The question of which Bible Roman Catholics use often creates confusion, especially when you notice their Bibles appear thicker than Protestant versions. This isn’t a minor editorial choice or a matter of preference.
Understanding the Catholic Bible reveals important truths about church history, biblical canon, and how God’s Word has been preserved and transmitted through the centuries.
What Bible Do Roman Catholics Use?
Roman Catholics use Bibles that include 73 books: the 66 books found in Protestant Bibles plus seven additional books called the Deuterocanonical books (Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees). These Bibles also contain additional sections in the books of Esther and Daniel that Protestant Bibles exclude.
The Official Catholic Bible Versions
The Catholic Church doesn’t mandate a single English translation for all Catholics. Different versions receive official approval based on their faithfulness to the original texts and Catholic teaching.
Popular Catholic Bible translations include the New American Bible (Revised Edition), which you’ll hear read at Mass in the United States. The Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) and the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE) also hold wide acceptance.
For centuries, Catholics primarily used the Douay-Rheims Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate. This translation shaped Catholic spirituality and theology in English-speaking countries from the late 1500s until the mid-20th century.
The Role of the Latin Vulgate
Saint Jerome translated the Latin Vulgate in the late 4th century, working from Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. The Council of Trent (1545-1563) declared the Vulgate the official Latin text of the Catholic Church.
This doesn’t mean Catholics can only read Latin Bibles (thankfully, or we’d all be in trouble). It means the Vulgate serves as the authoritative reference point for Catholic theology and doctrine.
Why Catholic Bibles Include Extra Books
The seven additional books in Catholic Bibles weren’t added later as some assume. They were part of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of Hebrew Scriptures that Jesus and the apostles knew and used.
Early Christians accepted these books as Scripture. Church fathers quoted them as authoritative, and early Christian councils included them in their lists of sacred books.
The Historical Development of the Canon
The debate over which books belong in the Old Testament didn’t begin with the Reformation. Jewish communities themselves disagreed about the canon in the first century.
Palestinian Jews generally favored a narrower collection of books written in Hebrew. Jews in Alexandria and the diaspora used the broader Septuagint collection, which included books written in Greek.
The New Testament writers quoted from the Septuagint extensively. When Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16 that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (NIV), he referred to the Scriptures available to Timothy, which included the Septuagint texts.
The Protestant Reformation and the Canon
Martin Luther and other Reformers questioned the Deuterocanonical books in the 16th century. Luther moved these books to a separate section between the Old and New Testaments, calling them “Apocrypha” (meaning hidden or doubtful).
Protestant churches eventually removed these books entirely from their Bibles. This decision stemmed partly from a return to the Hebrew canon and partly from theological disputes with Catholic teaching.
Interestingly, these books supported certain Catholic doctrines that Reformers rejected, such as prayers for the dead (2 Maccabees 12:46). The timing raises legitimate historical questions about whether theology influenced canon decisions.
What the Deuterocanonical Books Contain
These seven books aren’t strange mystical writings or contradictory texts. They record Jewish history, offer wisdom literature, and tell stories of faith that inspired believers for centuries.
Historical Books
1 and 2 Maccabees chronicle the Jewish revolt against Seleucid oppression in the 2nd century BC. These books describe the rededication of the Temple, the event Jews still celebrate as Hanukkah.
Tobit tells the story of a faithful Jew in exile who maintains obedience to God despite suffering. The book emphasizes God’s faithfulness, angelic ministry, and the importance of family.
Judith recounts how a brave widow saves her people from an invading army. Her story demonstrates that God works through unlikely people to accomplish His purposes.
Wisdom Literature
The Wisdom of Solomon explores themes of righteousness, immortality, and God’s justice. It connects Jewish wisdom traditions with Greek philosophical thought.
Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus) provides practical guidance for daily living. It reads like an extended version of Proverbs, addressing everything from friendship to humility to table manners.
Baruch contains prayers and reflections attributed to Jeremiah’s scribe. The book calls Jews in exile to repentance and hope in God’s restoration.
Differences Beyond the Extra Books
The number of books isn’t the only distinction between Catholic and Protestant Bibles. Translation philosophies and textual traditions also create differences.
Translation Approval Process
Catholic Bibles must receive an imprimatur (Latin for “let it be printed”) from a bishop. This approval confirms the translation contains no errors in faith or morals.
Protestant translations don’t require ecclesiastical approval. Translation committees typically include scholars from various denominations who work independently of church hierarchy.
Footnotes and Commentary
Catholic Bibles often include extensive footnotes explaining passages according to Catholic interpretation. These notes reference Church teaching, papal documents, and the writings of saints.
Study Bibles in both traditions provide commentary, but Catholic editions specifically address how passages relate to Catholic doctrine and practice. You’ll find explanations of how verses connect to the sacraments, Mary, and the saints.
