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A Catholic Bible brings together the books of the Old and New Testaments and provides the fundamental text for reading and studying the Word of God. Complete Bibles, editions suited to everyday reading and formats intended for deeper study make it possible to choose according to personal needs. Our religious bookshop also includes prayer books and other works for Christian life.
What does a Catholic Bible contain?
A Catholic Bible is divided into two main parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament contains the Scriptures preceding the birth of Christ, including the Pentateuch, historical books, wisdom literature and the prophetic books. The New Testament centres on Jesus Christ and the first Christian communities.
It includes the four Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles and Revelation. This structure makes the Bible suitable both for continuous reading and for studying a particular passage, person or theme.
Our article on the origins of the Bible and the formation of Scripture explores the history of this central Christian text in greater detail.
A Bible for reading and meditating on the Word of God
The Bible is not only a book to be read from beginning to end. It can accompany daily prayer, personal meditation, study of a passage heard at Mass or a broader exploration of Christian faith.
Regular reading may begin with a few verses or with one of the Gospels. A prayer book can also complement Bible reading by connecting Scripture with prayer, meditation or a particular intention.
Old Testament and New Testament: two parts of one Bible
The Old Testament includes the history of the people of Israel, the Covenant, the Law, the prophets and many texts of wisdom and prayer. The New Testament recounts the life, Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the development of the first Christian communities.
Catholic tradition reads the two Testaments together. Many passages in the New Testament refer directly to texts from the Old Testament, helping the reader understand the continuity of biblical history and the place of Christ within Scripture.
Catholic and Protestant Bibles: understanding the difference
The FAQ on this page answers the specific questions about differences between Catholic and Protestant Bibles and choosing a translation. For further reading, our article on the differences between Catholic and Protestant Bibles examines the composition of the different biblical canons in greater detail.