What Is the Original Canon Bible?

Feb 05,2025 00:00

What Is the Original Canon Bible?

The term "canon" refers to the collection of books that are considered authoritative and inspired scripture by a particular religious community. The original canon of the Bible, as recognized by Christianity, consists of the books that were formally accepted by early church councils as divinely inspired and foundational for faith and practice. Formation of the Biblical Canon

The canonization process occurred over centuries. For the Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible (known as the Tanakh) was already largely established by the time of Jesus. It includes the Torah (Law), the Prophets, and the Writings. For the New Testament, the process began with the writings of the apostles and early church leaders. By the 4th century, church councils, such as the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) and the Synod of Hippo (393 AD), played a significant role in formalizing the 27 books of the New Testament. The Books of the Original Canon

  • The Old Testament includes 39 books (in the Protestant tradition) or 46 books (in Catholic and Orthodox traditions, which include the deuterocanonical books).
  • The New Testament consists of 27 books, including the Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation.
Criteria for Canonization

The early church used several criteria to determine which books belonged in the canon:

  • Apostolic Origin: The book must be connected to the apostles or their close associates.
  • Consistency: The content must align with Christian teaching and doctrine.
  • Widespread Use: The book must have been accepted and used by a majority of the early Christian churches.
Scriptural Authority

2 Timothy 3:16-17 emphasizes the divine inspiration of scripture: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” The canon is considered the authoritative guide for teaching, faith, and practice.

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