A Table Depicting Old Testament Books Recognized as Canonical

By Various Christian Churches

With Annotations and Comments

The purpose of this chart is two-fold. The first purpose is to gather into a single, easily interpreted chart, the various versions of the Old Testament Canon, as received by the major Christian Churches. This is not a simple a task as may be thought, because many Churches and denominations have never actually defined in a dogmatic formula matters concerning the Canon of Scripture. The task is made further complicated when one considers the major denominations which have experienced schisms and re-unifications, or are divided due to national or ethnic boundaries. Thus, some of the conclusions set forth may be reasonably debated by members of denominations divided into "liberal" or " conservative" wings. Therefore, while one can be reasonably sure of historical data, errors can be made regarding 20^th century practice. Thus, any errors or omissions, especially regarding 20^th century views, are entirely the fault of the author, and will gladly be corrected in future editions. The second purpose is to provide appropriate definitions of terms. There is great divergence of usage regarding the meaning of theological terms in numerous areas of controversy, and the issue of the Canon of Scripture is no exception. Thus by clearly defining terms, insight may be gained into the beliefs of respective Churches, and misunderstandings can hopefully be avoided.

DEFINITIONS

In discussions of the apocrypha, it is important to note how the various churches define words and terms. Different churches may use the same word, but mean entirely different things by that word. This being the case, a brief list of definitions is now provided.

APOCRYPHA — meaning "things that are hidden

To Protestants, including Anglicans and Lutherans, this word refers to the entire list of 7 to 15 books (depending of numeration) found segregated (in the Bibles that contain it) either between the Old and New Testaments, or following the New Testament.

To Roman Catholics, this word refers to I and II Esdras and the Prayer of Manassah, as well as numerous other Palestinian and Alexandrian works of varying worth which are not considered part of the canon.

DEUTEROCANONICAL — meaning "added later to the canon"

Protestants do not use this term.

Roman Catholics use this term to refer to most of the books which Protestants term "Apocrypha". For Roman Catholic Christians, there is no difference in authority in the "Deuterocanonical" books, and the "Protocanonical" books.

Eastern Orthodox Christians use this term in essentially the same way as do the Roman Catholics, although referring to slightly different lists of books. However, for Eastern Orthodox Christians, although these books are considered Scripture, questions remain as to whether they carry the same weight of authority as the Protocanonical books.

PSEUDEPIGRAPHA — meaning "false writings"

Protestant Christians use this term to describe various books which fall under the Roman Catholic usage of "apocrypha" (with the exception of I and II Esdras, and the Prayer of Manassah, which both Catholics and Protestants regard as "apocrypha".

As previously noted, Roman Catholics have frequently used the term "apocrypha" in the same manner which the Protestants use "Pseudepigrapha". However, in scholarly writing, Roman Catholic authors frequently follow the Protestant usage of this term.

NAME CONFUSION IN THE EZRA CORPUS

In Roman Catholic usage, Ezra, Esdras or occasionally I Esdras generally refers to the Protocanonical book Ezra; Nehemiah or occasionally II Esdras refers to the Protocanonical book Nehemiah; I Esdras (appendix to the Trent list) refers to the apocryphal book of I Esdras; and II Esdras (appendix to the Trent list) refers to the apocryphal book of II Esdras.

In the Greek Orthodox list, Ezra refers to the Protocanonical book Ezra; Nehemiah refers to the Protocanonical book Nehemiah, and I Esdras refers to the Deuterocanonical book I Esdras.

In the Russian Orthodox list, I Esdras refers to the Protocanonical book Ezra; Nehemiah refers to the Protocanonical book Nehemiah; II Esdras refers to the Deuterocanonical book known to Roman Catholics and Protestants as I Esdras; and III Esdras refers to the Deuterocanonical book known as II Esdras.

In the Classic Anglican tradition, I Esdras refers to the canonical book Ezra; II Esdras refers to the canonical book Nehemiah; III Esdras refers to the apocryphal book I Esdras; and IV Esdras refers to the apocryphal book II Esdras.

NOTES

The books in bold are accepted as deuterocanonical by both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions.

1 and 2 Esdras and Prayer of Manasseh, noted in italics, are not considered part of either proto-canonical or deuterocanonical Scripture by Roman Catholics. In some Roman Catholic editions of the Bible, they appear as an appendix following the New Testament.

Lutheranism has never made an official pronouncement on the canonicity of the disputed books. Differences of opinion exist in the varying branches of Lutheranism, as well as within particular Lutheran denominations. Some use is made of the disputed texts in lectionary readings. Although Luther was uncomfortable with many of the disputed writings, he translated them nevertheless, and wrote prefaces for many of them.

The majority of Evangelical Protestantism, including Pentecostal and independent Charismatic Christianity, has rejected the canonicity of the disputed books. Such rejection ranged from a mere distinction between the Protestant Scriptures and "other ecclesiastical books" found in the French Confession of Faith of 1559, articles III and IV; and the Belgic Confession of 1561, articles IV, V, and VI; to complete rejection found in the Articles of Religion of the Reformed Episcopal Church, 1875, article V. The Methodist Articles of Religion of 1784 listed the Protestant Old Testament, and made no mention of disputed books at all.

In the Anglican tradition, as set forth in the Articles of Religion, Article VI, gives the following definition to listed books: And the other Books (as Hierome saith) the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners; but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine; such are these following: The Third Book of Esdras, The rest of the Book of Esther, The Fourth Book of Esdras, The Book of Wisdom, The Book of Tobias, Jesus the Son of Sirach, The Book of Judith, Baruch the Prophet, The Song of the Three Children, The Prayer of Manasses, The Story of Susanna, The First Book of Maccabees, Of Bel and the Dragon, The Second Book of Maccabees.

Author of this page: The Rev'd David A. Zampino, Sr.