Catholic and Protestant Bibles: What is the Difference?

Catholic Exchange.com ^ | 02-06-07 | Mary Harwell Sayler

[Salvation]

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Catholic and Protestant Bibles: What is the Difference?

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March 6, 2007

Question: What's the difference between a Catholic Bible and a Protestant one? Is our Old Testament the same as a Jewish Bible? If not, why?

Answer: The most noticeable differences occur in the number of books included and the order in which they have been arranged. Both the Jewish Bible and the Hebrew canon in a Protestant Bible (aka Old Testament) contain 39 books, whereas a Catholic Bible contains 46 books in the Old Testament. In addition, the Greek Orthodox, or Eastern Orthodox, Church accepts a few more books as canonized scripture.

To give you a quick overview of a complicated subject, here's what happened: Several hundred years before the birth of Christ, Babylonian conquerors forced the Jews to leave Jerusalem. Away from their Temple and, often, from their priests, the exiled people forgot how to read, write, and speak Hebrew. After a while, Jewish scholars wanted to make the Bible accessible again, so they translated Hebrew scriptures into the Greek language commonly spoken. Books of wisdom and histories about the period were added, too, eventually becoming so well known that Jesus and the earliest Christian writers were familiar with them. Like the original Hebrew scriptures, the Greek texts, which were known as the Septuagint, were not in a codex or book form as we're accustomed to now but were handwritten on leather or parchment scrolls and rolled up for ease in storage.

Eventually, the Jewish exiles were allowed to return to Jerusalem where they renovated the Temple. Then, in A.D. 70, warring peoples almost completely destroyed the sacred structure, which has never been rebuilt. Without this central place of worship, the Jews began looking to the Bible as their focal point of faith, but to assure the purity of that faith, only Hebrew scriptures were allowed into the Jewish canon. By then, however, the earliest Christians spoke and read Greek, so they continued to use the Septuagint or Greek version of the Bible for many centuries. After the Reformation though, some Christians decided to accept translations into Latin then English only from the Hebrew texts that the Jewish Bible contained, so the seven additional books in the Greek translation became known as the Apocrypha, meaning "hidden." Since the books themselves were no secret, the word seemed ironic or, perhaps, prophetic because, in 1947, an Arab boy searching for a lost goat found, instead, the Dead Sea scrolls, hidden in a hillside cave.

Interestingly, the leather scrolls had been carefully wrapped in linen cloth, coated in pitch, and placed in airtight pottery jars about ten inches across and two feet high where, well-preserved, they remained for many centuries. Later, other caves in the same area yielded similar finds with hundreds of manuscripts no longer hidden. Indeed, the oldest copies of the Bible now known to exist are the Dead Sea scrolls of the Septuagint.

Because of this authentic find from antiquity, many publishers in the twentieth century added back the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, First and Second Maccabees, as well as additions to Esther and Daniel. So now, when an edition of the Bible says "with Apocrypha" on the cover, the extra books from the Septuagint will usually be placed between the Old and New Testaments or at the end of the Bible. Catholic Bibles already contained those books, however, so you'll find them interwoven with other Old Testament books of history and wisdom writings. 

For the New Testament, it's a different story — and short. All of the books were written in Greek or Aramaic from the start. Although some debate occurred about which Gospels or Epistles should be included, all Christians eventually accepted all of the same 27 books in the same order. So, as long as you choose an edition that does not add explanatory notes opposed to a Catholic perspective, any reputable translation of the New Testament is fine.

 

© Copyright 2007 Catholic Exchange

[TASMANIANRED]

Pardon Me Salvation.

I just went back and saw the error that I made...

I intended to say...Study Scriptures...Only the Old Testament was written.

The New Testament was a work in living progress and had yet to be recorded.

I see that my words were a compete contradiction..

Thanks so much for calling this to my attention.

I am a typographical apostate...

[kosta50]

kosta50: "Obviously, God does not prefer Scripture."

