Question:
How many books are in the Holy Bible of Christianity?
The Orthodox Shop
2009-03-28 19:17:33 UTC
How many books are in the Christian Bible?

Hint: there's only one true answer, and there are lots of "almost-true" answers.

SHOW YOUR WORK!
Twenty answers:
Eleven Moons
2009-03-28 20:07:02 UTC
The Christian Canon has AT LEAST 76 books in the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible was canonized with the Apocrypha fully intact. This means that the Old Testament has 49 books, and not 39 books as commonly believed. The New Testament books are 27 in number.



The reason that I say "at least" 76 books is because some of the entries in the Apocrypha may not necessarily be considered books in and of themselves. For instance, "Susanna" might sometimes be its own entry, or considered to be the prelude to the book of Daniel.



Here's the important part: the reason that the King James Version of the Bible and all other Protestant versions have only 66 books is because in the re-compilation in 1611, the books of the Apocrypha were judged as non-canonical because they were not part of the original Hebrew canon. The clincher is, even though the books were not in the Hebrew Canon, they WERE part of the original Christian Canon.



Unlike the other books of the Old Testament, the books of the Apocrypha were not translated into English from Hebrew or Aramaic, but from Greek. The Greek version of the Old Testament is known as the Septuagint, and is abbreviated as LXX. It consists of the regular thirty-nine books that everyone knows, plus the ten books of the Apocrypha.



Therefore, the correct canonization of the Holy Scriptures consists of the Septuagint plus the New Testament. 49 books + 27 books = 76 books.
Curtis K
2009-03-29 02:58:49 UTC
In the Catholic Bible: 73 (though in old translations, they were divided so that it was 72 or 74). The seven books here not familiar to most Protestants are Tobit, Judith, 1&2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach/Ecclesiasticus, and Baruch (as well as additions to Daniel and Esther).



In the Protestant Bible (excluding occasional inclusions of the deuterocanon and the so-called "apocryphal books" between the testaments): 66. Some Anglican Bibles include the above-cited books (the Catholic deuterocanon), as well as three apocryphal books: 1&2 Esdras and the Prayer of Manasseh.



In the Eastern Orthodox Bible: God only knows, but a BARE MINIMUM of 73 (it varies). And they usually include 3&4 Maccabees, 3&4 Esdras, Psalm 151, and oftentimes some of the others already mentioned.



Is my work sufficient? : )
♥amber the catholic♥
2009-03-29 02:51:02 UTC
You are Orthodox? Most orthodox have 76. As a Catholic there are 73 in my bible.

* Genesis

* Exodus

* Leviticus

* Numbers

* Deuteronomy

* Joshua

* Judges

* Ruth

* 1 Samuel

* 2 Samuel

* 1 Kings

* 2 Kings

* 1 Chronicles

* 2 Chronicles

* Ezra

* Nehemiah

* Esther

* Job

* Psalms

* Proverbs

* Ecclesiastes

* Song of Solomon

* Isaiah

* Jeremiah

* Lamentations

* Ezekiel

* Daniel

* Hosea

* Joel

* Amos

* Obadiah

* Jonah

* Micah

* Nahum

* Habakkuk

* Zephaniah

* Haggai

* Zechariah

* Malachi

* Tobit

* Judith

* Additions to the Book of Esther

* Wisdom of Solomon

* Ecclesiasticus, or the Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach

* Baruch

* The Letter of Jeremiah

* The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Jews

* Susanna

* Bel and the Dragon

* 1 Maccabees

* 2 Maccabees

* 1 Esdras

* Prayer of Manasseh

* 3 Maccabees

* 2 Esdras

* 4 Maccabees

* Matthew

* Mark

* Luke

* John

* Acts of the Apostles

* Romans

* 1 Corinthians

* 2 Corinthians

* Galatians

* Ephesians

* Philippians

* Colossians

* 1 Thessalonians

* 2 Thessalonians

* 1 Timothy

* 2 Timothy

* Titus

* Philemon

* Hebrews

* James

* 1 Peter

* 2 Peter

* 1 John

* 2 John

* 3 John

* Jude

* Revelation
?
2009-03-29 02:34:23 UTC
there are 66 books in the christian Bible
IVY10178
2009-03-29 02:30:09 UTC
66
someone
2009-03-29 02:20:23 UTC
66
Steven
2009-03-29 02:26:34 UTC
Actually none, the bible is 66 letters from God to humans.

