Grace Thompson
The Catholic Bible is a compilation of sacred texts that has been translated into numerous languages and has shaped the Catholic religion for centuries. It includes 73 books, encompassing 46 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament. This is in contrast to the Protestant Bible, which only includes 66 books. The difference lies in the inclusion of seven deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament that are considered non-canonical in Protestantism. These books are Tobit, Judith, Wisdom (or the Wisdom of Solomon), Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees. The Catholic Bible also features additional passages in the books of Esther and Daniel. The deuterocanonical books are believed to be inspired by the Holy Spirit and are included in the Catholic Bible with the approval of the Catholic Church, according to Catholic canon law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of books in the Catholic Bible | 73 |
| Number of books in the Protestant Bible | 66 |
| Number of books in the Ethiopian "narrow" biblical canon | 81 |
| Number of books in some denominations of the Bible | Up to 84 |
| Number of Old Testament books in the Catholic Bible | 46 |
| Number of New Testament books in the Catholic Bible | 27 |
| Deuterocanonical books in the Catholic Bible | Tobit, Judith, Wisdom (also called the Wisdom of Solomon), Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees |
| Deuterocanonical books in the Ethiopian "narrow" biblical canon | Enoch |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Bible has 73 books
The Catholic Bible is a comprehensive collection of sacred texts that serves as the foundation of Catholicism, one of the world's major religions. It consists of 73 books, which include the 46 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament. This number differs from some other Christian traditions, such as Protestantism, which typically recognizes 66 books in its Bible.
The additional books in the Catholic Bible are often referred to as the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical books. These texts were written during the intertestamental period, a time between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament. They include books such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and additional portions of the books of Daniel and Esther.
The inclusion of these extra books is based on the long-standing tradition and authority of the Catholic Church, which recognizes their value and significance. These books provide historical context, offer wisdom and insight, and often fill in narrative gaps found in the other books of the Bible. They were originally written in Greek and were considered part of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, which was widely used in the early Christian church.
Over time, the Catholic Church, through the guidance of early Church Fathers and ecumenical councils, carefully discerned and formalized the canon of the Bible, ultimately recognizing these additional texts as inspired and authoritative. This process was completed by the 5th century, and the book count of the Catholic Bible has remained consistent since then.
The content of these 73 books covers a vast array of literary genres, including history, law, poetry, prophecy, wisdom literature, gospel accounts, epistles (letters), and apocalyptic literature. Together, they tell the story of God's interaction with humanity, from creation to salvation, and provide the theological and moral foundation for Catholic doctrine and faith.
These books are not only important historically and theologically but also continue to play a vital role in the spiritual lives of Catholics around the world. They are read during Mass, studied in religious education, and provide guidance and inspiration for daily living according to the Catholic faith.
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The Protestant Bible has 66 books
The Old Testament tells the story of God's creation of the world, the early history of humanity, and the specific story of Israel's ancestors and their relationship with God. It includes books like Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and historical books such as Joshua, Judges, and Ruth. The Old Testament also contains poetic and wisdom literature, such as Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, and prophetic books like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.
On the other hand, the New Testament focuses on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity. It begins with the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), which provide accounts of Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection. The New Testament also includes historical narratives like the Acts of the Apostles, which describes the early days of the Christian church, and several letters (or epistles) written by apostles like Paul, Peter, James, and Jude, providing instructions and encouragement to early Christian communities. The New Testament concludes with the Book of Revelation, which is apocalyptic literature offering a prophetic vision of the end times and the ultimate triumph of God and his kingdom.
This collection of 66 books has played a significant role in shaping Protestant beliefs and practices. These books are considered canonical, meaning they are recognized as authoritative and inspired by God. Protestant churches generally adhere to the principle of "Sola Scriptura," asserting that Scripture alone is the final authority for matters of faith and practice, in contrast to the Catholic tradition, which also recognizes sacred tradition and the teaching authority of the Church.
The number 66 holds significance because it represents the Protestant understanding of the scope of Scripture. By recognizing these books as canonical, Protestants affirm the belief that these texts are necessary for understanding God's revelation, his plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, and the guidelines for Christian living. While there may be apocryphal or deuterocanonical books that provide additional historical or cultural context, Protestants maintain that these 66 books are sufficient for all matters pertaining to faith and practice.
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The Catholic Bible includes deuterocanonical books
The Catholic Bible includes 73 books, which is more than the 66 books typically found in Bibles used by Protestants. This is because Catholic Bibles include deuterocanonical books, which are considered canonical by the Catholic Church but are regarded as non-canonical by Protestants. The deuterocanonical books are also known as the Apocrypha, and they are included in the Septuagint, the earliest extant Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.
