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

[kosta50]

"You MUST be Born Again"- Jesus..

So, themn, 'born again' are not lustful and envious, cunning and deceitful?

[kosta50]

Earthly joy is not heavenly, but what's the point. Your examnples are here and now. Who will convince Narcis that self-love is no love? That's why we are not in the same church. 'Nuff said.

[kosta50]

Has to do with How GOD THE FATHER DESIGNED US, FOR HIS PURPOSES, FOR HIS GLORY . . . INHERENTLY DISTINCT PERSONALITIES FOR ALL ETERNITY

So, what was Adam's 'personality?' God didn't say He created a 'personality.' He created man. What He created in Adam is what is in you, and in all of us. Are you any less prone to sin then any other man? Were you born unrighteous because of your personality? Were you 'saved' because of your personality? The only place where personality plays a role is in self-love, narcissism, arrogance and pride. Those are not God-created attributes.

[Quix]

I strongly disagree.

A number of those Scriptures applied to believers to all times.

And you seem to trash part of the Scripture:

Love your neighbor AS YOURSELF.

As well as Paul's about a person loving his own body.

I can't imagine how sloppy rubber dictionary definitions are a help theologically . . . oh, right, except for folks who like rubber Bibles.

So, do you REALLY THINK that God's joys for His kids here are going to be greater than the joys in Heaven/eternity even though Scripture plainly indicates that the pleasures, joys, etc. in eternity are beyond our imagination??? Puzzling perspective.

BTW, some would wager that "personality" is a fiercely provocative thing to you . . . virtually a brittle, sensitive thing to you. If that's so and I'm missing something, I'm happy to be enlightened. Not trying to step on sore toes.

I just happen to feel that Father has given me an insight on it with great fierceness and intensity and that I dare not be silent about it.

[Quix]

Wonderful passages.

Thx.

[kosta50]

I think its a safe bet that there is far, far less variation among the Orthodox than among those who "pass for" Catholic

Oh, absolutely. I was even at home in Tokyo, with the Divine Liturgy in Japanese. If you know the Liturgy, it makes no difference what language it is in. The fixed part of the service is the same. The homily...that was another story. ごめんんあさい。わかりません :)

But your observation is ritgh on target, Kolo. Despite all the differences and dissimilar outward expressions, there is much less variation between us then, say Latins and Melkites.

[kosta50]

So, do you REALLY THINK that God's joys for His kids here are going to be greater than the joys in Heaven/eternity

Sometimes, I really think we speak past each other. I never said anything like what you suggest I think. To the contrary, we will not be burdened with our 'self', and therefore much more able to give than to take.

BTW, some would wager that "personality" is a fiercely provocative thing to you . . . virtually a brittle, sensitive thing to you. If that's so and I'm missing something, I'm happy to be enlightened. Not trying to step on sore toes

LOL!!! You better stick with theology; psychoanalysis may not be your talent. It has nothing to do with me, personally. Dying unto onself is the backbone of Christianity, the one gathered in the Church that is.

The Gospels send a clear message: "he who therefore will humble himself as this little child, he is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." [St. Mat 18:4] and "whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." [23:12]

[Alamo-Girl]

Because of the Fall, were it not for Jesus, we'd have no hope.

I liken it to red being mixed into white. No matter how much white is added, it'll never be more than another shade of pink. The only way we can be white again (recover from the fall and go home where we belong) is to be born again.

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. - Isaiah 1:18

[Alamo-Girl]

I know it's scriptural, AG. Unlike most of you, I don't just drink this stuff. I actually chew it! Find me the connection. Where is the basis for us judging the angels, as if God's judgment is not enough? The fallen angles have already been judged (that's scriptural as well).

I Cor 6:1-4 is not speaking of the fallen angels which are being held for judgment (Jude and the pseudigraphral Enoch, etc.)

The Scriptures reveal God truly but not fully.

What will happen in the millenium of Christ's reign on earth - and what will happen in the new heaven and earth - is not written. Perhaps then when God says we will judge angels, He is speaking to these frames wherein little is revealed?

[Alamo-Girl]

Spending eternity with God can be meaningful only if we can spend it learning ever-more and seeing ever-more of His beauty and love and never learn it all.

Indeed. And some of that might involve visiting His Creation - past, present or future - to appreciate better what He has done.

I'm sure we couldn't imagine everything He has prepared for us!

For since the beginning of the world [men] have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, [what] he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. - Isaiah 64:4

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for your beautiful testimony and all those wonderful Scriptures!

Truly, when we abide in Him and He in use (John 15) - the Spirit brings forth fruit for the Father. And those fruits are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. (Gal 5)

And that's in this heaven and earth! How wonderful it will be in the next!

[Alamo-Girl]

So very true, dear sister in Christ! Praise God!

[Alamo-Girl]

So very true! I'm sorry, I should have pinged you to post 728.

[Alamo-Girl]

Very wise, pgyanke! Thank you so much for your encouragements and especially for that precious passage from Scripture!