Qx:Still recovering from the . . . shocking . . . sentence above

Please don't be shocked, Q. God never wrote a single jot or tittle. Not for Noah, not for Job, not for Abraham, not for Jacob, nor for Moses, not for the Apostles...not for the pure in heart.

He prefers to reveal to those He finds acceptable in words and not in writing. The Old and New Covenants started and grew from oral teachings, which God revealed to the saints as unwritten tradition, some of which was later, much later, reduced to writing for you and me.

[GoLightly]

Amen!

From John 10
I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved: and he shall go in, and go out, and shall find pastures.

And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.

No man taketh it away from me: but I lay it down of myself, and I have power to lay it down: and I have power to take it up again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice: and I know them, and they follow me. And I give them life everlasting; and they shall not perish for ever, and no man shall pluck them out of my hand (not Luther, not any leader of a superchurch & not any Pope). That which my Father hath given me, is greater than all: and no one can snatch them out of the hand of my Father.

[Kolokotronis]

Just so everyone understands what +John Chrysostomos was writing about, here are the next three paragraphs of his Homily I on Matthew:

"And this one may perceive was the case, not of the saints in the Old Testament only, but also of those in the New. For neither to the apostles did God give anything in writing, but instead of written words He promised that He would give them the grace of the Spirit: for "He," saith our Lord, "shall bring all things to your remembrance."3 And that thou mayest learn that this was far better, hear what He saith by the Prophet: "I will make a new covenant with you, putting my laws into their mind, and in their heart I will write them," and, "they shall be all taught of God."4 And Paul too, pointing out the same superiority, said, that they had received a law "not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart."5

But since in process of time they made shipwreck, some with regard to doctrines, others as to life and manners, there was again need that they should be put in remembrance by the written word.

2. Reflect then how great an evil it is for us, who ought to live so purely as not even to need written words, but to yield up our hearts, as books, to the Spirit; now that we have lost that honor, and are come to have need of these, to fail again in duly employing even this second remedy. For if it be a blame to stand in need of written words, and not to have brought down on ourselves the grace of the Spirit; consider how heavy the charge of not choosing to profit even after this assistance, but rather treating what is written with neglect, as if it were cast forth without purpose, and at random, and so bringing down upon ourselves our punishment with increase.6 But that no such effect may ensue, let us give strict heed unto the things that are written; and let us learn how the Old Law was given on the one hand, how on the other the New Covenant."

The great homilist's point is that our souls should be as the pages of a book upon which the Holy Spirit will write The Truth. We are called to be like God, to be in the "likeness of God". In such a state, the eye of the soul can clearly, instead of "as through a glass darkly", perceive the uncreated Light of God (as the apostles did at the Theophany) and "know" God. When I say "know", I do not mean that one can quote chapter and verse of scripture, though that is a possible manifestation of the knowledge I am speaking of, or put another way, it is a possible rung on the ladder to knowledge of the Divine. Certainly, knowing the Commandments of God and living them are a sine qua non of true noetic knowledge.

The knowledge we should all hope to attain, as opposed to human or natural knowledge is explained thusly:

"Knowledge that is occupied with visible things and receives instruction concerning them through the senses, is called natural. But knowledge that is occupied with the noetic power that is within things and with incorporeal natures is called spiritual, since perception in this case is received by the spirit and not by the senses. In both of these kinds of knowledge matter comes to the soul from without to give her comprehension. But that knowledge which is occupied with Divinity is called supranatural, or rather, un-knowing and knowledge-transcending."

[Quix]

WRONG . . . in one case . . .

THE FINGER OF GOD DID WRITE the first tablets for Moses.

And, there are a number of cases in Scripture where He told His guy TO WRITE His words down.

I don't find the point particularly significant. It's still clear in Scripture that God places a very high value on His WRITTEN WORD.

Christ dealing with Satan persistently said:

IT IS WRITTEN:

[kosta50]

But CHRIST'S BODY includes believers from all sect's . . . sectarian groups . . . incluring RC's et al

You mean the Mormons, Arians, Ebonites, Monophysites, Jehova's Witnesses, and everyone outside of His One, Catholic, and Apostolic Church who calls on His name? I don't think so!

