Biblical Canon

Reformed Baptists affirm the Protestant biblical canon of 66 books — 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament — as the complete and sufficient written revelation of God. The 1689 London Baptist Confession, Chapter 1, declares that the books of the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God and the supreme judge of all controversies. No other writings, whether from councils, fathers, or contemporary revelation, possess binding authority on the church.

The Old Testament canon consists of the 39 books recognized in the Hebrew Bible, excluding the deuterocanonical books (Tobit, Judith, 1-2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah, and additions to Daniel and Esther). These extra books, found in Catholic and Orthodox canons, are viewed as historically useful and edifying but not on the same level as canonical Scripture. The Apocrypha was removed from most Protestant Bibles by the 18th century.

The New Testament canon of 27 books was recognized early in church history and is grounded in apostolic authorship or apostolic authority. The criterion for canonicity is not ecclesiastical pronouncement but apostolic origin and universal recognition by the church. The canon is closed: no new books may be added to Scripture, and no existing books may be removed. This closure is essential to the doctrine of sola scriptura, ensuring that Scripture alone serves as the ultimate standard.