Home Up Bible
Bible Ten Commandments Seven Sacraments Prayers Rosary

 

 

 

 

The following chart shows the different books in Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox churches.

Bible Chart

 

PROTESTANT
(66)
CATHOLIC
(73)
ORTHODOX
(77)

New
Testament
(27)

Old
Testament
(39)

New
Testament
(27)

Old
Testament
(46)

New
Testament
(27)

Old
Testament
(50)

Matthew Genesis Matthew Genesis Matthew Genesis
Mark Exodus Mark Exodus Mark Exodus
Luke Leviticus Luke Leviticus Luke Leviticus
John Numbers John Numbers John Numbers
Acts Deuteronomy Acts Deuteronomy Acts Deuteronomy
Romans Joshua Romans Joshua Romans Joshua
1 Corinthians Judges 1 Corinthians Judges 1 Corinthians Judges
2 Corinthians Ruth 2 Corinthians Ruth 2 Corinthians Ruth
Galatians 1 Samuel Galatians 1 Samuel Galatians 1 Kingdoms
(1 Sam)
Ephesians 2 Samuel Ephesians 2 Samuel Ephesians 2 Kingdoms
(2 Sam)
Philippians 1 Kings Philippians 1 Kings Philippians 3 Kingdoms
(1 Kgs)
Colossians 2 Kings Colossians 2 Kings Colossians 4 Kingdoms
(2 Kgs)
1 Thessalonians 1 Chronicles 1 Thessalonians 1 Chronicles 1 Thessalonians 1 Chronicles
2 Thessalonians 2 Chronicles 2 Thessalonians 2 Chronicles 2 Thessalonians 2 Chronicles
1 Timothy Ezra 1 Timothy Ezra 1 Timothy 1 Esdras
2 Timothy Nehemiah 2 Timothy Nehemaih 2 Timothy 2 Esdras
(Ezra + Neh)
Titus Esther Titus Tobit Titus Esther (with additions)
Philemon Job Philemon Judith Philemon Judith
Hebrews Psalms Hebrews Esther
(with additions)
Hebrews Tobit
James Proverbs James 1 Maccabees James 1 Maccabees
1 Peter Ecclesiastes 1 Peter 2 Maccabees 1 Peter 2 Maccabees
2 Peter Song of Solomon 2 Peter Job 2 Peter 3 Maccabees
1 John Isaiah 1 John Psalms 1 John Psalms
(+ P151)
2 John Jermiah 2 John Proverbs 2 John Prayer of Manasseh
3 John Lamentations 3 John Ecclesiastes 3 John Job
Jude Ezekiel Jude Song of
Solomon
Jude Proverbs
Revelation Daniel Revelation Wisdom of Solomon Revelation Ecclesiastes
  Hosea   Sirach   Song of
Solomon
  Joel   Isaiah   Wisdom of Solomon
  Amos   Jeremiah   Sirach
  Obadiah   Lamentations   Hosea
  Jonah   Baruch
(with Letter of Jeremiah)
  Amos
  Micah   Ezekiel   Micah
  Nahum   Daniel
(with

Susanna &
Bel and the Dragon)
  Joel
  Habakkuk   Hosea   Obadiah
  Zephaniah   Joel   Jonah
  Haggai   Amos   Nahum
  Zechariah   Obadiah   Habakkuk
  Malachi   Jonah   Zephaniah
      Micah   Haggai
      Nahum   Zechariah
      Habakkuk   Malachi
      Zephaniah   Isaiah
      Haggai   Jeremiah
      Zechariah   Baruch
      Malachi   Lamentations
          Letter of
Jeremiah
          Ezekiel
          Daniel (with additions)
          4 Maccabees
(in Appendix)

 

Bible Versions

There are many different versions of English translation bible. Some are translated from ancient Hebrew and Greek. Some versions are using Word for Word translation method and some are using Thought for Thought translation method. It will be good to own one version from each categories. However, it is more important to own a bible that you are going to read it.