Why, your definition would include the devil himself!

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. [Jam 2:19]

[Quix]

Thanks much.

[kosta50]

THE FINGER OF GOD DID WRITE the first tablets for Moses.

That's Hardly Scripture. He wrote that for the idolatrous Jews, not for Moses. Whatever was written by the Lord or through His inspired saints was done for the corrupt and not for the pure in heart. The pure in heart do not need Scriptures. God made that very clear.

And, there are a number of cases in Scripture where He told His guy TO WRITE His words down.

No, not a number of cases, just one. And not everything God taught His saints was reduced to writing.

Christ dealing with Satan persistently said: IT IS WRITTEN:

Such is Satan's and our's corrupt nature that we only believe what we see, and even then we are not all on the same page.

[wmfights]

Just so everyone understands what +John Chrysostomos was writing about,...

I can't help but notice that when we are discussing subjects such as Sola Scriptura it is always the quotes from your "church fathers" that are used to support your argument, not Scripture. I rely on Scripture. I find discussions about translations and context of Scripture very illuminating because I believe Scripture is so important. I don't find the reasoning of "church fathers", who are really just theologians of a particular sect, to be as authoritative as Scripture.

[kosta50]

But that knowledge which is occupied with Divinity is called supranatural, or rather, un-knowing and knowledge-transcending."

Thank you, Kolo, on your followup. One does not learn love by reading about it.

[kosta50]

I rely on Scripture. I find discussions about translations and context of Scripture very illuminating because I believe Scripture is so important. I don't find the reasoning of "church fathers", who are really just theologians of a particular sect, to be as authoritative as Scripture

Then, where is "sola scriptura" in the Scriptures?

[Quix]

Goodness. I'm beginning to think we are in different galactic clusters again with very different dictionairies and Bibles.

It makes it more than a little difficult to be on the same page when one side says 42 = 1.

I consider . . . say . . . . 42 TIMES to be considerably more than

ONE!

1. Exodus 17:14
And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
Exodus 17:13-15 (in Context) Exodus 17 (Whole Chapter)

2. Exodus 34:1
And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.
Exodus 34:1-3 (in Context) Exodus 34 (Whole Chapter)

3. Exodus 34:27
And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. Exodus 34:26-28 (in Context) Exodus 34 (Whole Chapter)

4. Numbers 5:23
And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water:
Numbers 5:22-24 (in Context) Numbers 5 (Whole Chapter)

5. Numbers 17:2
Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.
Numbers 17:1-3 (in Context) Numbers 17 (Whole Chapter)

6. Numbers 17:3
And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
Numbers 17:2-4 (in Context) Numbers 17 (Whole Chapter)

7. Deuteronomy 6:9
And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Deuteronomy 6:8-10 (in Context) Deuteronomy 6 (Whole Chapter)

8. Deuteronomy 10:2
And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.
Deuteronomy 10:1-3 (in Context) Deuteronomy 10 (Whole Chapter)

9. Deuteronomy 11:20
And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:
Deuteronomy 11:19-21 (in Context) Deuteronomy 11 (Whole Chapter)

10. Deuteronomy 17:18
And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
Deuteronomy 17:17-19 (in Context) Deuteronomy 17 (Whole Chapter)

11. Deuteronomy 24:1
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
Deuteronomy 24:1-3 (in Context) Deuteronomy 24 (Whole Chapter)

12. Deuteronomy 24:3
And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
Deuteronomy 24:2-4 (in Context) Deuteronomy 24 (Whole Chapter)

13. Deuteronomy 27:3
And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.
Deuteronomy 27:2-4 (in Context) Deuteronomy 27 (Whole Chapter)

14. Deuteronomy 27:8
And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.
Deuteronomy 27:7-9 (in Context) Deuteronomy 27 (Whole Chapter)

15. Deuteronomy 31:19
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
Deuteronomy 31:18-20 (in Context) Deuteronomy 31 (Whole Chapter)

16. Judges 5:14
Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.
Judges 5:13-15 (in Context) Judges 5 (Whole Chapter)

