The History of the Bible: Developing the Canon (Protestant Canon)

Protestant Canon Overview

  • The Protestant Bible's canon is composed of two divisions:
    • Old Testament: 3939 books
    • New Testament: 2727 books
    • Total: 6666 books
  • This arrangement was developed by Martin Luther when he began the Protestant Church.
  • The same period and movement led to the adoption of this specific set of books as the standard Protestant canon.

The Apocrypha in Protestant Bibles

  • In some Protestant Bibles, there is a section of fourteen additional books known as the Apocrypha.
  • These Apocryphal books are not considered Holy Scripture by Protestants.
  • Purpose of including the Apocrypha (in those editions): to serve as additional historical information rather than as canonical scripture.

Key Concepts and Definitions

  • Canon: the authoritative list of books considered to be inspired Scripture within a religious tradition.
  • Holy Scripture: books recognized as canonical and authoritative for faith and practice within a tradition.
  • Apocrypha (Deuterocanonical literature in some traditions): a group of books included in some biblical canons for historical or informational value, not treated as canonical scripture in Protestant traditions.

Historical and Theological Significance

  • The Protestant canon (39 OT + 27 NT) reflects a distinct standard from other Christian traditions that include the Apocrypha as part of the canon.
  • Luther’s role represents a key moment in the Reformation: formalizing a Protestant canon separate from Catholic/Orthodox canons that included the Apocrypha as canonical in some contexts.
  • The division between canonical texts and Apocryphal texts has implications for authority, interpretation, and religious education within Protestant communities.

Practical Implications for Study and Practice

  • Bible study materials, curricula, and translations in Protestant contexts typically follow the 66-book canon, excluding canonical status for the Apocrypha.
  • When encountering Apocrypha in Protestant study editions, these books are treated as historical/iframework information rather than scripture to be obeyed as doctrine.
  • Inter-denominational dialogue may reference differences in canons, highlighting how authority and interpretation are shaped by canonical boundaries.

Connections to Broader Context

  • This topic connects to foundational principles of biblical canons, scriptural authority, and the history of the Reformation.
  • It informs the understanding of how traditions differ in their approach to extra-canonical literature and how these differences influence theology, liturgy, and education.

Numerical and Mathematical References

  • Protestant Old Testament: 3939 books
  • Protestant New Testament: 2727 books
  • Total Protestant Canon: 6666 books
  • Apocrypha (in some editions): 1414 books

Ethical, Philosophical, and Practical Implications

  • Ethical/philosophical: The definition of what counts as Scripture affects the basis for religious authority, moral guidance, and truth claims within a faith community.
  • Practical: Readers must recognize the distinction between canonical scripture and other historical writings to avoid conflating informational sources with doctrinal doctrine.

Summary Points

  • The Protestant canon consists of 3939 Old Testament books and 2727 New Testament books, totaling 6666.
  • Martin Luther played a pivotal role in developing this canon during the start of the Protestant Church.
  • Some Protestant Bibles include the Apocrypha, a set of 1414 books, but these are not considered Holy Scripture in Protestant tradition; they are included for historical information.