Catholic Bible vs Protestant Bible: Books and Translations
A Catholic Bible contains 73 books, while a Protestant Bible contains 66 books. At Find A Prayer, we write for readers who want clear information about how Christian traditions structure their sacred texts. Both Bibles share the same 27-book New Testament and the same 39 Old Testament books.
The difference lies in the Old Testament, where the Catholic Bible includes seven additional books and extra passages. The Catholic Church includes these extra books within its Old Testament canon. They appear alongside the other historical, poetic, and prophetic writings.
The Catholic tradition views these writings as inspired Scripture. Protestant Bibles omit these seven books from their main text or place them in a separate Apocrypha section. Orthodox churches use an Old Testament canon that is larger than the Catholic one.
The Catholic Bible and the 73-Book Canon
The Catholic Bible contains 73 books, comprising 46 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Its Old Testament includes seven books known in the Catholic tradition as the deuterocanonical books. These books are Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, and Baruch.
The Catholic Old Testament also includes additional passages in the books of Esther and Daniel. The Catholic Church treats these books as inspired Scripture. They are read at Mass and prayed in the liturgy.
Catholic practice incorporates these texts into the regular worship of the church, drawing on their prayers, historical accounts, and moral teachings. In its textual history, the Catholic Old Testament follows the broader canon used in the early Church's Greek translation, the Septuagint. The Council of Trent in 1546 reaffirmed this 73-book canon for the Catholic Church.
Common Catholic translations include the New American Bible Revised Edition, the Douay-Rheims, and the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. Catholic Bibles typically carry a bishop's approval.
The Protestant Bible and the 66-Book Canon
The Protestant Bible contains 66 books, divided into 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. Protestant churches follow the Hebrew Bible's list for the Old Testament. This list excludes the seven books found in the Catholic Old Testament. Protestants place the seven books in dispute in an Apocrypha section when they print them at all.
Martin Luther set those books apart in his German Bible in the 16th century. The original 1611 King James Version also included an Apocrypha section positioned between the Old and New Testaments. Most later printings drop it. Protestants hold that those books are useful reading but not Scripture on the same level as the 66 books.
They read them for historical context and personal instruction. Common Protestant translations include the King James Version, the New International Version, and the English Standard Version.
The Head-to-Head Difference in Authority
The head-to-head difference between Catholic and Protestant Bibles concerns the status of the seven disputed books. The Catholic Bible treats Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Baruch, and the additions to Esther and Daniel as inspired Scripture. The Protestant Bible treats them as non-canonical writings. The disagreement is over whether the seven books carry the authority of Scripture.
For Catholics, these books belong within the Old Testament alongside Genesis or Isaiah. The Council of Trent in 1546 confirmed their place in the Catholic canon. Catholic teaching views them as part of the inspired written word of God. Protestants hold that these books are useful reading but not Scripture on the same level as the 66.
When Protestant publishers include them, they place them in a separate section marked as Apocrypha. Many modern Protestant editions omit the section entirely.
Translations and Church Worship in Practice
The difference between the two Bibles shapes how translations are published and how Scripture is heard in church services. In Catholic parishes, readings during Mass come from translations approved by church authorities. The New American Bible Revised Edition, the Douay-Rheims, and the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition represent common choices.
These editions feature the seven deuterocanonical books integrated into the Old Testament. Catholic Bibles typically carry a bishop's approval. In Protestant congregations, services rely on Protestant translations that contain 66 books.
Preachers and readers use editions such as the King James Version, the New International Version, or the English Standard Version. These editions omit the seven disputed books or isolate them in an Apocrypha section.
Picking an Edition
Both Catholic and Protestant Bibles share the same 27-book New Testament and the same 39 Old Testament books. Checking the title and table of contents clarifies which volume sits in your hands. A Catholic Bible contains 73 books, including 46 in the Old Testament. Look on the copyright page for a bishop's approval, which Catholic printings typically carry.
Translations published for Catholic readers include the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), the Douay-Rheims, and the RSV Catholic Edition. In the contents listing, search for the seven disputed works: Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees. A standard Protestant Bible contains 66 books, holding 39 in the Old Testament. Familiar Protestant versions include the KJV, NIV, and ESV.
Some editions place the seven extra works in a separate section labeled Apocrypha, just as the original 1611 King James Version did, while other printings leave them out completely. Confirming the translation name and the total book count gives you the right text for personal study or communal worship.
Who This Is Not For
This comparison is not aimed at readers who are seeking guidance on the canon used by Eastern Orthodox churches. Orthodox churches use an Old Testament canon that is larger than the Catholic one, incorporating books not listed in either Catholic or Protestant editions. Readers who need detailed information on Orthodox traditions should consult our guide on what the Orthodox Bible is instead.