Can Protestants and Catholics Read Each Other’s Bibles?
Nothing stops a Protestant from reading a Catholic Bible or vice versa. God’s Word speaks powerfully regardless of the edition you hold.
For the 66 books both traditions share, translations often prove remarkably similar. A Protestant reading the Gospel of John from a Catholic Bible will encounter the same Jesus, the same teachings, and the same call to faith.
The Value of Reading Broadly
Reading different Bible versions deepens understanding. Comparing how various translations render a passage often illuminates nuances you might otherwise miss.
Many Protestants have found spiritual value in reading the Deuterocanonical books, even if they don’t regard them as canonical Scripture. These books provide historical context for the intertestamental period and demonstrate how faithful Jews lived under foreign oppression.
The stories in Maccabees explain why Jesus walked in Solomon’s Colonnade during Hanukkah (John 10:22-23). The theology in Wisdom of Solomon provides background for New Testament concepts about wisdom and righteousness.
What This Means for Christian Unity
The different canons between Catholics and Protestants create genuine theological challenges. Christians committed to “Scripture alone” as ultimate authority must grapple with the fact that “Scripture” itself differs between traditions.
This reality should humble us all. It reminds us that faithful, sincere Christians have disagreed about important matters throughout church history.
Common Ground in Scripture
Despite canon differences, Catholics and Protestants share the entire New Testament and most of the Old Testament. These shared Scriptures contain the gospel message, the life of Christ, and the core doctrines of Christian faith.
Romans 10:9 (NIV) declares the same truth in every Christian Bible: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” This foundational gospel doesn’t change based on whether your Bible has 66 or 73 books.
Moving Forward in Truth and Love
Understanding why Catholics use a different canon doesn’t require you to accept their position. It does require honest engagement with history and mutual respect.
Protestants should acknowledge that early Christians used and valued the Deuterocanonical books. Catholics should recognize that sincere biblical scholars have legitimate reasons for questioning these books’ canonical status.
Both groups should remember that Jesus prayed in John 17:21 for His followers to “be one” so the world would believe. Our unity in Christ matters more than our uniformity in every interpretive question.
Practical Steps for Bible Readers
Whether you’re Catholic, Protestant, or simply exploring Christianity, certain practices help you engage Scripture faithfully and fruitfully.
- Read the Bible you have. God’s Word works powerfully in any faithful translation, so don’t let canon debates stop you from reading Scripture daily.
- Understand your Bible’s background. Know which translation you’re reading, its translation philosophy, and whether it includes the Deuterocanonical books.
- Compare key passages across translations. This practice reveals the richness of the original languages and helps you understand difficult verses.
- Study Scripture in community. God designed His Word to be read, discussed, and applied within the body of Christ, not in isolation.
- Pray for the Holy Spirit’s illumination. Scripture reading without the Spirit’s guidance becomes merely academic exercise rather than transformative encounter with God.
Questions to Ask as You Read
Approach Scripture with questions that drive you deeper into God’s truth. What does this passage reveal about God’s character?
How does this text point toward Christ and the gospel? What does obedience to this passage look like in your daily life today?
Where do you see your own heart reflected in this story or teaching? What comfort or challenge does the Holy Spirit offer you through these words?
The Heart of the Matter
The question “What Bible do Roman Catholics use?” opens into a complex history of translation, tradition, and theological conviction. Catholics use Bibles with 73 books, rooted in the Septuagint tradition that shaped early Christianity.
This difference from the Protestant 66-book canon reflects divergent views on authority, tradition, and how God preserved His Word through history. Both traditions claim to honor Scripture, though they disagree on Scripture’s precise boundaries.
The core message remains consistent across these differences. God created humanity, sin separated us from Him, and Jesus Christ died and rose again to reconcile us to God through faith.
This gospel transforms lives whether you read it in the New American Bible or the English Standard Version. God’s Word accomplishes His purposes regardless of the color of the cover or the number of books in the table of contents.
Here’s what matters most: Are you reading the Bible you have? Are you allowing God’s Word to examine your heart, correct your thinking, and shape your life?
The Bible you actually read and obey serves you far better than the “perfect” Bible sitting unopened on your shelf. Choose a faithful translation, commit to regular reading, and trust the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.
Start today with whatever Bible sits within your reach. Open to the Gospels if you need a place to begin, and encounter Jesus Christ as He reveals Himself through Scripture.
If you’re exploring the differences between Catholic and Protestant faith, consider reading more about Catholic Bible versions and how they developed over time. Understanding the difference between Catholic and Christian perspectives helps clarify these questions and strengthens your own biblical foundation. God’s Word remains living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, regardless of which translation or tradition brings it to your hands.