Theological Term of the Week: Canon of Scripture

canon of scripture

The “collection of scriptural books that God has given his corporate people”;1 “the collection of apostolic writings that is regarded as Scripture by the corporate church.”2

• From The Belgic Confession, Articles 4 and 5:

We believe that the Holy Scriptures consist of two parts, namely, the Old and the New Testament, which are canonical, against which nothing can be alleged. These books are listed in the church of God as follows.

The books of the Old Testament: the five books of Moses, namely, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther; Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs; Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

The books of the New Testament: the four gospels, namely, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; the Acts of the Apostles; the thirteen letters of the apostle Paul, namely, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon; the letter to the Hebrews; the seven other letters, namely, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, Jude; and the Revelation to the apostle John.

We receive all these books, and these only, as holy and canonical, for the regulation, foundation, and confirmation of our faith. We believe without any doubt all things contained in them, not so much because the church receives and approves them as such, but especially because the Holy Spirit witnesses in our hearts that they are from God, and also because they contain the evidence thereof in themselves; for, even the blind are able to perceive that the things foretold in them are being fulfilled.

• From Systematic Theology by Robert Letham, page 189:

Ultimately, the canon imposed itself on the church. The church recognized it, although it took longer for some books to receive acceptance than others. Behind this is the principle that only God can adequately attest the works of God, and so the canon, notwithstanding the many external evidences in support, is self-attesting.

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: What is the canon of Scripture?
2. Simply Put: The Canon of Scripture
3. ESV Study Bible: The Canon of Scripture
4. Michael Kruger: How did the New Testament canon develop? (video)
5. Stephen Nichols & Steven Lawson: How and when was the canon of Scripture established, and by whom?
6. Michael J. Kruger: The Biblical Canon
7. Michael J. Kruger: My Sheep Hear My Voice: Canon as Self-Authenticating

 Related terms:

• authority of scripture
• inerrancy of scripture
• infallibility of scripture
• inspiration of scripture
• New Testament apocrypha
• Old Testament apocrypha

Filed under Scripture

1 From The Biblical Canon by Michael J. Kruger.

2 From Canon Revisited by Michael J. Kruger, page 120.

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button above the header will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.