Douay-Rheims http://www.drbo.org/

 

New Revised Standard Version http://bible.oremus.org/

 

King James http://www.biblegateway.com/

 

New King James http://www.biblegateway.com/

 

New American Standard Bible http://www.biblegateway.com/

 

New Jerusalem Bible http://www.kofc.duq.edu/scripture/

 

New American Bible http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/

 

Christian Community Bible http://www.bible.claret.org/bibles/

 

New International Version http://www.biblegateway.com/

 

Today’s English Version
(Good News Bible)
http://bibletools.org/

 

New Living Translation http://www.biblegateway.com/

 

Let's look at Genesis 1:1 and Luke 1:26-35 and see how different versions of bibles
translated into modern English.

 

Word for Word            

Douay-Rheims(Catholic)

New Revised Standard Version(Catholic)

King James

New King James

New American Standard Bible

Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created heaven, and earth. And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God moved over the waters.

 

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

Luke 1:26-35 Luke 1:26-35 Luke 1:26-35 Luke 1:26-35 Luke 1:26-35
And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

A
nd the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.
And of his kingdom there shall be no end.

And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?


And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:

Because no word shall be impossible with God.

And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’

But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.

And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’

The angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.'

Then Mary said, 'Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.' Then the angel departed from her.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,  to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"

But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.  Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?"

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.  For with God nothing will be impossible."

Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you."

 
But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.

The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;

and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."

Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.

"And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.

"For nothing will be impossible with God."

And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

 

Moderate

New Jerusalem Bible (Catholic)

 

New American Bible (Catholic)

 

Christian Community Bible (Catholic)

New International Version

Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created heaven and earth. Now the earth was a formless void, there was darkness over the deep, with a divine wind sweeping over the waters.

In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.

In the beginning, when God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth had no form and was void; darkness was over the deep and the Spirit of God hovered over the waters.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

Luke 1:26-35 Luke 1:26-35 Luke 1:26-35 Luke 1:26-35

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

He went in and said to her, 'Rejoice, you who enjoy God's favour! The Lord is with you.'

She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour. Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.'

Mary said to the angel, 'But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?'

The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. And I tell you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.'

Mary said, 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.' And the angel left her.

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.

And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you."

But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"

And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived  a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a young virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

The angel came to her and said, "Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you."

 Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.

 But the angel said, "Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you.  You shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever and his reign shall have no end."

Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be if I am a virgin?"

And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born shall be called Son of God.  Even your relative Elizabeth is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child, and she is now in her sixth month.  With God nothing is impossible."

 Then Mary said, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said." And the angel left her.

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

(Catholic)

 

Thought for Thought

Today’s English Version
 

New Living Translation
Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:1

In the beginning, when God created the universe, the earth was formless and desolate. The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness, and the power of God was moving over the water.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface.

 

 

Luke 1:26-35 Luke 1:26-35
In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee name Nazareth. He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, Peace be with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!

Mary was deeply troubled by the angel's message, and she wondered what his  words meant.

The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called  the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was, and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end!;

Mary said to the angel, I am a virgin. How, then, can this be?

The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God's power  will rest upon you. For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of; God. Remember your relative Elizabeth. It is said  that she cannot have children, but she herself is now six months pregnant, even though she is very old. For there is nothing that God cannot do.

I am the Lord's servant, said Mary; may it happen to me as you have said. And the angel left her.

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.

Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you."

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.  He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.  And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!"

Mary asked the angel, "But how can this happen? I am a virgin.

The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What is more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she is now in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.

Mary responded, "I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true." And then the angel left her.

 

Let' do some more comparison between the Word for Word vs Thought for Thought versions: 

Genesis 3:15

Genesis 43:10

Ecclesiasticus 24:24-31

Isaiah 14:12

Matthew 12:24

Matthew 16:18-19

Matthew 16:26

Matthew 17:21

Matthew 18:11

Matthew 23:14

Matthew 24:28

Matthew 26:50

Mark 6:52

Mark 7:16

Mark 9:44, 46

Mark 11:26

Mark 15:28

Luke 1:34

Luke 2:14

Luke 4:4

Luke 9:55

Luke 17:36

Luke 21:33

Luke 23:17

John  1:9-12

John 3:16

John 5:4