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

This handcrafted Bible case is made from genuine soft grain leather. Each case features a fully lined interior for superior protection, inside pockets, and a solid pewter engraved cross zipper pull.

This handcrafted Bible case is made from genuine soft grain leather. Each case features a fully lined interior for superior protection, inside pockets, and a solid pewter engraved cross zipper pull.

This handcrafted Bible case is made from genuine soft grain leather. Each case features a fully lined interior for superior protection, inside pockets, and a solid pewter engraved cross zipper pull.

This New American Bible with imitation leather burgundy cover, is the Gift and Award Edition.  It has introductions and outlines to each book of the Bible,  the words of Christ in Red-Letter and a list of the Popes.  The gold wording on the spine reads "New American Bible, Official Catholic Bible, and Red Letter Edition", and on the …

The front of this G ift and Award Edition zipper-close burgundy imitation leather Bible has the words "The New American Bible" in gold, with gold edging on the pages. Comes gift boxed. Special features: Footnotes and references List of Popes Parables of Christ Miracles of Christ Discourses of Christ in chronological order Presentation page and Family Record pages 8 pages of …

This burgundy bonded leather Bible comes with a variety of features.  Some of these include: Beautifully illustrated family record section Giant, easy to read typeface All footnotes keyed in text Vatican II Constitution, on Divine Revelation Handy Bible dictionary Doctrinal Bible index List of Miracles and Parables  

Special features of this bonded leather Bible include: A handy magnet closure front Bible Dictionary Self-explaining maps Doctrinal Bible index Complete Footnotes and Cross-References 40 Full-color illustrations Presentation page Family Record section Sewn deluxe binding 

This compact Bible features: Beautifully Illustrated Family Record Section Over 60 full Color Illustrations All Footnotes and Cross-References Keyed in Text Over 30 Self-Explaining Maps in Context Color Photographs of Land of the Bible Chronology of History of Israel Bible and Catholic Life Vatican II Constitution on Divine Revelation Doctrinal Bible Index Liturgical Index of Sunday Readings

This zippered, bonded-leather cover Bible features: Beautifully Illustrated Family Record Section Over 60 full Color Illustrations All Footnotes and Cross-References Keyed in Text Over 30 Self-Explaining Maps in Context Color Photographs of Land of the Bible Chronology of History of Israel Bible and Catholic Life Vatican II Constitution on Divine Revelation Doctrinal Bible Index Liturgical …

Blaise Arminjon, S.J. What book of the Old or New Testament has generated the most commentaries in the history of the Church? Not John’s Gospel, not Paul’s letter to the Romans, not the prophet Isaiah, no, it is the Song of Songs. It is a book that is unknown to many Catholics, and shocking to those who discover it for the first time because of its descriptions of a lover and his …

  , an edition of Sacred Scripture prepared by members of the Faculty of Theology of Navarre University, consists of the Revised Standard Version, and commentaries. The commentaries provide explanations of the doctrinal and practical meaning of the scriptural text, drawing on a rich variety of sources-Church documents, the exegesis of Fathers and Doctors, and the works of prominent …

Featuring a luxurious handcrafted genuine Italian leather design, this richly colored Caramel Bible Cover features a folding flap, locking metal snap, and interior pen holder.

Featuring a luxurious handcrafted genuine Italian leather design, this richly colored Caramel Bible Cover features a folding flap, locking metal snap, and interior pen holder.

Featuring a luxurious handcrafted genuine Italian leather design, this richly colored Caramel Bible Cover features a folding flap, locking metal snap, and interior pen holder.

Commentary on the Four Gospels by St. Thomas Aquinas Features: Freshly re-typeset . This is the first time in more than 150 years that the Catena Aurea has been entirely re-typeset, meaning that the text is crisp, clear and easy to read, unlike many facsimile editions. It accurately reproduces the original text and incorporates all errors noted in the original volumes' errata sheets. Beautiful …

The acclaimed Gospel commentaries by St. Thomas Aquinas, translated by Ven. John Henry Cardinal Newman. The latter twentieth century and early twenty-first century has seen a revival of interest in the biblical commentary of the church fathers. Noteworthy evidence is supplied by the ongoing publication of two major patristic commentaries by Eerdmans and InterVarsity Press. During the …

A monumental new work from Dr. Scott Hahn and a "must have" for every Catholic home or parish library. Dr. Scott Hahn, the internationally renowned Scripture scholar and theologian, has inspired millions with his astute insight into the Catholic faith. Now he brings us this very important reference guide, written specifically for Catholics, which contains more than …

Why did yesterday's Catholic kids know the Bible so much better than today's? One MAJOR reason: this magnificent Bible picture book Even back in the Fifties, this book was considered ambitious. Today it would be unthinkable for a Catholic publisher to lavish so much time, talent and expense on a book intended primarily (but by no means exclusively) for young people. Consider the contents: …

The Catholic Bible Study Handbook offers Catholics a popular approach to personal and group Bible study. Everything you need to know to begin studying the Bible is contained in this easy-to-use guide. The Catholic Bible Study Handbook puts a wealth of information at your fingertips. It makes the study of Scripture a rich and rewarding experience, helping you to understand God's Word and to …