“How can we trust that the 66 books in the Bible are the right ones?”
How Can We Trust the Right Books Got into the Bible?
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“How can we trust that the 66 books in the Bible are the right ones?”
There’s a difference between Protestant and Catholic bibles and I’m not sure one or more of these books should have gotten removed to make the Protestant Bible.
The primary difference between Catholic and Protestant Bibles lies in the Old Testament. Catholic Bibles contain 46 books, while Protestant Bibles contain 39, with the Catholic versions including seven additional books and some longer versions of shared books. These additional books are called the Deuterocanonical books by Catholics and the Apocrypha by Protestants. Both traditions share the same 27 books in the New Testament.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
Old Testament:
Catholic Bibles: Include the 39 books of the Hebrew Bible (also known as the Masoretic Text) plus seven additional books: Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, and Baruch, along with some additions to Daniel and Esther.
Protestant Bibles: Follow the 39 books of the Hebrew Bible.
New Testament:
Both Catholic and Protestant Bibles contain the same 27 books of the New Testament.
Terminology:
Deuterocanonical:
.
A term used by Catholics to describe the additional books, meaning “second canon” or books included later in the canonization process.
Apocrypha:
.
A term used by Protestants to describe the same set of additional books, meaning “hidden” or “unauthorized”.
Historical Context:
The difference in the Old Testament canon arose from differing views on which texts were considered authoritative within the early Christian church.
Catholic tradition generally accepted the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament that included these additional books, as authoritative.
Protestant reformers, particularly Martin Luther, favored the Hebrew canon, which did not include the Deuterocanonical books.
Additionally, the Ethiopian Bible has some extra books and I’m not sure if they should have been removed to make the current Catholic or Protestant Bibles.
The Ethiopian Bible, also known as the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Bible, is the sacred scripture of one of the oldest Christian traditions in the world. It is written primarily in Ge’ez, an ancient Semitic language no longer spoken but still used in liturgy. The Ethiopian Bible is notable for its size and content—it contains more books than the Protestant Bible, and it includes texts that are not found in the canons of Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy. The Ethiopian Bible is used in both the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
One of the most significant differences between the Ethiopian Bible and the Protestant Bible is the number of books. The Protestant Bible contains 66 books—39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. In contrast, the Ethiopian Bible includes 81 books (46 books in the Old Testament and 35 books in the New Testament). Among the additional writings are books such as 1 Enoch, Jubilees, 1—3 Meqabyan (which are different from the 1—2 Maccabees found in Catholic Bibles), and The Book of the Covenant. These texts are considered canonical by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church but are regarded as apocryphal or pseudepigraphal by Protestants.
The Protestant Bible is based on the principle of sola scriptura, emphasizing the authority of Scripture alone. Reformers such as Martin Luther affirmed the 66-book canon based on the Hebrew Bible for the Old Testament and the universally accepted New Testament writings. The Ethiopian canon, however, developed separately, influenced by early Jewish and Christian traditions in the region of Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s early exposure to Christianity—traditionally traced back to the Ethiopian eunuch’s conversion in Acts 8:26–39—allowed for the preservation of certain Jewish-Christian texts that were not widely accepted elsewhere.
From a theological standpoint, the Ethiopian Bible’s inclusion of books like 1 Enoch, with its sensationalistic themes and heavy angelology, is significant. While 1 Enoch is quoted in Jude 1:14–15, it was not included in the Protestant canon because it was not recognized as inspired Scripture by the early church councils. The Protestant position is that the canon is closed and consists only of those books that were universally recognized by the early church as divinely inspired (2 Timothy 3:16–17; Hebrews 1:1–2; Revelation 22:18–19).
Another key difference between those who use the Ethiopian Bible and those who use the Protestant Bible lies in each group’s approach to Scripture. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church places a strong emphasis on tradition alongside Scripture, whereas Protestantism insists that Scripture alone is the final authority in matters of faith and practice. This distinction affects not only the canon but also the interpretation and application of biblical teachings.
In summary, the Ethiopian Bible differs from the Protestant Bible in its canon, language, and theological framework. While the Ethiopian Bible reflects a rich and ancient Christian heritage, the Protestant Bible adheres to a more universally recognized and historically affirmed set of Scriptures, grounded in the belief that God has revealed His Word clearly and sufficiently through the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments
How can we trust what books got into the Bible?
Trust the Church! The Church gave us the Bible!
That said … what do we mean by Church?
Hint: It existed LONG before the Reformation! 🙂
I need to add that what I wrote was copied from AI and/or a website.
My guess is that God may have initiated the Reformation and the holy Spirit grew and sustained it because “the Church,” the Catholic Church, was corrupt in numerous ways, such as their fraudulent Indulgences (look up what, why and how the Catholic Indulgences came to be) in addition to twisting and/or ignoring scripture. So, no, I do not believe that we should trust “the Church,” with or without Protestants or Orthodox.
