Why is the Protest, Catholic, and Orthodox Bibles Different?Why is the Protest, Catholic, and Orthodox Bibles Different?
Health and Healing Dealing with Trauma and Addictions
Mike D explains why Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox Bibles contain different sets of books and how those differences arose over time. He links this history to the importance of studying scripture carefully, especially for those seeking healing from trauma, addiction and abuse.
14:10•30 Oct 2026
Different Bibles, Different Paths: Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox Canons Explained
Episode Overview
- Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox traditions use different Old Testament canons, mainly due to historical language and translation issues.
- The Septuagint and later the Vulgate added or retained books that Protestants later placed in the apocrypha or rejected entirely.
- Jewish and Protestant Old Testaments contain the same material but count and arrange the books differently.
- Some books such as Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs were heavily debated yet ultimately included because of their meaning for suffering and love.
- Mike urges people dealing with trauma and addiction to study scripture carefully and "work out your own salvation" by reading thoughtfully.
“"Study to show yourselves approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? For Mike D, part of the answer lies in understanding the Bible that shapes so many beliefs around trauma, addiction, and healing. In this conversation, he breaks down why Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Bibles don’t all share the same list of books—and why that matters if you’re turning to scripture for support.
You’ll hear Mike explain that most Protestant Bibles contain 66 books, Catholic Bibles 73, while Orthodox totals vary, with the differences sitting mainly in the Old Testament.
He walks through how the Hebrew scriptures, the Septuagint (the Greek translation), and later Latin translations like the Vulgate gradually produced different canons, saying, "What we now know as the Bible developed gradually over many centuries." Mike also talks about extra books such as the apocrypha and deuterocanonical writings, pointing out how Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox Christians each treat them differently.
Mike brings it back to personal responsibility and spiritual growth, quoting 2 Timothy 2 to underline the need for careful study: "Study to show yourselves approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." He urges listeners who are wrestling with addiction, abuse, or spiritual confusion to dig into their own Bibles, ask questions, and "work out your own salvation" by making sure they’re "reading the right information." If you’re using faith as part of your recovery journey and you’ve ever wondered why different Christian traditions don’t share the exact same Bible, this episode gives you plenty to think about and a nudge to look more closely at what you’re reading.
He connects this to the Reformation and figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin, whose decisions shaped the shorter Protestant Old Testament many people know today. The episode doesn’t stay stuck in technical history, though. How might a better grasp of scripture deepen your path toward healing?
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