The Shortest Books of the Bible: A Complete Guide
A clear guide to the shortest books of the Bible by word count, in both the Old and New Testaments, and why their size does not limit their message.
The shortest books of the Bible are not a single neat list, because “shortest” can be measured two ways: by the number of verses or by the total number of words. By verse count, the shortest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 117, and the shortest whole book is 2 John, followed closely by 3 John, Philemon, Obadiah, and Jude. By total word count, 3 John is often counted as the shortest book in the entire Bible, with 2 John a very close second. In the Old Testament, Obadiah is the shortest book, just one chapter of twenty-one verses. These small books are easy to overlook, but they carry real weight. As Paul wrote to Timothy, all Scripture is God-breathed and useful.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, — 2 Timothy 3:16 (BSB)
Which books are the shortest in the Bible?
If you line up the books by length, a few stand out immediately. Here is the practical short list.
Old Testament: Obadiah is the shortest, a single chapter of twenty-one verses. It is a prophecy against Edom and a promise that God defends His people. Nothing else in the Old Testament is nearly as brief.
New Testament: The shortest books are 2 John, 3 John, Philemon, and Jude. Each is only one chapter. 2 John has thirteen verses, 3 John has fourteen (or fifteen, depending on how the closing lines are counted), Philemon has twenty-five, and Jude has twenty-five.
Shortest chapter: Psalm 117 has only two verses, which makes it the shortest chapter in the whole Bible.
Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol Him, all you peoples! For great is His loving devotion toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Hallelujah! — Psalm 117:1-2 (BSB)
So when someone asks which book is shortest, the honest answer depends on whether you are counting verses or words. By words, 3 John usually comes out on top. By verses, 2 John is often listed first. Both are tiny letters with large lessons.
What is the shortest gospel?
Readers often ask, “What gospel is the shortest?” The answer is Mark. It is the shortest of the four Gospels, and it moves quickly from one event to the next. Mark does not begin with a long family tree or a birth story. He opens with John the Baptist and drives straight toward the cross and the empty tomb.
That speed is the point. Mark presents Jesus as the servant who acts. If you want to read one Gospel in a few sittings, Mark is the place to start. Matthew and Luke are longer because they include more teaching and more detail about Jesus’ birth and early life. John is different in style and content, and it is longer than Mark as well.
None of this makes Mark less important. A short Gospel still carries the full message: Jesus is the Christ, He died for sins, and He rose again.
What are the shortest books in the Old Testament?
Obadiah is the clear answer for the Old Testament. It is one chapter long and deals with the nation of Edom, which had gloated over Jerusalem’s trouble. The prophet announces judgment on Edom and deliverance for God’s people.
For the Day of the LORD is near for all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your recompense will return upon your own head. — Obadiah 1:15 (BSB)
After Obadiah, the next shortest Old Testament books are harder to rank because several are only a few chapters. Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, and Malachi are all brief. But Obadiah is the shortest by a wide margin.
It helps to remember that the Old Testament has thirty-nine books and the New Testament has twenty-seven. The prophets are grouped together, and several of them are short enough to read in one sitting. That makes them good starting points for anyone who wants to read a whole book of the Bible at once.
Why does the Bible include such short books?
A short book is still God’s Word. Length is not the measure of value. The Bible itself says that not even the smallest letter will pass away until everything is accomplished.
For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. — Matthew 5:18 (BSB)
Short books often give us a single clear message. Philemon is a personal letter from Paul about a slave named Onesimus. Jude warns against false teachers. 2 John and 3 John talk about truth, love, and hospitality. Obadiah shows that God sees pride and injustice. Each one fits into the larger story of redemption.
There is also a practical benefit. Because they are short, you can read them in full, in context, without losing the thread. That is a good habit for any Bible reader.
How should I read these short books well?
Read them whole. A one-chapter book is meant to be taken in at one time, not chopped into pieces. Read it once for the flow, then again slowly.
Ask who wrote it and to whom. Philemon is a letter from Paul to a specific man about a specific situation. Jude writes to believers facing a specific threat. Knowing the setting keeps you from forcing the text to say something it does not.
Look for the main point. In 2 John, the theme is walking in truth and love.
And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love. — 2 John 1:6 (BSB)
In 3 John, the theme is supporting those who teach the truth.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. — 3 John 1:4 (BSB)
Finally, pray before you read. Ask God to help you understand and obey. Then talk about what you read with a pastor or a trusted believer. A local church is the right place to ask questions and grow.
Short books are not minor books. They are part of the same Bible that points to Jesus Christ, who died for sins and rose again. Read them carefully, and they will repay the effort.
Common questions
What is the shortest book in the Bible?
By word count, 3 John is usually considered the shortest book in the Bible. By verse count, 2 John is often listed first. Both are single-chapter letters in the New Testament.
What is the shortest book in the Old Testament?
Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament. It is one chapter of twenty-one verses and records a prophecy against Edom.
Which gospel is the shortest?
Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels. It moves quickly and focuses on Jesus as the servant who acts.
What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?
Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, with only two verses. It calls all nations to praise the LORD for His loving devotion.