Catholic Bibles vs Protestant Bibles: Key Differences

📖 Ever wondered what makes Catholic and Protestant Bibles different? Discover the key distinctions in content, translation, and history!

1. The Core Difference: The Canon of Scripture

The biggest difference between Catholic and Protestant Bibles is the number of books included.

📖 Catholic Bible:

✅ Contains 73 books (46 in the Old Testament, 27 in the New Testament).
✅ Includes the Deuterocanonical books (sometimes called the Apocrypha).
✅ Used in Catholic worship and study.

📖 Protestant Bible:

✅ Contains 66 books (39 in the Old Testament, 27 in the New Testament).
✅ Does not include the Deuterocanonical books.
✅ Used by most Protestant denominations.

📌 Key Takeaway: Catholic Bibles include seven additional Old Testament books: Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, and 1 & 2 Maccabees, as well as additional sections in Esther and Daniel.

2. Why Do Catholic and Protestant Bibles Differ?

The difference in canon (the list of books in the Bible) dates back to the 16th-century Reformation.

• Catholic Bibles follow the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), which includes the Deuterocanonical books.
• Protestant Bibles follow the Hebrew Old Testament, which excludes these books.
• Martin Luther removed the Deuterocanonical books from Protestant Bibles during the Reformation, though they were originally included in early Protestant editions.

📌 Fun Fact: The original King James Bible (1611) included the Apocrypha, but later editions removed them.

3. Translation Differences Between Catholic & Protestant Bibles

📖 Common Catholic Bible Translations:

✅ New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) – Widely used in Catholic study.
✅ Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) – Faithful to original texts.
✅ Douay-Rheims Bible – Traditional Catholic translation.

🔗 Shop Catholic Bible Translations

📖 Common Protestant Bible Translations:

✅ New International Version (NIV) – Popular for modern readers.
✅ English Standard Version (ESV) – Literal and scholarly.
✅ King James Version (KJV) – Traditional Protestant Bible.

🔗 Shop Protestant Bible Translations

📌 Key Takeaway: Catholic and Protestant Bibles are translated from different source texts, which can lead to variations in wording and phrasing.

4. Doctrinal Differences in Interpretation

Catholics and Protestants interpret scripture differently based on their traditions.

📖 Catholic Interpretation:

✅ The Church’s teaching authority (Magisterium) helps interpret scripture.
✅ Scripture is understood alongside Sacred Tradition.
✅ The Deuterocanonical books are considered inspired and useful for doctrine.

📖 Protestant Interpretation:

✅ Scripture is often interpreted by the individual believer.
✅ The Bible alone (sola scriptura) is the final authority.
✅ The Deuterocanonical books are considered by some to be helpful but not divinely inspired.

📌 Key Takeaway: Catholic teaching includes both scripture and tradition, while Protestant teaching relies mainly on scripture alone.

5. Which Bible Should You Choose?

📖 Choose a Catholic Bible If:

✅ You follow Catholic teachings and traditions.
✅ You want a Bible that includes the Deuterocanonical books.
✅ You prefer a translation approved by the Catholic Church.

🔗 Shop Catholic Bibles

📖 Choose a Protestant Bible If:

✅ You attend a Protestant church.
✅ You want a Bible based on the Hebrew Old Testament.
✅ You prefer a translation commonly used by evangelicals and mainline Protestants.

🔗 Shop Protestant Bibles

📌 Final Thought: Both Catholic and Protestant Bibles share the same New Testament, meaning they both contain the core message of Jesus Christ.

6. Find the Right Bible for You

Whether you’re looking for a Catholic or Protestant Bible, there’s a translation that will help you grow in faith and understanding.