|---|---|
| God | One God | One God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (the Trinity) | One God, no partners (tawhid) |
| Who is Jesus? | A Jew of his time. Not the Messiah and not divine. | The Messiah and the Son of God | A great prophet and the Messiah. Not God and not God's son. |
| Born of a virgin? | No | Yes | Yes (19:20–21) |
| Miracles? | Not accepted | Yes | Yes, by God's permission (3:49) |
| Crucified? | Executed by the Romans, as a matter of history | Yes. He died for people's sins and rose on the third day (Easter). | No. It was made to appear so, and God raised him up (4:157–158). |
| Will he return? | No | Yes | Yes. Taught in hadith, and many read Quran 43:61 this way |
Part 4 · The New Testament
The New Testament story, in order
In one sentence
From Jesus' birth to the last book is about 100 years: his life, then his followers spreading the message across the Roman Empire.
- The Gospels
- 1
~6 BCE
John the Baptist is born
The angel Gabriel tells old Zechariah that he and his wife Elizabeth will have a son, John.
Luke 1Quran 19:2–15, 3:38–41 - 2
~5 BCE
Jesus is born to Mary
The angel Gabriel tells Mary she will have a son. Jesus is born in Bethlehem.
Matthew 1–2, Luke 1–2Quran 19:16–34, 3:42–47Different: In the Gospels Mary is engaged to Joseph and lays the baby in an animal feeding trough. In the Quran she gives birth under a palm tree, and the baby speaks from the cradle.
- 3
~28 CE
Baptism in the Jordan
At about 30 years old, Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan River. Then he spends 40 days fasting in the desert.
Matthew 3–4, Luke 3–4Not in the Quran - 4
~28 CE
Twelve disciples
Jesus chooses twelve close followers, the apostles. Peter is their leader.
Mark 3al-Hawariyyun, Quran 3:52, 61:14 - 5
~28–30 CE
Teaching and miracles
For one to three years (the Gospels differ) Jesus teaches in parables (short stories with a lesson), heals the blind and lepers, and raises the dead.
Matthew 5–7, Mark 1–10Quran 3:49, 5:110Different: The Quran also mentions a bird made of clay coming to life (3:49). That story is not in the four Gospels; it appears in a later Christian writing.
- 6
~30 CE
Jerusalem and the Last Supper
Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey for Passover and shares a last meal with his disciples.
Mark 11–14 - 7
~30 CE
The cross and Easter
Christians believe Jesus is arrested, crucified by the Romans, buried, and raised from the dead on the third day.
Mark 15–16, John 18–21Quran 4:157–158Different: The Quran says he was not killed or crucified; it was made to appear so, and God raised him up.
- Acts
- 8
~30 CE
The church begins
At the festival of Pentecost the followers start preaching in Jerusalem. The first church is born.
Acts 1–2 - 9
~34 CE
Paul changes sides
Saul of Tarsus, who was hunting Jesus' followers, has a vision on the road to Damascus and joins them. He is better known by his Roman name, Paul, and becomes the most famous missionary.
Acts 9 - 10
~46–58 CE
Paul's journeys
Paul travels through Turkey and Greece, starts churches, and writes letters to them. Non-Jews start joining in large numbers.
Acts 13–21 - 11
~60 CE
Paul reaches Rome
Paul is arrested and sent to Rome as a prisoner. The book of Acts ends here.
Acts 27–28 - After Acts
- 12
70 CE
The Temple is destroyed
The Romans destroy the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Judaism continues through synagogues and rabbis, which later leads to the Talmud.
Jesus warns of it in Mark 13 - 13
~95 CE
Revelation
A man named John, on the island of Patmos, writes down his visions of the end of the world. It becomes the last book of the Bible.
Revelation 1
The order of the books is not the order they were written
Paul's letters come after the Gospels in the Bible, but they were written first. Here is the writing order, using scholars' estimates:
- ~50–60 CEPaul's main letters. 1 Thessalonians is probably the oldest book in the New Testament.
- ~65–70 CEMark, the first Gospel
- ~80–90 CEMatthew, Luke and Acts
- ~90–100 CEJohn and Revelation. The remaining letters are spread from about 50 to 150 CE, and their dates are debated.
- 367 CEBishop Athanasius writes the first list that matches today's 27 books exactly
Part 5 · Put it all together
The bookshelf: every book
In one sentence
Here are all 66 books in Bible order. Tap any book to see what is inside.
Torah
Rest of the Hebrew Bible
New Testament
Extra in Catholic & Orthodox Bibles
Taller book = more chapters
Old Testament · Hebrew Bible · 39 books
Extra in Catholic & Orthodox Bibles · 7 books
New Testament · 27 books
Arabic names are the ones used in Arabic Bibles, and they sometimes differ from Quran names: Jonah is يونان in the Bible and يونس in the Quran. Chapter counts follow English Bibles; Hebrew editions split a few books differently.
Part 5 · Put it all together
Same and different
In one sentence
Jews and Christians share the same first book, but they read it through different eyes.
