Think you know the world’s most popular, best selling book of all time?
Most people are at least somewhat familiar with this staple of the Christian faith. Yet, studies have shown that Bible literacy is at an all-time low as fewer people are regularly reading their Bibles than ever before.
While knowing facts about the Bible and actually living according to its main message are two very different things, it can still be helpful to know a few basic (and interesting!) facts about this very important book.
Here are 10 basic Bible trivia facts most people don’t know.
1. How Many Books are in the Bible?
This question is a bit tricky to answer, depending on your beliefs. Protestant Bibles have sixty-six individual books, while Catholic Bibles have seventy-three.
This is because Catholic Bibles have 7 additional Old Testament books Protestant Bibles do not have: Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom of Solomon, Ben Sira (Ecclesiasticus), and Baruch. Catholic Bibles also have minor additions to Esther and Daniel that Protestant Bibles do not have.
Catholic and Protestant New Testaments, however, are exactly the same.
2. How Many People Wrote the Bible?
While Christians believe that the Bible’s message is ultimately inspired by God himself, He had a little help.
The individual books of the Bible were written by approximately forty different authors writing in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek) across three continents (Asia, Europe, and Africa) over the course of about sixteen hundred years.
The Bible’s authors include kings, prophets, priests, shepherds, government officials, and more. And yet, the Bible has a whole maintains a surprisingly consistent message: God created us, He love us, and He wants to restore us to a right relationship with Him.
3. Which Book of the Bible Has the Highest Number of Authors?
While most of the individual books included in the Bible are written by a single author, the book of Psalms contains 150 songs, poems, and prayers written by numerous authors, including King David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, and others.
David is listed as the author of about 75 psalms, making him the most prolific psalm-writer. However, approximately 50 psalms have no author listed, so that number might be higher.
Psalms is a unique and beautiful book, full of encouraging and easy-to-memorize poems for whatever situation you find yourself facing today.
4. What is the Most Popular Bible Verse?
According to BibleGateway data compiled by WorldVision, “The most popular Bible verse in the world is John 3:16, which is searched over two million times each month across the globe.”
John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
This isn’t surprising, given that the well-loved verse sums up the main message of the gospel well.
5. What is the Longest Book in the Bible?
In terms of word count, Jeremiah is the longest book in the Bible.
While the book of Psalms has the most chapters, Jeremiah has the highest number of words — nearly 33,000 in all. (By contrast, Psalms has just over 30,000).
Jeremiah is a prophetic book that share the life and messages of the prophet Jeremiah during the time of the fall of the Kingdom of Judah to the Babylonians.
In Jeremiah 19, the Lord tells Jeremiah to buy a clay jar from a potter, warn the people of their coming destruction, and then break the pot for all to see. Jeremiah warns the people to repent and prophesies the fall of Jerusalem, but the people don’t listen.
6. What is the Longest Verse in the Bible?
Which Bible verse earns the title of “longest verse in the Bible” depends on which translation you use.
In the King James Version (KJV), Esther 8:9 is the longest verse. It contains 90 words.
“Then were the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.”
In the English Standard Version (ESV), however, Revelation 20:4 is the longest verse. It contains 75 words.
7. What is the Shortest Book in the Bible?
Coming in at only 219 words in the original language, 3 John is the shortest book in the Bible, according to Logos Bible software.
In this short, personal letter, John commends Gaius for his hospitality towards the traveling missionaries of the time. It also contains a warning against the divisive actions of Diotrephes, a leader trying undermine John’s authority.
Third John also offers wisdom on the importance of hospitality, discernment, and faithful adherence to the truth of the Gospel.
8. What is the Shortest Verse in the Bible?
The shortest book in the Bible, John 11:35, is only two words long: “Jesus wept.”
This verse takes place after Jesus’s dear friend Lazarus breathes his last.
Thankfully, this isn’t the end of the story. Lazarus’s sister, Martha, takes Jesus to Lazarus’s tomb, where Jesus calls the man back to life. Nothing is impossible for Jesus!
9. Which Two Biblical Books Never Mention God by Name?
While the Bible is a book primarily about God’s relationship with His people, not every book mentions God by name.
Both the Old Testament book of Esther and Song of Solomon do not specifically mention God, though it’s clear He’s at work throughout the events of both.
This is especially noticeable in Esther 4:14, the central verse of the book, which says:
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
10. How Did We Get The Chapter and Verse Numbers We Have Today?
Originally, the Bible never contained chapter or verse numbers in the organized fashion we have today.
Instead, letters were written on individual scrolls, words were written in all capitals, and the original Hebrew language didn’t have the vowels and spaces we’re used to today.
According to GotQuestions.org, “Stephen Langton, an Archbishop of Canterbury… put the modern chapter divisions into place in around A.D. 1227. The Wycliffe English Bible of 1382 was the first Bible to use this chapter pattern. Since the Wycliffe Bible, nearly all Bible translations have followed Langton’s chapter divisions.”
While these numbers weren’t part of the original manuscripts, we sure are happy to have them today!
6 Facts From the Bible That Have Actually Been Proven
While it may be tempting to dismiss these hard-to-believe miracles as mere fairy tales, there are many other details from Scripture that have been proven historically accurate. Here are 6 facts from the Bible that have some degree of historical or archaeological support.
6 Facts From the Bible That Have Actually Been Proven
14 Things Christians Wish Non-Christians Knew About Their Faith
Christianity, a globally practiced faith, holds profound significance for its followers. It can also be misunderstood by those who do not practice Christianity, which can harbor some frustrations for practicing Christians.
Recently, on a popular social media page, we found some things Christians wish non-Christians knew about their faith.
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Brittany Ann is an ECPA bestselling author and founder of Equipping Godly Women and Monetize My Ministry. She’s also a Christian speaker, podcaster, and conference host. Her work has been featured on numerous TV, radio, and online ministries, including CBN, MSN, Christianity Today, Evangelical Alliance, Patheos, Crosswalk, and more.
