How Many Books Are in the Catholic Bible: See the Order

How many books are in the Catholic Bible is one of the most common questions for those who want to better understand the Christian faith and its tradition. The answer is clear: the Catholic Bible has 73 books, with 46 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. This composition was defined by the Church over the centuries and confirmed at the Council of Trent (1546), which officially established the Catholic biblical canon.

This complete guide will show in detail the formation, the full list of books, the differences from other Christian traditions, plus curiosities and a FAQ to further enrich your understanding.

Quick Summary

✦ The Catholic Bible has 73 books
✦ 46 books in the Old Testament
✦ 27 books in the New Testament
✦ The Protestant Bible has 66 books
✦ The difference lies in the 7 deuterocanonical books
✦ Official confirmation at the Council of Trent (1546)

The importance of knowing how many books are in the Catholic Bible

Understanding how many books are in the Catholic Bible goes beyond knowing numbers. Each book reveals a fundamental part of the history of salvation. Altogether, the Bible brings together writings from different eras, literary genres, and authors inspired by God, preserving the faith and tradition of the people of Israel and, later, of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

How many books are in the Catholic Bible in total

The Catholic Bible contains 73 books, divided into two major parts:

Old Testament: 46 books
New Testament: 27 books

This structure differentiates the Catholic Bible from the Protestant one, which has only 66 books because it excludes the deuterocanonicals, accepted by Catholic tradition since the earliest centuries.

The Old Testament of the Catholic Bible

The Old Testament contains 46 books and is divided into four main groups: Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Books, and Prophetic Books.

The Pentateuch (5 books)

Also called the Torah, it brings together the laws and creation.

1. Genesis
2. Exodus
3. Leviticus
4. Numbers
5. Deuteronomy

Historical Books (16 books)

They narrate the history of the people of Israel, their battles, conquests, and exiles.

1. Joshua
2. Judges
3. Ruth
4. 1 Samuel
5. 2 Samuel
6. 1 Kings
7. 2 Kings
8. 1 Chronicles
9. 2 Chronicles
10. Ezra
11. Nehemiah
12. Tobit
13. Judith
14. Esther
15. 1 Maccabees
16. 2 Maccabees

Wisdom Books (7 books)

They gather poetry, songs, prayers, and teachings of wisdom.

1. Job
2. Psalms
3. Proverbs
4. Ecclesiastes
5. Song of Songs
6. Wisdom
7. Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)

Prophetic Books (18 books)

They include the major and minor prophets, who proclaimed God’s messages.

Major Prophets:

1. Isaiah
2. Jeremiah
3. Lamentations
4. Baruch
5. Ezekiel
6. Daniel

Minor Prophets:
7. Hosea
8. Joel
9. Amos
10. Obadiah
11. Jonah
12. Micah
13. Nahum
14. Habakkuk
15. Zephaniah
16. Haggai
17. Zechariah
18. Malachi

The New Testament of the Catholic Bible

The New Testament contains 27 books, all equally accepted by Catholics and Protestants, and it centers on the life and mission of Jesus Christ.

The 4 Gospels

1. Gospel according to Matthew
2. Gospel according to Mark
3. Gospel according to Luke
4. Gospel according to John

Acts of the Apostles

5. Acts of the Apostles

Letters of Saint Paul (13 books)

6. Letter to the Romans
7. 1 Corinthians
8. 2 Corinthians
9. Letter to the Galatians
10. Letter to the Ephesians
11. Letter to the Philippians
12. Letter to the Colossians
13. 1 Thessalonians
14. 2 Thessalonians
15. 1 Timothy
16. 2 Timothy
17. Titus
18. Philemon

Letter to the Hebrews

19. Letter to the Hebrews

Catholic Letters (7 books)

20. Letter of James
21. 1 Peter
22. 2 Peter
23. 1 John
24. 2 John
25. 3 John
26. Jude

Prophetic Book of the New Testament

27. Revelation of John

Difference between the Catholic and Protestant Bibles

One of the major discussions is how many books are in the Catholic Bible compared to the Protestant:

Catholic: 73 books
Protestant: 66 books
Orthodox: up to 81 books, depending on the tradition

Protestants removed the deuterocanonicals, calling them “apocrypha.” The Catholic Church, however, kept them for following the tradition of the Septuagint, the Greek translation used by the first Christians.

Deuterocanonical books

These are the books that explain the difference in how many books are in the Catholic Bible:

• Tobit
• Judith
• Wisdom
• Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)
• Baruch
• 1 Maccabees
• 2 Maccabees

In addition to additions to Esther and Daniel.

Why does the Catholic Bible have 73 books?

The Catholic Church recognizes 73 books in its Bible because this number was historically confirmed by Apostolic Tradition and by official ecclesiastical documents. Major sources explain that the canon was discerned over the centuries based on which writings were used by Christian communities, considered inspired, and accepted liturgically.

• According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, an official Vatican document, the canon of Scripture includes 46 books in the Old Testament (45 if Jeremiah and Lamentations are counted as one) and 27 books in the New Testament, totaling 73 books. (Source: Vatican.va – Catechism of the Catholic Church)
• The same Vatican page lists all these 73 books, showing the 7 deuterocanonical books in addition to the others that correspond to the traditional Old Testament used by the Catholic Church. Vatican
• Wikipedia, on its “Catholic Bible” page, confirms that the Catholic canon consists of 46 Old Testament books (including the deuterocanonicals) plus 27 in the New Testament, totaling 73 books. Wikipedia
• Another influential site, the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops), offers a “Books of the Bible” list that includes all the books used by the Catholic tradition, including the deuterocanonicals, organized according to the official canon. USCCB

Curiosities about how many books are in the Catholic Bible

The Bible took more than a thousand years to be formed.
The division into chapters arose only in the 13th century.
The division into verses came in the 16th century.
The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek; the New Testament, in Greek.

The spiritual richness of the 73 books

Speaking about how many books are in the Catholic Bible is to speak of a unique collection of writings that have shaped the Christian faith over the centuries. Each book has its own contribution, offering spiritual, historical, and wisdom-filled lessons.

The Old Testament

In the 46 books of the Old Testament, the reader finds:
✦ The narrative of creation and the covenant between God and His people.
✦ The laws and guidance given to Israel.
✦ Prayer and poetry in the Psalms, which to this day strengthen faith.
✦ Wisdom counsel in books such as Proverbs and Sirach.
✦ The messages of the prophets, who proclaim justice, hope, and the promised Messiah.

The New Testament

The 27 books of the New Testament reveal the fullness of revelation in Jesus Christ:
✦ The Gospels narrate the life, miracles, and teachings of Jesus.
✦ The Acts of the Apostles show the growth of the early Church.
✦ The Apostolic Letters provide practical and spiritual guidance for Christian communities.
✦ Revelation closes the Bible with a message of hope and victory, reminding us that God directs history.

A spiritual treasure

Thus, the answer to how many books are in the Catholic Bible is not merely “73.” It is to understand that each book is a source of faith, comfort, and inspiration. Together, they form a sacred library that guides the faithful in prayer, discernment, and life with God.

FAQ about how many books are in the Catholic Bible

Conclusion – How many books are in the Catholic Bible

Now you know how many books are in the Catholic Bible: there are 73 books, which form an invaluable spiritual treasure. They preserve the story of creation, the journey of God’s people, the life of Jesus Christ, and the teachings of the apostles.

More than a numerical matter, each book is a source of wisdom and faith, preserved over the centuries and given to inspire generations to this day.

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I hope you enjoyed this article about how many books are in the Catholic Bible.