Biblical canon

Biblical canon. The term refers to the collection of texts which a particular religious community accepts as authoritative scripture. The formation of these canons was a complex historical process, occurring over centuries and involving deliberation by religious authorities. The contents differ significantly between Judaism and the various branches of Christianity, leading to distinct collections of sacred writings.

Definition and concept

The concept of a canon implies a closed list of books considered divinely inspired and normative for faith and practice. This principle of scriptural authority is central to Rabbinic Judaism and all Christian denominations. The process of canonization involved distinguishing these texts from a wider body of religious literature, including other revered writings, hagiography, and liturgical works. The final shape of the canon provides the foundational text for theology, ethics, and communal identity within each tradition.

Development of the Hebrew Bible canon

The canon of the Hebrew Bible, known as the Tanakh, was solidified by Jewish sages in the centuries following the Babylonian exile. A significant council at Jamnia (Yavneh) around the end of the first century CE is traditionally associated with ratifying the canon, though scholarly debate continues on its precise role. The Tanakh is divided into three sections: the Torah (Law), the Nevi'im (Prophets), and the Ketuvim (Writings). The authoritative Masoretic Text, preserved by Jewish scribes known as the Masoretes, became the standard Hebrew version. Earlier Greek translations, such as the Septuagint, often included additional books.

Development of the New Testament canon

The formation of the New Testament canon was a gradual process within early Christianity, largely spanning the second to fourth centuries. Church fathers like Irenaeus of Lyons, Tertullian, and Origen argued for the authority of the four Gospels and the letters of Paul the Apostle. Key criteria included apostolic authorship, widespread use in liturgy, and consistency with the rule of faith. The influential festal letter of Athanasius of Alexandria in 367 CE provided a list of 27 books identical to the modern New Testament, which was later affirmed by synods at Hippo Regius and Carthage under Augustine of Hippo.

Canons of various Christian traditions

Different Christian traditions recognize different biblical canons. The Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church accept the deuterocanonical books found in the Septuagint as part of the Old Testament. The Catholic canon was formally defined at the Council of Trent in response to the Protestant Reformation. Eastern Orthodox canons, slightly varying among churches like the Greek Orthodox Church and Russian Orthodox Church, were solidified in synods such as the Council of Jerusalem. Protestant traditions, following reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin, adhere to the Hebrew Masoretic Text for the Old Testament, classifying the extra books as Apocrypha.

Criteria for canonicity

Several interrelated criteria were employed by early Jewish and Christian communities to determine canonicity. Apostolic origin or association was paramount for New Testament texts, linking them directly to figures like Peter or John the Apostle. Consistent orthodox teaching, or conformity to the rule of faith, was essential to combat Gnosticism and other heresies. Widespread and continuous usage in worship across major Christian centers like Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome demonstrated a text's catholicity. Finally, a perceived sense of divine inspiration and self-authenticating authority was attributed to the texts themselves.

Apocrypha and deuterocanonical books

The terms Apocrypha and deuterocanonical refer to books included in the Septuagint and the Vulgate but not in the Hebrew Masoretic Text. These works, such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, and Maccabees, are considered fully canonical by Catholics and Orthodox. Protestants, following the precedent of Jerome, typically place them in a separate intertestamental section. Other significant texts, like the Gospel of Thomas or the Shepherd of Hermas, are considered New Testament apocrypha and are not accepted in any major canon, though they offer valuable insight into early Christian literature. Category:Biblical canon Category:Religious texts