It has a lesson in history of mankind, how humans began.

The Apostle Paul was writing letters to the christian congregations all around Rome. John wrote of visions he was given, others as eye witness accounts of the life of Jesus. So it was written testimony.
Christian lady
2009-03-29 02:24:52 UTC
There are 66 books in my KJV Bible. That's the only one I know about.

May God bless you.
anonymous
2009-03-29 02:20:19 UTC
Over 60... And still counting...



BRB with documentation.



Banned from the Bible (And apparently youtube)

Episode 1:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banned_from_the_Bible

Episode 2:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banned_from_the_Bible_II



http://www.interfaith.org/christianity/apocrypha/



Dead Sea scrolls

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dead_sea_scrolls



The Book of Adam and Eve

Book of Jubilees

Book of Enoch

The Infancy Gospel of Thomas

Proto-Gospel of James

The Gnostic Scriptures of Nag Hammadi

The Gospel of Mary

The Gospel of Nicodemus

The Apocalypse of Peter

Second Apocalypse of Peter (This time it's PERSONAL!)

The Testament of Solomon

The Zohar (The Book of Splendor)

The Alphabet of Ben-Sira

Joseph and Aseneth

The Septuagint

Bel and the Dragon

The Acts of Peter

The Acts of Paul and Thecla

Mar Saba letter and The Secret Gospel of Mark

The Gospel of Judas

The Book of the Wars of the Lord

The Book of Jasher

Three books of Solomon

The Book of Manners of the Kingdom

The History of Samuel the Seer

The History of Prophet Nathan

The Book of Gad the Seer

The Book of Shemiah, the Prophet

The Book of Iddo, the Seer

The Prophecy of Ahijah

The Visions of Iddo, the Seer

The Book of Jehu, the son of Hanani

The Book of Isaiah, the Prophet

The Book of Visions of Isaiah

The Lamentation of Jeremiah

The Book of Chronicles

The Book of Covenant of Moses

The Book of the Acts of Solomon

The list goes ON AND ON AND ON...



Just like how there are actually over 50 or 60 "Commandments". Somehow it got edited down to 10...



And there were originally 8 Deadly Sins... the ‘sins’ are not in the bible… At all…



The Original 8 were written by a Christian monk from Constantinople who traveled to Egypt to live alone in a cave and wrote up his list of thoughts that most tormented him in 375 AD? That the list was to be followed by Monks ONLY? That no one paid him any heed until over 200 years later?



The actual, original list of “Thoughts” consisted of:

Pride

Gluttony

Lust

Sloth

Greed

Anger

Vain Glory

Sadness



Yeah… Sadness… So all of us diagnosed with Depression are really just being lead astray by the devil… Yeah…



The idea that Lust is bad wasn’t even considered until the 4th Century Bishop Epithanious decided to denounce the Gnostic “Cult” known as Carpocrations (Pronounced “Car-Po-Crate-shions”) in 325 ad? They used ALL 60+ books of the Christian Bible as their guide and it is said in the Book of Mary that Jesus said that there is no such thing as sin…



The Bishop wanted to gain a foothold of power in the area so he described the Gnostic “Cult” as starting their worship by disrobing and that the worship ended with a sex act between priest and priestess and ordered that all Gnostic books be burned and that the ‘cult’ be banned?



It wasn’t until 200+ years later, after the fall of the Roman Empire, when the dark ages took hold in 590 AD and the “Official” church wanted iron fisted control over “Official” Christianity that the list was written by the “Reformer Pope” Gregory The Great?



(Who also decided that Holy Men could not marry… Not because Chastity was good but because he didn’t want a priest’s family to be able to inherit Church Property and to consolidate the Church’s base of power? Before it was decided that priests couldn’t merry… They had wives and kids and could have sex…)



Though found no where in the bible… This guy wrote them up and published them and they became part of the Christian Doctrine.



