Know the Text
☰
⌕

Reading as Seek: to learn Scripture and its teachings. Same facts, warmer framing.

Library

The books outside the Bible you know

There is no single “Bible”. Protestant Bibles have 66 books, Catholic Bibles 73, Orthodox Bibles more, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church more still. Below: how each church treats each book, with the statement it rests on, and the full texts, so you can read them yourself.

✓
Scripture: Part of this church’s Bible as Scripture.
app.
Appendix: Printed in an appendix, not as Scripture.
lit.
In worship: Used in worship, not counted as a book of the Bible.
read
Read, not for doctrine: Printed apart as the Apocrypha: read for example of life, not to establish doctrine.
±
Varies: Printed in this church’s Bible, but its standing is described differently by different authorities.

Deuterocanon (Catholic and Orthodox)

Scripture for Catholics since the Council of Trent (1546) and printed within Greek and Russian Orthodox Bibles; Anglican and Lutheran Bibles set them apart as Apocrypha, and the Reformed confessions give them no authority.

BookProt.Cath.GreekSlav.Eth.Read it in
TobitTobit · Protestant: Read, not for doctrineListed in Article VI (Anglican); WCF I.3 (Reformed) gives the Apocrypha no authority.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–3Tobit · Catholic: ScriptureSources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical ScripturesTobit · Greek Orthodox: ScriptureSources: Synod of Jerusalem (1672), Confession of Dositheus, Question III; Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text); NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)Tobit · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: VariesPrinted in the Synodal Bible but marked 'non-canonical'; Philaret says such books are 'to be read', while the NRSV preface says the Russian Church recognises them.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notes; The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church (St Philaret of Moscow), 'Examined and Approved by the Most Holy Governing Synod'; English as in Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol. 2; NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)Tobit · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: ScriptureIn the 'narrower' canon of printed Bibles.Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323KJVWEBDRCLXXELXX-Br
Esther (Greek)Esther (Greek) · Protestant: Read, not for doctrine (the additions, as 'The rest of the Book of Esther')Hebrew Esther is canonical; the Greek additions are Apocrypha (Article VI; Luther moved them out of Esther).Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–3; Luther, Preface to Parts of Esther and Daniel (1534), LW 35:353Esther (Greek) · Catholic: Scripture (part of Esther (Vulgate Esth 10:4–16:24))Trent receives the books 'entire with all their parts'.Sources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical ScripturesEsther (Greek) · Greek Orthodox: Scripture (part of Esther)Church of Greece text of Esther includes the additions.Sources: Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text); NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)Esther (Greek) · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Varies (part of Esther)Synodal Esther prints the Greek passages in square brackets as taken from the Septuagint; the book is not starred non-canonical.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notesEsther (Greek) · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Scripture (part of Esther)Cowley: the LXX additions to Esther are in the Geez and Amharic.Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323LXXEWEBLXX-Br
Wisdom of SolomonWisdom of Solomon · Protestant: Read, not for doctrineListed in Article VI; no authority under WCF I.3.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–3Wisdom of Solomon · Catholic: ScriptureSources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical ScripturesWisdom of Solomon · Greek Orthodox: ScriptureSources: Synod of Jerusalem (1672), Confession of Dositheus, Question III; Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text); NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)Wisdom of Solomon · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: VariesMarked 'non-canonical' in the Synodal Bible; see Tob.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notes; The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church (St Philaret of Moscow), 'Examined and Approved by the Most Holy Governing Synod'; English as in Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol. 2; NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)Wisdom of Solomon · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: ScriptureNarrower canon.Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323KJVWEBDRCLXXELXX-Br
