The Bible from Latin ‘ta Biblia’ (The Books)

The Roman Catholic Bible has 73 books.

The Protestant Bible contains 66 books.
There are 80 Books in the King James Version.
1. OLD TESTAMENT (39 Books- Protestant; 46 Books – Roman Catholic)

The Old Testament is the name of the first part of the Bible which was completed before Jesus
Christ was born. Scholars prefer the term Hebrew Bible. Tertullian was probably the first person to call
these books the “Old Testament.” He used the Latin name vetus testamentum in the 2nd century. It
covers the creation of the earth through Noah and the flood, Moses and more, finishing with the Jews
being expelled to Babylon.
The collection contains different texts, called books about the supreme god Yhwh (Yahweh) and
the people of Israel, divided into several sections: the Torah, the History of Israel, the Prophets and
Wisdom books. In Judaism, this collection of books is known as Tankh because it is divided into three
parts: Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim.
The Catholic Church uses Saint Jerome’s Latin translation of the Old Testament called Vulgate.
The Eastern Orthodox Church uses the ancient Greek translation of Jewish sacred writings called the
Septuagint. Protestant Bibles stick more closely to the books in the Tanakh but list them in a different
order.

Books in the Old Testament

Genesis (50 chapters) 1 Kings (22 chapters) Ecclesiastes (12 chapters) Obadiah (1 chapter)
Exodus (40 chapters) 2 Kings (25 chapters) Song of Solomon (8 chapters) Jonah (4 chapters)
Leviticus (27 chapters) 1 Chronicles (29 chapters) Isaiah (66 chapters) Micah (7 chapters)
Numbers (36 chapters) 2 Chronicles (36 chapters) Jeremiah (52 chapters) Nahum (3 chapters)
Deuteronomy (34 chapters) Ezra (10 chapters) Lamentations (5 chapters) Habakkuk (3 chapters)
Joshua (24 chapters) Nehemiah (13 chapters) Ezekiel (48 chapters) Zephaniah (3 chapters)
Joshua (21 chapters) Esther (10 chapters) Daniel (12 chapters) Haggai (2 chapters)
Ruth (4 chapters) Job (42 chapters) Hosea (14 chapters) Zechariah (14 chapters)
1 Samuel (31 chapters) Psalms (150 chapters) Joel (3 chapters) Malachi (4 chapters)
2 Samuel (24 chapters) Proverbs (31 chapters) Amos (9 chapters)

2. APOCRYPHA – Protestants/ DEUTEROCANON – Catholics (14 Books)

The Apocrypha/Deuterocanon are books of the Old Testament included in the Roman Catholic
and Orthodox Bibles as deuterocanonical (added to the earlier canon), but excluded from the Hebrew
Bible and from most Protestant Bibles.

Tobit (14 chapters) Judith (16 chapters) Wisdom of Solomon (8 chapters) Baruch (5 chapters)
Ecclesiasticus/Sirach (51 chapters) 1 Maccabee (16 chapters) 2 Maccabee (15 chapters)

3. NEW TESTAMENT (27 Books)

 Originally in Greek, it is the recordings of the life and teachings of Jesus and his early followers.
It includes:

A. The Four Gospels

Almost all of the biblical information about the earthly ministry of Jesus is contained in the four
gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These books tell about the birth, life, death, and resurrection
of Jesus. These books tell of the miracles Jesus performed while on earth. These books tell about the
teachings of Jesus like the parables.

● Matthew was one of the first 12 disciples of Jesus and therefore an eyewitness. He records many of
Jesus’ teachings including the entire Sermon on the Mount
● Mark was Peter’s son who wrote down what Peter said about who Jesus was, what He did, where He
went and what happened; Mark’s gospel is therefore Peter’s recount, an eyewitness account written
down by Mark
● Luke was a doctor and a co-worker with Paul. Luke interviewed local eyewitnesses and people who
had followed Jesus closely and collated all the interviews into a single account.
● John was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus and therefore an eyewitness.

