Bible contents and index

New Testament, Old Testament

Traditionally, the two parts of the Bible have been known as the Old Testament and the New Testament. Some biblical scholars debate whether the two sections should be named differently, but the general consensus is to leave the names as they are.

It is not acceptable to see the Old Testament as a preview or precursor to the New Testament. Both parts of the Bible have integrity in their own right with God as the source and focus of all biblical writers.

Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox and Ethiopian Orthodox churches include more books in their Old Testament canons than Jews and Protestants. For Roman Catholics, these Deuterocanonical books (meaning "second canon') of the Old Testament are Judith, the Wisdom of Solomon, Tobit, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, 1 and 2 Maccabees, and certain additions to the Jewish books of Esther and Daniel.

When examining the question of what books are included in the Old Testament canon, it is important to note that some of the books of the Bible have been known by more than one name. Ecclesiasticus is also known as Sirach, 1 and 2 Chronicles as 1 and 2 Paralipomenon, Ezra and Nehemiah as 1 and 2 Esdras and 1 and 2 Samuel with 1 and 2 Kings as 1, 2, 3, and 4 Kings—that is, 1 and 2 Samuel have been named 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Kings are named 3 and 4 Kings.

Catholic editions of the Bible have an additional set of books called the Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha. Protestant editions of the Bible do not include these books.