The “Official” 7 Sins written by the “Reformer Pope” Gregory The Great:

Lust

Envy

Gluttony

Sloth

Greed

Anger

Pride



Did you also know that just THINKING about these sins means that you have actually committed the act? And that by committing the act, you are sentenced to hell?



Do you even know what the Seven Heavenly Virtues are? What they stand for?

Chastity

Liberality

Kindness

Patience

Humility

Abstinence

Diligence



Does ANYONE that believes this stuff actually do their research and understand their own deluded belief structure?
lara
2009-03-29 03:18:04 UTC
the bible is like the windows, every year has a new version
I Am Above The Law
2009-03-29 02:23:52 UTC
66: 39 in the old testament + 27 in the new testament



It's all one Book though, God's word.
louroofwalker
2009-03-29 02:28:53 UTC
the cannon has 66
Kevin S
2009-03-29 02:25:39 UTC
Before Luther got his hands on it, there were 73 books. There still are 73.
anonymous
2009-03-29 02:22:54 UTC
46 OT books and 24 NT books = 70 books in all
anonymous
2009-03-29 02:21:13 UTC
66 books.
brad l
2009-03-29 02:21:56 UTC
come on 66

39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New
?
2009-03-29 02:26:16 UTC
They vary by Chritian denomination.
FAUUFDDaa
2009-03-29 02:20:48 UTC
66 books



Yup, surprised?
AL
2009-03-29 02:27:25 UTC
66

show what work?
Catholic Defender
2009-03-29 02:23:55 UTC
73... the first christian church, the same church who put it together. the Catholic church



you asked for it.....

The Catholic Church Determined the Canon of Scripture

"For the blessed apostle Paul himself, following the rule of his predecessor John, writes only by name to seven Churches in the following order--to the Corinthians afirst...there is a second to the Corinthians and to the Thessalonians, yet one Church is recognized as being spread over the entire world...Howbeit to Philemon one, to Titus one, and to Timothy two were put in writing...to be in honour however with the Catholic Church for the ordering of ecclesiastical discipline...one to the Laodicenes, another to the Alexandrians, both forged in Paul's name to suit the heresy of Marcion, and several others, which cannot be received into the Catholic Church; for it is not fitting that gall be mixed with honey. The Epistle of Jude no doubt, and the couple bearing the name of John, are accepted by the Catholic Church...But of Arsinous, called also Valentinus, or of Militiades we receive nothing at all." The fragment of Muratori (A.D. 177).



"The same authority of the apostolic churches will afford evidence to the other Gospels also, which we possess equally through their means, and according to their usage--I mean the Gospels of John and Matthew--whilst that which Mark published may be affirmed to be Peter's whose interpreter Mark was. For even Luke's form of the Gospel men usually ascribe to Paul." Tertullian, Against Marcion, 4:5 (A.D. 212).



"In his [Origen] first book on Matthew's Gospel, maintaining the Canon of the Church, he testifies that he knows only four Gospels, writing as follows: Among the four Gospels, which are the only indisputable ones in the Church of God under heaven, I have learned by tradition that the first was written by Matthew, who was once a publican, but afterwards an apostle of Jesus Christ, and it was prepared for the converts from Judaism, and published in the Hebrew language. The second is by Mark, who composed it according to the instructions of Peter, who in his Catholic epistle acknowledges him as a son, saying, 'The church that is at Babylon elected together with you, saluteth you, and so doth Marcus, my son.' And the third by Luke, the Gospel commended by Paul, and composed for Gentile converts. Last of all that by John." Origen, Commentary on Matthew, fragment in Eusebius Church History, 6:25,3 (A.D. 244).



"Learn also diligently, and from the Church, what are the books of the Old Testaments, and what those of the New." Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, 4:33 (A.D. 350).



