Catechism Question 46
How many books are in the Bible?
There are 66 books in the Bible.
Focus and Purpose of this Question
In this question, we are beginning a series of questions on the structure and names of the biblical books. If our lives are to be built upon the rock of God’s Word, we must be familiar with that Word. If Christians do not know the basics about the Bible – how many books it contains, the basic structure of the Bible, and the names and order of the books – it is unlikely that they will dig into God’s Word for themselves. Thus, though many catechisms have not included questions on the number and names of the biblical books, we thought it was critical to memorize this information at the very beginning of the catechism.
It should also be noted that in claiming the Scripture has sixty-six books, we are also claiming that the books of the Apocrypha (sometimes called the ‘deutero-canonical writings) are not part of the Scripture. They, along with many other writings, can be read for edification and instruction, but they are not inspired and therefore not part of the Scripture. There are only sixty-six inspired writings, and these are whole of Scripture, and everything else must be judged by them.
Additional Questions:
How many books are in God’s Word?
What is the total number of books God has placed in His Word?
How many books has God inspired and placed in the Scripture?
Scripture References:
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Peter 1:20-21
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Questions for Further Discussion:
How do we know which books belong in the Scripture?
Why do some Christians believe that there are more books than these 66? Why do we disagree?
What determines if a book belongs in the Scripture?
What do we mean when we say these 66 books are ‘inspired’?
Additional Information:
The questions for further discussion and the additional information given below are only for older children and adults. Younger children simply need to know that the Bible contains 66 books.
This question is based on question 2 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Any resources you find on Westminster catechism will have a good discussion on this question.
Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, Chapter 3, discusses the canon of Scripture – which books belong in the Bible.
For further information on what books belong in the Bible, see the BRCC seminar “How I Got My Bible.” This seminar covers in-depth the question of how we determined which books God had given us to be in the Bible and lists a lot of other resources for discussing these topics.
Suggested Worship Song:
How Firm A Foundation (R. Keen, Public Domain)
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in God’s excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.”