Overview
The Bible is one of the oldest and most influential written works in the world, and its stories and teachings of love, guilt, and redemption have had a direct impact on the development and growth of modern society. But how many books of the Bible are there? Well, depending on which version of the Bible you are counting, there are anywhere from 39 to 81 books.
The Old Testament
The vast majority of books in the Bible (39 to 46) are in the Old Testament. These books are sometimes called “Protocanonical” because they were accepted by some ancient Christian councils as genuine and authoritative Scripture. The Old Testament books largely contain stories of Israel’s history, including its earliest beginnings with Adam and Eve and God’s promises to Abraham. They also include teachings of the prophets and numerous poems and songs, as well as several books of wisdom literature such as Proverbs and Psalms.
The New Testament
The New Testament contains the remaining books of the Bible (27). It contains the stories of Jesus’s life and death, as well as his teachings and miracles that he performed. The New Testament also contains letters from some of the early church leaders, and the book of Revelation, which is a symbolic description of the end times.
Deuterocanonical Books
The differences in the number of books in different versions of the Bible has been an ongoing debate for centuries. This discrepancy comes from the fact that some versions of the Bible contain seven additional books, known as the Deuterocanonical books. These books are accepted as Scripture by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Churches, and some Anglicans, but not by Protestants.
Apocryphal Books
In addition to the Deuterocanonical books, some versions of the Bible contain several other books which are known as “Apocryphal”. These books are not considered to be authoritative by any major Christian denomination and are therefore not included in some versions of the Bible.
The Bible: A Source of Wisdom
Despite the fact that there are different versions of the Bible that contain differing numbers of books, the Bible remains an important source of wisdom and inspiration for many people around the world. The Bible is a collection of timeless stories, teachings, and poems which can offer insight into our own lives and help us make sense of the world around us. Whether you agree with all of its teachings or not, the Bible still stands as an influential and important work which continues to inspire and shape our culture and society.
Conclusion
The Bible is a timeless and influential work, and there are a variety of versions in circulation. Depending on which version you go by, the Bible consists of anywhere from 39 to 81 books. While the differences in the number of books and the particular books themselves may vary, the Bible still stands as a source of wisdom and inspiration for many people around the world.