[Forest Keeper]

Doctrine can be expanded but it cannot contradict dogmas. Dogmas cannot be expanded. Dogma would be saying FK is human. Doctrine would be your biography, who you are what you have done, etc. Thus, the Holy Trinity cannot be added to or reduced.

OK, I think I get it better now, thanks. Dogmas cannot be modified, and doctrines can, provided they don't contradict any dogmas and have been accepted by the Church. I have a memory from the L&E thread of needing to be careful of whether I called something a doctrine or a dogma, but I can't remember the context. I think I was speaking with a Catholic at the time. Perhaps it was about the celibacy of priests issue, but I can't remember. Oh well, I know now that you treat accepted doctrines as authority.

[Quix]

SEEKING a clarification . . .

RE what I understand were travels in The Spirit in a 'spiritual realm' with your sister whose already graduated from this life:

Is it your belief that:

prior to the sailing around the spiritual realm with you siser, she was without personality in some sort IDENTITYLESS amorphus mass of . . . how to put it . . .

GOD+ ???

And that in order to sail around with you, she somehow was reconstituted from that homoginized amorphus mass of GOD+

INTO a what . . . HISTORICAL verson of your sister?

or a HISTORICAL VERSION plus what???

Or???

And that AFTER your sailing around with "her" (I guess), "she" returned to the IDENTITYLESS, personality-less amorphus mass of GOD+ ???

I'm really trying to understand your construction on that 'reality.'

[Mad Dawg]

Sometimes, I really think we speak past each other.

That THERE I can agree with! That's why I wanted to back off. This conversation needs a reboot. Too much litter in RAM.

Yeah dying to self, taking up cross daily,. Yeah a kind of Pauline mysticism in which, through Baptism (understood as an act of God, not a bizarre ritual lustration) in which our fallen tendency to death is consummated and our life is hid with Christ and we are revivified with the gift of the Spirit of Christ, so that "now I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me" (and so the whole goal of Christian askesis could be understood as cultivating the consciousness of the truth about the death of the self in Christ. ALL that gets a big affirmative Yassuh with sprinkles AND marshmallow topping!

So one way to phrase the question I have is, so how come The body is resurrected if they ain't no self after all that. What I need a body for If I have died to self.

Or, just so you guys KNOW I spent some time with the Zennies, If -> I <- died to self, then who is writing this nonsense?

[Mad Dawg]

Well, I snuck a look at old Clem's ID, and it said his name was Clement! What kind of sissy name it that? I hate it when city folk come 'roun heah and make like they's one of us.

It fascinates me how many of my "Comrades of the Co-op" whose "working names" are all country, end up being named after saints. Just down the road from me is B.L., the manager of the next door bazillion acre cattle farm. If it ever occurred to BL to go to church of a Sunday it would be to the Babdiss Church. But he is actually Bernard Louis (sure of the Bernard, not of the Louis). Now that's as Catholic a name as ou could wish for.

In related news, a priest told me what some 35-40 years ago when he had a chapel in a pick-up and was sent out to the highways and byways, he was WAY up in the holler. And some snaggle toothed denizen of the hills went and produced a rosary and said to him, "Whut's this here?" So he told him and showed him what to do with it.

And the guy began to cry and said that it had been in his family since ever who knows when but at least one "great" was inserted before "granmaw" and that they had been told that one day a priest would come and show them what it was.

Now I have to insert the caution that I love this particular priest so much that in his praise I'd like to say that some of the stuff he remembers actually happened. But there it is. And when you put it with the high incidence of fine old Catholic names way up in the holler, I don't think it's so incredible.

[Kolokotronis]

"And when you put it with the high incidence of fine old Catholic names way up in the holler, I don't think it's so incredible."

Ah, well, you see, there is an explanation for that. These people are the descendants of the "Lost Tribe of County Kerry" which traveled to America with +Brendan and his monks in carraghs back in the early 7th century. Of course they took their rosaries with them and for many centuries used them for prayer. Eventually they only employed them by placing them on a windowsill the day before a wedding to assure a good, sunny day for Betty Sue's nuptials but even that practice died out.

This "Lost Tribe" was actually made up of ethnic Greeks who, many centuries before, had been blown off course on a trading mission to Britain and were cast up on Erin's fair shore. If you see that priest again, I suspect he'll confirm that that fellow he spoke to didn't actually say a "priest" would come, but rather that the arrival of the "pappas" was foretold! :)

[kosta50]

No matter how much white is added, it'll never be more than another shade of pink. The only way we can be white again (recover from the fall and go home where we belong) is to be born again

That is, however, the final station, not something happening here and now. That's why we will be given new bodies to clothe the soul before we exist the train. Our souls will be judged and either forgiven (cleansed) or rejected (condemned) based on what we have done.

With cleansed souls and new bodies we will be born, again, — in the world to come!

The Protestant notion that this is all taken care of here and now is appealing, and assuring, but sadly mistaken.