Biblical Canon

Reformed theology holds to the 66-book Protestant canon of Scripture and excludes the Deuterocanonical (Apocryphal) books from the authoritative canon. The Westminster Confession (Chapter I.3) lists the 66 books and explicitly states that the 'books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of Scripture.' The Belgic Confession (Article 6) similarly distinguishes the canonical books from the Apocrypha, stating the latter may be read but 'have no power or authority such that one could confirm from their testimony any point of faith or Christian religion.'

The Reformed tradition inherited the position of the Reformation that the Hebrew canon (Masoretic Text) — the canon recognized by Judaism — is the standard for the Old Testament. The Deuterocanon, being found in the Greek Septuagint but not in the Hebrew Bible, was accepted by Rome but rejected by the Reformers. Reformed hermeneutics are governed by the principle that Scripture interprets Scripture (analogia Scripturae), and doctrinal conclusions must be grounded in the canonical text.