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    In Context

    What Is the Shortest Book in the Bible — In Biblical Context

    The shortest book in the Bible is 3 John, with only one chapter and 299 words in the original Greek.

    Quick Answer

    The shortest book in the Bible is 3 John, with only one chapter and 299 words in the original Greek.

    "The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth." — 3 John 1:1 (KJV)

    The Biblical Context

    By word count in the original languages, the shortest book of the Bible is 3 John — a single chapter of fourteen verses containing 299 Greek words. It is a personal letter from the apostle John to his friend Gaius, commending him for his hospitality toward traveling missionaries and warning against the prideful Diotrephes. By verse count, 2 John is even shorter at thirteen verses, though it contains more words (303 in Greek). Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible — just two verses. The shortest verse in English is John 11:35 ('Jesus wept.'), though in Greek 1 Thessalonians 5:16 ('Rejoice evermore.') is equally brief. These short portions of Scripture remind us that even a few inspired words carry eternal weight — 3 John's brief encouragement to support gospel workers has shaped church practice for two millennia.

    Where It Sits in Scripture

    The core passage for this question, 3 John 1:1, sits inside 3 John 1. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.

    "The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth."
    — 3 John 1:1 (KJV)

    Supporting Passages

    Psalm 117:1-2
    "O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD."
    John 11:35
    "Jesus wept."

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    Meaning

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