The term "deuterocanonical" was coined in 1566 by the theologian Sixtus of Siena, who had converted to Catholicism from Judaism. It means "of, pertaining to, or constituting a second canon". The deuterocanonical books are those that were recognised as canonical by the Councils of Rome (382 AD), Hippo (393 AD), Carthage (397 AD and 419 AD), Florence (1442 AD) and Trent (1546 AD), but which are not in the Hebrew canon.
There are 12 deuterocanonical books: Tobit, Judith, Baruch, Sirach (or the writings of Ben Sirah), 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, 3 Maccabees, 4 Maccabees, Wisdom (Ecclesiasticus), Prayer of Manasseh, 1 Esdras, and 2 Esdras. These books are also referred to as the "Apocrypha" and are considered by some to be of historical value but not divinely inspired. They are included in the Catholic Bible because the Church believes them to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.
The deuterocanonical books are found in the Old Testament of the Catholic Bible and are often included in an appendix in Protestant Bibles. They were written between the Old and New Testament periods and were accepted by the Jews of that period, particularly the Pharisees. While they were not considered divinely inspired, they were seen as valuable to Jewish history and for understanding the Jewish worldview.
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Protestants removed seven books at the Reformation
The Catholic Bible includes the whole 73-book canon recognised by the Catholic Church. This includes some of the deuterocanonical books (and parts of books) of the Old Testament, which are in the Greek Septuagint collection but are absent from the Hebrew Masoretic Text collection. The deuterocanonical books are believed by the Catholic Church to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.
The Bibles used by Catholics differ in the number and order of books from those used by Protestants. Catholic Bibles retain seven books in their canon that are regarded as non-canonical in Protestantism. These seven books are:
- Tobit
- Judith
- 1 Maccabees
- 2 Maccabees
- Wisdom
- Sirach
- Baruch
These books were considered by the Protestants to be non-canonical because they were not included in the Jewish Hebrew Bible. However, this was not a new decision, as there had been disagreement about these books for over a thousand years.
Martin Luther, the founder of the Protestant Reformation, rejected four books from the New Testament and unsuccessfully attempted to remove others. Luther's alterations to the New Testament were not adopted by the Protestant movement, but his changes to the Old Testament were. By the end of the Reformation, Protestantism had removed seven books from the Old Testament canon.
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The Catholic Bible is published with Church approval
The Catholic Bible is a Christian Bible that includes the whole 73-book canon recognised by the Catholic Church. This includes some of the deuterocanonical books (and parts of books) of the Old Testament which are in the Greek Septuagint collection but are not present in the Hebrew Masoretic Text collection. The deuterocanonical books are believed to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.
The term "Catholic Bible" can be understood in two ways. Firstly, it can refer to the 73-book canon recognised by the Catholic Church. Secondly, it can refer to a version or translation of the Bible that is published with the Catholic Church's approval, in accordance with Catholic canon law.
The Catholic Church's canon of scripture was formally affirmed at the Synod of Hippo in 393 and the Council of Carthage in 397. The current official version of the Catholic Church is the Nova Vulgata. The Catholic Church's canon law states that books of the sacred scriptures cannot be published unless the Apostolic See or the conference of bishops has approved them. For the publication of translations, approval by the same authority is also required, along with necessary annotations. The 1983 Code of Canon Law gives the Apostolic See and episcopal conferences the authority to approve translations of the Sacred Scriptures in the Latin Catholic Church.
The Catholic Truth Society published the "CTS New Catholic Bible" in 2007, which consisted of the original 1966 Jerusalem Bible text revised to match its use in lectionaries. The Ignatius Press lectionary, based on the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, is approved for liturgical use in the Antilles and by former Anglicans in the personal ordinariates.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Bible has 73 books.
The Protestant Bible has 66 books.
The Catholic Bible includes seven deuterocanonical books that are not present in the Protestant Bible. These are Tobit, Judith, Wisdom (also called the Wisdom of Solomon), Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees.
Yes, in addition to the seven deuterocanonical books, the Catholic Bible also includes additional passages in the books of Esther and Daniel, which are not found in the Protestant Bible.
No, there is some variation within each tradition. For example, some Protestant Bibles, such as the King James Version, include the deuterocanonical books as an intertestamental section known as the Apocrypha, resulting in an 80-book Bible. Additionally, some Catholic denominations recognize more than 73 books, with some having up to 84 books in their Bible.
