Not canonical; respected as historical and devotional texts of value
The Foursquare Church does not formally include deuterocanonical books in its biblical canon but recognizes them as valuable historical and devotional Christian texts. The Foursquare tradition, rooted in evangelical Protestantism, affirms the 66-book canon as the authoritative Scripture. However, the church acknowledges the spiritual and historical value of deuterocanonical writings.
Some Foursquare churches may include deuterocanonical books in extended biblical reading plans or use them in study contexts, but they are not cited with canonical authority in doctrine or practice. The Foursquare position reflects evangelical openness to patristic and historical Christian wisdom while maintaining the Protestant biblical canon.
The church values the deuterocanonical books as part of the broader Christian heritage and as sources of spiritual insight, without granting them the same authority as the 66 biblical books. Foursquare teaching emphasizes that Scripture alone (the 66 books) is the measure of doctrine, but it does not dismiss the value of patristic writings.
Key Distinctions
- Canonical status:
- Apocrypha status:
- Historical value:
- not biblical canon; evangelical Protestant position
Scripture References
Sources
- Foursquare Declaration of Faith
- Foursquare Canon Standards