Ask a Pastor Column

Presenting Biblical answers to tough questions

Q: Why does the Catholic Bible have more books than the NIV Bible? Why aren’t they the same? Which set of books is actually the complete word of God?

A:  The process of identifying which writings make up God’s Word was far more organic than many people realize. The Church over the first and second centuries published several lists of books they considered authentic. While the church consistently condemned several non-authentic documents, there was some variation on exactly which books were approved. Many books (Romans and Ephesians are two examples) appear consistently in every list. Some, like II Peter and Esther, appeared on some lists but not others. The seven books which are included in the Catholic Bible but not Protestant were often considered “helpful but not authoritative,” by many early church leaders. The question on these extra seven books was essentially; “Where do we draw the line on Inspiration?”

       The Church went back and forth about the seven apocrypha or deuterocanonical books for centuries. Some Bibles listed them in the appendix; others omitted them. The final decision to list them in the Canon of Catholic Bibles was made during the Council of Trent (1545 A.D.), after the Protestant Churches had separated from the Catholic Church.

       Many Protestants (myself included) still consider the Deuterocanon to be interesting and helpful, both from a historical and Spiritual perspective. Just like modern writings from godly men and women, they can be very beneficial to a person’s walk with God. However, it is necessary for believers to have a standard of Inspired Truth (a canon) that we can hold these other works to, so we can effectively discern right from wrong; Truth from error. Catholics include the seven deuterocanonical books in their canon; Protestants put them right on the far side of inspiration. I have not sufficiently studied the apocrypha to know if any significant doctrinal differences arise because of this distinction.

If you have a question that you would like a Biblical answer to you can send it via email to askapastor [email protected] or by mail to Formoso Church; P.O. Box 66; Formoso, Kan. 66942