Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Bible is composed of 73 books: an Old Testament of 46 books and a New Testament of 27 books. The first book to be printed and distributed across the world was the Catholic Bible, printed by Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press in Europe around 1450. The Bible is considered to be written primarily by Jews, with the New Testament written by Jews who became Christians. The first writings of the Bible, Paul's letters, date back to around 50 AD, with the last books completed around 110 AD. The first official canon was established by the Council of Trent from 1545 to 1563, though there is debate as to whether a true canon exists in Christianity.
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Bible's first printed edition was the Gutenberg Bible
The first book of the Catholic Bible, and indeed the first printed book in the Western world, was the Gutenberg Bible. This Bible was the first major book printed using mass-produced movable metal type in Europe and is considered a landmark in the history of printing and the development of the book. The printing press revolutionized the way knowledge and information were disseminated, making it more accessible to the general public and contributing to the growth of literacy and learning.
The Gutenberg Bible, also known as the 42-line Bible or the Mazarin Bible, was printed in the 1450s by Johannes Gutenberg, a German goldsmith and inventor, in the Diocese of Mainz, Germany. It is believed that around 180 copies were printed, of which 49 are known to survive in various libraries and collections around the world, with some being incomplete. The printing of the Gutenberg Bible was a significant achievement, both technically and aesthetically. It is renowned for its high quality and beauty, with its clear and consistent type, intricate illustrations, and elaborate design.
The text of the Gutenberg Bible is based on the Latin Vulgate, a 4th-century translation of the Bible into Latin by St. Jerome. The Latin Vulgate was the standard version of the Bible used by the Catholic Church in the West, and it remained the official version until the 20th century. The Gutenberg Bible includes the entire text of the Latin Vulgate, including the Apocrypha, which are books recognized by the Catholic Church but not included in Protestant Bibles.
The production of the Gutenberg Bible was a complex and laborious process. Gutenberg developed his movable type system, which involved creating individual metal type pieces for each letter and character. These type pieces were then arranged by hand to form pages, which were inked and pressed onto paper. The paper used was of high quality, made from linen rags, and the ink was specially formulated to adhere well to the type and paper, ensuring durability and legibility.
The impact of the Gutenberg Bible and the printing press cannot be overstated. It not only made the Bible more accessible to Catholics across Europe but also contributed to the standardization of the Latin Vulgate text. It set a high standard for printing and book production, influencing the development of typography, page layout, and design. Furthermore, it played a significant role in the spread of knowledge, ideas, and literature, shaping the course of history and culture in the Western world.
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The Bible is composed of 73 books
The first books of the Bible, known as the Pentateuch, are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books are attributed to Mosaic authorship and are believed to have been written during the lifetime of the patriarch, dating back to the 1400s or 1200s BC according to the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible—Genesis. Modern scholars, however, suggest a later composition, starting around 900 BC and completed by around 400 BC. It is important to note that the stories within Genesis are considered much older than their written form.
The Bible, as a whole, is believed to have been completed by around 110 AD at the latest, with Paul's letters being the earliest writings, dating back to around 50 AD. The process of canonisation was a lengthy one, with the first Christian Biblical canon established by the combined Orthodox and Catholic pre-schism Church. The Council of Hippo in 393 AD recognised a list of books as scripture, which was later affirmed by the Council of Carthage in 397 AD.
The Catholic Church considers that the complete canon of the Bible was defined at the Council of Rome in 382 AD, resulting in Saint Jerome translating the 73 books into Latin, known as the Vulgate Bible version. This version has been considered one of the official translations of the Catholic Church for centuries. The Council of Trent in the 16th century further confirmed the books included in the first canon, and the Vulgate was declared the official translation for the Latin Church.
The printing of the Catholic Bible by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century played a significant role in spreading the Bible worldwide. The invention of the printing press allowed for the mass production of Bibles, making them more accessible to people beyond the clergy, who had been the primary owners of hand-written Bibles.
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The Old Testament has 46 books
The Old Testament is the first division of the Christian Bible, originally written in Hebrew and Aramaic and comprising books accepted by Christians as sacred and canonical and often referred to by Christians as the Hebrew Bible. It is contrasted with the New Testament, which is a collection of writings by early Christians, including the apostles. The Old Testament has 46 books in total, and these are divided into several different groups or sections.
The first of these sections is the Pentateuch, often referred to as the Torah or the Five Books of Moses. This includes the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books are considered the foundational texts of Judaism and Christianity and contain the creation narrative, the story of the patriarchs and matriarchs, the Exodus from Egypt, and the revelation of the Law (Torah) to Moses.
