What is the Difference Between Catholic and Christian Bible?

The main difference between a Catholic Bible and a Christian Bible, specifically a Protestant Bible, is the number of books included in each. Both Catholic and Protestant Bibles have 27 books in the New Testament. However, Catholic Bibles have 46 books in the Old Testament, while Protestant Bibles have only 39 books. The seven additional books found in Catholic Bibles are Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, and Baruch. These books are called the deuterocanonical books and are considered inspired by the Holy Spirit.

The differences between the Catholic and Protestant Bibles originated during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation, led by Martin Luther. He broke away from the Catholic Church and embraced St. Jerome's argument, which led to the acceptance of only 39 of the Old Testament books and the rejection of the seven deuterocanonical books.

Comparative Table: Catholic vs Christian Bible

The Catholic Bible and the Christian Bible share many similarities, but there are some key differences between the two. Here is a table summarizing the differences:

Both the Catholic and Christian Bibles contain the 27-book New Testament, which includes the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Epistles, and the Book of Revelation. However, the Catholic Bible has 73 books in total, while most Protestant Bibles have 66 books. The additional books in the Catholic Bible provide further insight into the history, wisdom, and teachings surrounding the Jewish people and their relationship with God.

The divergence between the Catholic and Protestant Bibles occurred during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation, when Martin Luther and other reformers rejected the apocryphal books and returned to the original Hebrew scriptures, leaving out the seven books found in the Catholic Bible.