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

Cover design, by Jariath Hayes, incorporates Rhoda opens the door to St. Peter (1934) by Wilhelmina Margaret Geddes(1887-1955), courtesy of the Ulster Museum, Belfast.

The Catholic Study Bible has been widely accepted for use by advanced students who have benefited from its wealth of background information on the historical, literary, and theological dimensions of the Scriptures. The second edition of this landmark resource has been significantly upgraded. The study notes have been completely rewritten, and there are new and expanded essays and sidebars on …

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 …

Now Available! DVDs to compliment the “Come and See” Bible study series. These videos present material that expands upon the text and provides important background information. Each presentation contains artwork, maps, and photographs that are not available in the books. These images bring the commentary to life and enhance the students’ understanding and appreciation of the …

This New American Bible with imitation leather navy blue 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 silver wording on the spine reads "New American Bible, Official Catholic Bible, and Red Letter Edition", and on the …

This is a multi-fold pamphlet set that includes Bibles Thumpers 1 & 2.

If God is just, why do the innocent suffer and the wicked prosper? That question, one of the most profound and troubling in life, finds its definitive answer in the New Testament. But it was first asked—and answered—in the Old Testament’s Book of Job, the story of a perfectly upright, God-fearing man who, at the height of his prosperity, is smitten by a series of appalling …

Why do Catholic Bibles have more books in their Old Testaments than the Protestant and Jewish Bibles of today? Did the Catholic Church add books to Scripture or did Protestantism remove them? What was the Bible of the earliest Christians? Does my Bible have the same books as the historic, early Christian Bible? Are the Jewish people of today using different Scriptures than they used in …

Dr. Scott Hahn Curtis Mitch Based on the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, this volume leads readers through a penetrating study of the Letters of St. Paul to the Galatians and Ephesians, using biblical text itself and the Church's own guidelines for understanding the Bible.  Ample notes accompany each page, providing fresh insights and commentary by renowned Bible …

The Starter Pack with Audio includes the 33” full-color chart, the full-color bookmark, memory bead wristband, study helps/reading plan, and a one-hour overview talk Taking the Great Adventure.  In this talk, Jeff Cavins, Tim Gray and Sarah Christmyer guide you through the “ins and outs” of the color-coded timeline chart and offer you a compelling a glimpse in the …

Dr. Antonio Fuentes The Bible continues to be the outstanding bestseller, and no doubt will maintain that position; but that does not mean that it is read as much as it might be or that people find it easy to read.  Often this is due to their not having a good overall grasp of what the Bible is, what it is teaching and what it is not teaching, and how its various books fit together.  …

  Vol I From the Beginning to the Exile and Vol II From the Exile to AD 135 By far the most readable history of the Old Testament ever written Abbott Giuseppe Ricciotti renders it comprehensible. Volume One starts with the dawn of history, discusses the great empires which were to figure so largely in Israel’s destiny, and carries the history of the Chosen People from Abraham down …

In keeping with the wishes of the current Holy Father, Benedict XVI, Loreto Publications has published this truly unique edition of the Holy Bible NT in Latin and English. Suitable either for students of theology and the Scriptures, for those studying Latin, or just for Catholics who wish to conduct themselves according to the mind of the Church, this edition brings together two classic …

Now The Collegeville Bible Commentary is available in an affordable two-volume paperback edition. Special "ease" binding allows the volumes to lay open without assistance. Perfect for classroom use or personal study. The full Scripture texts are not included in this commentary-only edition.

This volume of the Navarre Bible commentaries explores the Wisdom Books of the Old Testament. The book of Job takes the form of a narrative - the story of an upright man who experiences misfortune after misfortune; to a degree, it lifts the veil that surrounds the mystery of suffering. The book of Ecclesiastes helps the believer to appreciate the value of things heavenly. Proverbs consists of …

The Navarre Bible , an edition of Sacred Scripture prepared by members of the Faculty of Theology of Navarre University, consists of the New Vulgate, 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 Compact Edition is the perfect companion for devotional reading.  Travellers, commuters, and hospital visitors alike will appreciate this easy-to-carry Bible.  It features readable type and additional materials that will be of interest to Catholic readers. The RSV Catholic Edition's New Testament appeared in 1965, and the whole Bible the following year.  It remains the …

With Commentary, Annotations and Topical Essays by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch Based on the Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition, this volume leads readers through a penetrating study of the Gospel of Mark, using the biblical text itself and the Church's own guidelines for understanding the Bible. Ample notes accompany each page, providing fresh insights and commentary by renowned Bible …