Catholic Bible vs King James Bible: Key Differences Explained

The Question of the Canon

When a Catholic and a Protestant open their Bibles, they are not holding the same book. The Catholic Bible contains 73 books; the King James Bible (and most Protestant Bibles) contains 66. The difference is seven books — known as the deuterocanonical books in Catholic terminology, or the Apocrypha in Protestant usage. Understanding why these books are included or excluded goes to the heart of how the two traditions understand Scripture, authority, and the Church.

Which Books Are Different?

The seven books present in the Catholic Bible but absent from the King James Bible are: Tobit, Judith, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Wisdom (also called the Wisdom of Solomon), Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus), and Baruch. In addition, the Catholic Bible includes longer versions of Daniel (with the additions of Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, and the Prayer of Azariah) and Esther (with additional chapters).

Why Did the Protestant Reformers Remove These Books?

The short answer: Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformers in the 16th century chose to align the Old Testament canon with the Hebrew Bible as it was defined by Jewish rabbis at the Council of Jamnia (c. 90 AD) — a canon that excluded the deuterocanonical books, which were written in Greek or survived primarily in Greek.

Luther had a theological motivation as well: 2 Maccabees 12:46 speaks of praying for the dead — a practice that supports the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory. By removing this text from the canon, Luther also removed a key scriptural foundation for that teaching. He placed the deuterocanonical books in a separate section labeled Apocrypha, describing them as not equal to Scripture but useful for reading.

What Does the Catholic Church Teach?

The Catholic Church has never accepted this reduction. The deuterocanonical books were part of the Septuagint — the Greek translation of the Old Testament used by the Apostles, widely quoted in the New Testament. The early Church Fathers cited these books as Scripture. The Council of Rome (382 AD), the Council of Hippo (393 AD), and the Councils of Carthage (397, 419 AD) all affirmed a 73-book canon. The Council of Trent (1546) definitively defined this canon in response to the Protestant challenge.

What Is in the Deuterocanonical Books?

These books contain some of the richest material in the Old Testament. Tobit is a profound story of faith, family, and divine providence. Wisdom contains some of the most theologically developed reflection on creation and the afterlife in all of Scripture. Sirach is a treasure of practical wisdom comparable to Proverbs. 1 and 2 Maccabees provide the historical narrative of the Maccabean revolt, the origin of Hanukkah, and the martyrdom of the seven brothers — stories Jesus's contemporaries would have known.

Translation Philosophy: KJV vs Catholic Bibles

Beyond the canon question, the King James Version (1611) was a translation commissioned by King James I of England and completed by a committee of Anglican scholars. It is celebrated for its majestic English prose and has shaped the English language more than any other single text. Catholic Bibles in English include the New American Bible (NAB), the Revised Standard Version — Catholic Edition (RSV-CE), the New Revised Standard Version — Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE), and the Douay-Rheims. Each has its own translation philosophy, but all include the full 73-book canon.

Which Should Catholics Use?

For Mass and liturgical prayer in the United States, the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) is the official lectionary text. For personal study, the RSV-CE is widely respected for its scholarly accuracy and is the translation recommended by many theologians and spiritual directors. The Douay-Rheims remains beloved for traditional devotion. The important thing is to read — and to read the full 73 books.