The Canons of the Bible is the official collection of books recognized as inspired and sacred by a believing community. In addition to determining which books belong to the Bible, each tradition also establishes the order in which they appear.
When we speak of the Bible, many people think of a single collection of books that is identical for all believers. However, throughout history there have been different biblical traditions and different ways of organizing and recognizing the texts regarded as Sacred Scripture.
Understanding the different biblical canons helps us better appreciate the distinctions between Judaism, the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Churches, and Protestant communities. It also sheds light on how the biblical texts were transmitted and organized over the centuries.
The formation of these canons was a gradual process that unfolded over many centuries, both within Judaism and Christianity.
The Tanakh: The Hebrew Bible
Judaism refers to its collection of 24 sacred books as the Tanakh. The name is an acronym formed from the initial letters of its three principal divisions:
- Torah (Law or Teaching)
- Nevi’im (Prophets)
- Ketuvim (Writings)
The Hebrew Bible reached its definitive form around the second century AD.
The Books of the Tanakh
Torah
The Torah consists of the first five books of the Bible:
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
Nevi’im (Prophets)
This section includes both the Former and the Latter Prophets:
- Joshua
- Judges
- Samuel
- Kings
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Ezekiel
- The Twelve Minor Prophets
Ketuvim (Writings)
This section contains poetic, historical, and wisdom books such as:
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Job
- Ruth
- Esther
- Daniel
- Chronicles
- Ezra–Nehemiah
The Septuagint: The Greek Bible
The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, produced between the third century BC and the first century AD. Over time, the Church defined both the canon of the Old Testament and that of the New Testament.
Compared with the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint presents several important differences:
- It includes additional books regarded as sacred.
- Some books were originally written in Greek.
- The order of the books is different.
- Some books are divided into two parts.
- Esther and Daniel contain additional passages.
The Septuagint became the basis of the Catholic Old Testament.
The Catholic Bible
The first Christians mainly used the Septuagint. The authors of the New Testament, who wrote in Greek, also used it as a reference.
Over time, the Church discerned which texts were authentic witnesses to the life of Jesus and the apostolic preaching, eventually establishing the 27 books of the New Testament.
The Catholic Bible is made up of:
1. Old Testament
It includes:
- Pentateuch
- Historical books
- Poetic and wisdom books
- Prophetic books, both major and minor
2. New Testament
The New Testament includes:
- The four Gospels
- Acts of the Apostles
- Writings attributed to St Paul
- The Letter to the Hebrews
- Catholic Epistles
- Revelation
The Bible of the Orthodox Churches
The Orthodox Churches accept the Septuagint and other writings considered apocryphal by the Catholic Church. For this reason, their Old Testament canon is broader and comprises 53 books. The New Testament is currently shared by all Christians.
The Bible of Protestant Communities
Protestant communities recognize the Hebrew Tanakh as their Old Testament. For this reason, they regard as apocryphal seven books included in the Catholic tradition derived from the Septuagint.
However, they retain the organization of the books inherited from the Greek version: Pentateuch, historical books, wisdom books, and prophetic books.
Why Are There Different Biblical Canons?
The differences between the various biblical canons are the result of a long process of transmission, translation, and discernment. Over the centuries, Jews and Christians recognized certain books differently as part of Sacred Scripture, giving rise to the various biblical traditions that have come down to us today.
In addition, many Jewish and Christian communities lived in different cultural contexts and used different languages, especially Hebrew and Greek. This meant that some texts were more widely used in certain traditions than in others. Over time, each community gradually defined which books would form part of its biblical canon.
In this context, the Saxum Visitor Center offers an educational journey through biblical history and the context in which many of these writings emerged. Its audiovisual resources and materials provide a visual and accessible way to approach the historical world of the Bible and the different traditions that have come down to us today.
Download the Bible Portico Book