B. Acts of the Apostles

The Acts of the Apostles is the fifth book of the New Testament; it tells of the founding of the
Christian Church and the spread of its message to the Roman Empire.

The Twelve Disciples

The twelve disciples were ordinary men who followed the teachings of Jesus Christ, and after
witnessing his crucifixion and his resurrection and his ascension, these men were sent out to spread the
word of Christianity and be witness to the work of God.

Simon/Peter Thomas
Andrew (Peter’s brother) Matthew
James (son of Zebedee) James (son of Alphaeus)
John (James’ brother) Jude/ Thaddeus
Philip Simon (the zealot)
Bartolomew/Nathanael Judas Iscariot

*Matthias, the apostle, is technically also one of the Twelve, but usually not included in lists for
the following reasons:
● he was appointed after the death of Judas Iscariot

● he wasn’t called into the group by Jesus

C. 21 Epistles
The 21 Epistles are 21 letters of advice and instructions to early Christians.
 The Epistles are letters written to the churches and individual believers in the earliest days of
Christianity. The Apostle Paul wrote the first 13 of these letters, each addressing a specific situation or
problem. Paul’s epistles are named after who the letters were addressed to, individual persons and
certain churches. The remaining epistles from James through Jude are named after who wrote them.

● Romans describes why a person would want to be a Christian and how they can be one. Paul tells
the Romans that getting to heaven is not based on their performance. It is all about believing in
Jesus and having faith in him.
● 1 Corinthians is a letter written to the most corrupt Christian Church specifically addressed in the
Bible. Paul tells the Corinthians how to live correctly.
● 2 Corinthians is a sequel to 1 Corinthians. The church followed some of the earlier advice, but still
had some problems, so Paul continues to tell the Corinthians how to live correctly. He also tells
Christians what their heavenly bodies will be like.
● Galatians is a letter showing that Christians are free from the external requirements and restrictive
laws of Moses.
● Ephesians has three special points of interest. First, it explains how people receive special abilities
when they become Christians. Second, it outlines the roles of the husband, wife and child in a
family. Third, it describes the “spiritual battle’ taking place around us which most of us are not
aware.
● Philippians tells us that Christians should be united.

● Colossians tells us that Christians should be united.

● 1 Thessalonians tells Christians that they should continue working until the second coming of Christ.
Christ’s return will be unexpected. Believers can expect to suffer for their faith.
● 2 Thessalonians tells Christians that they should continue working until the second coming of Christ.
Christ’s coming will be preceded by the arrival of the antichrist
● 1 Timothy. Paul gives advice to Timothy, a young preacher. Beware of false teachers. Godliness with
contentment is the measure of true riches.
● 2 Timothy. Paul gives advice to Timothy, a young preacher. Believers can rely on the authority of the
scripture.
● Titus is a letter of guidance and encouragement to Titus, a young pastor. False teachers threaten the
church.
● Philemon. Paul begs Philemon to have mercy on a slave.

● Hebrews. Believers can expect to be challenged in this life. God uses hardship to discipline his
children.
● James conveys that faith without works is dead.

● 1 Peter writes that it is good to be persecuted for Christ. Christians should endure persecution.
Suffering tests one’s faith.
● 2 Peter contains advice to beware of false teachers.

● 1 John a letter written by John about the Bible’s four “biographies” of Jesus.
False witnesses deny Christ.
Christians should enjoy fellowship with one another.
God answers prayers.
Believers love one another in words and actions.
● 2 John a letter that warns us all to watch out for and avoid false teachers.

● 3 John is a short letter of encouragement.

● Jude is another warning against listening to false teachers and false teaching.

D. Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation or the Apocalypse of John is the final book and the only apocalyptic
book in the New Testament canon.
Jesus Christ revealed the events of Revelation to John in a vision filled with fantastic symbols
and images. Although John could only preserve this vision in written words, he received it visually.