I get this question ALL the time. So, for a bit of background, if you’ve ever compared a Protestant Bible to a Catholic Bible, you might have noticed a difference in the number of books. Protestant Bibles typically contain 66 books, while Catholic Bibles include 73. This raises an important question: why are the two Bibles different? The answer lies in history, theology, and tradition.
The Main Difference: The Old Testament Canon
The primary difference between Protestant and Catholic Bibles is the Old Testament canon (“canon” referring to the books that meet all the criteria for being counted as “scripture”). Both traditions share the same 27 books of the New Testament, but their Old Testament collections differ. Protestant Bibles follow the Hebrew Bible (39 books), while Catholic Bibles include additional writings, often referred to as the Deuterocanonical books or Apocrypha.
The Deuterocanonical Books
The Catholic Bible includes seven additional books in the Old Testament: Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees
It also includes sections in the books of Esther and Daniel that are not found in Protestant Bibles.
These books were written during the intertestamental period (the time between the Old and New Testaments) and are primarily in Greek rather than Hebrew. They are included in the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures widely used in the time of Jesus and the early church.
How the Differences Developed
1. The Jewish Canon and the Septuagint
Around the time of Jesus, the Hebrew Scriptures were largely recognized by Jewish communities, but there was no universally agreed-upon canon. The Septuagint, which included the Deuterocanonical books, was widely used by Jews in the Diaspora, including those in Alexandria. Early Christians, many of whom read Greek, adopted the Septuagint as their Bible.
However, by the end of the first century AD, Jewish leaders formalized their canon at the Council of Jamnia (circa AD 90). This canon excluded the Deuterocanonical books, as they (1) were not originally written in Hebrew or (2) deemed authoritative by all Jewish communities.
2. The Early Church
The early church continued to use the Septuagint, including the Deuterocanonical books, as part of its Scriptures. Church fathers like Augustine supported their inclusion. However, some, like Jerome, who translated the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate), questioned their authority because they were not part of the Hebrew canon.
3. The Reformation
The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century marked a major turning point. Reformers like Martin Luther emphasized sola scriptura (Scripture alone) and sought to return to the “original” Scriptures used by the Jewish community. They rejected the Deuterocanonical books, classifying them as Apocrypha—useful for instruction but not inspired Scripture. The Council of Trent (1546), convened by the Catholic Church in response to the Reformation, formally affirmed the inclusion of the Deuterocanonical books in the Catholic canon, solidifying the divide.
Key Theological Differences
1. Authority of Scripture and Tradition
For Catholics, the canon is determined by the teaching authority of the Church (the Magisterium) and tradition. The Church recognizes the Deuterocanonical books as inspired and authoritative.
Protestants, following the principle of sola scriptura, rely solely on the text of Scripture, aligning their Old Testament canon with the Hebrew Bible.
2. Doctrinal Impact
Some doctrines unique to Catholicism are rooted in the Deuterocanonical books. For example:
- Purgatory: 2 Maccabees 12:45–46 speaks of prayers for the dead, a basis for the Catholic teaching on purgatory.
- Almsgiving and Righteousness: Tobit 12:9 emphasizes the redemptive value of almsgiving.
Protestants do not accept these teachings as authoritative, as they reject the Deuterocanonical books as Scripture.
Why the Difference Matters
Understanding why Protestant and Catholic Bibles differ is important for dialogue between these traditions. It highlights foundational differences in how Scripture is viewed, interpreted, and used in theology. Despite the differences, both traditions hold to the core message of the Bible: the revelation of God through Jesus Christ and His work of salvation.
