Theological Glossary
Six Christian traditions define Canon below — each in its own words, paraphrased from its official documents. These are attributed positions, not assertions of fact.
The Catholic Church teaches that the canon of Scripture comprises 46 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books — including the deuterocanonical books — as definitively listed at the Council of Trent. It holds that the Church, guided by the Spirit, discerned which writings are inspired.
Source: CCC 120 ↗
The Orthodox Church receives the canon on the basis of the Septuagint, including the books sometimes called deuterocanonical, without a single universally fixed list. It holds that the Church's continuous usage — what is read in worship — is the surest guide to the canon.
Lutherans generally receive the 66-book canon, teaching that the books of Scripture are those the Church has recognized as apostolic and inspired. They hold that the Apocrypha is useful for reading but not authoritative for doctrine — 'books which are not held equal to the Holy Scriptures.'
Source: Luther's Apocrypha preface (1534), Luther's Works 35:337 — via LCMS ↗
The Reformed tradition teaches that the canonical books are the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life. It holds that the Apocrypha is not of divine inspiration and is of no authority in the Church.
Source: Westminster Confession 1.2–1.3 ↗
Baptists receive the 66 books of the Bible as the complete, inspired, and authoritative canon of Scripture. They hold that the canon is closed — God's revelation in Christ is final.
Methodists receive the 66 canonical books named in the Articles of Religion as the complete canon of Scripture. They hold that these books contain all things necessary to salvation.
Source: Articles of Religion, Art. V–VI; UMC What We Believe ↗
See how the traditions compare on related topics: