The word canon means standard or rule.  It is the list of authorized and inspired Scriptures.  Different religions have different canons. 

In Judaism the canon consists of the books of the Old Testament only. 

In Protestant Christianity, the canon is the body of Scripture consisting of the 39 books of the Old Testament and 7 of the New. 

In Roman Catholicism, additional books were added in 1546.  These are called the apocryphal books:

·         Tobit

·         Judith

·         Maccabees 1 and 2

·         The Wisdom of so.omon

·         Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)

·         Baruch

 In Mormonism, four books were added:

·         The book of Mormon

·         The Book of Abraham

·         The Doctrine and Covenants

·         The Pearl of Great Price

 In Christian Science one book was added, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures written by Mary Baker Eddy. 

In Islam, the book of inspiration is called The Koran. 

The Protestant Christian Canon 

Old Testament

New Testament

Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy

Historical: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts

Historical Books: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther

Pauline Epistles: Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Phillipians, Colossians, 1&2 thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon

Poetical: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon

Non Pauline Epistles: Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, 1,2&3 John, Jude and Revelation

O.T. Prophets

Prophetical: Major Prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel

 

 Minor Prophets – Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi

Special Note: Major and Minor only refers to the quantity of their writing and not their quality.

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