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) · Protestant: Read, not for doctrineListed in Article VI as 'Jesus the Son of Sirach'.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–3Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) · Catholic: ScriptureSources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical ScripturesSirach (Ecclesiasticus) · Greek Orthodox: ScriptureSources: Synod of Jerusalem (1672), Confession of Dositheus, Question III; Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text); NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: VariesMarked 'non-canonical' in the Synodal Bible; Philaret names Sirach as not in the Hebrew.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notes; The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church (St Philaret of Moscow), 'Examined and Approved by the Most Holy Governing Synod'; English as in Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol. 2; NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: ScriptureNarrower canon (Ecclesiasticus).Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323KJVWEBDRCLXXELXX-Br
BaruchBaruch · Protestant: Read, not for doctrineListed in Article VI as 'Baruch the Prophet'.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–3Baruch · Catholic: ScriptureTrent: 'Jeremias, with Baruch'.Sources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical ScripturesBaruch · Greek Orthodox: ScriptureSeparate book in the Church of Greece OT; Dositheus does not name it.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text); NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)Baruch · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: VariesMarked 'non-canonical' in the Synodal Bible; see Tob.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notes; The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church (St Philaret of Moscow), 'Examined and Approved by the Most Holy Governing Synod'; English as in Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol. 2; NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)Baruch · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: ScriptureFive chapters, shorter than the LXX text (Cowley).Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323KJVWEBDRCLXXELXX-Br
Letter of JeremiahLetter of Jeremiah · Protestant: Read, not for doctrine (Baruch 6)Covered by 'Baruch the Prophet' in Article VI; the KJV in our DB prints it as Baruch 6 (kjv Bar.6.1).Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919)Letter of Jeremiah · Catholic: Scripture (Baruch 6)Sources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical ScripturesLetter of Jeremiah · Greek Orthodox: Scripture (separate book (Epistle of Jeremiah))Sources: Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text); The Orthodox Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2008), front matter (contents, introduction, canon table); NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)Letter of Jeremiah · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Varies (separate book (Послание Иеремии))Marked 'non-canonical' in the Synodal Bible.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notes; The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church (St Philaret of Moscow), 'Examined and Approved by the Most Holy Governing Synod'; English as in Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol. 2; NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)Letter of Jeremiah · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Scripture (Lamentations 6, within Säqoqawä Eremyas ('the rest of Jeremiah'))Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323KJVLXXELXX-Br
Prayer of Azariah and Song of the ThreePrayer of Azariah and Song of the Three · Protestant: Read, not for doctrine ('The Song of the Three Children')Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Luther, Preface to Parts of Esther and Daniel (1534), LW 35:353Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three · Catholic: Scripture (Daniel 3:24–90)Sources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical ScripturesPrayer of Azariah and Song of the Three · Greek Orthodox: Scripture (within Daniel 3)Sources: Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text); NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Varies (within Daniel 3)Printed in Daniel with a note that vv. 24–91 (Synodal numbering) are translated from the Greek and absent from the Hebrew.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notes; The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church (St Philaret of Moscow), 'Examined and Approved by the Most Holy Governing Synod'; English as in Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol. 2Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Scripture (part of Daniel)Cowley: the LXX additions to Daniel are in the Geez and Amharic.Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323KJVWEBDRCLXXELXX-Br
SusannaSusanna · Protestant: Read, not for doctrine ('The Story of Susanna')Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Luther, Preface to Parts of Esther and Daniel (1534), LW 35:353Susanna · Catholic: Scripture (Daniel 13)Sources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical ScripturesSusanna · Greek Orthodox: Scripture (Daniel, before ch. 1 (numbered ch. 0 in the Church of Greece text))Sources: Synod of Jerusalem (1672), Confession of Dositheus, Question III; Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text); The Orthodox Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2008), front matter (contents, introduction, canon table)Susanna · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Varies (Daniel 13)Printed with a note that ch. 13 is translated from the Greek and absent from the Hebrew.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notes; The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church (St Philaret of Moscow), 'Examined and Approved by the Most Holy Governing Synod'; English as in Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol. 2Susanna · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Scripture'Book of Susanna' is in Cowley's narrower canon.Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323KJVWEBDRCLXXELXX-Br
Bel and the DragonBel and the Dragon · Protestant: Read, not for doctrine ('Of Bel and the Dragon')Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Luther, Preface to Parts of Esther and Daniel (1534), LW 35:353Bel and the Dragon · Catholic: Scripture (Daniel 14)Sources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical ScripturesBel and the Dragon · Greek Orthodox: Scripture (last chapter of Daniel (ch. 13 in the Church of Greece text))Sources: Synod of Jerusalem (1672), Confession of Dositheus, Question III; Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text)Bel and the Dragon · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Varies (Daniel 14)Printed in Daniel as Greek-only material; see Sus.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notes; The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church (St Philaret of Moscow), 'Examined and Approved by the Most Holy Governing Synod'; English as in Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol. 2Bel and the Dragon · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Scripture (part of 'the rest of Daniel')Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323KJVWEBDRCLXXELXX-Br
Daniel (Greek)Daniel (Greek) · Protestant: Read, not for doctrineDaniel is canonical in its Hebrew/Aramaic form; the Greek additions are Apocrypha.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–3; Luther, Preface to Parts of Esther and Daniel (1534), LW 35:353Daniel (Greek) · Catholic: Scripture (Daniel 1–14)Sources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical ScripturesDaniel (Greek) · Greek Orthodox: Scripture (Daniel with Susanna, Azariah and Bel)Sources: Synod of Jerusalem (1672), Confession of Dositheus, Question III; Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text)Daniel (Greek) · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: VariesDaniel is canonical; its Greek-only parts are printed with 'not in the Hebrew' notes.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notes; The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church (St Philaret of Moscow), 'Examined and Approved by the Most Holy Governing Synod'; English as in Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol. 2Daniel (Greek) · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: ScriptureSources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323LXXEWEBLXX-Br
1 Maccabees1 Maccabees · Protestant: Read, not for doctrineListed in Article VI.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–31 Maccabees · Catholic: ScriptureSources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical Scriptures1 Maccabees · Greek Orthodox: ScriptureSources: Synod of Jerusalem (1672), Confession of Dositheus, Question III; Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text); NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)1 Maccabees · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: VariesMarked 'non-canonical' in the Synodal Bible; see Tob.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notes; The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church (St Philaret of Moscow), 'Examined and Approved by the Most Holy Governing Synod'; English as in Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol. 2; NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)1 Maccabees · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Not includedEthiopian '1–3 Maccabees' (Mäqabeyan) are different books, not the Greek ones.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323KJVWEBDRCLXXELXX-Br
2 Maccabees2 Maccabees · Protestant: Read, not for doctrineListed in Article VI.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–32 Maccabees · Catholic: ScriptureSources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical Scriptures2 Maccabees · Greek Orthodox: ScriptureSources: Synod of Jerusalem (1672), Confession of Dositheus, Question III; Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text); NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)2 Maccabees · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: VariesMarked 'non-canonical' in the Synodal Bible; see Tob.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notes; The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church (St Philaret of Moscow), 'Examined and Approved by the Most Holy Governing Synod'; English as in Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol. 2; NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)2 Maccabees · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Not includedMäqabeyan are different books (see 1Macc).Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323KJVWEBDRCLXXELXX-Br

Also in Orthodox Bibles

Printed in Greek and Russian Orthodox Bibles but not in the Catholic canon; 1 Esdras and the Prayer of Manasseh are in the appendix of the 1592 Clementine Vulgate.

BookProt.Cath.GreekSlav.Eth.Read it in
1 Esdras1 Esdras · Protestant: Read, not for doctrine ('The III Book of Esdras')Anglican Article VI; not verified for Luther's Bible.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–31 Esdras · Catholic: Appendix (3 Esdras)Clementine Vulgate appendix, 'outside the series of canonical books'.Sources: Sixto-Clementine Vulgate (1592), preface to the Appendix (Prayer of Manasseh, 3–4 Esdras); Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical Scriptures1 Esdras · Greek Orthodox: Scripture (Esdras A' (Ἔσδρας Α΄))Printed first of the Ezra books; Dositheus does not name it.Sources: Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text); The Orthodox Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2008), front matter (contents, introduction, canon table); NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)1 Esdras · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Varies (2 Esdras (2-я книга Ездры))Marked 'non-canonical' in the Synodal Bible.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notes; The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church (St Philaret of Moscow), 'Examined and Approved by the Most Holy Governing Synod'; English as in Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol. 2; NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)1 Esdras · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Scripture'1 Esdras' is in Cowley's narrower canon; the DB's name 'Ezra Kali' was not found in Cowley.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323KJVWEBLXXELXX-Br
Prayer of ManassehPrayer of Manasseh · Protestant: Read, not for doctrine ('The Prayer of Manasses')Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–3Prayer of Manasseh · Catholic: AppendixClementine Vulgate appendix.Sources: Sixto-Clementine Vulgate (1592), preface to the Appendix (Prayer of Manasseh, 3–4 Esdras); NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)Prayer of Manasseh · Greek Orthodox: VariesNRSV says the Greek Church recognises it and the OSB prints it after 2 Chronicles, but the Church of Greece's online 2 Chronicles omits it; it is read at Great Compline.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader); The Orthodox Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2008), front matter (contents, introduction, canon table); Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text); Great Compline (English text), St. Jonah Orthodox Church, Fr. John WhitefordPrayer of Manasseh · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Varies (2 Chronicles 36:23a ff.)Printed at the end of 2 Chronicles with a note that it is translated from the Greek and absent from the Hebrew.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notes; NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader); Great Compline (English text), St. Jonah Orthodox Church, Fr. John WhitefordPrayer of Manasseh · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Scripture (13 verses after 2 Chronicles 33:12)Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323KJVWEBLXXELXX-Br
Psalm 151Psalm 151 · Protestant: Not includedNot in Article VI's list.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919)Psalm 151 · Catholic: Not includedTrent: a Psalter 'of a hundred and fifty psalms'; not in the 1592 Vulgate appendix.Sources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical Scriptures; Sixto-Clementine Vulgate (1592), preface to the Appendix (Prayer of Manasseh, 3–4 Esdras)Psalm 151 · Greek Orthodox: Scripture (after Psalm 150, titled 'outside the number')Sources: Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text); The Orthodox Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2008), front matter (contents, introduction, canon table)Psalm 151 · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Varies (Psalm 151)Printed after Psalm 150 with a note that it is translated from the Greek and absent from the Hebrew.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notesPsalm 151 · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Scripture (part of Psalms)Inferred from Cowley's statement that the LXX additions to Psalms are present; he does not name Psalm 151.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323WEBLXXELXX-Br
3 Maccabees3 Maccabees · Protestant: Not includedNot in Article VI's list; some ecumenical editions such as the NRSV print it.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)3 Maccabees · Catholic: Not includedNot in Trent's list or the Vulgate appendix.Sources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical Scriptures; Sixto-Clementine Vulgate (1592), preface to the Appendix (Prayer of Manasseh, 3–4 Esdras)3 Maccabees · Greek Orthodox: ScriptureSources: Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text); The Orthodox Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2008), front matter (contents, introduction, canon table); NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)3 Maccabees · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: VariesMarked 'non-canonical' in the Synodal Bible; see Tob.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notes; The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church (St Philaret of Moscow), 'Examined and Approved by the Most Holy Governing Synod'; English as in Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol. 2; NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)3 Maccabees · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Not includedEthiopian 3 Maccabees is a different book (Cowley).Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323WEBLXXELXX-Br

Appendices and other Bibles

2 Esdras is in the Slavonic Bible (as 3 Esdras) and the Vulgate appendix (as 4 Esdras), 4 Maccabees is an appendix to the Greek Bible, and the Odes are a collection of biblical canticles used in Orthodox worship.

BookProt.Cath.GreekSlav.Eth.Read it in
2 Esdras2 Esdras · Protestant: Read, not for doctrine ('The IV Book of Esdras')Anglican Article VI.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–32 Esdras · Catholic: Appendix (4 Esdras)Sources: Sixto-Clementine Vulgate (1592), preface to the Appendix (Prayer of Manasseh, 3–4 Esdras); NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)2 Esdras · Greek Orthodox: Not includedNRSV: 'not found in the Greek'.Sources: NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader); Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text)2 Esdras · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Varies (3 Esdras (3-я книга Ездры))In the Slavonic and Synodal Bibles, marked 'non-canonical'.Sources: NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader); Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notes; The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church (St Philaret of Moscow), 'Examined and Approved by the Most Holy Governing Synod'; English as in Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol. 22 Esdras · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Scripture (Ezra Sutu'el (Ezra Apocalypse) = chapters 3–14 only)Chapters 1–2 and 15–16 (5 and 6 Ezra) are not included.Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323KJVWEB

Other Jewish writings

Enoch and Jubilees are canonical in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church; the Psalms of Solomon are in no church's Bible.

BookProt.Cath.GreekSlav.Eth.Read it in

New Testament apocrypha

Early Christian writings that are not in the New Testament of any church.

BookProt.Cath.GreekSlav.Eth.Read it in
Protevangelium of James (Book of James)Protevangelium of James (Book of James) · Protestant: Not includedArticle VI receives the NT books 'as they are commonly received'.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–3Protevangelium of James (Book of James) · Catholic: Not includedSources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical ScripturesProtevangelium of James (Book of James) · Greek Orthodox: Not includedThe OSB contents list only the 27 NT books.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: The Orthodox Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2008), front matter (contents, introduction, canon table)Protevangelium of James (Book of James) · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Not includedNo Russian NT source was read beyond the azbyka contents, which list the 27 books.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notesProtevangelium of James (Book of James) · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Not includedNot in either of Cowley's NT lists (27 books, or 35 with the church-order books).Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323James-ANT
Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text A)Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text A) · Protestant: Not includedArticle VI receives the NT books 'as they are commonly received'.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–3Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text A) · Catholic: Not includedSources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical ScripturesInfancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text A) · Greek Orthodox: Not includedThe OSB contents list only the 27 NT books.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: The Orthodox Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2008), front matter (contents, introduction, canon table)Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text A) · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Not includedNo Russian NT source was read beyond the azbyka contents, which list the 27 books.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notesInfancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text A) · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Not includedNot in either of Cowley's NT lists (27 books, or 35 with the church-order books).Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323James-ANT
Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text B)Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text B) · Protestant: Not includedArticle VI receives the NT books 'as they are commonly received'.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–3Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text B) · Catholic: Not includedSources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical ScripturesInfancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text B) · Greek Orthodox: Not includedThe OSB contents list only the 27 NT books.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: The Orthodox Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2008), front matter (contents, introduction, canon table)Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text B) · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Not includedNo Russian NT source was read beyond the azbyka contents, which list the 27 books.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notesInfancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text B) · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Not includedNot in either of Cowley's NT lists (27 books, or 35 with the church-order books).Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323James-ANT
Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Latin text)Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Latin text) · Protestant: Not includedArticle VI receives the NT books 'as they are commonly received'.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–3Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Latin text) · Catholic: Not includedSources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical ScripturesInfancy Gospel of Thomas (Latin text) · Greek Orthodox: Not includedThe OSB contents list only the 27 NT books.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: The Orthodox Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2008), front matter (contents, introduction, canon table)Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Latin text) · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Not includedNo Russian NT source was read beyond the azbyka contents, which list the 27 books.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notesInfancy Gospel of Thomas (Latin text) · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Not includedNot in either of Cowley's NT lists (27 books, or 35 with the church-order books).Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323James-ANT
Gospel of PeterGospel of Peter · Protestant: Not includedArticle VI receives the NT books 'as they are commonly received'.Sources: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919); Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–3Gospel of Peter · Catholic: Not includedSources: Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical ScripturesGospel of Peter · Greek Orthodox: Not includedThe OSB contents list only the 27 NT books.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: The Orthodox Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2008), front matter (contents, introduction, canon table)Gospel of Peter · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Not includedNo Russian NT source was read beyond the azbyka contents, which list the 27 books.Confidence: medium. The sources are thin or indirect here.Sources: Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notesGospel of Peter · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Not includedNot in either of Cowley's NT lists (27 books, or 35 with the church-order books).Sources: R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–323James-ANT

Sources

Each church’s own statements, or the closest published equivalent. Tap a mark in the table for the note on that book.

