Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church follows the New Testament, which consists of 27 books, and plays an important role in the lives of Catholics. Catholics wrote and compiled the New Testament, and it is read aloud in every Mass. The New Testament is also studied in Catholic schools with catechism, and Catholics are encouraged to read the Bible in its entirety. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announced a plan in 2012 to revise the New Testament of the New American Bible Revised Edition for use in individual prayer, catechesis, and liturgy in the United States. The Catholic Bible as a whole consists of 73 books, including the Old Testament and the New Testament, with the former retaining its intrinsic value as Revelation reaffirmed by Jesus Christ himself.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of books in the New Testament | 27 |
| Number of books in the Old Testament | 46 |
| Total number of books in the Catholic Bible | 73 |
| Belief about the Bible | The Bible is the word of God in the words of human beings |
| Belief about the truth of the Bible | Whatever Scripture asserts to be true is in fact true |
| Interpretation of the Bible | Catholics do not take the Bible literally, and do not follow all Old Testament rules |
| Importance of the Old Testament | The Old Testament is an indispensable part of Sacred Scripture |
| Relationship between Old and New Testaments | Catholics read the Old Testament in light of the New Testament |
| The Gospels | The four books that focus on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus |
| The rest of the New Testament | Epistles (letters) written by Paul or other Apostles |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics do not take the Bible literally
The Bible is a collection of diverse genres of writing, including Gospels, books, letters, and poetry. It is not meant to be taken literally by Catholics in its entirety. Instead, Catholics are advised to interpret the Bible in the sense that the human authors intended, as the intention of the authors is inspired by the Holy Spirit. This means considering the context, the original languages, ancient codices, papyrus fragments, and textual criticism to ensure the accurate restoration of the sacred text.
Catholics are not required to interpret Scripture in a specific way for most verses. They can interpret the Bible however they like, as long as it aligns with Church teachings. The Church of Rome, through the Decretum Gelasianum, cited a list of books of scripture that were considered canonical, and this canon was affirmed through various synods and councils over the centuries. The Catholic Bible consists of 73 books: 46 books in the Old Testament (including deuterocanonical books) and 27 books in the New Testament.
While Catholics are encouraged to seek guidance from priests and consult with other Catholics, ultimately, they are responsible for using their minds to understand the Bible's teachings. This involves studying the text carefully, considering the theological and philosophical implications, and forming their own questions and evidence-based beliefs. It is important to note that the Bible is not a single book but a collection of writings, so it should not be taken literally in the same way a single book might be.
However, there are certain verses that the Church requires Catholics to interpret in a specific way. These interpretations are based on the Church's teachings and traditions, which are believed to be inspired by God. Catholics are expected to conform to these interpretations to remain in good standing with the Church.
Additionally, Catholics should understand that the Bible contains different genres of writing, such as poetry and historical narratives. Interpreting these genres literally could lead to misunderstandings. For example, taking the Psalms literally could lead to the mistaken belief that the Earth is flat. Therefore, Catholics should interpret the Bible in a way that aligns with the Church's teachings and the author's intentions, rather than taking every word literally.
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The Bible is an important part of the Catholic faith, but only a part
The Bible is an important part of the Catholic faith, but it is not the only source of Catholic doctrine and practice. Catholics believe that the Bible is the word of God expressed in human language. It is composed of 73 books: 46 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. The Bible is divided into different genres, including history, poetry, prophecy, and symbolism, and Catholics interpret these books differently. For example, they interpret historical books like 1 Kings differently from poetic books like the Song of Solomon or symbolic books like Revelation.
Catholics do not interpret the Bible literally and do not follow all the rules in the Old Testament. They believe in interpreting the Old Testament in light of the New Testament, understanding that the Old Testament foreshadows the coming of Christ. For example, when opposing gay marriage, Catholics point to New Testament verses and tradition rather than Old Testament laws. The Old Testament is still important to Catholics as it contains wisdom, knowledge, and divine pedagogy about God and humanity, and it prepared God's people to understand Jesus when he came.
Catholics also have traditions and teachings outside of the Bible that are important to their faith. The Bible used by Catholics differs from those used by Protestants in the number and order of books included in their canons. Catholic Bibles retain seven books that are considered non-canonical by Protestants. The Catholic Church has affirmed its canon of scripture through several councils, including the Council of Rome, the Synod of Hippo, the Council of Florence, and the Council of Trent.
In summary, while the Bible is a central part of the Catholic faith, it is not the sole source of doctrine and practice. Catholics interpret it through tradition, in light of the New Testament, and with an understanding of the intentions and genres of the authors. They also have extra-biblical traditions and teachings that shape their beliefs and practices.
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The Catholic Bible consists of 73 books
The Catholic Bible, therefore, contains a translation of scripture that has been approved by valid Church authorities and can be used by Catholics for personal prayer and study or, in some cases, liturgy. This approval is typically indicated by the presence of an imprimatur. The term "Catholic Bible" can be understood in two ways. Firstly, it can refer to a Christian Bible that includes the whole 73-book canon recognized by the Catholic Church, including some of the deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament. Secondly, it can refer to a version or translation of the Bible published with the Catholic Church's approval, according to Catholic canon law.
