Developer Tools: API

Application Programming Interface (API)

Books

These are the books of the Bible. Books belong to versions and to bookgroups, and books have many chapters.

List

Book listings may only be requested in the context of version or bookgroup parents.

GET /versions/#{version_id}/books.xml

Returns a list of a books for the version resource with the specified ID. The available version IDs can be listed with the versions endpoint.

Example:

Request
GET https://biblesearch.americanbible.org/versions/GNT/books.xml
Response
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<books>
  <book id='GNT:Gen'>
    <version_id>1</version_id>
    <name>Genesis</name>
    <abbr>Gen</abbr>
    <ord>1</ord>
    <book_group_id>1</book_group_id>
    <testament>OT</testament>
    <id>GNT:Gen</id>
    <osis_end>GNT:Gen.50.26</osis_end>
    <parent>
      <version id='GNT'>
        <path>/versions/GNT</path>
        <name>Good News Translation</name>
        <id>GNT</id>
      </version>
    </parent>
    <next>
      <book id='GNT:Exod'>
        <path>/books/GNT:Exod</path>
        <name>Exodus</name>
        <id>GNT:Exod</id>
      </book>
    </next>
    <copyright>
      <![CDATA[Scripture taken from the Good News Translation in Today's English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.]]>
    </copyright>
  </book>
  <book id='GNT:Exod'>
    <version_id>1</version_id>
    <name>Exodus</name>
    <abbr>Exod</abbr>
    <ord>2</ord>
    <book_group_id>1</book_group_id>
    <testament>OT</testament>
    <id>GNT:Exod</id>
    <osis_end>GNT:Exod.40.38</osis_end>
    <parent>
      <version id='GNT'>
        <path>/versions/GNT</path>
        <name>Good News Translation</name>
        <id>GNT</id>
      </version>
    </parent>
    <next>
      <book id='GNT:Lev'>
        <path>/books/GNT:Lev</path>
        <name>Leviticus</name>
        <id>GNT:Lev</id>
      </book>
    </next>
    <previous>
      <book id='GNT:Gen'>
        <path>/books/GNT:Gen</path>
        <name>Genesis</name>
        <id>GNT:Gen</id>
      </book>
    </previous>
    <copyright>
      <![CDATA[Scripture taken from the Good News Translation in Today's English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.]]>
    </copyright>
  </book>
  [... Books removed for brevity ...]
</books>

GET /bookgroups/#{group_id}/books.xml

Returns a list of all books for the bookgroup resource with the specified ID. The available book group IDs can be listed with the bookgroups endpoint.

Example:

Request
GET https://biblesearch.americanbible.org/bookgroups/1/books.xml
Response
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<books>
  <book id='CEV:Gen'>
    <version_id>3</version_id>
    <name>Genesis</name>
    <abbr>Gen</abbr>
    <ord>1</ord>
    <book_group_id>1</book_group_id>
    <testament>OT</testament>
    <id>CEV:Gen</id>
    <osis_end>CEV:Gen.50.26</osis_end>
    <parent>
      <version id='CEV'>
        <path>/versions/CEV</path>
        <name>Contemporary English Version</name>
        <id>CEV</id>
      </version>
    </parent>
    <next>
      <book id='CEV:Exod'>
        <path>/books/CEV:Exod</path>
        <name>Exodus</name>
        <id>CEV:Exod</id>
      </book>
    </next>
    <copyright>
      <![CDATA[Copyright 2006, American Bible Society]]>
    </copyright>
  </book>
  <book id='KJV:Gen'>
    <version_id>2</version_id>
    <name>Genesis</name>
    <abbr>Gen</abbr>
    <ord>1</ord>
    <book_group_id>1</book_group_id>
    <testament>OT</testament>
    <id>KJV:Gen</id>
    <osis_end>KJV:Gen.50.26</osis_end>
    <parent>
      <version id='KJV'>
        <path>/versions/KJV</path>
        <name>King James Version</name>
        <id>KJV</id>
      </version>
    </parent>
    <next>
      <book id='KJV:Exod'>
        <path>/books/KJV:Exod</path>
        <name>Exodus</name>
        <id>KJV:Exod</id>
      </book>
    </next>
    <copyright>
      <![CDATA[The King James Version is public domain. Copy and distribute freely.]]>
    </copyright>
  </book>
  <book id='RVR60:Gen'>
    <version_id>7</version_id>
    <name>Génesis</name>
    <abbr>Gen</abbr>
    <ord>1</ord>
    <book_group_id>1</book_group_id>
    <testament>OT</testament>
    <id>RVR60:Gen</id>
    <osis_end>RVR60:Gen.50.26</osis_end>
    <parent>
      <version id='RVR60'>
        <path>/versions/RVR60</path>
        <name>Reina-Valera 1960</name>
        <id>RVR60</id>
      </version>
    </parent>
    <next>
      <book id='RVR60:Exod'>
        <path>/books/RVR60:Exod</path>
        <name>Éxodo</name>
        <id>RVR60:Exod</id>
      </book>
    </next>
    <copyright>
      <![CDATA[Scripture taken from the Reina Valera 1960. El texto Biblico ha sido tomado de la version Reina-Valera 1960 Sociedades Biblicas en America Latina;   renovado 1988 Sociedades Biblicas Unidas.  Utilizado con permiso.]]>
    </copyright>
  </book>
  <book id='GNT:Gen'>
    <version_id>1</version_id>
    <name>Genesis</name>
    <abbr>Gen</abbr>
    <ord>1</ord>
    <book_group_id>1</book_group_id>
    <testament>OT</testament>
    <id>GNT:Gen</id>
    <osis_end>GNT:Gen.50.26</osis_end>
    <parent>
      <version id='GNT'>
        <path>/versions/GNT</path>
        <name>Good News Translation</name>
        <id>GNT</id>
      </version>
    </parent>
    <next>
      <book id='GNT:Exod'>
        <path>/books/GNT:Exod</path>
        <name>Exodus</name>
        <id>GNT:Exod</id>
      </book>
    </next>
    <copyright>
      <![CDATA[Scripture taken from the Good News Translation in Today's English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.]]>
    </copyright>
  </book>
  [... Books removed for brevity ...]
</books>

