All Bibles are not the same. The Catholic Bible contains seven books of the Old Testament which are not found in Protestant Bibles. These books include:

• Judith
• Wisdom
• Tobit
• Sirach
• Baruch
• 1 and 2 Macabees
• Portions of Esther
• Portions of Daniel

These books are sometimes referred to as the "Apocrypha" by Protestants or the "Deuterocanonical" books meaning "also canonical" by Catholics.

Bible History

During the early centuries of the Church there was plenty of debate and discussion about which books actually were authentic and inspired Sacred Scripture. The early Church councils of Hippo (393) and of Carthage (397) both declared that the books currently contained in the Catholic Bible (the canon of Sacred Scripture) were the inspired Word of God and belonged in the Bible.

During the Reformation, Martin Luther and other Protestant leaders removed these books from the Bible. Luther even argued that the Letter of St. James and the Book of Revelation (The Apocalypse) should be removed from the Bible! The Council of Trent in 1546 reaffirmed what the councils of Hippo and Carthage had proclaimed over 1000 years earlier: that the texts found in the Catholic Bible are all the authentic Word of God and comprise the complete canon of Sacred Scripture.

Catholic Bible Translations

There are several different English translations available for the Catholic Bible. The primary ones include:

• Douay Rheims - This is the oldest English translation available and is frequently compared with the King James version because of its use of "Thee", "Thou" and other older forms of words. This translation is considered highly accurate but can be more difficult to read for some people.
• Revised Standard (RSV) - This was a joint translation project between American Protestants and Catholics with the Catholic Church completing the translation of the Apocrypha. This translation is considered the most accurate modern translation but still contains "Thee" and "Thou" when referring to God. This translation along with the New American Bible was approved for liturgical use in the United States.
• Revised Standard 2nd Edition - This version is almost identical to the regular Revised Standard but updates the language by getting rid of "Thee" and "Thou".
• New American Bible (NAB) - This version is the most common American translation. It was written for an eighth grade reading level and contains the most "modern" language of the primary Catholic translations. The New American Bible is available in more versions than any other Catholic Bible.
• Jerusalem Bible - The Jerusalem Bible, completed in 1966, is very similar to

Pathways in Scripture provides an inspirational, liturgically-based introduction to books of the Bible. Rooted in the tradition of the Fathers of the Church, each chapter reveals the spiritual sense hidden behind the literal meaning of the text and points readers toward a life application.   Forward by Dr. Scott Hahn. About the Author Fr. Damasus Winzen was a renowned leader of the …

The Catholic Comparative New Testament New American Bible · Revised Standard Version · New Revised Standard Version · Jerusalem Bible · New Jerusalem Bible · Christian Community Bible · Douay-Rheims · Good News Translation

For busy adults who want to study the Bible but don't know where to begin, Six Weeks with the Bible provides an inviting starting point. Each guide is divided into six concise, 90-minute segments that introduce one book of the Bible. All biblical text is printed in the guides, which means no additional study aids are required.

The Douay-Rheims Bible is an English translation of the Latin Vulgate Bible, a version universally used in the Church for over 1500 years, meticulously translated from the original Hebrew and Greek by St. Jerome (A.D. 340-420) This new edition of the venerable Douay-Rheims Bible is a complete reprinting of the Challoner edition. Features include: Imprimatur by James Cardinal Gibbons, …

This style of the New American Bible offers readers a varied selection of binding and color options from which they may choose - and all at extremely competitive prices. The paperback is the perfect size for school use. It features the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation ( Dei Verbum ), placement of the NAB notes at the end of each book to enhance the readability of the biblical text, a …

The Douay-Rheims Bible is an English translation of the Latin Vulgate Bible, a version universally used in the Church for over 1500 years, meticulously translated from the original Hebrew and Greek by St. Jerome (A.D. This new edition of the venerable Douay-Rheims Bible is a complete reprinting of the Challoner edition. Features include: Imprimatur by James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of …

