Why Are There 7 Extra Books In the Catholic Bible?
Many people notice that Catholic Bibles contain more books than Protestant ones—seven more, to be exact. These additional books are often called the Deuterocanonical books or Apocrypha. But where did they come from? And why do Catholics accept them while most other Christians do not?
The Roman Catholic Church and Protestant churches agree on major doctrines like the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and salvation by grace. But one key difference is the Old Testament canon—specifically, whether or not to include these seven additional books.
The roots of this difference go back centuries. In the second century A.D., Latin Bible translators (producing the Vulgate) included these extra books. But their origin stretches back even further—to the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, completed two centuries before Christ.
So why are these books included in Catholic Bibles but not Protestant ones? What are they called—and what do they teach? Let’s explore what makes them different, and why it matters.
What Are the “Apocrypha” or “Deuterocanonical Books”?
The “extra” books in the Catholic Bible are commonly referred to in two ways: (1) Apocrypha and (2) The seven extra books in the Catholic Bible are often referred to by two names:
Apocrypha and Deuterocanonical books.
These terms are tied to different perspectives—and both can be controversial depending on your tradition.
- Apocrypha means “hidden things.” While originally neutral, the word often carries a negative connotation today. Many Protestants use it to imply the books are unorthodox or fictional.
- Deuterocanonical means “second canon.” This term is used in the Catholic Church to describe these books as part of Scripture, though they were added later than the others in the canon. The “deutero-” prefix reflects their secondary status in terms of timing, not inspiration—according to Catholic teaching.
Protestants typically reject these books for two reasons:
- They believe the books were not inspired by God
- Some passages conflict with core Christian doctrines
Many Protestants also reject the term “Deuterocanonical,” arguing that Scripture is either inspired or it isn’t. In their view, there’s no such thing as a “second-tier” of inspired writing.
God either inspired the book like He did the rest of Scripture—or He didn’t.
What books comprise the Apocrypha or deuterocanonical books?
The Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical books are often counted differently depending on how they are grouped. Some traditions count seven books, while others list up to thirteen items by separating individual sections or additions.
These are the seven books not found in Protestant Bibles. Some traditions also include additional sections of Esther and Daniel:
- Tobit (stand-alone)
- Judith (stand-alone)
- Wisdom of Solomon (stand-alone)
- Ecclesiasticus, also called Wisdom of Sirach (stand-alone)
- Baruch (stand-alone)
- 1-2 Maccabees (stand-alone)
- Additions to Esther
- Additions to Daniel
Some lists count up to thirteen items by separating books like 1 and 2 Maccabees or counting additions as separate writings.
Did Jews in the Old Testament era accept these books? Jews in the Old Testament era, the Roman Catholic Church (in part), and Protestant churches all reject these additional Orthodox writings.
What is the Septuagint? The Septuagint is a Greek translation of the Old Testament completed in Egypt in the third century before Christ. The prefix “sept” refers to the legend that 70 scholars worked to complete the translation. The Septuagint contains the disputed books.
Did the early church accept these books? Not universally. While some early Christians used them for teaching or devotion, most did not consider them Scripture—and they were excluded from early authoritative lists of biblical books.
Did the Reformers accept them? The Protestant Reformers rejected the books as being of the same inspired nature as the other 66 books of the Bible. Some, like Martin Luther, believed that there was a benefit to reading the books, even though they were not on par with Scripture.
Does the Eastern Orthodox Church accept the writings in question? Yes. Their extra-biblical literature also includes 1 Esdras, Psalm 151, the Prayer of Manasseh, and 3 Maccabees. Jews in the Old Testament era, the Roman Catholic Church, and Protestant churches all reject these additional writings.
Who was the first to include the books in the Bible? In one sense, the translators of the Septuagint were, when they included the books in their Greek translation of the Old Testament.
In the second century, the translators of the Latin Bible included the books. Jerome included them in his translation of the Bible, called the Vulgate, at the insistence of Augustine of Hippo, but he assigned them a secondary status.
Why Do Protestants Reject the 7 Extra Books in the Catholic Bible?
