National Association of Free Will Baptists
Presbyterian Church in America
Denies

Deuterocanonical books not canonical; follow Hebrew OT canon

The CRC, following the Protestant Reformation, does not recognize the deuterocanonical books as canonical Scripture. The 39 books of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament constitute the complete OT canon. While the deuterocanonical books (Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1-2 Maccabees) have historical and devotional value, they lack apostolic endorsement in the NT and were not universally recognized in the early church. The CRC affirms sola scriptura and the principle of biblical sufficiency, excluding the deuterocanonical books from binding doctrine and interpretation.

Key Distinctions

Canonical status:
sola scriptura; 39-book canon
Apocrypha status:
Historical value:
historical/devotional but not binding

Scripture References

Sources

  • CRC Statement on Biblical Canon
  • Belgic Confession, Article IV