Books of the Bible Across Major Canons

Aug 18

Alphabetical Comparison of Jewish and Christian Traditions

“Your word is truth.”
— John 17:17 (CSB)

Throughout this series, we have seen that Jewish and Christian communities did not all develop exactly the same biblical canon. Most of the differences are found around the boundaries of the Old Testament, although the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo tradition also preserves a broader New Testament collection.

The list below gives readers a simple way to compare the major traditions we have discussed: the Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo traditions.

One caution is important before we begin. Ancient and modern traditions do not always divide books in the same way. For example, Jewish tradition counts Samuel as one book, while most Christian Bibles divide it into 1 and 2 Samuel. Some writings appear as additions within another book rather than as separate books. Eastern Orthodox canons also vary somewhat among churches, and Ethiopian book counting follows its own ancient traditions.

1 Chronicles — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

1 Corinthians — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

1 Enoch — Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

1 Esdras — Eastern Orthodox

1 John — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

1 Kings — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

1 Maccabees — Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox

1 Meqabyan — Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

1 Peter — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

1 Samuel — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

1 Thessalonians — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

1 Timothy — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

2 Chronicles — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

2 Corinthians — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

2 Esdras — Eastern Orthodox, varies by tradition

2 John — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

2 Kings — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

2 Maccabees — Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox

2 Meqabyan — Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

2 Peter — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

2 Samuel — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

2 Thessalonians — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

2 Timothy — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

3 John — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

3 Maccabees — Eastern Orthodox, varies somewhat by tradition

3 Meqabyan — Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

4 Maccabees — Eastern Orthodox, varies by tradition and is sometimes placed in an appendix rather than treated identically everywhere

Acts — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Amos — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Baruch — Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Bel and the Dragon — Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo; normally preserved as part of Daniel rather than as a separate book

Colossians — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Daniel — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Deuteronomy — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Ecclesiastes — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Ephesians — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Esther — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Exodus — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Ezekiel — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Ezra — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Galatians — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Genesis — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Habakkuk — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Haggai — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Hebrews — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Hosea — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Isaiah — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

James — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Jeremiah — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Job — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Joel — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

John — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Jonah — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Joshua — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Jude — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Judges — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Judith — Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Jubilees — Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Lamentations — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Leviticus — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Letter of Jeremiah — Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo; in Roman Catholic Bibles it is normally included as Baruch 6

Luke — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Malachi — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Mark — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Matthew — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Micah — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Nahum — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Nehemiah — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Numbers — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Obadiah — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Philemon — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Philippians — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Proverbs — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Psalm 151 — Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo; treatment and placement can vary

Psalms — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Revelation — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Romans — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Ruth — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Sirach / Ecclesiasticus — Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Song of Songs — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Susanna — Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo; normally preserved as part of Daniel rather than as a separate book

Tobit — Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Titus — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Wisdom of Solomon — Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Zechariah — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Zephaniah — Jewish Tanakh, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Additional Writings in the Broader Ethiopian New Testament

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo tradition also preserves a broader New Testament canon containing writings not found in the twenty-seven-book New Testament used by most other Christians.

Book of the Covenant I — Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Book of the Covenant II — Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Ethiopic Clement — Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Ethiopic Didascalia — Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Sinodos I — Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Sinodos II — Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Sinodos III — Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Sinodos IV — Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

A Few Important Naming Differences

The three Ethiopian books of Meqabyan are not the same writings as 1, 2, or 3 Maccabees found in other Christian traditions. Their similar English names can easily cause confusion.

Likewise, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, and the Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Young Men are usually incorporated into the longer form of Daniel in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles rather than printed as independent books. The longer Greek form of Esther also contains passages not found in the Hebrew form used in Jewish and most Protestant Bibles.

Different traditions may also combine or divide familiar books differently. The Jewish Tanakh, for example, treats Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles as single books and counts the Twelve Minor Prophets together, which is why its traditional count of twenty-four books contains essentially the same basic writings as the Protestant Old Testament's thirty-nine.

These works belong to the broader Ethiopian canonical tradition and should not be confused with similarly named writings known from other ancient Christian traditions. For example, Ethiopic Clement is not simply the same work as the 1 Clement discussed earlier in this series.

Likewise, the Ethiopian Meqabyan books are different writings from the Greek books normally called Maccabees. The similar English names can easily cause confusion, but they are not the same books.

