What Defines a ‘Book’ in the Bible?
Alright, so here’s the deal: when we say "books" in the Bible, we don’t mean books like you’d find at the library or on your nightstand. In the Holy Bible, a "book" is basically one part of a much bigger collection. Think of each one as its own piece, like episodes in a long series. Some are short, some are long, and each has its own style—some are stories, some are letters, some are poems, and others are rules to live by.
But who decides what goes in and what stays out? Good question. Over centuries, religious leaders met and made some pretty big decisions about which books were “official” enough to include. That’s why the Bible has these different versions across traditions. The group of books they decided on is called the “canon.” Just remember that canon is a fancy word for “the list that counts.”
Different groups ended up with slightly different lists. So while there’s a big chunk of the Bible everyone agrees on, certain versions have a few extra books thrown in. That’s why the total number of books can vary depending on which Bible you’re looking at.
Let’s keep going and see how the numbers stack up in each version.
How many Bible Books are There - Breakdown by Major Religious Traditions
So different Bible versions, right? It all goes down to the tradition. You’ll see that each major branch of faith has its own idea of what the “official” list looks like. This is why you might hear a Catholic Bible has 73 books, while a Protestant Bible has 66. Same general structure, but with a few extra texts here and there depending on the tradition.
1. The Protestant Bible – 66 Books
The Protestant Bible has 66 books in total. This is the version most people in Protestant churches are used to, with 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Why only 66? Protestant leaders decided that certain books, known as the "Apocrypha," didn’t make the final cut, so those weren’t included. They focused on books they believed to be the most foundational.
2. The Catholic Bible – 73 Books
The Catholic Bible takes it a step further, with 73 books. Like the Protestant Bible, it has 27 books in the New Testament, but it includes some additional books in the Old Testament. These extra ones are known as the "Deuterocanonical" books. Some of these include Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, and Sirach, among others. Catholics consider these books just as valuable for understanding the faith as any other.
3. The Eastern Orthodox Bible – Typically 76 Books
Then we’ve got the Eastern Orthodox Bible. This version usually includes around 76 books, though the number can vary a bit depending on the specific Orthodox tradition. Along with the extra books found in the Catholic Bible, some Orthodox Bibles also include even more, like 1 Esdras and 3 Maccabees. This Bible also has a unique addition: "Psalm 151." If you’re used to 150 Psalms, this one’s a surprise.
4. The Ethiopian Orthodox Bible – 81 Books
The Ethiopian Orthodox Bible is the biggest of them all, with 81 books. This version includes everything you’ll find in the Catholic and Orthodox Bibles, plus a few unique ones like the books of Enoch and Jubilees. It even has books called "1–3 Meqabyan" that don’t show up in any other Christian Bible. In Ethiopian Orthodox tradition, these extra books are seen as sacred.
5. The Jewish Tanakh – 24 Books
The Jewish Bible, called the Tanakh, is a bit different. It has 24 books, all of which are part of the Old Testament in Christian Bibles. Even though it has fewer books, the content is similar to the Protestant Old Testament. The difference is in how the books are grouped. For example, what Christians know as 1 and 2 Samuel is combined into one book in the Tanakh.
Key Distinctions Across Canons
Now that we’ve gone through the different versions, let’s talk about what sets them apart. These differences didn’t happen by accident—each one comes from centuries of decisions, debates, and beliefs about what should be included in the Holy Bible. Here are the main distinctions that make each version unique.
Apocrypha and Deuterocanonical Books
You’ll hear two fancy terms tossed around when talking about extra books: Apocrypha and Deuterocanonical. Both refer to books that don’t appear in every Bible version. In Protestant Bibles, these books are often left out, while Catholic and Orthodox Bibles keep them in. The word Apocrypha basically means “hidden” or “extra,” while Deuterocanonical means “second canon.” Think of them as bonus books. These books include things like Tobit, Judith, and 1 and 2 Maccabees, which have stories, wisdom, and teachings valued in some traditions but not all.
Different Interpretations of Canon
The term canon just means “the official list.” But what’s official changes depending on who you ask. Each tradition has its own canon based on different historical and theological perspectives. For example, the Protestant Bible follows a canon based on what was accepted in early Jewish texts, while the Catholic and Orthodox canons add books that were widely read in early Christian communities. These differences go way back—like, 1,500 to 2,000 years back.
Language and Translation Differences
The Bible wasn’t originally written in English. In fact, it started in Hebrew, Greek, and a bit of Aramaic. When scholars translated these texts over the centuries, some books made the cut in certain traditions, while others didn’t. For example, the Old Testament books in the Protestant Bible mostly come from Hebrew texts, while the additional books in the Catholic and Orthodox Bibles often come from ancient Greek versions. These language differences helped shape the final canon for each group.
Cultural and Theological Emphasis
Every tradition has its own reasons for including or excluding certain books. For Catholics, the Deuterocanonical books are part of the faith’s teachings on wisdom, prayer, and history. In Orthodox traditions, they’re valued for their historical connections to the early Christian church. Meanwhile, Protestant leaders during the Reformation chose to focus on texts they believed best aligned with the original Hebrew scriptures. The Jewish Tanakh is another example—it’s focused strictly on the Hebrew Bible, without the New Testament at all, since that’s not part of Jewish tradition.