What Would Change This Recommendation
The choice between these editions depends on how you worship and study. If you attend Catholic Mass or pray the liturgy, a Catholic Bible includes the seven books read there. If you attend a Protestant church, a Protestant translation lists the 66 books used by your congregation.
Catholic Bible vs Protestant Bible: at a glance
| Factor | Catholic Bible | Protestant Bible |
|---|---|---|
| Total book count | 73 books total | 66 books total |
| Old Testament book count | 46 books | 39 books |
| New Testament book count | 27 books | 27 books |
| Disputed Old Testament books | Includes seven deuterocanonical books and extra passages | Places them in an Apocrypha section or omits them |
| Old Testament source tradition | Follows the broader canon of the Greek Septuagint | Follows the list of the Hebrew Bible |
| Common translations | NABRE, Douay-Rheims, RSV Catholic Edition | KJV, NIV, ESV |
Verdict: Catholic Bible vs Protestant Bible
Choose a Catholic Bible if you attend Catholic Mass, pray the liturgy, or want to read the seven deuterocanonical books as recognized by the Catholic Church. Choose a Protestant Bible if you belong to a Protestant congregation or prefer a translation that follows the 66-book canon. To learn more about how translations differ in phrasing and approach, read our guide to the most accurate Bible translation.
Frequently asked questions
How many books are in the Catholic Bible vs the Protestant Bible?
The Catholic Bible contains 73 books, while the Protestant Bible contains 66 books. The difference appears in the Old Testament, where the Catholic canon includes 46 books and the Protestant canon includes 39 books. Both traditions agree on the 27 books of the New Testament. The seven additional Old Testament books in the Catholic Bible are Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, and Baruch. The Catholic Old Testament also includes additional passages in Esther and Daniel. The Council of Trent reaffirmed the 73-book canon for the Catholic Church in 1546.
Which books are in the Catholic Bible but not the Protestant Bible?
The Catholic Bible contains seven Old Testament books that do not appear in the 66-book Protestant canon. These books are Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, and Baruch. Catholic Bibles also include additional sections in the books of Esther and Daniel. Catholics refer to these writings as deuterocanonical books. The Catholic Church treats these books as inspired Scripture, read at Mass and prayed in the liturgy. Protestants refer to these same writings as the Apocrypha and place them in a separate section when printing them.
Why did Protestants remove books from the Bible?
Protestants follow the Hebrew Bible's list for the Old Testament, which does not contain the seven deuterocanonical books. During the Reformation, Martin Luther set those books apart in his German Bible in the 16th century. Protestants hold that those books are useful reading but not Scripture on the same level as the 66 books. The original 1611 King James Version printed these books in a separate Apocrypha section between the Testaments. Most later printings drop it.
What is the Apocrypha?
The Apocrypha is the term Protestants use for the books in dispute between the Catholic and Protestant Old Testaments. This collection includes Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Baruch, and additions to Esther and Daniel. Protestants place the seven books in an Apocrypha section when they print them at all. Martin Luther separated these books in his 16th-century German translation, and the 1611 King James Version included an Apocrypha section. Protestants view these works as historically useful reading rather than authoritative Scripture.
Which translation should a Catholic read?
Common Catholic translations include the New American Bible Revised Edition, the Douay-Rheims, and the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. Catholic Bibles typically carry a bishop's approval. These editions include the seven deuterocanonical books within the Old Testament and contain the extra passages in Esther and Daniel. These are the texts read at Mass and prayed in the Catholic liturgy.
Can a Protestant read a Catholic Bible?
Yes. The 27-book New Testament is the same, and the Old Testament adds seven books plus additional passages in Esther and Daniel. A Protestant reading a Catholic Bible can read all 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books found in a standard Protestant Bible. Protestants who read a Catholic Bible can examine the historical narratives and wisdom writings that the early Church read in the Septuagint.
Is the New Testament the same in Catholic and Protestant Bibles?
Yes. Both accept the same 27 New Testament books. These 27 writings include the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the Acts of the Apostles, the epistles of Paul, the general epistles, and the Book of Revelation. There is no difference in the list of New Testament books between Catholic and Protestant Bibles. The disagreement between the two traditions is confined to the Old Testament, where the Catholic Bible includes seven additional books and extra passages in Esther and Daniel.
What is the Septuagint?
The Septuagint is the early Church's Greek translation of the Old Testament. The Catholic Old Testament follows the broader canon found in this Greek collection. It contained the seven books that Protestants later placed in the Apocrypha: Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, and Baruch, along with additions to Esther and Daniel. The Catholic Church treats these books as inspired Scripture, and the Council of Trent reaffirmed this canon in 1546.