The 73-book canon of the Catholic Bible was established by St. Athanasius in 367 AD, and it was used by the Church from 382 AD until 1520. The canon was formally affirmed by the Catholic Church with the Synod of Hippo in 393, followed by the Council of Carthage in 397, another Council of Carthage in 419, the Council of Florence in 1431-1449, and the Council of Trent in 1545-1563.
The Catholic Bible differs from the Protestant Bible, which consists of 66 books. This difference is due to the Protestant Reformers' decision to switch the Old Testament from the Greek Septuagint, used by Catholics, to the Hebrew manuscripts, which have fewer books due to decisions made by Jewish leadership after the death of Jesus. The Ethiopian "narrow" biblical canon includes 81 books, while the "broader" canon includes additional texts that are not found in the Catholic Bible.
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The Gospels are the heart of the New Testament
The Catholic Church follows the New Testament, which is a collection of 27 Christian texts written in Koine Greek, forming the second major division of the Christian Bible. The New Testament includes four gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—that narrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. These four gospels are the heart of the New Testament and are considered canonical, meaning they are officially recognized as part of the Bible.
The term "gospel" originally meant the Christian message, but by the second century AD, it came to refer also to the books in which this message was reported. In this sense, a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words and deeds of Jesus, culminating in his trial and death, and concluding with various reports of his post-resurrection appearances. The gospels are meant to convince people that Jesus was a charismatic miracle-worker and holy man, and they provide examples for readers to emulate.
The four gospels included in the New Testament were selected from among many other early Christian gospels. These non-canonical gospels were written later than the four canonical gospels and advocated the particular theological views of their authors. The process of selecting which gospels to include in the New Testament involved debate, rejection of heretical texts, and recognition of writings deemed apostolic. This process culminated in the formal recognition of the 27-book canon by the late 4th century.
The Gospels are considered to be historically accurate by some scholars, who argue that the Judaism of the period treated oral traditions with great care and that the New Testament writers applied the same technical terminology found in Judaism to their own apostolic traditions. This indicates that the gospel writers viewed their traditions as "holy word" and were concerned with accurately transmitting them. Additionally, the gospels were likely written within the lifetimes of various eyewitnesses, including Jesus's own family, which adds to their historical accuracy.
The Catholic Church has a specific process for approving translations of the Bible. These translations must conform to Catholic teaching and be approved by valid Church authorities for use in personal prayer, study, and liturgy. This approval is typically indicated by the presence of an imprimatur. The Catholic Church has also held several councils over the centuries to affirm the canon of scripture, including the Synod of Hippo in 393 and the Council of Trent in 1545–1563.
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The Old Testament is indispensable to the Catholic faith
The Old Testament is an indispensable part of the Catholic faith. The Bible is not the foundation of the Catholic faith, as it did not exist for centuries after the Church was founded. However, the foundation of Catholic worship and practice is found in the Bible. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that the Old Testament is an indispensable part of Sacred Scripture, with its books being divinely inspired and retaining permanent value. The Old Covenant has never been revoked.
The Old Testament is indispensable in understanding the New Testament. Bishop Robert Barron explains that the New Testament is the climax to a story, and if you do not know the first part of a story, then the ending does not mean much. The two sections of scripture are divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament, with the dividing line being the birth of the Son of God. The New Testament contains the words, teachings, and commands of Christ, while the Old Testament contains the history of the people of God, the law, and the prophets.
The Old Testament Tabernacle is fulfilled in the Catholic Church. Observing the liturgical worship schedule of the Church is a happy privilege. Through the liturgical year, Catholics "keep time" with God and all the saints and angels, past, present, and future. As in the Old Testament, Catholic special days include rest, offerings, and a sacred assembly. Every Catholic holy and feast day is centered on the New Covenant, in the Eucharist. The Old Testament liturgical year is fulfilled in the Catholic liturgical year.
The Old Testament is important because it is the base that Christianity is built upon. The first reading at Mass will almost always be from the Old Testament (except during Easter, when the first reading is from the book of Acts). It is through the Old Testament that we can get the context of scripture as a whole. As the Catechism says, the unity of the two Testaments proceeds from the unity of God's plan and his revelation. The Old Testament prepares for the New, and the New Testament fulfills the Old; the two shed light on each other and are the true Word of God.
Catholics should study the way that the ancient Israelites worshipped God and the prophecies that pointed to Jesus as the Messiah. This will strengthen their faith and add a level of depth that they did not know was missing. The Old Testament is indispensable to the Catholic faith, providing context, history, and depth to the New Testament and the teachings of Christ.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Catholics follow the New Testament. The Bible is an important part of the Catholic faith. Catholics believe that the Bible is the word of God in the words of human beings.
Catholics believe that whatever Scripture asserts to be true is, in fact, true. However, they do not interpret the Bible literally. When interpreting the Bible, it is important to understand the author's intentions in writing the books. For example, Catholics interpret historical, poetic, and symbolic books differently.
Catholics view the Old Testament as an indispensable part of Sacred Scripture. They believe that the Old Testament foreshadows and points to Christ. Catholics read the Old Testament in light of the New Testament.
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