Historical Background on Canon Formation
So, how did we end up with different versions in the first place? It’s all about the history of the Bible and the decisions made by religious leaders over hundreds of years. Let’s take a quick look at how these “official” lists—or canons—came to be.
Back in the day, before anything was written down, stories and teachings were passed down orally. Eventually, these teachings were written on scrolls, creating the earliest texts of what we now call the Bible. For the Jewish community, these writings became the Tanakh, or the Hebrew Bible, which Christians now know as the Old Testament. By around 200 BCE, the Hebrew scriptures were more or less set in stone for Jewish communities.
When Christianity began, believers didn’t have a New Testament yet. Instead, they relied on the Old Testament and a growing collection of letters and writings. As time passed, these Christian communities started treating certain writings—like the letters of Paul and the four Gospels—as sacred. By around 200 CE, church leaders were discussing which of these writings should be considered “official.” But it wasn’t a quick decision.
Over the next few centuries, Christian leaders held councils to debate which books should make it into the Bible. In the 4th century, councils like the Council of Carthage and the Council of Hippo played a big role in making these decisions. They created an “official” list of books that most Christian churches agreed on, which included the books in the New Testament and what Catholics and Orthodox now call the Deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament.
Fast forward to the 1500s, and we hit the Protestant Reformation—a time when people started questioning a lot about church traditions, including which books should be in the Bible. Martin Luther, a key figure in the Reformation, believed that the Bible should stick to books that were closest to the original Hebrew texts. This led to the Protestant Bible, which excludes the Deuterocanonical books and sticks with 66 books in total.
Meanwhile, Orthodox Christians in the East kept using versions of the Bible that included even more books, adding up to around 76. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church went a step further, keeping a canon with 81 books, including some that are unique to their tradition, like the Book of Enoch and the Book of Jubilees. These extra books held special meaning in their communities and were considered just as inspired as the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Discover the most popular questions asked by the Bible Chat community about the number of books in the Bible.
How many books are in the Bible?
The number of books in the Bible depends on the version:
- Protestant Bible: 66 books
- Catholic Bible: 73 books
- Eastern Orthodox Bible: Typically 76 books
- Ethiopian Orthodox Bible: 81 books
- Hebrew Bible (Tanakh): 24 books
When was the Bible written?
The Bible was written over many centuries. The Old Testament books were written from around 1200 to 165 BCE, while the New Testament books were written between 50 and 100 CE.
What are the Old Testament books?
The Old Testament books vary by tradition, but common ones include Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. For a full list, check the specific canon used by different religious traditions.
What are the books of the Bible in order?
Each Bible tradition has a slightly different order, but most Bibles start with Genesis and end with Revelation. A full listing can be found in any Bible table of contents, which may vary by version.
What are the New Testament books in order?
The New Testament usually follows this order:
- Matthew
- Mark
- Luke
- John
- Acts
- Romans
- 1 Corinthians
- 2 Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians
- Philippians
- Colossians
- 1 Thessalonians
- 2 Thessalonians
- 1 Timothy
- 2 Timothy
- Titus
- Philemon
- Hebrews
- James
- 1 Peter
- 2 Peter
- 1 John
- 2 John
- 3 John
- Jude
- Revelation
Who made the Bible?
The Holy Bible was written by many authors over time, including prophets, kings, apostles, and early Christian leaders. These authors were inspired by their experiences and beliefs, and their writings were eventually collected and recognized by religious leaders.
How many Bibles are there?
There is one Bible, but there are several versions, each with a slightly different selection and order of books. The main ones are the Protestant, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Ethiopian Orthodox Bibles.
When was the first Bible written?
The earliest parts of the Bible (the Old Testament) were written as far back as 1200 BCE, but the first full collection resembling the Bible we know today was completed around the 4th century CE.
What is the original language of the Bible?
The Old Testament was mostly written in Hebrew, with a few parts in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek.
Is the Bible fiction?
The Bible contains different types of writing, including history, poetry, teachings, and parables. While some parts are symbolic or poetic, many believers see the Bible as a sacred text that provides spiritual truth rather than strictly fiction or nonfiction.
How many books are in the Catholic Bible?
The Catholic Bible has 73 books—46 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.
How many books did Paul write in the Bible?
Paul is traditionally credited with writing 13 books in the New Testament, known as the Pauline Epistles. These include Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and others.
How many books are in the Hebrew Bible?
The Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh, has 24 books. It aligns closely with the Protestant Old Testament but combines some books that Christians separate.
How many books are in the original Bible?
The “original” Bible doesn’t exist as a single book; different communities assembled their canons over time. The earliest canons were the Hebrew Bible (24 books) and early Christian texts. Later, councils finalized the canon lists for different traditions.
How many books are in the King James Bible?
The King James Version (KJV) of the Bible has 66 books—39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament, following the Protestant tradition.
