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Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger | Stunned by Scripture Ep. 3
St. Paul Center
Overview
This video explains why Catholic Bibles contain more books in the Old Testament than Protestant Bibles. It debunks the common misconception that the Catholic Church added these books during the Council of Trent to support doctrines like purgatory. Instead, the video traces the historical development of the biblical canon, highlighting that the longer list of Old Testament books has been recognized by the Church since at least the 4th century. The difference in canon arose when Protestant reformers, during the Reformation, adopted the Jewish canon of scripture, which had developed later and excluded certain books that were part of the earlier Christian tradition.
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Chapters
- Catholic Bibles are larger than Protestant Bibles primarily due to the inclusion of seven additional books in the Old Testament.
- These books include Baruch, Wisdom, Sirach, Tobit, Judith, and 1 & 2 Maccabees.
- Additionally, Catholic versions of Daniel and Esther contain longer narratives and additional passages not found in Protestant versions.
- The common Protestant explanation that these books were added by the Catholic Church at the Council of Trent is historically inaccurate.
Understanding this discrepancy is crucial for appreciating the historical development of the Bible and the distinct canons of different Christian traditions.
Catholic Bibles include the stories of Susanna and Bel and the Dragon within the book of Daniel, which are absent in Protestant Bibles.
- The word 'Bible' itself is not found in scripture; it derives from Greek and Latin words meaning 'book'.
- The concept of a bound book (codex) became popular around the time Christianity emerged, contrasting with earlier scroll formats.
- The scroll format made it easier to add or remove texts from a collection, whereas the codex format necessitated a more fixed canon.
- The earliest books of the Old Testament, attributed to Moses, date back to between 1500 and 1200 BC.
The format of scripture (scroll vs. codex) and the very definition of 'Bible' influenced how the collection of inspired books was finalized and perceived.
Imagine a basket of scrolls, each containing a book of scripture; it's easy to add or remove a scroll, unlike a bound codex.
- The Old Testament canon grew over centuries, starting with the Pentateuch (five books of Moses) and expanding through historical narratives, songs (Psalms), wisdom literature (Proverbs), and prophetic writings.
- Key figures like David and Solomon contributed to the development of the Psalms and wisdom literature.
- Prophets from the 8th century BC onwards began recording their oracles, forming collections of major and minor prophets.
- Late additions, such as Wisdom and Sirach, appeared in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC.
The gradual accretion of texts reflects a long process of divine inspiration and community recognition, not a sudden addition of books.
The book of Psalms grew over centuries, with David initiating the tradition of sacred song and later authors adding to the collection.
- In Jesus' time, Judaism had different sects (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes) with varying views on which books were inspired.
- The Pharisees accepted around 22 books, similar to the modern Protestant Old Testament.
- The Sadducees only accepted the Torah (first five books of Moses).
- The Essenes accepted most of the Pharisaic canon but also included additional holy books like Enoch and Jubilees.
- Jesus' teachings and quotations served as a model for the apostles, guiding the early Church's understanding of inspired scripture.
The disunity within Judaism regarding scripture highlights the need for a definitive Christian understanding of the canon, which was established through apostolic tradition.
While Pharisees accepted about 22 books, the Sadducees only recognized the five books of Moses as fully inspired.
- Following periods of persecution, the early Church, particularly through councils, clarified the list of inspired books.
- The Council of Rome in 382 AD, under Pope Damasus I, produced the first definitive list of Old and New Testament books for the universal Church.
- This list, including the disputed books, was reaffirmed by subsequent Church councils and fathers like St. Augustine.
- The Council of Florence in 1441 officially confirmed this canon ecumenically, long before the Protestant Reformation.
Church councils and authoritative figures systematically affirmed the canon, demonstrating continuity with apostolic tradition rather than a later invention.
The Council of Rome in 382 AD, commissioned by Pope Damasus I, provided the first comprehensive list of inspired books for the Catholic Church.
- During the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther and others sought to remove biblical support for doctrines like purgatory.
- The book of 2 Maccabees, which commends prayers for the dead, was a particular target.
- To justify removing these books, Protestant reformers adopted the Jewish canon of the Old Testament.
- This Jewish canon had solidified later, partly in response to Christianity, and excluded the books recognized by the early Church.
The Protestant reformers' decision to adopt the Jewish canon, rather than the established Christian canon, is the primary reason for the difference in Bible size today.
Martin Luther, seeking to undermine the doctrine of purgatory, looked to the Jewish canon which excluded 2 Maccabees, a book that supports prayers for the dead.
Key takeaways
- The Catholic Church did not add books to the Bible at the Council of Trent; these books were recognized as canonical much earlier.
- The difference in Bible size stems from the Protestant Reformation's adoption of the Jewish Old Testament canon.
- The format of scripture (scrolls vs. codex) played a role in the formalization of the biblical canon.
- The canon of scripture developed gradually over centuries, with early Church councils and fathers affirming the accepted books.
- The word 'Bible' is a later term derived from Greek and Latin, meaning 'book', and is not found within the scriptures themselves.
- Understanding the historical development of the canon is essential for comprehending differences between Christian traditions.
- Jesus' teachings and quotations served as a foundational guide for the early Church in recognizing inspired scripture.
Key terms
CanonDeuterocanonical booksApocryphaCodexScrollCouncil of TrentCouncil of Rome (382 AD)Council of Florence (1441)PentateuchProtestant Reformation
Test your understanding
- What is the primary reason Catholic Bibles contain more books than Protestant Bibles?
- How did the format of scrolls versus codices influence the development of the biblical canon?
- What historical event led to the divergence in Old Testament canons between Catholic and Protestant traditions?
- Why is the claim that the Catholic Church added books at the Council of Trent considered false?
- How did the early Church, through councils and tradition, establish the canon of scripture?