Scripture may have been holy Spirit-inspired, but it was human-written and anything created by humans is not and cannot be perfect. It is and has been mis-interpreted, contested, subjective and church doctrine formed out of scripture that the original writer had no intent and purpose of writing church doctrine, such as some of Paul’s letters.
Humans are imperfect, untrustworthy, and sinful, but the holy trinity is not. Putting too much confidence, faith and trust in humans is not good and sooner or later, will only lead to disappointment in one way or the other.
copied from a search:
The Bible contains several scriptures that caution against placing too much confidence in humans, emphasizing that ultimate trust should be reserved for God alone.
Jeremiah 17:5 reads, “This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD””.
This verse serves as a stark warning against relying on human beings, earthly systems, or self-sufficiency rather than placing faith and trust in God, who alone is the source of true blessing and enduring strength, contrasting with the curses that await those who make humans their strength.
Jeremiah 17:5–8
This passage provides a direct warning against relying on human strength and an analogy contrasting the results of trusting man versus trusting God.
Psalm 146:3–5
The psalmist advises against putting confidence in human leaders, highlighting their mortality and God’s eternal faithfulness.
Psalm 118:8–9
These verses state that it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans, regardless of their status.
Proverbs 29:25
This Proverb explains that relying on people can lead to fear, while trusting God brings safety.
Isaiah 2:22
The prophet Isaiah advises against trusting in humans, noting their fleeting nature.
Micah 7:5
This passage warns against trusting even close relationships and emphasizes caution in human interactions.
2 Corinthians 1:9–10
This New Testament passage explains that trials can teach believers to trust in God rather than themselves, as God has the power to deliver them.
Psalms 146:3 – Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings,
Proverbs 29:25 NIV – Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
Sorry, my prior comment was maybe confusing. I was trying to kill two birds with one stone by one commenting on “Inseparable Love” plus answering Mathew’s question what do we mean by Church?
Jesus used the word ἐκκλησία rather than συναγωγή [sinaɣoji] “synagogue” or another synonym, such as συνάθροισις [sinaθrisis] “congregation.” For while συναγωγή or συνάθροισις denotes a gathering or a congregation respectively, ἐκκλησία denotes a calling. The genius of the word ἐκκλησία points to a called-out body of people separated from the world.
Thus, what unfolds between Christ’s utterance of ἐκκλησία to Peter and Paul’s writings is an immeasurably profound revelation: each believer is a member of Christ’s Body, the Church (1 Cor. 12:27, Eph. 1:23), NOT “go to church”, with Christ being the Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22).
An ἐκκλησία is not about attendance or offerings or even what’s legal but rather [What does love require of me?] as portable temples everywhere at all times as being more scared than the temple model [a church sacred place].
The 630+ laws, all vertical, how am [I] doing, [temple thinking], Jesus raised the bar so high on — none could meet. Then Jesus said God is not in need of your peace offerings, [by vertical grace – A FREE GIFT – you’re in], but rather if you want to know how you’re doing look around [horizontal] to the folks on your left and right for there is NOTHING more sacred then these now Spirit inhabited mobile temple folk. 1 Cor 6:19
Loved this! The “Inseparable Love” sermon summary starts with:
Revelation UNVEILS THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD and UNMASKS THE LIES OF THE ENEMY. It does this BY SHINING A LIGHT on how we are to live right now in the midst of this battle of truth versus lies.
The SHINING A LIGHT being the mobile temple of the HOLY SPIRIT agape community
Yep Lisa, I agree putting too much confidence, faith and trust in humans is not good and ultimate trust should be reserved for God alone.
King Solomon, the smartest man that ever lived, said: Proverbs 14:12 ‘There is a WAY that appears to be RIGHT [TRUTH], but in the end it leads to DEATH.
Jesus answered: John 14:6 “I am the WAY and the TRUTH and the LIFE. NO ONE comes to the Father except through me.
The arrival of Jesus signaled the END [not abolishment] of the Old Covenant, a nation specific Temple Model [a COCOON], that granted extraordinary power to sacred men in sacred places who determined the meaning of sacred texts — marking the BEGINNING of a Brand New [covenant, command, ethic, movement] Jesus [BIRTHED] when on the cross He said “it is finished” and the temple vail tore in two [fulfillment].
The Temple Model, tailored for the elite, requiring followers to come make peace with God caused leaders to become self-righteous, followers to become hypocrites, texts to be manipulated and people to be mistreated.
The Passover is in remembrance of Jesus who turned the leadership paradigm upside down, after He washed their feet, by saying “as I have loved you, you must love one another”, a signal verb LOVE applying to God, your neighbor and enemies.
Thank you Shawna “Inseparable Love” reminded me of a few thoughts from prior comments
ἐκκλησία – the mobile temple agape community often at odds with IYI Yahoos on the prowl contract society 🙂