What is a Canon? Canon is a Greek word that means “reed,” and referred to a stick used for measuring. The Canon of Scripture then is the “measure” or guideline of what is included in Holy Scripture.
What about the differences? You’ll notice that there are two major differences evident in the lists below. One is that the ordering of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament are different (hence why it is technically inappropriate to refer to the Old Testament as a “Hebrew Bible”–the two have different orders).
The other difference is between the various Christian canons of the Old Testament. These differences primarily arise because of tradition and various translation and exegetical choices. It is important when considering these differences, to note that they are confined to the Old Testament and that every Christian body puts forth the same books for the New Testament.
What are the reasons behind the differences and what does it mean to say that Anglicans have a “stepped” canon? That’s what we’re about to discuss…
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Jewish Canon
Torah (Law)
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Nevi’im (Prophets) Former Prophets Joshua Judges Samuel (1&2) Kings (1&2) Latter Prophets Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel The Twelve Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Ketubim (Writings) Song of Solomon Ruth Lamentations Ecclesiastes Esther
Daniel Ezra-Nehemiah Chronicles (1&2)
There is no apocrypha in the Hebrew Bible |
Protestant Canon
Pentateuch Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy
Histories Joshua Judges Ruth 1&2 Samuel 1&2 Kings 1&2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther
Poetical/Wisdom Books Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon
Prophets Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi
The Apocrypha (not bound with the Bible)
1&2 Esdras Tobit Judith Esther (with additions) Wisdom of Solomon Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) Baruch Letter of Jeremiah (Baruch Ch. 6) Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Daniel and Susanna Daniel, Bel & the Dragon Prayer of Manasseh 1&2 Maccabees |
Anglican (stepped) Canon
Pentateuch
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Histories
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1&2 Samuel
1&2 Kings
1&2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Poetical/Wisdom Books
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Prophets
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
The Apocrypha (bound with the Bible) |
Roman Catholic/Orthodox Canon
Pentateuch
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Histories
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1&2 Samuel
1&2 Kings
1&2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Tobit
Judith
Esther
1&2 Maccabees
Poetical/Wisdom Books
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Wisdom of Solomon
Sirach
Prophets
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Baruch
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Orthodox Canons generally include:
1&2 Esdras
Prayer of Manasseh
Psalm 151
3 Maccabees
4 Maccabees (as an appendix) |
The New Testament
While not as contentious (at least now) as the canon of the OT, the New Testament took what is for some people a surprisingly long time to come together.
| The Muratorian Canon (2nd-4th century) | The List of Eusibius (Early 4th century) | The Canon of Athanasius (367 AD) |
| [Matthew]* [Mark]* Luke John Acts 1&2 Corinthians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Galatians 1&2 Thessalonians Romans Philemon Titus 1&2 Timothy Jude 1&2 John* Wisdom of Solomon Revelation to John |
Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1&2 Corinthians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Galatians 1&2 Thessalonians Philemon Titus 1&2 Timothy [Hebrews]* 1 Peter 1 John [Revelation to John]Disputed books: James Jude 2 Peter 2&3 John |
Matthew Mark Luke John Acts James 1&2 Peter 1,2,&3 John Jude Romans 1&2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1&2 Thessalonians Hebrews* 1&2 Timothy Titus Philemon Revelation to John |
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