The Protestant Bible is the collection of sacred texts used by Protestant Christian denominations. It contains 66 books, divided into two sections: the Old Testament (39 books) and the New Testament (27 books). It excludes the Deuterocanonical books (known as the Apocrypha) found in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles.
Key Features of the Protestant Bible:
- Old Testament:
- Based on the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), following the Jewish canon.
- Books include Genesis, Psalms, Isaiah, and others, emphasizing the history, law, and prophecies of Israel.
- New Testament:
- Focuses on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the early Church.
- Includes Gospels (e.g., Matthew, Mark), Epistles (e.g., Romans, Corinthians), and Revelation.
Differences from Catholic and Orthodox Bibles:
- Exclusion of Deuterocanonical Books:
- Protestant reformers, particularly Martin Luther, excluded books like Tobit, Judith, and 1–2 Maccabees, considering them non-canonical.
- These books were part of the Septuagint but not the Hebrew canon.
- Emphasis on Scripture Alone:
- Reflecting the Reformation principle of Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), the Protestant Bible is seen as the sole authority for faith and practice.
History of the Protestant Bible:
- Martin Luther’s Influence:
- Luther translated the Bible into German (1522–1534) and removed the Deuterocanonical books from the canon.
- English Translations:
- The King James Version (1611) became one of the most influential Protestant Bibles.
- Modern translations include the NIV, ESV, and others.
Written by AI. A more correct, God given, explanation can be found here.