The Catholic Bible

The Catholic Bible contains 73 books: 46 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament (CCC 120). The list of books the Church recognizes as inspired is called the canon.

We do not reproduce the text of the Bible on this site. Each day we give the references for the readings at Mass and link to the full text published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The Old Testament

• The Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
• The historical books, from Joshua to Maccabees, which tell the story of Israel.
• The wisdom books, including Job, the Psalms, Proverbs, Wisdom, and Sirach.
• The prophets, from Isaiah to Malachi.

The deuterocanonical books

Catholic Bibles include seven Old Testament books that most Protestant Bibles omit or print separately: Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and 1 and 2 Maccabees, together with some additional passages in Esther and Daniel. They are called deuterocanonical. These books were part of the Greek Scriptures used by the early Church, appear in the canons of the fourth-century councils of Hippo and Carthage, and were solemnly confirmed by the Council of Trent in 1546.

The New Testament

• The four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the heart of all the Scriptures.
• The Acts of the Apostles, the story of the early Church.
• The letters of Saint Paul and the Letter to the Hebrews.
• The seven catholic letters: James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude.
• The Book of Revelation.

Where to begin

If you are new to the Bible, begin with a Gospel. Mark is the shortest; Luke is rich in parables and mercy. Read a short passage each day and stay with it.

Or read with the Church. The readings at daily Mass move through the Scriptures in an ordered way, and our Daily Gospel page follows them, with the references for each day and a reflection.

Further reading: Books of the Bible (USCCB); Catechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican).