Answer: It depends on the type of Christian you ask.

Theological Traditions Included: Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Non-Calvinist Protestant, Calvinist Protestant, Progressive

Calvinist and Non-Calvinist Protestants accept the 66 books of the Protestant canon, emphasizing criteria such as apostolic authorship, widespread acceptance, and consistency with the biblical message. They reject the canonicity of the Apocrypha and stress the supreme authority of Scripture over church tradition (sola scriptura).
The Catholic Church accepts the 73 books of the Catholic canon, including the deuterocanonical books, based on factors such as apostolic origin, liturgical use, and doctrinal consistency. The Magisterium, guided by the Holy Spirit, plays a key role in discerning and confirming the canon.
The Eastern Orthodox Church accepts a broader Old Testament canon, including deuterocanonical and additional books, based on apostolic origin, liturgical use, and patristic consensus. The Church, guided by the Holy Spirit and the Church Fathers, discerns the canonical status of biblical books.
Progressive Christians may question traditional criteria for canonicity and be open to considering non-canonical texts for their theological and ethical insights. They tend to emphasize the ongoing process of discernment and interpretation in light of contemporary concerns.
The differences in canonical perspectives are rooted in varying understandings of the relationship between Scripture, Tradition, and church authority, as well as different criteria for determining canonicity. While there is broad consensus on the New Testament canon, the status of certain Old Testament books remains a point of divergence among Christian traditions.

I was shocked to learn there are multiple “Bibles”, and that each tradition has a reasonable argument for why their’s is the right one.

Justin Bailey – Creator of ChristianAnswers.ai

Quick Comparison

Tradition	Criteria for Canonicity	Old Testament Canon	New Testament Canon	Role of Church Authority
Calvinist Protestant	Apostolic authorship, widespread acceptance, consistency	39 books (Hebrew Bible)	27 books	Scripture supreme over tradition (sola scriptura)
Non-Calvinist Protestant	Apostolic authorship, widespread acceptance, consistency	39 books (Hebrew Bible)	27 books	Scripture supreme over tradition (sola scriptura)
Catholic	Apostolic origin, liturgical use, doctrinal consistency	46 books (including deuterocanonical)	27 books	Magisterium discerns canon, guided by Holy Spirit
Eastern Orthodox	Apostolic origin, liturgical use, patristic consensus	Broader canon (deuterocanonical + additional)	27 books	Church discerns canon, guided by Holy Spirit and Fathers
Progressive	Theological and ethical content, contemporary relevance	Open to non-canonical texts	Open to non-canonical texts	Skeptical of traditional authority, ongoing discernment

Hear from Each Perspective

Ordered by number of adherents

John / Catholic

The Catholic Church accepts the 73 books of the Catholic canon as the inspired and authoritative Word of God. This includes the 46 books of the Old Testament (including the deuterocanonical books) and the 27 books of the New Testament. The criteria for canonicity are based on factors such as apostolic origin, use in the liturgy and teaching of the Church, and consistency with the Church's doctrinal and moral tradition. The Catholic Church affirms the divine inspiration and authority of the deuterocanonical books, such as Tobit, Judith, and 1-2 Maccabees, which are fully integrated into the Church's lectionary and liturgical life. The Catholic perspective emphasizes the role of the Church's Magisterium, guided by the Holy Spirit, in discerning and confirming the canonical status of biblical books. This perspective is rooted in the Catholic understanding of the relationship between Scripture, Tradition, and the teaching authority of the Church.

Anthony / Eastern Orthodox

The Eastern Orthodox Church accepts a broader canon of Scripture compared to Protestant traditions. In addition to the 66 books of the Protestant canon, the Orthodox Old Testament includes the deuterocanonical books, also known as the Anagignoskomena. These books, such as Tobit, Judith, and 1-2 Maccabees, are considered to be inspired Scripture and are fully integrated into the liturgical life of the Church. The Orthodox canon also includes certain books that are not found in the Catholic or Protestant canons, such as 3-4 Maccabees and Psalm 151. The criteria for canonicity in the Orthodox tradition are based on factors such as apostolic origin, use in the liturgy, and consistency with the Church's theological and spiritual tradition. The Orthodox perspective emphasizes the role of the Church in discerning and confirming the canonical status of biblical books, guided by the Holy Spirit and the consensus of the Church Fathers.

Caleb / Non-Calvinist Protestant

Non-Calvinist Protestants, such as Anglicans and Methodists, generally accept the 66 books of the Protestant canon as authoritative Scripture. This includes the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament. The criteria for canonicity are based on factors such as apostolic authorship, widespread acceptance and use in the early church, and consistency with the rule of faith. Non-Calvinist Protestants may recognize the historical and devotional value of the Apocrypha, but they do not consider these books to be inspired Scripture on the same level as the canonical books. The emphasis is on the sufficiency and clarity of the Protestant canon for teaching and guiding the Christian life. This perspective is rooted in the Protestant principles of sola scriptura and the primacy of biblical authority over church tradition.

Nathan / Calvinist Protestant

Calvinist Protestants, such as Presbyterians and Reformed churches, accept the 66 books of the Protestant canon as the inspired and authoritative Word of God. This includes the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament. The criteria for canonicity are based on factors such as divine inspiration, apostolic authorship or association, widespread acceptance and use in the early church, and consistency with the biblical message of salvation by grace through faith. Calvinist Protestants reject the canonicity of the Apocrypha or deuterocanonical books, viewing them as valuable historical and religious texts but not as divinely inspired Scripture. The emphasis is on the sufficiency and authority of the Protestant canon for teaching sound doctrine and guiding the Christian life. This perspective is grounded in the Reformation principles of sola scriptura and the supreme authority of the Bible over church tradition or human reason.

Hannah / Progressive

Progressive Christians often approach the question of the biblical canon with a critical and historical perspective. They recognize that the process of canonization was a complex and gradual one, shaped by various theological, political, and cultural factors. Progressive Christians may question the traditional criteria for canonicity, such as apostolic authorship or widespread acceptance, and instead emphasize the theological and ethical content of the books themselves. They may be open to considering non-canonical texts, such as the Gospel of Thomas or the Shepherd of Hermas, as valuable sources of spiritual insight and wisdom. Progressive Christians also tend to stress the importance of interpreting the Bible in light of contemporary social and ethical concerns, such as gender equality, social justice, and environmental stewardship. The emphasis is on the ongoing process of discerning the relevance and meaning of Scripture for today's world, rather than on adhering to a fixed and unchanging canon.

The Key Differences

1. Criteria for Canonicity

Calvinist and Non-Calvinist Protestants emphasize criteria such as apostolic authorship, widespread acceptance and use in the early church, and consistency with the biblical message of salvation by grace through faith. This reflects their commitment to the principles of sola scriptura and the primacy of biblical authority over church tradition.
The Catholic Church considers factors such as apostolic origin, use in the liturgy and teaching of the Church, and consistency with the Church's doctrinal and moral tradition. This perspective is shaped by the Catholic understanding of the relationship between Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium.
The Eastern Orthodox Church also looks to apostolic origin, use in the liturgy, and consistency with the Church's theological and spiritual tradition. The Orthodox perspective emphasizes the role of the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit and the consensus of the Church Fathers, in discerning the canonical status of biblical books.
Progressive Christians may question traditional criteria for canonicity and instead focus on the theological and ethical content of the books themselves. They may be open to considering non-canonical texts as valuable sources of spiritual insight and wisdom.

2. Old Testament Canon

Calvinist and Non-Calvinist Protestants accept the 39 books of the Hebrew Bible as the Old Testament canon, rejecting the canonicity of the Apocrypha or deuterocanonical books. This reflects their emphasis on the Hebrew canon as the authoritative Old Testament Scripture.
The Catholic Church accepts the 46 books of the Old Testament, including the deuterocanonical books, as fully inspired and authoritative. This is based on the Church's long-standing tradition and the discernment of the Magisterium.
The Eastern Orthodox Church also accepts a broader Old Testament canon, including the deuterocanonical books and some additional texts not found in the Catholic or Protestant canons. This reflects the Orthodox Church's liturgical tradition and the consensus of the Church Fathers.
Progressive Christians may be open to considering the value of non-canonical Old Testament texts, such as the books of Enoch or Jubilees, for their historical and theological insights.

3. New Testament Canon

All five traditions generally accept the 27 books of the New Testament as canonical and authoritative. This reflects the widespread consensus on the New Testament canon that emerged in the early church.
Some progressive Christians may be open to considering the value of non-canonical New Testament texts, such as the Gospel of Thomas or the Shepherd of Hermas, for their spiritual and ethical teachings.

4. Role of Church Authority

Calvinist and Non-Calvinist Protestants emphasize the supreme authority of Scripture over church tradition, reflecting the principle of sola scriptura. The canon is seen as established by God and recognized by the church, rather than determined by church authority.
The Catholic Church emphasizes the role of the Magisterium, guided by the Holy Spirit, in discerning and confirming the canonical status of biblical books. This reflects the Catholic understanding of the relationship between Scripture, Tradition, and the teaching authority of the Church.
The Eastern Orthodox Church also stresses the role of the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit and the consensus of the Church Fathers, in discerning the canonical status of biblical books. This reflects the Orthodox emphasis on the living Tradition of the Church.
Progressive Christians may be more skeptical of traditional claims to church authority and instead emphasize the ongoing process of discernment and interpretation in light of contemporary concerns and insights.

What books should be in the Bible?