Edited by Fr. Kenelm Vaughan Originally published as "The Divine Armory" this is the Bible, organized by topic, for easy reference to hundreds upon hundreds od subjects.  Features: New and Old Testament verses arranged by topic (in a reliable, pre-liberal translations); topical index of 700 entries; topical chapter subtitles.  "Not a concordance of the Bible," noted Homiletic and …

Reviews - In the desert of biblical scholarship that tries to deconstruct or get behind the texts, the patristic commentators let the pure, clear waters of Christian faith flow from its scriptural source. Preachers, teachers and Bible students of every sort will want to drink deeply from The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Fr. Richard John Neuhaus , president of Religion and Public …

Elena Bosetti Scripture scholar Elena Bosetti brings a prayerful, uniquely feminine, and deeply human perspective to God’s Word and provides the springboard for a more fruitful lectio divina on the synoptic Gospels. This exploration of the Word launches us on a journey of encounter, discovery, conversion, and announcement of news so good that it must be shared.

This edition is perfect for anyone needing a straightforward text of the New American Bible, whether for reading or personal devotions. It includes a presentation section, prayers and devotions of the Church, the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation ( Dei Verbum ), a select NAB concordance, an essay on using the lectionary, and weekday and Sunday lectionary readings. Translators' notes …

This large print edition of the popular New American Bible is perfect for Catholics that publicly proclaim the scriptures or who would benefit from having larger type in their Bible. SOFTCOVER. 6-1/2 x 9-1/4. First published in 1970, the revered New American Bible is familiar to millions of American Catholics as the translation proclaimed in the Mass and in their missals. This Large Print …

A Bible Atlas for the Bible reader and student, with 79 full-color original maps of Bible lands. The maps are carefully annotated to show the routes of the great travelers such as Abraham, Moses, and Paul, and major historical events such as major battles, migrations, and invasions. They also feature explanatory captions detailing the significance of places flagged. Richly illustrated …

This edition is perfect for anyone needing a straightforward text of the New American Bible, whether for reading or personal devotions. It includes a presentation section, prayers and devotions of the Church, the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation ( Dei Verbum ), a select NAB concordance, an essay on using the lectionary, and weekday and Sunday lectionary readings. Translators' notes …

“Fr. Henry Wansbrough, a master of communication, takes us on a fascinating journey. With deft strokes, he shows how the Bible did not drop out of the sky in the form we have it, but emerged over several generations. Informative and enjoyable reading!” —Jerome Kodell, OSB abbot, Subiaco Abbey, Arkansas and author of The Catholic Bible Study Handbook “Fr. Wansbrough provides very clear and …

Reviews - In the desert of biblical scholarship that tries to deconstruct or get behind the texts, the patristic commentators let the pure, clear waters of Christian faith flow from its scriptural source. Preachers, teachers and Bible students of every sort will want to drink deeply from The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Fr. Richard John Neuhaus , president of Religion and Public …

This style of the New American Bible offers readers a varied selection of binding and color options from which they may choose - and all at extremely competitive prices. It is the perfect size for students, commuters, hospital visitors, and anyone that needs a compact, high quality NAB. The Compact Edition features a Presentation Section (all except the paperback), the Dogmatic Constitution on …

This edition is perfect for anyone needing a straightforward text of the New American Bible, whether for reading or personal devotions. It includes a presentation section, prayers and devotions of the Church, the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation ( Dei Verbum ), a select NAB concordance, an essay on using the lectionary, and weekday and Sunday lectionary readings. Translators' notes …

This large print edition of the popular New American Bible is perfect for Catholics that publicly proclaim the scriptures or who would benefit from having larger type in their Bible. Carefully constructed from quality materials, it features a two-page Presentation Section, one ribbon marker, and gilded page edges. VINYL COVER. Tan/blue.  6-1/2 x 9-1/4