66-book Protestant canon: 39 Old Testament, 27 New Testament books
Waldensians affirm the 66-book Protestant canon of Scripture — the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament — as the complete and authoritative written Word of God. The Waldensian Confession recognizes these books alone as divinely inspired and as the supreme standard for doctrine and practice.
The Waldensian Church does not accept the Deuterocanonical books (Apocrypha) as part of the biblical canon. This position reflects the Protestant Reformation principle of sola scriptura (Scripture alone) and stands in continuity with the broader Reformed tradition. While other religious writings may have value for instruction and edification, only the 66 canonical books possess divine authority and infallibility.
The Waldensian affirmation of the fixed biblical canon reflects the conviction that God's revelation is complete and closed — no new books can be added to Scripture. This stance distinguishes Waldensians from traditions that accept additional sacred writings (such as Seventh-day Adventism or the Latter-day Saints) and maintains clarity about the boundaries of biblical authority.
Key Distinctions
- Ot canon:
- 39 books (Protestant canon)
- Deuterocanonical status:
- rejected (Reformed tradition)
- Additional scripture:
- none
- Canon open:
- closed
Scripture References
Sources
- Waldensian Confession of 1655