Introduction As previously mentioned, the New Testament falls into three categories based on their literary makeup—the historical, the epistolary, and the prophetical. The Old Testament (also known as the Jewish Tanakh) is the first 39 books in most Christian Bibles. However, it can often be difficult for a 21st century reader to understand how to read the New Testament, which was written in the 1st century, without first understanding the context, central themes, and key texts of each book. The two sections are arranged this way to highlight the birth of Jesus, with the Old Testament sharing the emerging prophecies of the Messiah. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The four Gospels make up about 46 percent and the book of Acts raises this to 60 percent. Joshua 7. Start studying New Testament Books of the Bible. This means 60 percent of the New Testament is directly historical tracing the roots and historical development of Christianity. Old Testament: 39; New Testament: 27 | Total: 66 Categorisation: Law 1.Genesis 2. The current English Bible consists of 66 books with two distinct sections: The Old Testament and the New Testament. Leviticus 4. The New Testament books contain the most life-changing truths in the world. Exodus 3. Numbers 5. Judges 8. The name stands for the original promise with God (to the descendants of Abraham in particular) prior to the coming of Jesus Christ in the New Testament (or the new promise). Deuteronomy History 6.