"Likewise it has been said: Now indeed we must treat of the divine Scriptures, what the universal Catholic Church accepts and what she ought to shun. The order of the Old Testament begins here: Genesis one book, Exodus one book, Leviticus one book, Numbers one book, Deuteronomy one book, Josue Nave one book, Judges one book, Ruth one book, Kings four books, Paralipomenon two books, Psalms one book, Solomon three books, Proverbs one book, Ecclesiastes one book, Canticle of Canticles one book, likewise Wisdom one book, Ecclesiasticus one book. Likewise the order of the Prophets. Isaias one book, Jeremias one book,with Ginoth, that is, with his lamentations, Ezechiel one book,Daniel one book, Osee one book, Micheas one book, Joel one book, Abdias one book, Jonas one book, Nahum one book, Habacuc one book, Sophonias one book, Aggeus one book, Zacharias one book, Malachias one book. Likewise the order of the histories. Job one book, Tobias one book, Esdras two books, Esther one book, Judith one book, Machabees two books. Likewise the order of the writings of the New and eternal Testament, which only the holy and Catholic Church supports. Of the Gospels, according to Matthew one book, according to Mark one book, according to Luke one book, according to John one book. The Epistles of Paul [the apostle] in number fourteen. To the Romans one, to the Corinthians two, to the Ephesians one, to the Thessalonians two, to the Galatians one, to the Philippians one, to the Colossians one, to Timothy two, to Titus one, to Philemon one, to the Hebrews one. Likewise the Apocalypse of John, one book. And the Acts of the Apostles one book. Likewise the canonical epistles in number seven. Of Peter the Apostle two epistles, of James the Apostle one epistle, of John the Apostle one epistle, of another John, the presbyter, two epistles, of Jude the Zealut, the Apostle one epistle." Pope Damasus (regn. A.D. 366-384), Decree of the Council of Rome, The Canon of Scripture (A.D. 382).



"Besides the canonical Scriptures, nothing shall be read, in the church under the title of divine writings.'. The canonical books are:---Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, the four books of Kings, the two books of Paraleipomena (Chronicles), Job, the Psalms of David, the five books of Solomon, the twelve books of the (Minor) Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Tobias, Judith, Esther, two books of Esdras, two books of the Maccabees. The books of the New Testament are:---the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, thirteen Epistles of S. Paul, one Epistle of S. Paul to the Hebrews, two Epistles of S. Peter, three Epistles of S. John, the Epistle of S. James, the Epistle of S. Jude, the Revelation of S. John. Concerning the confirmation of this canon, the transmarine Church shall be consulted." Council of Hippo, Canon 36 (A.D. 393).



"I beseech you to bear patiently, if I also write, by way of remembrance, of matters with which you are acquainted, influenced by the need and advantage of the Church. In proceeding to make mention of these things [the canon], I shall adopt, to comment my undertaking, the pattern of Luke...to reduce into order for themselves the books termed apocryphal, and to mix them up with the divinely inspired Scripture, concerning which we have been fully persuaded, as they who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word, delivered to the fathers; it seemed good to me also, having been urged thereto by true brethren, and having learned from the beginning, to set before you the books included in the Canon..." Athanasius, Festal Letters, 39 (A.D. 397).



"[It has been decided] that nothing except the Canonical Scriptures should be read in the church under the name of the Divine Scriptures. But the Canonical Scriptures are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Josue, Judges, Ruth, four books of Kings, Paralipomenon two books, Job, the Psalter of David, five books of Solomon, twelve books of the Prophets, Isaias, Jeremias, Daniel, Ezechiel, Tobias, Judith, Esther, two books of Esdras, two books of the Maccabees. Moreover, of the New Testament: Four books of the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles one book, thirteen epistles of Paul the Apostle, one of the same to the Hebrews, two of Peter, three of John, one of James, one of Jude, the Apocalypse of John." Council of Carthage III, Canon 47 (A.D. 397).



"The authority of our books [Scriptures], which is confirmed by agreement of so many nations, supported by a succession of apostles, bishops, and councils, is against you." Augustine, Reply to Faustus the Manichean, 13:5 (c. A.D. 400).



"If any one shall say, or shall believe, that other Scriptures, besides those which the Catholic Church has received, are to be esteemed of authority, or to be venerated, let him be anathema." Council of Toledo, Canon 12 (A.D. 400).


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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