Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger summary

The Formation of the Canon

In Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger, Gary G. Michuta begins by exploring the historical formation of the Old Testament canon. He explains that the Jewish canon, which was formed before the time of Jesus, did not have a fixed number of books. Different Jewish communities had different canons, and some of these canons included the extra books that are now found in Catholic Bibles. Michuta argues that the early Christian Church, which initially used the Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament, also accepted these extra books as part of the canon.

Michuta further contends that the early Church Fathers, such as St. Augustine and St. Jerome, affirmed the canonicity of these disputed books. He explains that it wasn't until the 16th century, during the Protestant Reformation, that these books were removed from the Old Testament canon by Martin Luther and other reformers. Michuta suggests that these books were removed for doctrinal reasons, as they contained teachings that contradicted certain Protestant beliefs.

The Apocrypha and the Councils

Michuta then delves into the history of the disputed books, which are often referred to as the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical books. He explains that these books were included in early Christian Bibles and were affirmed as part of the canon by several important Church councils, including the Council of Hippo and the Council of Carthage in the late 4th and early 5th centuries.

According to Michuta, it wasn't until the Council of Trent in the 16th century, a response to the Protestant Reformation, that the Catholic Church dogmatically defined the canonicity of these disputed books. He argues that this was not an innovation, but rather a reaffirmation of the traditional Christian canon that had been accepted for over a millennium.

Understanding the Dispute

Michuta then addresses specific arguments used by Protestants to justify the exclusion of the Deuterocanonical books. He discusses the claim that these books were never part of the Jewish canon, pointing out that the Jewish canon was not definitively fixed until after the time of Christ. He also addresses the argument that these books contain historical and theological errors, explaining that similar criticisms could be leveled against some books in the Protestant Old Testament.

Furthermore, Michuta highlights the historical and textual evidence supporting the canonicity of the disputed books. He argues that these books were widely accepted as part of the Old Testament canon by early Christians and were included in the earliest Christian Bibles.

Theological Implications

Finally, Michuta discusses the theological implications of the differing Old Testament canons. He suggests that the inclusion of the Deuterocanonical books provides a more complete picture of certain theological concepts, such as purgatory and prayers for the dead, which are supported by passages in these books.

In conclusion, Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger presents a comprehensive and detailed exploration of the historical, textual, and theological aspects of the Old Testament canon. Michuta's work provides a valuable resource for those seeking to understand the differences between Catholic and Protestant Bibles and the reasons behind these differences.