The same
- The Torah's five books are the first five books of every Bible. Same books, same order.
- Both believe in one God, the God of Abraham.
- Same stories: creation, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David.
- Both treat the Ten Commandments as holy.
- Both honor the Hebrew prophets, like Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Different
- Size. The Jewish Bible stops after the Hebrew books. The Christian Bible adds 27 New Testament books.
- Ending. Jewish Bibles today end with Chronicles, with the people going home to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36). Most Christian Bibles end the Old Testament with Malachi: a promise that someone is coming, which leads into the Gospels.
- Glasses. Jews read the Torah through the rabbis and the Talmud. Christians read it through Jesus.
- Rules. Jews keep Torah laws such as kosher food and Shabbat. Most Christians believe Jesus completed those laws, so they don't keep them.
- Language. Jews read the Torah aloud in Hebrew from a scroll. Christians mostly read translations from a printed book.
| Jews | Christians | Muslims, for comparison | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy book | Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), 24 books | Bible: Old + New Testament, 66 books (73 for Catholics) | Quran |
| The Torah is… | The heart of everything | The first five books of the Old Testament | The Tawrat, revealed to Musa |
| Explained by | Talmud and the rabbis | Church teaching and the New Testament | Hadith and tafsir |
| Holy day | Saturday (Shabbat) | Sunday | Friday (Jumu'ah prayer) |
| Food rules | Kosher | Mostly none | Halal |
| Prayer language | Mostly Hebrew | Any language | Arabic |
| House of prayer | Synagogue | Church | Mosque |
Part 5 · Put it all together
How to start reading
In one sentence
Don't read cover to cover. Start with the stories: two to four chapters a day, about five minutes per chapter.
Week 1 · Torah
The beginning
- Genesis 1–4: creation, Adam, Cain
- Genesis 6–9: Noah
- Genesis 11–12: Babel, Abraham's call
- Genesis 21–22: Ishmael, Isaac, the test
Week 2 · Torah
Joseph and Moses
- Genesis 37–50: Joseph
Read beside Surah Yusuf - Exodus 1–4: baby Moses, the bush
Beside Surah al-Qasas - Exodus 12–14: leaving Egypt
- Exodus 19–20: Ten Commandments
- Exodus 32: the golden calf
Week 3 · Hebrew Bible
Highlights
- Leviticus 19: love your neighbor
- Deuteronomy 6 and 34: the Shema, Moses dies
- 1 Samuel 16–17: David and Goliath
- Psalm 23: "The LORD is my shepherd"
- Jonah 1–4: the whole book
- Daniel 6: the lions' den
Week 4 · New Testament
Jesus and after
- Luke 1–2: John and Jesus are born
Beside Surah Maryam - Mark 1–16: the shortest Gospel, read it all
- Matthew 5–7: Sermon on the Mount
- Acts 1–2 and 9: church begins, Paul
Free places to read
Sefaria
The Torah and every Jewish text, Hebrew and English side by side, with rabbis' commentary. Jewish view.
Chabad.org Parsha
Short summaries of each week's Torah reading, the way synagogues read it. Jewish view.
BibleProject
Short animated videos explaining every book of the Bible. Great for beginners. Christian view.
Bible Gateway
Look up any verse in many translations, including Arabic. Christian site.
Part 5 · Put it all together
Check yourself
In one sentence
Eight easy questions. Tap an answer and see how you did.
Keep handy
Little dictionary
- Torah التوراة
- "Teaching". The five books of Moses. Sometimes used for all Jewish teaching.
- Tanakh
- The Jewish Bible: Torah + Prophets + Writings. 24 books.
- Old Testament العهد القديم
- The Christian name for the Hebrew Bible.
- New Testament العهد الجديد
- 27 Christian books about Jesus and his first followers.
- Covenant عهد
- An agreement between God and people. "Testament" means the same thing.
- Gospel إنجيل
- "Good news". One of the four books about Jesus' life.
- Messiah المسيح
- "Anointed one". A king chosen by God.
- Prophet نبي
- Someone who brings God's message to people.
- Rabbi
- A Jewish teacher of the Torah.
- Synagogue كنيس
- A Jewish house of prayer, where the Torah scroll is read.
- Talmud
- A huge collection of rabbis' discussions explaining the Torah, finished around 500 CE.
- Parasha
- The Torah portion read in synagogue each week. There are 54.
- Shabbat السبت
- The Jewish day of rest, from Friday sunset to Saturday night.
- Kosher
- Food allowed by Torah law. Similar in spirit to halal.
- Apostle رسول
- One of Jesus' twelve close followers, sent out to teach. Arabic Bibles use رسول for "apostle", but in the Quran it means a messenger of God. The Quran calls Jesus' disciples al-Hawariyyun.
- Church كنيسة
- A Christian community, or the building where it meets.
- Canon
- The official list of books that belong inside a Bible.
- Septuagint
- The old Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, begun around 250 BCE.