Why Do Catholics Have 73 Books in the Bible While Protestants Have Only 66? Facts You Need to Know

One of the most common questions asked by Christians and non-Christians alike is:

“Why do Catholic Bibles have 73 books while Protestant Bibles only have 66?”

Some say the Catholic Church added extra books. Others claim the Protestants removed them. So which is true?

In this article, we will explore the facts behind the biblical canon, the history of the seven disputed books, and what the early Church believed about them.

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📚 What Are the Extra 7 Books in the Catholic Bible?

These seven books — called the Deuterocanonical books — are:

1. Tobit

2. Judith

3. Wisdom (of Solomon)

4. Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)

5. Baruch

6. 1 Maccabees

7. 2 Maccabees

And additions to:

• Esther

• Daniel

These are found in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles, but are not included in Protestant Bibles, which refer to them as “Apocrypha.”

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🕰️ A Brief History of the Bible’s Canon

📖 1. The Old Testament in Jesus’ Time

In the time of Jesus, Greek was the common language of the Jewish diaspora. Many Jews used a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures called the Septuagint (LXX), which included the Deuterocanonical books.

✅ Fact:
The Septuagint was the Bible used by Jesus and the Apostles, and it contained the 7 Deuterocanonical books.
📚 Source: "The Canon of Scripture" – F.F. Bruce

✝️ 2. The Early Church Accepted All 73 Books

The early Church Fathers, such as St. Irenaeus, St. Augustine, and St. Athanasius, frequently quoted from the Deuterocanonical books as Scripture.

📝 St. Augustine (c. 397 AD) –
“The whole canon of Scripture... includes Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus...”
(On Christian Doctrine, Book 2)

The Council of Rome (382 AD), under Pope Damasus I, confirmed the 73-book canon, including the Deuterocanonicals.

Later, this canon was reaffirmed at:

• Council of Hippo (393 AD)

• Council of Carthage (397 AD)

• Council of Trent (1546 AD) (in response to the Protestant Reformation)

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🪓 What Happened During the Protestant Reformation?

❌ Martin Luther Removed the 7 Books

In the 16th century, Martin Luther rejected the Deuterocanonical books because they did not support some of his doctrines, such as:

• Purgatory (2 Maccabees 12:44–46)

• Intercession of saints

• Almsgiving as atonement

He placed these books in a separate section called “Apocrypha” and later generations of Protestants removed them entirely from their Bibles.

📚 Source: "Luther’s Works," Vol. 35, p. 231

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🏛️ What Does the Catholic Church Teach?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms the complete canon of Scripture, including the Deuterocanonical books:

CCC 120:
“The Old Testament includes 46 books... The New Testament includes 27 books.”

📜 The canon was not added by the Catholic Church — it was affirmed and preserved from the earliest Christian tradition.

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📖 Did Jesus or the Apostles Quote the Deuterocanonicals?

While the New Testament does not directly quote all Deuterocanonical books by name, it does reflect their themes and teachings:

• Hebrews 11:35 references 2 Maccabees 7 — the story of the martyrs who believed in the resurrection.

• James 1:19 reflects Sirach 5:11 — “Be swift to hear, and with patience give answer.”

• Revelation 8:3–4 mirrors Tobit 12:12 — angels offering prayers with incense.

✅ The New Testament authors were clearly familiar with and influenced by the Deuterocanonical books.

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🧠 Key Clarification: Who Added or Removed the 7 Books?

• Catholic Church?
  ❌ Did not add the 7 books.
  ✅ Preserved what was already accepted by early Christians.

• Protestants?
  ✅ Removed the 7 books in the 16th century — over 1,100 years after the canon was affirmed.

⚠️ Irony: The original 1611 King James Bible included the Deuterocanonical books — they were only removed in the 1800s by British Bible Societies.

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✅ Conclusion: The 73 Books of the Catholic Bible Are Historically and Spiritually Authentic

The Catholic Church did not add the 7 books; rather, the Protestant reformers removed them. The Deuterocanonical books were part of the Christian Bible from the beginning — read, preached, and honored by the early Church.

If you're seeking the fullness of Scripture, it’s found in the Catholic Bible, which faithfully preserves the same canon recognized by the early Christians and the Councils of the Church.

✝️ “The Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth.” – 1 Timothy 3:15