17. 2 Chronicles 26:22
Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.
2 Chronicles 26:21-23 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 26 (Whole Chapter)

18. Ezra 5:10
We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
Ezra 5:9-11 (in Context) Ezra 5 (Whole Chapter)

19. Nehemiah 9:38
And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.
Nehemiah 9:37-38 (in Context) Nehemiah 9 (Whole Chapter)

20. Esther 8:8
Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.
Esther 8:7-9 (in Context) Esther 8 (Whole Chapter)

21. Job 13:26
For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
Job 13:25-27 (in Context) Job 13 (Whole Chapter)

22. Psalm 45:1
My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Psalm 45:1-3 (in Context) Psalm 45 (Whole Chapter)

23. Psalm 87:6
The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.
Psalm 87:5-7 (in Context) Psalm 87 (Whole Chapter)

24. Proverbs 3:3
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Proverbs 3:2-4 (in Context) Proverbs 3 (Whole Chapter)

25. Proverbs 7:3
Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
Proverbs 7:2-4 (in Context) Proverbs 7 (Whole Chapter)

26. Isaiah 8:1
Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.
Isaiah 8:1-3 (in Context) Isaiah 8 (Whole Chapter)

27. Isaiah 10:1
Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;
Isaiah 10:1-3 (in Context) Isaiah 10 (Whole Chapter)

28. Isaiah 10:19
And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.
Isaiah 10:18-20 (in Context) Isaiah 10 (Whole Chapter)

29. Isaiah 30:8
Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
Isaiah 30:7-9 (in Context) Isaiah 30 (Whole Chapter)

30. Jeremiah 22:30
Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.
Jeremiah 22:29-30 (in Context) Jeremiah 22 (Whole Chapter)

31. Jeremiah 30:2
Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
Jeremiah 30:1-3 (in Context) Jeremiah 30 (Whole Chapter)

32. Jeremiah 31:33
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jeremiah 31:32-34 (in Context) Jeremiah 31 (Whole Chapter)

33. Jeremiah 36:2
Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.
Jeremiah 36:1-3 (in Context) Jeremiah 36 (Whole Chapter)

34. Jeremiah 36:17
And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?
Jeremiah 36:16-18 (in Context) Jeremiah 36 (Whole Chapter)

35. Jeremiah 36:28
Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.
Jeremiah 36:27-29 (in Context) Jeremiah 36 (Whole Chapter)

36. Ezekiel 9:2
And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
Ezekiel 9:1-3 (in Context) Ezekiel 9 (Whole Chapter)

37. Ezekiel 9:3
And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
Ezekiel 9:2-4 (in Context) Ezekiel 9 (Whole Chapter)

38. Ezekiel 24:2
Son of man, write thee the name of the day, even of this same day: the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day.
Ezekiel 24:1-3 (in Context) Ezekiel 24 (Whole Chapter)

39. Ezekiel 37:16
Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and for all the house of Israel his companions:
Ezekiel 37:15-17 (in Context) Ezekiel 37 (Whole Chapter)

40. Ezekiel 37:20
And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.
Ezekiel 37:19-21 (in Context) Ezekiel 37 (Whole Chapter)

41. Ezekiel 43:11
And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.
Ezekiel 43:10-12 (in Context) Ezekiel 43 (Whole Chapter)

42. Habakkuk 2:2
And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Habakkuk 2:1-3 (in Context) Habakkuk 2 (Whole Chapter)

43. There's at least one case in the New Testament. I won't look up that ref.

[Quix]

That's Hardly Scripture. He wrote that for the idolatrous Jews, not for Moses. Whatever was written by the Lord or through His inspired saints was done for the corrupt and not for the pure in heart. The pure in heart do not need Scriptures. God made that very clear.
= = =

THAT'S HARDLY SCRIPTURE????

Maybe you'd better tell God. He seems to have a different opinion about it.

[wmfights]

Then, where is "sola scriptura" in the Scriptures?