GET /versions/#{version_id}/books.xml?testament=#{testament_abbr}

Returns a list of only those books identified by the Testament abbreviation for the version resource with the specified ID. The available version IDs can be listed with the versions endpoint. Valid testament abbreviations are NT (New Testament), OT (Old Testament) and DEUT (Deuterocanonical).

Example:

Request
GET https://biblesearch.americanbible.org/versions/KJV/books.xml?testament=NT
Response
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<books>
  <book id="KJV:Matt">
    <version_id>2</version_id>
    <name>Matthew</name>
    <abbr>Matt</abbr>
    <ord>40</ord>
    <book_group_id>6</book_group_id>
    <testament>NT</testament>
    <id>KJV:Matt</id>
    <osis_end>KJV:Matt.28.20</osis_end>
    <parent>
      <version id="KJV">
        <path>/versions/KJV</path>
        <name>King James Version</name>
        <id>KJV</id>
      </version>
    </parent>
    <next>
      <book id="KJV:Mark">
        <path>/books/KJV:Mark</path>
        <name>Mark</name>
        <id>KJV:Mark</id>
      </book>
    </next>
    <previous>
      <book id="KJV:Mal">
        <path>/books/KJV:Mal</path>
        <name>Malachi</name>
        <id>KJV:Mal</id>
      </book>
    </previous>
    <copyright>
      <![CDATA[The King James Version is public domain. Copy and distribute freely.]]>
    </copyright>
  </book>
  <book id="KJV:Mark">
    <version_id>2</version_id>
    <name>Mark</name>
    <abbr>Mark</abbr>
    <ord>41</ord>
    <book_group_id>6</book_group_id>
    <testament>NT</testament>
    <id>KJV:Mark</id>
    <osis_end>KJV:Mark.16.20</osis_end>
    <parent>
      <version id="KJV">
        <path>/versions/KJV</path>
        <name>King James Version</name>
        <id>KJV</id>
      </version>
    </parent>
    <next>
      <book id="KJV:Luke">
        <path>/books/KJV:Luke</path>
        <name>Luke</name>
        <id>KJV:Luke</id>
      </book>
    </next>
    <previous>
      <book id="KJV:Matt">
        <path>/books/KJV:Matt</path>
        <name>Matthew</name>
        <id>KJV:Matt</id>
      </book>
    </previous>
    <copyright>
      <![CDATA[The King James Version is public domain. Copy and distribute freely.]]>
    </copyright>
  </book>
  [... Books removed for brevity ...]
</books>

Show

GET /books/#{version_id}:#{book_name}.xml

Returns the specified book resource in the specified version. The available version IDs can be listed with the versions endpoint. The book name should be specified with the OSIS normative abbreviation for the book.

Example:

Request
GET https://biblesearch.americanbible.org/books/GNT:Rev.xml
Response
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<books>
  <book id='GNT:Rev'>
    <version_id>1</version_id>
    <name>Revelation</name>
    <abbr>Rev</abbr>
    <ord>66</ord>
    <book_group_id>8</book_group_id>
    <testament>NT</testament>
    <id>GNT:Rev</id>
    <osis_end>GNT:Rev.22.21</osis_end>
    <parent>
      <version id='GNT'>
        <path>/versions/GNT</path>
        <name>Good News Translation</name>
        <id>GNT</id>
      </version>
    </parent>
    <next>
      <book id='GNT:Bar'>
        <path>/books/GNT:Bar</path>
        <name>Baruch</name>
        <id>GNT:Bar</id>
      </book>
    </next>
    <previous>
      <book id='GNT:Jude'>
        <path>/books/GNT:Jude</path>
        <name>Jude</name>
        <id>GNT:Jude</id>
      </book>
    </previous>
    <copyright>
      <![CDATA[Scripture taken from the Good News Translation in Today's English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.]]>
    </copyright>
  </book>
</books>