The Biblical Canon refers to the official collection of books considered divinely inspired and authoritative for faith and practice within Christianity. These books constitute the Bible, encompassing the Old and New Testaments. The word canon comes from the Greek kanon, meaning “rule” or “measuring stick,” signifying the standard by which these texts are recognized as Scripture.

Formation of the Biblical Canon:

1. Old Testament:
   • Includes the Hebrew Scriptures (Tanakh), which were largely settled by Jewish communities by the 2nd century BC.
   • The Christian Old Testament aligns closely with the Tanakh but is arranged differently. The Catholic and Orthodox traditions include additional texts called the Deuterocanonical books (e.g., Tobit, Wisdom), which Protestants label as Apocrypha and exclude.
2. New Testament:
   • Written between AD 50–100, the New Testament includes the Gospels, Acts, Epistles (letters), and Revelation.
   • Early Christian communities used various texts, but by the 4th century, church councils, such as the Council of Carthage (AD 397), recognized the 27 books of the New Testament.

Criteria for Inclusion:

1. Apostolic Origin:
   • Texts attributed to or associated with apostles or their close companions (e.g., Paul, Peter, John).
2. Orthodox Teaching:
   • Alignment with accepted Christian beliefs and doctrine.
3. Widespread Use:
   • Texts widely recognized and used in worship and teaching across Christian communities.

Variations in the Canon:

1. Protestant Canon:
   • 66 books: 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books.
   • Excludes the Deuterocanonical books.
2. Catholic Canon:
   • 73 books: Includes the Deuterocanonical books as part of the Old Testament.
3. Orthodox Canon:
   • Includes additional texts, such as 1 Esdras and 3 Maccabees, depending on the specific Orthodox tradition.

Challenges and Debates:

1. Canonization Process:
   • The process of canon formation was gradual, with debates over certain books (e.g., Revelation, Hebrews).
   • Some writings used by early Christians, like the Gospel of Thomas, were excluded due to theological disagreements.
2. Human Influence:
   • Critics argue that the canon reflects decisions by human councils rather than direct divine intervention.
3. Variations Across Traditions:
   • Differences in canon among Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Bibles raise questions about which collection is truly authoritative.

Written by AI. A more correct, God given, explanation can be found here.