Hopefully this won't be too abstract. ;-0

The Bereans are an example. They were revered because they did not just accept what an individual told them or wrote to them. They measured everything against what was in Scripture.

[Kolokotronis]

"I can't help but notice that when we are discussing subjects such as Sola Scriptura it is always the quotes from your "church fathers" that are used to support your argument, not Scripture."

Not just "our" church fathers, yours too, WF.

"I rely on Scripture."

So do they, WF. They are sublimely and supremely scriptural. If you ever take the time to read them, you will find that they support every point they are making with scriptural references. You may not agree with their interpretation, but its likely you disgree with many, many Protestant interpretations too. The quoted piece is from an entire Homily on just a few verses of Matthew.

"I don't find the reasoning of "church fathers", who are really just theologians of a particular sect, to be as authoritative as Scripture."

You should understand that the Fathers really had no particular sectarian axe to grind. There were some heretical groups running around, Arians and the like, but the overwhelming majority of the writings of the Fathers are to members of The Church, which the overwhelming majority of people were in those times. There was no "magisterium" then, especially out East, no "Roman company line" to toe. There were the decrees of the Ecumenical Councils, but the vast majority of Protestants accept those to this day, the Reformers themselves more than you people today.

These men were true "theologians", but to attribute to them some apologetic sectarian motivation (conscious or unconscious) is simply a modern, Western misapprehension of what they were doing. These men share little with the apologists of the West, Latin or Protestant, who have contested with each other since the 16th century.

[Quix]

But that knowledge which is occupied with Divinity is called supranatural, or rather, un-knowing and knowledge-transcending."
. . .
Thank you, Kolo, on your followup. One does not learn love by reading about it.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. AM SOOOOOO BLESSED TO READ THAT! When is the bonfire??? Will they televise it? What a revolutionary growth in a hide-bound edifice. What a modern miracle! What an event! This calls for a dozen HALLELUJAH SNOOPY DANCES! YEA!

To think--JUST THINK--ALLLLLLL THOSE DUSTY TOMES OF THE TRADITIONS OF MEN; THE CHURCH FATHERS, THE MAGICSTERICAL--ALL ON THE BONFIRE!

What a blessing to the Church that will be. Just listening to Holy Spirit. What a transformation. How wonderful!

Congratulations!

[wmfights]

Not just "our" church fathers, yours too, WF.

I'm not so sure about that. I don't see the Baptist's being a part of your sect. Persecuted by it, but never a part of it.

[Kolokotronis]

"I'm not so sure about that. I don't see the Baptist's being a part of your sect. Persecuted by it, but never a part of it."

When the Fathers were writing, there were no Baptists, WF, though I understand that within the pat 100 years or so there has been an effort to connect at least some Protestant groups to some of the ancient sects which The Church called heretical. In one case, and I think it was with some group of Baptists, the claim was made that they were spiritually descended from the Montanists. That theory gained some surrency until someone pointed out who the Montanists were and what they believed. Another group briefly claimed spiritual descent from +John the Forerunner, but that got debunked too.

My point is that all Protestant pedigrees, eventually, go back to the Latin Church and by extension to the pre-Schism Church. I know that you don't agree with what your very distant ancestors, actual or spiritual, believed.

[RightWhale]

What is to discuss? Anybody can buy all the versions he wants and compare the differences for himself. Fill a couple bookshelves and read them all. Won't damage much except the eyesight.

[kosta50]

Hopefully this won't be too abstract. ;-0

The Bereans are an example

An example? You have more? I would say the example, and a poor one at that. First here we are dealing with +Paul and that is a story in itself. Second, it is wholy unclear what "scriptutres" were the Bereans using in order to believe!?!

They were in a synagogue (and I thought +Paul was establishing churches!), were they were supposedly taught what Christ taught and that was not in the Scriptures — yet.

For, surely, the only Scripture they could read in Greek was the Septuagint Old Testament! They didn't have Gospels to "double check" if what +Paul was saying (or, as some say, Christ was saying through +Paul) was indeed so!

If they converted to Christianity based on the Old Testament they were either divinely inspired or totally gullable.