How many books comprise the Old Testament?

• A. 39
• B. 46
• C. 27
• D. 66

Answer: (B)

The number of books in the Old Testament depends on which books a tradition recognizes as canonical. Different traditions treat certain writings as canonical or non-canonical, which changes the count.

In many Protestant Bibles, the Old Testament comprises the books that align with the Hebrew Scriptures, plus a few that are grouped differently, for a total of thirty-nine. Catholic Bibles, however, include seven additional writings known as the deuterocanon, along with some expanded editions of Esther and Daniel, bringing the Old Testament to forty-six. The broader effect is that the entire Christian Bible has a different total depending on the canon: Protestants typically have sixty-six books, while Catholics have seventy-three. This is why the exact number can vary by tradition.