X-Dreamers
The Whole Bible as a Story Map
The story of the Bible on one branching map. Start from the root, open one of the 12 big stories from creation to new creation, then the stories and episodes inside it, each with its passage and a key verse.
Click a branch to open it · Drag to move · Ctrl + scroll or pinch to zoom · Arrow keys move through the treeTap a branch to open it · Tap ⓘ for details
How the map is built
The twelve big stories follow the eras of the Bible Time Map, with a last branch for the end and the new creation. Inside them, the stories keep the order of the biblical narrative. The psalms and wisdom books sit with David and Solomon, the prophets with the kings they spoke to, and the letters with the church they were written to. Every branch has its passage; every episode has a key verse.
Where the text leaves things open
The stories are told as the Bible tells them. Where a date or a place is uncertain (the date of the Exodus, the site of Mount Sinai, when Job lived), the branch says how sure we can be:
- Textually statedSaid directly in the biblical text.
- Strongly supportedA close inference from the text or firm evidence.
- PlausibleA reasonable reconstruction among live options.
- SpeculativeAn informed guess; the text is silent.
- ArtisticA stylistic choice made for the reconstruction.
Sources
- Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (1769).
- Summaries are written for this lab from the biblical text.
The twelve big stories of the Bible
The big stories and their passages
| Creation & the early world | Genesis 1–11 |
|---|---|
| The patriarchs | Genesis 12–50 |
| Exodus & the wilderness | Exodus 1–40 |
| Conquest & the judges | Joshua 1–24 |
| The united kingdom | 2 Samuel 7:1–29 |
| The divided kingdom | 1 Kings 12 |
| Exile | 2 Kings 24–25 |
| Return | Ezra 1–10 |
| Between the Testaments | Daniel 11 |
| The life of Jesus | Matthew 1–28 |
| The early church | Acts 1–28 |
| The end and the new creation | Revelation 1–22 |
How sure are we?
How we build the Labs →What the Bible says, what our model adds to it, where good readers disagree, and where the old copies and the translations differ. We set the views side by side and do not pick a winner.
- Textually stated3
- Strongly supported1
- Plausible2
- Artistic1
A few of the model's choices
- Plausible
The Bible is divided into twelve big stories, from creation and the early world to the end and the new creation.
- Strongly supported
Inside each big story, the stories keep the order of the biblical narrative.
- Plausible
The psalms and wisdom books sit with David and Solomon, the prophets with the kings they spoke to, and the letters with the churches they were written to.
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What the text says3
Stated in Scripture. Quoted from the King James Version (KJV) and the 1919 Chinese Union Version (和合本).
The story begins with God creating the heavens and the earth.
Textually stated1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Jesus explained "in all the Scriptures" the things concerning himself, from Moses and all the prophets: one story read as a whole.
Textually stated27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
It ends with a new heaven and a new earth.
Textually stated1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
What the model adds4
Choices the reconstruction has to make where the text is silent, each with its evidence level and the reason for it.
Strongly supported1
Inside each big story, the stories keep the order of the biblical narrative.
Why: The narrative books give the order; where Kings and Chronicles or the Gospels tell the same events, the map follows one sequence and gives both passages.
Plausible2
The Bible is divided into twelve big stories, from creation and the early world to the end and the new creation.
Why: The Bible has no chapter of its own that divides it this way; the big stories follow the eras of the Bible Time Map, and other outlines are possible.
The psalms and wisdom books sit with David and Solomon, the prophets with the kings they spoke to, and the letters with the churches they were written to.
Why: Many psalms and proverbs are attributed to David and Solomon, and the prophets date themselves by kings; others (Job, some psalms) are hard to date, and their place is a choice.
Artistic1
Each story and episode has one key verse, chosen by us.
Why: A key verse helps a reader recognise the story; another reader might choose another.
Competing views
Where careful readers disagree. Each view with who holds it and the evidence for and against it. No verdict.
No major disputes. The map tells the stories in the Bible's own order. Where a date or place is debated (the date of the Exodus, the site of Sinai, when Job lived), the branch shows an evidence level, and the debate is set out in the lab that covers it, such as the Exodus or the Bible Time Map.
Textual notes
Places where manuscripts, ancient versions or translations differ in numbers or wording. KJV and 和合本 are quoted as they stand.
No textual notes. The map gives passages, not readings, so no manuscript difference changes it; key verses are quoted from KJV and the 1919 和合本.
Frequently asked questions
What is the story of the Bible in short?
One story from creation to new creation: God makes a world, calls a people, keeps his promises through their failures, sends his Son, and makes all things new. The map tells it in 12 big stories, from creation and the early world to the end and the new creation.
What are the main stories of the Bible?
This map divides the Bible into 12 big stories: Creation & the early world; The patriarchs; Exodus & the wilderness; Conquest & the judges; The united kingdom; The divided kingdom; Exile; Return; Between the Testaments; The life of Jesus; The early church; The end and the new creation. Inside them are 163 stories and 573 episodes, each with its passage.
Are the Bible stories in chronological order?
The big stories follow the eras of the Bible Time Map, and the stories inside them keep the order of the biblical narrative. The psalms and wisdom books sit with David and Solomon, the prophets with the kings they spoke to, and the letters with the church they were written to.
Does the story map show where the Bible is uncertain?
Yes. The stories are told as the Bible tells them, and where a date or a place is uncertain, such as the date of the Exodus, the site of Mount Sinai or when Job lived, the branch shows an evidence level.
How many stories are in the Bible?
There is no fixed number: it depends on where you draw the lines. This map divides the Bible into 12 big stories, 163 stories and 573 episodes. Another map could split or join them differently; what stays the same is the passage behind each one, which every branch gives.
Can I find a story by name or Bible reference?
Yes. Search the map for a story, a person or a reference such as “Genesis 22”, and it opens the branches that match. Each branch shows its passage and links to related labs, such as the Bible Time Map for its date or Noah's Ark in 3D.
Sources & limits
Limits of this lab 3
- An outline of the whole Bible must leave things out; small stories and many laws, songs and sayings are not separate branches.
- Story titles and summaries are our wording, not Scripture; open the passage to read the text.
- Placing undated books (Job, some psalms) in the timeline is a choice, marked where it matters.
Sources 2
- King James Version (KJV) (Public domain outside the United Kingdom)
- 官話和合譯本 (Chinese Union Version, 1919), zh.wikisource (Public domain)
Scripture is quoted only from KJV and the 1919 和合本. Other works are cited for facts and arguments, not quoted at length.
What’s new · v1.0.2Version 1.0.2: English Scripture is now quoted from the King James Version (1769).