The Jewish Tanakh contains seven books less than the Catholic Old Testament, which consists of 46 books. The list of the 39 books of the Tanakh was compiled in 70 AD, when the Jews were looking for guidance and stability after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. However, a list of 46 books was already in use centuries earlier.
The books of the Old Testament and the Tanakh are arranged in a different order. The biggest difference is that the Tanakh is considered complete in itself. The Old Testament, however, is inextricably linked to the New Testament: together they form the Scripture. The New Testament allows us to gain a better understanding of the Old Testament.
