Canon | sacred literature | Britannica (original) (raw)
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major reference
In scripture: Characteristics …many instances been gathered into canons (standard works of the faith), which, after being determined either by general agreement or by official religious bodies, become fixed—i.e., limited to certain works that are alone viewed as fully authoritative and truly beyond all further change or alteration. The works not admitted to… Read More
biblical literature
In biblical literature: Old Testament canon, texts, and versions The term canon, from a Hebrew-Greek word meaning “cane” or “measuring rod,” passed into Christian usage to mean “norm” or “rule of faith.” The Church Fathers of the 4th century ce first employed it in reference to the definitive,… Read More
In Christianity: Conflict between order and charismatic freedom …apostolic origin—that he considered “canonical.” Revelation in the form of Holy Scriptures binding for the Christian faith was thereby considered definitively concluded and, therefore, could no longer be changed, abridged, or supplemented. Read More
early Christian Church
In Christianity: The problem of scriptural authority …authenticity was found in the Scriptures. Christians inherited (without debate at first) the Hebrew Bible as the Word of God to the people of God at a now superseded stage of their pilgrimage through history. If St. Paul’s Gentile mission was valid, then theMosaic Law was viewed as no longer… Read More
In Christianity: Normative defenses in the early church …had created and fixed the canon of the New Testament, primarily in response to the threat of gnostic writings. This is one of the primary distinctions between the Orthodox Church and the Reformation churches, which view the Scriptures as the final norm and rule for the church and church teaching.… Read More
Prophets
In biblical literature: The canon of the Prophets The Hebrew canon of the section of the Old Testament known as the Nevi’im, or the Prophets, is divided into two sections: the Former Prophets and the Latter Prophets. The Former Prophets contains four historical books—Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings. The… Read More
revelation
In revelation: Revelation and sacred scriptures …has drawn up a strict canon (standard or authoritative scriptures)—the Pali-language _Tipitaka_—in order to keep alive what is believed to be the most original and reliable traditions concerning the Buddha (see also Pali literature). Mahayana Buddhism, while it has no such strict canon, considers that Read More
