Deuterocanonical books not canonical; 66-book canon is the complete Scripture
The EFCA affirms the Protestant 66-book biblical canon (39 OT + 27 NT) as the complete and authoritative Scripture and explicitly does not include deuterocanonical books as part of the canon. This reflects the EFCA's Protestant evangelical heritage and its commitment to sola scriptura (Scripture alone) as the authority for faith and practice.
The deuterocanonical books—Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1-2 Maccabees, and additions to Esther and Daniel—are not included in EFCA Bibles or recognized as Scripture. The EFCA statement on canon explicitly affirms the 66 books as the complete revelation of God's will. While these books may have historical or cultural interest, they do not carry scriptural authority in EFCA doctrine and practice.
The EFCA's position reflects its Protestant reformation heritage and its alignment with evangelical practice. The canon is closed at the 66 books, and these are understood as the complete testimony to Christ and the gospel.
Key Distinctions
- Canonical status:
- 66 books; deuterocanonical excluded
- Apocrypha status:
- only 66 books have scriptural authority
- Historical value:
Scripture References
Sources
- EFCA Statement of Faith
- EFCA Statement on the Biblical Canon