  1. Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571), Article VI, as printed in E. J. Bicknell, A Theological Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles (1919)And the other books (as Hierome saith) the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners; but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine. Such are these following: The III Book of Esdras, The IV Book of Esdras, The Book of Tobias, The Book of Judith, The rest of the Book of Esther, The Book of Wisdom, Jesus the Son of Sirach, Baruch the Prophet, The Song of the Three Children, The Story of Susanna, Of Bel and the Dragon, The Prayer of Manasses, The I Book of Maccabees, The II Book of Maccabees.
  2. Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter I.2–3The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the Scripture, and therefore are of no authority in the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings.
  3. Council of Trent, Session IV (8 April 1546), Decree concerning the canonical Scripturesthe first book of Esdras, and the second which is entitled Nehemias; Tobias, Judith, Esther, Job, the Davidical Psalter, consisting of a hundred and fifty psalms; the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Canticle of Canticles, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Isaias, Jeremias, with Baruch; Ezechiel, Daniel; […] two books of the Machabees, the first and the second. … But if any one receive not, as sacred and canonical, the said books entire with all their parts, as they have been used to be read in the Catholic Church, and as they are contained in the old Latin vulgate edition; […] let him be anathema.
  4. Synod of Jerusalem (1672), Confession of Dositheus, Question IIIto wit, ‘The Wisdom of Solomon,’ ‘Judith,’ ‘Tobit,’ ‘The History of the Dragon,’ ‘The History of Susanna,’ ‘The Maccabees,’ and ‘The Wisdom of Sirach.’ For we judge these also to be with the other genuine Books of Divine Scripture genuine parts of Scripture. […] all of which we also judge to be Canonical Books, and confess them to be Sacred Scripture.
  5. Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, online Old Testament (Septuagint text)ΠΑΡΑΛΕΙΠΟΜΕΝΩΝ Β΄ ΕΣΔΡΑΣ Α΄ ΕΣΔΡΑΣ Β’ ΝΕΕΜΙΑΣ ΤΩΒΙΤ ΙΟΥΔΙΘ ΕΣΘΗΡ ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Α’ ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Β’ ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Γ’ ΨΑΛΜΟΙ […] ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΟΛΟΜΩΝΤΟΣ ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ […] ΙΕΡΕΜΙΑΣ ΒΑΡΟΥΧ ΘΡΗΝΟΙ ΙΕΡΕΜΙΟΥ ΕΠΙΣΤΟΛΗ ΙΕΡΕΜΙΟΥ ΙΕΖΕΚΙΗΛ ΔΑΝΙΗΛ ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Δ’ ΠΑΡΑΡΤΗΜΑ … Οὗτος ὁ ψαλμὸς ἰδιόγραφος εἰς Δαυΐδ καὶ ἔξωθεν τοῦ ἀριθμοῦ· ὅτε ἐμονομάχησε τῷ Γολιάθ.
  6. NRSV with Apocrypha, 'The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books of the Old Testament' (To the Reader)The books and parts of books from Tobit up to and including 2 Maccabees are recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Roman Catholic, Greek, and Russian Churches. … The books and parts of books from 1 Esdras up to and including 3 Maccabees are recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Greek and the Russian Churches. They are not so recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, but 1 Esdras and the Prayer of Manasseh are placed in an appendix to the Latin Vulgate Bible. … 2 Esdras is included in the Slavonic Bible as 3 Esdras, but is not found in the Greek. It is included in an Appendix to the Latin Vulgate Bible as 4 Esdras. … 4 Maccabees appears in an appendix to the Greek Bible.