Jewish Book Divisions

The Jewish Tanakh traditionally contains twenty-four books, while the Protestant Old Testament contains thirty-nine. This does not mean the Protestant Old Testament contains fifteen additional writings.

The difference comes largely from division and counting. Jewish tradition treats books such as Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles as single books and counts the Twelve Minor Prophets together as one book. The basic collection of writings is essentially the same, although the order is different.

Additions to Esther and Daniel

Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Bibles contain additional ancient Greek material connected with Esther and Daniel that is not part of the Jewish Masoretic form followed by most Protestant Old Testaments.

The additions to Daniel traditionally include:

The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young Men
Susanna
Bel and the Dragon

Catholic Bibles normally place these passages within Daniel rather than presenting them as three independent biblical books.

The longer Greek form of Esther also contains material not found in the shorter Hebrew form.

For that reason, Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Bibles all contain Daniel and Esther, but the contents are not identical.

Baruch and the Letter of Jeremiah

In Roman Catholic Bibles, the Letter of Jeremiah normally appears as the sixth chapter of Baruch rather than as a separate book.

Some Eastern Christian traditions treat or arrange it differently.

That is why the list marks the Catholic entry with an asterisk.

Eastern Orthodox Variation

There is no single Old Testament table of contents that applies identically to every Eastern Orthodox church.

Many Orthodox Bibles contain writings such as 1 Esdras, 3 Maccabees, and Psalm 151, while the treatment of writings such as 4 Maccabees, 2 Esdras, and the Prayer of Manasseh may vary by church, region, or printed edition.

For that reason it should be understood as:

Commonly included or recognized within part of the Eastern Orthodox tradition, but not necessarily treated identically in every Orthodox church.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Tradition

The Ethiopian canon is especially difficult to reduce to one modern Western-style list because books may be grouped and counted differently, and descriptions sometimes distinguish between a narrower canon and a broader canon.

What remains clear is that Ethiopian Christianity preserved several ancient writings as Scripture that most other Christian traditions did not, including 1 Enoch, Jubilees, and the three books of Meqabyan. Its broader New Testament tradition also preserves additional church writings such as the Sinodos, Books of the Covenant, Ethiopic Clement, and Ethiopic Didascalia.

That does not mean those books were secretly removed from every other Bible.

It means the Ethiopian church inherited and preserved a different ancient canonical tradition.

What the List Helps Us See

When all these writings are placed beside one another, two things become clear at the same time.

There really are differences.

But there is also an enormous amount of agreement.

The Torah is shared across the Jewish and Christian traditions. The Prophets and the great majority of the Old Testament writings are shared. Protestant, Roman Catholic, and most Eastern Orthodox Christians share the same twenty-seven-book New Testament, including the four Gospels that preserve the life and teachings of Jesus.

The disagreements therefore should not be ignored, but neither should they be made larger than they are.

Perhaps that is the most useful lesson this list can give us.

Different communities sometimes drew the outer boundaries differently, but a very large body of Scripture remained at the center.

And for Christians, that shared center still leads us back to the same place this series began: to the Scriptures Jesus knew, quoted, loved, and taught from—and ultimately to the God those Scriptures reveal.

Sherri Stout Faamuli

About Sherri Stout Faamuli

Sherri Stout Faamuli is the writer and artist behind The Cardinal and the Dove. With a lifelong love of both storytelling and Scripture, she brings together creativity and faith to help make the Bible clear and approachable for everyday readers.

Sherri began her career as a pioneer in digital design, founding Birthday Direct in 1996 — one of the first online party supply companies in the world. For decades she created kind, colorful illustrations that brought joy to families, always emphasizing imagination, nature, and simple delight.

Now, Sherri brings that same warmth and creativity to The Cardinal and the Dove. Through clear teaching, simple language, and relatable imagery, her writing explores the timeless truths of God’s Word while pointing everything back to Jesus. Her goal is to help people not only read the Bible but understand it, see its beauty, and apply it in daily life.

Whether through thoughtful blog posts, nature-inspired imagery, or reflections on simple Christian living, Sherri’s heart is to offer readers both hope like the cardinal and peace like the dove — drawing them closer to God through His Word.

https://www.cardinalanddove.com