How Many Books Are in the Bible? A Quick and Complete Guide
How Many Books Are in the Bible?
The number of books in the Bible ranges from 66 to 81 or more, depending on the Christian tradition. While all major branches of Christianity agree on the 27 New Testament books, the number of Old Testament books varies by denomination—especially between Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, and Ethiopian churches.
Quick Answer: Bible Book Counts by Tradition
| Tradition | Old Testament Books | New Testament Books | Total Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protestant Bible | 39 | 27 | 66 |
| Catholic Bible | 46 | 27 | 73 |
| Eastern Orthodox Bible | ~49 | 27 | 76–79 |
| Ethiopian Orthodox Bible | 46+ | 35+ | 81+ |
Introduction
The Bible isn’t a single book—it’s a library of sacred writings, collected over centuries and held as Scripture by Christian communities around the world. But depending on the tradition, the number of books in the Bible varies.
If you’ve ever wondered, “How many books are in the Bible—and why does the number change?”—you’re not alone. Here’s a quick and clear guide to help.
The Word of God is dependable, true, and inspired, giving the words of salvation to us all.
How Many Books Are in the Protestant Bible?
Most Protestant Bibles contain 66 books:
Old Testament: 39 books
New Testament: 27 books
This canon aligns closely with the Hebrew Bible for the Old Testament and includes books widely recognized by the early church for the New Testament. The Protestant reformers removed several books that were in use in earlier Christian Bibles—books now known as the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical books.
Related post: Which Books Are in the Old Testament?
How many books in the Bible?
What a great question to ask. The Scriptures tell the story of the salvation brought to us by God in Christ.
How Many Books Are in the Catholic Bible?
The Catholic Bible contains 73 books:
Old Testament: 46 books
New Testament: 27 books
The key difference is the inclusion of seven additional Old Testament books and additions to Esther and Daniel. These are known as the Deuterocanonical books and include:
Tobit
Judith
Wisdom (of Solomon)
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)
Baruch
1 Maccabees
2 Maccabees
Catholics regard these books as inspired Scripture, and they have been part of Catholic Bibles for centuries.
Catholics include seven Deuterocanonical books, such as Tobit and 2 Maccabees, which were affirmed at the Council of Trent in response to the Protestant Reformation.
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How Many Books Are in the Eastern Orthodox Bible?
Eastern Orthodox Bibles include more books than either the Protestant or Catholic canons:
Old Testament: Usually 49 books
New Testament: 27 books
Total: Around 76 to 79 books
In addition to the Deuterocanonical books, many Eastern Orthodox traditions also include:
3 Maccabees
1 Esdras
Psalm 151
The Prayer of Manasseh
And sometimes even 4 Maccabees
These books are typically grouped into the Old Testament and reflect the church’s use of the Greek Septuagint as its Old Testament base.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church preserves one of the oldest Christian traditions, with a unique biblical canon of 81 books—including ancient texts like Enoch and Jubilees not found in Western Bibles.
How Many Books Are in the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible?
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has the largest biblical canon recognized by any Christian tradition:
Old Testament: 46+ books
New Testament: 35+ books
Total: 81 books or more
The Ethiopian canon includes books not found in most other Bibles, such as:
1 Enoch
Jubilees
1–3 Meqabyan (different from Maccabees)
The Book of the Covenant
The Book of the Mysteries
This reflects a distinct theological and historical tradition that predates many Western canon decisions.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Bible contains up to 81 books, including texts like 1 Enoch and Jubilees, which are accepted as Scripture in the Ethiopian Tewahedo Church.
Why the Differences?
Each Christian tradition developed its biblical canon through centuries of prayer, worship, and debate. These differences don’t mean one Bible is right and another wrong—they show how various communities have preserved and honored the Scriptures.
All Christian Bibles share the core witness of Jesus Christ and the story of God’s saving work from creation to new creation.
The differences come from how each tradition defines its biblical canon—the official list of books considered Scripture—based on centuries of prayer, debate, and historical decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books are in the King James Bible?
The original 1611 King James Bible included the Apocrypha, totaling 80 books. Today’s standard KJV usually contains 66 books, like other Protestant Bibles.
What are the Deuterocanonical books?
These are seven additional Old Testament books recognized by Catholics (and Orthodox) but not by Protestants. They are part of the Catholic canon and appear in many older Christian Bibles.
Which Bible has the most books?
The Ethiopian Orthodox Bible holds that distinction, with 81 books or more, including unique ancient texts like Enoch and Jubilees.
Do all Christians agree on the Bible’s contents?
No—but all major traditions agree on the same 27 books in the New Testament, and most of the Old Testament. The differences arise primarily in the Old Testament canon.
Final Thoughts
So, how many books are in the Bible? It depends—but across all Christian traditions, these books form a sacred witness to God’s relationship with humanity. Whether you’re reading 66 books or 81, the Bible offers a rich and life-shaping journey.
If you’re new to the Bible, start with what your tradition recognizes—and read it with reverence, humility, and curiosity.
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