  7. Russian Synodal Bible, as published by Azbuka Very (azbyka.ru): contents and chapter notesЕ́здры 1-я 2-я * Нееми́и Тови́т * Иуди́фь * Есфи́рь Маккаве́йская 1-я * 2-я * 3-я * […] Премудрости Соломона * Премудрости Иисуса, сына Сира́хова * […] Послание Иеремии * Вару́ха * […] Ездры 3-я * * Неканоническая … Молитва Манассии, царя иудейского, когда он содержался в плену в Вавилоне //Переведена с греческого; в еврейском тексте ее нет. 36:23а … *У Евреев этого псалма нет: он переведен с греческого. … Стихи с 24-го по 91-й переведены с греческого, потому что в еврейском тексте их нет. … 13-я глава переведена с греческого, потому что в еврейском тексте ее нет. … В тексте Ветхого Завета в квадратные скобки заключены слова, взятые авторами Синодального перевода из Септуагинты – греческой Библии
  8. The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church (St Philaret of Moscow), 'Examined and Approved by the Most Holy Governing Synod'; English as in Schaff, Creeds of Christendom vol. 234. Why is there no notice taken in this enumeration of the books of the Old Testament of the book of the Wisdom of the son of Sirach, and of certain others? Because they do not exist in the Hebrew. 35. How are we to regard these last-named books? Athanasius the Great says that they have been appointed of the Fathers to be read by proselytes who are preparing for admission into the Church.
  9. R. W. Cowley, 'The Biblical Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Today', Ostkirchliche Studien 23 (1974) 318–32314 further books are listed as equally fully canonical, namely Enoch, Jubilees, Wisdom, 1 Esdras, Ezra Apocalypse, Judith, Tobit, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, 'the rest of Jeremiah', book of Susanna, 'the rest of Daniel', 1 and 2 Maccabees. … The prayer of Menasseh appears as 13 numbered verses following 2 Chronicles 33 v. 12. … The Ezra Apocalypse ( Ezra Sutu'el ) has 13 chapters, being 4 Esdras 3-14 of the Vulgate. It does not include 5 and 6 Ezra. … In Esther, Job, Psalms and Daniel the LXX additions are found in the Geez and Amharic. … The 3 books of 'Maccabees' ( Mäqabeyan ), […] are not the same as any of the 4 LXX books of Maccabees … the epistle to the captives (Lam. 6)
  10. Luther, Preface to Parts of Esther and Daniel (1534), LW 35:353Here follow several pieces which we did not wish to translate [and include] in the prophet Daniel and in the book of Esther. We have uprooted such cornflowers (because they do not appear in the Hebrew versions of Daniel and Esther). And yet, to keep them from perishing, we have put them here in a kind of special little spice garden or flower bed
  11. The Orthodox Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2008), front matter (contents, introduction, canon table)The organization of the Old Testament books, that is, their canonical order, was taken from The Old Testament According to the Seventy, published with the approval of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece. … 2 Chronicles (2 Paraleipomenon)* […] * Includes the Prayer of Manasseh … Psalms (151 in number)
  12. Sixto-Clementine Vulgate (1592), preface to the Appendix (Prayer of Manasseh, 3–4 Esdras)Oratio Manassa, necnon Libri duo, qui sub libri Tertii & Quarti Esdrae nomine circumferuntur, hoc in loco, extra scilicet seriem canonicorum Librorum, quos sancta Tridentina Synodus suscepit, & pro Canonicis suscipiendos decreuit, sepositi sunt, ne prorsus interirent
  13. Great Compline (English text), St. Jonah Orthodox Church, Fr. John WhitefordThe Prayer of Manasseh, King of Judea: […] O Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers, of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed

Churches within each tradition differ in detail, and the Russian Orthodox Church describes these books differently in different official texts, hence “varies”. The 1611 King James Version printed the Apocrypha between the Testaments. Texts of 1 Enoch and Jubilees are R. H. Charles’s translations (public domain); the New Testament apocrypha are M. R. James’s 1924 translations (public domain).

Report a problem

Found something wrong, unsourced or unfair? Tell us; every report is read. Please don’t include personal information.

↑