The next set of books is known as the Historical Books. This section includes the books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. These books narrate the history of ancient Israel and Judah, covering topics such as the conquest of the Promised Land, the period of the judges, the establishment of the monarchy, the lives of kings such as David and Solomon, the building of the First Temple, and the return from the Babylonian exile.
Following the Historical Books are the Wisdom Books or Poetic Books. This group includes Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs). These books explore themes of human wisdom, morality, and the relationship between humans and God through poetic language, proverbs, and philosophical reflections.
The final section of the Old Testament includes the Prophetic Books, which are further divided into the Major Prophets and Minor Prophets. The Major Prophets include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel. The Minor Prophets, often referred to as the Book of the Twelve, comprise Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. These prophetic books contain messages from prophets who spoke out against social injustice, idolatry, and the spiritual complacency of the people, offering warnings, calls to repentance, and visions of future hope and redemption.
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The New Testament has 27 books
The Catholic Bible is a Christian Bible that includes the whole 73-book canon recognised by the Catholic Church. The canon consists of 46 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament.
The New Testament is a collection of 27 books that are considered sacred by Christians. It is the second and smaller part of the Christian Bible, coming after the Old Testament and proceeding it in the Catholic Bible. The New Testament primarily centres on the teachings and life of Jesus Christ and the early Christian church. It includes the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles, and the Book of Revelation.
The four Gospels are narratives of Jesus' life, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection. They are not biographies in the modern sense but are written by different authors to emphasise various aspects of Jesus' life and teachings. The Gospel of Matthew, for instance, portrays Jesus as the Messiah of the Jews, while the Gospel of Luke presents Jesus as a saviour for all people, including Gentiles (non-Jews).
The Acts of the Apostles, often just called Acts, is a historical narrative that continues the story of Jesus' apostles after his ascension, focusing on the apostles Peter and Paul. It describes the early days of the Christian church, including the spread of Jesus' teachings, the conversion of Paul, and the establishment of Christian communities across the Roman Empire.
The Epistles, or letters, are a collection of teachings and instructions written by various authors, including Paul the Apostle, to specific Christian communities or individuals. They address theological issues, provide moral guidance, and offer encouragement to early Christians facing persecution and challenges in their faith.
Lastly, the Book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse of John, is a highly symbolic and prophetic book that concludes the New Testament. It contains visions and prophecies regarding the end times, the ultimate victory of God over evil, and the promise of eternal life for believers.
The 27 books of the New Testament provide the foundation for Christian beliefs and practices, shaping the theology, ethics, and liturgy of the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations. They are considered sacred texts that reveal God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ and guide Christians in their spiritual journey and understanding of their faith.
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The Catholic Bible was first mass-produced
The Catholic Bible is composed of 73 books: an Old Testament of 46 books (including 7 deuterocanonical books and additional deuterocanonical content in 2 books) and a New Testament of 27 books. The deuterocanonical books are those that are included in the Catholic Bible but not in the Hebrew Bible. The Old Testament includes the Pentateuch (5): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The New Testament includes 13 Pauline epistles, including Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
Before the invention of the printing press in Europe around 1450 by Johannes Gutenberg, books were handwritten by monks and were hard to find and highly valuable. Usually, only clergy were able to own them. However, with the invention of the printing press, books could be mass-produced and distributed widely, making them more accessible and affordable for people.
Gutenberg, a devout Catholic, chose the Catholic Bible as the first book to be printed and distributed to the world. He borrowed money to mass-produce around 180 copies of the Bible, now known as the Gutenberg Bible. The Gutenberg Bible is noted for its intricate and delicate design, having been printed with high-quality materials. Today, only 49 copies of the Gutenberg Bible have survived. The printing press played a significant role in spreading information and ideas, and the Gutenberg Bible holds immense importance as the first mass-produced book in the world.
The Catholic Church considers that the Council of Rome in 382 AD, under the Papacy of Damasus I, defined the complete canon of the Bible. Saint Jerome compiled and translated the 73 books of the Bible into Latin, which became known as the Vulgate Bible version. This version has been considered one of the official Bible translations of the Catholic Church for many centuries. The Synod of Hippo in 393 AD and the Council of Carthage in 397 AD also explicitly accepted this first canon. The Council of Trent later confirmed the books included in the first canon and ratified the Vulgate as the official Latin version of the Bible for the Roman Catholic Church.
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Frequently asked questions
The first book of the Bible in Catholicism is Genesis, which is part of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible.
The first printed book of the Catholic Bible was the Gutenberg Bible, printed by Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press.
There are several books recommended for those new to Catholicism, including "The Faith Explained" by Father Leo J. Trese, "Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith" by Bishop Robert Baron, and "The Catechism of the Catholic Church".
