Do Orthodox Think Catholics Took Books Out of the Bible?
- Orthodoxy
- Canon of Scripture

Do Orthodox Christians Think Catholics Took Books Out of the Bible?
Orthodox Christians generally do not think that Catholics removed books from the Bible. Instead, the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church have slightly different biblical canons due to historical and theological developments over time, particularly regarding the Old Testament.
Differences in the Biblical Canon
- Old Testament Differences: The Orthodox Old Testament includes several books that are not in the Catholic canon, such as 1 Esdras, Psalm 151, and 3 Maccabees. These additional texts are part of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of Hebrew Scriptures used by early Christians.
- Historical Development: The Catholic Church formalized its canon at the Council of Trent (1546), which included the Deuterocanonical books but excluded some texts found in the Orthodox canon.
- Shared New Testament: Both Orthodox and Catholic Christians share the same 27 books in the New Testament.
Orthodox Perspective on the Canon
The Orthodox Church views its canon as reflecting the Scriptures traditionally used in the early Christian communities. The differences are not seen as a deliberate removal but as variations in how each tradition developed.
Conclusion
Orthodox Christians do not typically accuse Catholics of taking books out of the Bible. Instead, the differences in their biblical canons reflect distinct historical and theological paths.
How Does Psalm 34:17-18 Comfort?
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Blessed AppWhat Does the Bible Say About Rest?
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Blessed AppWhat Does John 13:35 Say About Love?
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