Years ago, I was in a Bible study with people from different churches. One week, for instance, we talked about a story from the Book of Tobit. Interestingly, half the people had not heard of it. “The book of what?” one person finally asked. My Catholic friend then smiled and said, “It’s one of our books.” That day, I learned that not all Bibles are the same. Consequently, it made me want to learn the answer to the question: what extra books are in the Catholic Bible?
It is not that Catholics “added” books. Instead, the real story is about old Jewish traditions and also the Protestant Reformation. In fact, Catholics have always had these books in their Old Testament. This guide, therefore, gives you a full list of these books. It also explains in a simple way what they are and why they are there.
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The Deuterocanonical Catholic Bible Books: The “Second Canon”
First, let’s learn the right name. While some people call them the “Apocrypha,” Catholics, however, call these books the “deuterocanonical books.” This name essentially means “second canon.” It signifies that they are part of the official list of holy books, but they were added to the list later than the other books that all Christians agree on.
The Catholic Old Testament has seven full deuterocanonical books. In addition, it also has extra parts in two other books. This makes the Catholic Old Testament longer than the Protestant one. So, let’s look at what these books are.
The Full List of Deuterocanonical Catholic Bible Books
Here is the full list of the seven books in a Catholic Bible that are not in most other Bibles:
- Tobit
- Judith
- Wisdom (also called Wisdom of Solomon)
- Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus)
- Baruch
- 1 Maccabees
- 2 Maccabees
Additions to Existing Catholic Bible Books
Besides those seven books, Catholics also have longer versions of two other books:
- Additions to Esther: The Catholic version of Esther has six extra parts. These parts, moreover, add more detail and have a more religious feel.
- Additions to Daniel: The Catholic version of Daniel includes three extra stories. Specifically, these stories are The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Holy Children, the story of Susanna, and the story of Bel and a Dragon.
A Closer Look at What Extra Books Are in the Catholic Bible
So, what are these books about? Indeed, they are not strange books. Instead, they have exciting stories, deep wisdom, and key history. Consequently, learning about them helps you understand what extra books are in the Catholic Bible.
Stories of Faith and Courage: Tobit and Judith
- Tobit: This is a sweet story about a good man named Tobit, who is living away from his home. Unfortunately, he becomes blind after doing a good thing. The story then follows his son, Tobias, on a special trip. On this journey, the angel Raphael guides him but is in disguise. Overall, it is a nice story about faith, family, and God’s help that feels like a family drama and a fun adventure.
- Judith: This book tells the story of a brave and smart widow named Judith. When a big army is about to attack her town, Judith decides to do something. Bravely, she goes to the enemy camp, where she beats the enemy general and saves her people. Ultimately, it is an exciting story about being a hero and trusting God.
The Wisdom Literature: What Extra Books Are in the Catholic Bible That Teach Wisdom?
Two of these books are like Proverbs and Job. Specifically, they are known as “wisdom literature.”
- Wisdom (or Wisdom of Solomon): This book is a lovely poem about God’s wisdom. It was written to help Jews stay true to God while living around Greek culture. The book says wisdom is a gift from God, and this gift helps people be good and have eternal life. Furthermore, it has some of the most beautiful words in the Old Testament about the soul and life after death.
- Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus): Sirach is a very long wisdom book, full of helpful tips and wise sayings. It talks about friends, family, money, and being polite. A wise teacher wrote it to show how to live a good life with God. The advice is simple and, importantly, still useful today.
Prophets and History: What Extra Books Are in the Catholic Bible That Cover History?
The last three books are about history and messages from God. In particular, they cover a key time for the Jewish people.
- Baruch: This book is linked to Baruch, who worked for the prophet Jeremiah. It has a prayer from the Jews in Babylon and also a poem about wisdom. The book gives words of hope to the city of Jerusalem. A part of it also warns people not to worship fake gods.
- 1 Maccabees: This is a very important history book that tells the story of a big revolt. In this conflict, a family of Jewish heroes fought a Greek king because the king wanted the Jews to give up their faith and pray to Greek gods. This book tells how the Jews fought to win their freedom to worship God.
- 2 Maccabees: This book also tells about the same revolt, but it is a different story and focuses on other events. It is more about God’s direct help. For instance, it has strong stories about people who died for their faith. This book also clearly talks about praying for people who have died and the hope of rising from the dead. Unsurprisingly, these are key beliefs for Catholics. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) gives the full text of these books with helpful notes.
Why Are These Catholic Bible Books Included in the Catholic Bible?
The reason for these books is the version of the Jewish holy books that the first Christians used.
The Septuagint: The Bible of the Early Church
Before Jesus was born, many Jews lived outside their home country. For example, many lived in places like Egypt and spoke Greek. Around 250 B.C., the Jewish holy books were translated into Greek. This Greek version was called the Septuagint, and it had the deuterocanonical books in it.
The first Christians, like Paul, often used the Septuagint when they wrote the New Testament. In fact, this was the Old Testament they knew. Because these extra books were in the Septuagint, the early Church consequently saw them as part of the Bible.
The Reformation and the Protestant Bible
For more than 1,000 years, most Christians used Bibles with these books. However, this changed in the 1500s with the Protestant Reformation. Leaders like Martin Luther wanted to use only the oldest Jewish holy books. These older Hebrew books did not include the deuterocanonical books.
So, Luther moved these books to a new section in his Bible, putting them between the Old and New Testaments. He called them the “Apocrypha” and said they were good to read, but not holy like the other books. After some time, most Protestant Bibles took them out completely. In response, the Catholic Church held a big meeting where they stated again that these books are a true part of the Bible. For more details, sites like Catholic Answers have good articles on this.
What Extra Books Are in the Catholic Bible ? Are These Books Important Today?
Yes, they are very important! Indeed, these books are not just old facts. Rather, they are full of wisdom, history, and good lessons. They also fill a key time gap, covering the time between the end of the Old Testament and the start of the New Testament.
For example, the stories of the Maccabees help explain the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah and what was happening in Israel when Jesus was born. The wisdom in Sirach and Wisdom gives good advice for how to live a life of faith. The stories in Tobit and Judith, moreover, show us that God cares for each person. Reading these books can help you understand the whole Bible better and can make your faith stronger. Learning how the Bible was put together is a big topic, and learning about the Septuagint can help you understand even more.
In the end, learning about what extra books are in the Catholic Bible helps us see an older form of the Old Testament. For Catholics and many other Christians, these books have always been a special part of God’s word. They give us a fuller set of holy books that have helped people for a very long time.
FAQ – What Extra Books Are in the Catholic Bible
Why did the Catholic Church include these extra books in their Bible?
The Catholic Church included these books because they appeared in the Septuagint, a Greek translation of Jewish scriptures used by early Christians, and were considered part of the Bible during the early church period, despite later Protestant revisions.
How do the deuterocanonical books differ in content from other biblical books?
The deuterocanonical books contain stories of faith and courage, wisdom literature, and historical accounts about key events in Jewish history, offering insights into lessons of faith, wisdom, and God’s help.
What are the additions to Esther and Daniel in the Catholic Bible?
The Catholic Bible includes six extra parts in Esther that add more detail and religious context, and three additional stories in Daniel—the Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Holy Children, the story of Susanna, and Bel and a Dragon.
Why are some books called deuterocanonical instead of apocryphal?
The term deuterocanonical means ‘second canon,’ indicating that these books were added to the biblical canon later than the original list of accepted sacred texts, unlike apocryphal which often refers to disputed or non-canonical writings.
What are the deuterocanonical books in the Catholic Bible?
The deuterocanonical books are seven books included in the Catholic Old Testament that are not found in most other Bibles. They are Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, Baruch, 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees.
