Biblical Canon

The Syro-Malabar Church affirms the Catholic biblical canon of 73 books: 46 Old Testament books (including the seven deuterocanonical books: Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, and 1-2 Maccabees) and 27 New Testament books. This canon was formally defined at the Council of Trent and is affirmed by Vatican II's Dei Verbum.

The Syro-Malabar Church has a particular relationship with the Peshitta, the ancient Syriac translation of Scripture. The Peshitta has been the traditional biblical text of the Syriac-speaking churches and continues to be used alongside Greek and Latin texts in Syro-Malabar worship and study. The church recognizes the canonical authority of the deuterocanonical books, which are used in the liturgy, read in church services, and cited in preaching.

The Syro-Malabar Church follows Vatican II's affirmation of Scripture and Tradition together as sources of divine revelation. While Scripture is the word of God, the church also recognizes the authority of Sacred Tradition, understood as the apostolic teaching preserved and transmitted in the church. The magisterium of the church, in communion with Rome, has the role of interpreting Scripture and Tradition authentically.