Why do catholic bibles have extra books in them? How come regular [Protestant] Bibles don't. I just noticed this in my friend’s bible and should a [Protestant] Christian go by these extra scriptures? – spunkyjr

Dear Spunkyjr,

The difference between the Protestant and Catholic Bibles are what are called the Apocrypha – meaning “hidden” writings. These books come in between the Old and New Testament. To make a long story very short – Protestants believe the Apocrypha are historical documents but are not God inspired - and therefore do not read these as from God. Catholics believe these writings were God inspired just like the rest of the OT and NT.

There are 14 books in the Apocrypha which generally emerge around 300 B.C. to 100 A.D. The books in the Apocrypha are as follows: First Esdras (Greek for Ezra), Second Esdras, The Book of Tobit, The Book of Judith, The Additions to the Book of Esther, The Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, The Book or Baruch, The Story of Susanna, The Song of Three Children, The Story of Bel and the Dragon (a story of Daniel and false prophets), The Prayer of Manasses, 1st and 2nd Maccabees.