These books—often called the seven extra books in the Catholic Bible—are officially referred to as the Deuterocanonical books, but many Protestants label them the Apocrypha and reject their authority.
There are several reasons Protestants reject the seven extra books in the Catholic Bible—reasons that are both historical and theological. While not all Protestants agree on every point, most express concern that these books:
- Undermine core Christian beliefs like salvation by grace
- Contradict the 66-book biblical canon
- Introduce doctrines not taught in apostolic Christianity
Why Protestants Say the Extra Books Contradict the Bible
1. Salvation by works
The book of Tobit teaches:
“For almsgiving saves from death and purges away every sin. Those who give alms will enjoy a full life.” — Tobit 12:9 (NAB)
This teaching is contrary to what the New Testament teaches about salvation. Protestants believe that a person is saved by grace alone, not through financial offerings or good deeds. For example:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” — Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)
2. The doctrine of purgatory
2 Maccabees teaches that prayers and offerings can be made on behalf of the dead so that they can be saved from sin.
Protestants also reject the doctrine of purgatory, which appears in these writings.
“He made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.” — 2 Maccabees 12:45
“O Lord Almighty… hear now the prayer of the dead of Israel.” — Baruch 3:4
Key Historical Reasons Protestants Reject the Books
In addition to theological concerns, many Protestants point to historical evidence that questions the authenticity of the seven extra books in the Catholic Bible. These arguments center on authorship, usage, and early church recognition.
1. New Testament Writers Never Quote the Apocrypha
Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, and other New Testament writers quote extensively from the Old Testament—often using the Septuagint—but never quote from the disputed books. Some believe Paul may allude to them, but since he doesn’t quote directly, the connection is uncertain.
2. The Jews of the Old Testament Era Rejected These Books
Although the disputed books are distinctly Jewish in origin, they were not included in the Hebrew Bible. This is significant because if the original Jewish audience didn’t accept them as Scripture, Protestants argue that Christians shouldn’t either.
Note: While the Hebrew Bible has 22 books and the Christian Old Testament has 39, they contain the same writings—just arranged differently.
3. The Earliest Septuagint Manuscripts May Not Have Included Them
The earliest complete copies of the Septuagint date to the 4th century A.D., centuries after the disputed books first appeared. This raises the possibility that these books were added later, which aligns with the fact that the New Testament writers didn’t quote from them.
4. Early Church Leaders Often Rejected the Books
The earliest canonical lists from the second century do not include the Apocrypha. Many early Christians—especially in the East—did not consider them Scripture, even though they were sometimes read for spiritual encouragement.
One example comes from Melito, Bishop of Sardis, writing around 170 A.D. After traveling east to investigate which books belonged in the Old Testament, he compiled the following list—which did not include the Apocryphal books:
“These are their names: the five books of Moses, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua the son of Nun, Judges, Ruth, four books of the Kingdom, two books of Chronicles, the Psalms of David, the Proverbs of Solomon and his wisdom, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs, Job, the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, The Twelve in a single book, Daniel, Ezekiel, Ezra.”
This list closely mirrors the Protestant Old Testament, reinforcing the argument that the Apocryphal books were not universally accepted in the early church.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What are the 7 extra books in the Catholic Bible called?
They are called the Deuterocanonical books by Catholics and the Apocrypha by Protestants. The seven stand-alone books are Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), Baruch, and 1–2 Maccabees. Some lists also include additions to Esther and Daniel.
❓ Why does the Catholic Bible have more books?
The Catholic Church includes the Deuterocanonical books because they were part of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament used by early Christians. The Reformers later removed them from Protestant Bibles.
❓ Why don’t Protestants accept the Apocrypha?
Most Protestants reject the Apocryphal books because they believe these writings were not inspired by God and contain teachings that contradict core doctrines like salvation by grace.
❓ Did Jesus or the apostles ever quote the 7 extra books?
No. While the New Testament quotes from the Septuagint often, it never directly quotes from the disputed books.
❓ Are the Apocryphal books historically accurate?
Some Protestants question their historical reliability, while others read them as valuable literature for historical and spiritual insight—even if not on par with Scripture.
