Suppose a Christian were stranded on a deserted island and could only select 12 books of the Bible from which to read. Which books would be most valuable? Which books are most important for understanding the character of God, the person of Christ, how God redeems a fallen world, the mission of the church, and the daily life of a believer? Pause for a moment and consider which 12 books you would select in such a (terrible) situation. Not which books you like best, but which are the most important.

I can already feel pushback, “But they’re all important!” Yes, I heartily agree — they are all important. They are not only important — they are God’s inspired Word. Moreover, in a crucial sense, you need them all to have access to the whole counsel of God. But all books are not equally important for all people living at every historical moment. Obadiah’s oracle against Edom was extremely important for an Edomite living in the time of Obadiah, and I’m sure that John’s little letter to Gaius (3 John) was really important to Gaius. Moreover, each contains important lessons to learn about God and his ways (the holiness of God and faithfulness to God’s revelation, for example). But neither are as important as the following 12 books for understanding redemptive history, God’s character and promises, the person and work of Jesus Christ, the mission of the church, and the daily life of a Christ-follower.

Thus, in my opinion (… and this is just my opinion; you are welcome to disagree), here are the 12 most important books of the Bible.

Genesis: Creation, fall, flood, promise, patriarchs —how could we get along without Genesis?

Exodus: Redemption out of Egypt, the Ten Commandments, the tabernacle.

Deuteronomy: Deuteronomy sets up the storyline for much of the rest of the Old Testament with its blessings and curses.

Psalms: This book leads the way in worship, praise, lament, recalling God’s past works, and so much more.

Proverbs: Profound wisdom for life, rooted in the “fear of the Lord.”

Isaiah: Breathtaking prophecies, thoughtful reflections on the character of God, promises of what will come in the future. Sometimes called “the Romans of the Old Testament.”

Matthew: One of the three Synoptic Gospels (the others are Mark and Luke). It was the most-used of the Synoptics in the early church, thus its selection over Mark and Luke.

John: There is no better book in the Bible for coming to know the person of Christ and entering into faith in him than the fourth Gospel.

Acts: Pentecost, early Christian fellowship, the spread of the Gospel, Paul’s missionary journeys. So much would be lost without it.

Romans: The most influential book