How many books are in the Catholic Old Testament?

How many books are in the Catholic Old Testament?

• A. 40
• B. 45
• C. 46
• D. 39

Answer: (C)

Understanding how many books are in the Catholic Old Testament comes from knowing which writings are considered canonical. Catholic tradition includes the 39 books found in most Protestant Bibles plus seven additional books known as the deuterocanon. These seven are Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees, and there are also longer additions to Daniel and Esther that are included within those books. When you add these seven to the standard 39, you get forty-six. The Protestant Old Testament has only the 39, which is why the numbers differ. This 46-book canon for Catholics was affirmed by the Council of Trent in the 16th century.

Understanding how many books are in the Catholic Old Testament comes from knowing which writings are considered canonical. Catholic tradition includes the 39 books found in most Protestant Bibles plus seven additional books known as the deuterocanon. These seven are Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees, and there are also longer additions to Daniel and Esther that are included within those books. When you add these seven to the standard 39, you get forty-six. The Protestant Old Testament has only the 39, which is why the numbers differ. This 46-book canon for Catholics was affirmed by the Council of Trent in the 16th century.