Editing Canon of Scripture

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Canon of Scripture (Catholic Perspective)}}
{{Infobox
 | title = Canon of Scripture
 | image = Bible canon.jpg
 | caption = The Catholic Bible contains 73 books
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'''The Canon of Scripture''' refers to the divinely inspired books recognized by the [[Catholic Church]] as the Word of God. The term ''canon'' (from Greek ''kanōn'', meaning “rule” or “measuring rod”) designates the list of writings that form the normative collection of [[Sacred Scripture]].

== Definition and Meaning ==
The Catholic Church understands the '''canon of Scripture''' as the collection of books that are inspired by the [[Holy Spirit]] and entrusted to the Church. The canon was discerned, recognized, and defined by the Church, which Christ endowed with authority to “bind and loose” (cf. [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew 16:19]]).

<blockquote>“It was the apostolic Tradition that led the Church to discern which writings are to be included in the list of the sacred books.”  
— ''[[Catechism of the Catholic Church]]'', §120</blockquote>

== Historical Development ==

=== Old Testament ===
The Catholic [[Old Testament]] contains '''46 books''', following the ''[[Septuagint]]'' (Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) used by [[Jesus]] and the Apostles.

Early Christians—many of whom spoke Greek—used the Septuagint as their Bible. This version included seven books later rejected by post-Christian Judaism:
* [[Tobit]]
* [[Judith]]
* [[Wisdom (of Solomon)]]
* [[Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)]]
* [[Baruch]]
* [[1 Maccabees|1 Maccabees]] and [[2 Maccabees|2 Maccabees]]
* Additions to [[Book of Esther|Esther]] and [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]]

These are known as the '''Deuterocanonical Books''' (“second canon”), distinguished from the '''Protocanonical Books''' (universally accepted by Jews and Christians alike).

=== New Testament ===
The Catholic [[New Testament]] (27 books) emerged through ecclesial usage and discernment over centuries. Early controversies (e.g., [[Gnosticism]], [[Marcionism]]) prompted the Church to clarify the authentic apostolic writings.

* '''c. 170 AD:''' [[Muratorian Fragment]] lists most NT books.
* '''367 AD:''' [[Athanasius of Alexandria|St. Athanasius]]’s ''Festal Letter'' lists the 27-book NT canon.
* '''382 AD:''' [[Pope Damasus I]]’s ''Decretum Gelasianum'' confirms the 73-book canon.
* '''393–397 AD:''' [[Synod of Hippo]] and [[Council of Carthage (397)|Carthage]] reaffirm the same canon.
* '''405 AD:''' [[Pope Innocent I]] endorses this canon for the universal Church.

== The Canon Defined by the Church ==

=== Council of Trent (1546) ===
In response to Protestant reformers removing the Deuterocanonicals, the [[Council of Trent]] solemnly defined the canon of Scripture as dogma:

<blockquote>“If anyone does not accept as sacred and canonical the aforesaid books in their entirety... let him be anathema.”  
— ''Council of Trent, Session IV (April 8, 1546)''</blockquote>

Thus, Trent reaffirmed the traditional canon:
* '''Old Testament:''' 46 books  
* '''New Testament:''' 27 books  
'''Total: 73 books'''

== Comparison with Other Traditions ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Tradition !! OT Books !! NT Books !! Total !! Key Difference
|-
| [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] || 46 || 27 || '''73''' || Includes Deuterocanonicals
|-
| [[Protestantism|Protestant]] || 39 || 27 || 66 || Excludes Deuterocanonicals
|-
| [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox]] || 49+ || 27 || ~76 || Includes additional OT texts (e.g., 3 Maccabees)
|-
| [[Judaism|Jewish (Tanakh)]] || 24 || — || 24 || Hebrew canon only
|}

== Theological Significance ==
The canon’s authority rests not on self-declaration by the texts but on Christ’s authority mediated through His Church.  
The Church is “the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), guided by the [[Holy Spirit]] to preserve the Word of God faithfully.

The Catholic understanding is therefore:
* The Church did not create the canon — she recognized and preserved what God inspired.
* The canon presupposes [[Apostolic succession]] and the living [[Sacred Tradition|Tradition]] of faith.

== Key Magisterial and Patristic Witnesses ==

=== Church Fathers ===
* '''[[Augustine of Hippo|St. Augustine]] (c. 397 AD):'''  
  “I would not believe the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.” (''Contra Epistolam Manichaei'', 5,6)
* '''[[Jerome]] (c. 400 AD):'''  
  Initially hesitant about the Deuterocanon, Jerome ultimately accepted them in obedience to the Church.

=== Magisterial References ===
* [[Council of Rome (382)]]
* [[Council of Florence (1442)]]
* [[Council of Trent (1546)]]

== Canon List (Catholic) ==

=== Old Testament (46) ===
'''Pentateuch (5):''' Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy  
'''Historical Books (16):''' Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1–2 Samuel, 1–2 Kings, 1–2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther (+ additions), 1–2 Maccabees  
'''Wisdom Books (7):''' Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom, Sirach  
'''Prophets (18):''' Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, Ezekiel, Daniel (+ additions), Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi  

=== New Testament (27) ===
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1–2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1–2 Thessalonians, 1–2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John, Jude, Revelation

== Summary ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Element !! Catholic View
|-
| Canon source || Apostolic Tradition recognized by the Church
|-
| OT version || Septuagint (Greek)
|-
| NT recognition || Apostolic authorship and liturgical use
|-
| Canon closure || Council of Trent (1546)
|-
| Interpretation principle || Scripture, Tradition, and Magisterium
|}

== See Also ==
* [[Deuterocanonical Books]]
* [[Council of Trent]]
* [[Apostolic Tradition]]
* [[Church Fathers]]
* [[Biblical Inspiration]]
* [[Magisterium]]

== References ==
* ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'', §§120–127  
* ''Dei Verbum'' (Vatican II, 1965)  
* ''Council of Trent'', Session IV (1546)  
* Augustine, ''Contra Epistolam Manichaei''  
* Jerome, ''Prologus Galeatus''  
* Athanasius, ''Festal Letter 39''  
* Eusebius, ''Church History'' 3.25

[[Category:Theology]]
[[Category:Biblical Canon]]
[[Category:Scripture]]
[[Category:Catholic Doctrine]]