Denies
Deuterocanonical books not canonical; Protestant 66-book canon affirmed
Iglesia ni Cristo affirms the Protestant 66-book biblical canon and does not include the deuterocanonical books (Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, Maccabees, Baruch, etc.) as Scripture. These books may be read for historical or devotional value but are not authoritative for doctrine. The church's canon is the Hebrew Bible (39 books) plus the 27 books of the New Testament.
This position reflects Iglesia ni Cristo's commitment to the apostolic canon and its rejection of later ecclesiastical additions. The apocryphal books, while having some historical value, lack the apostolic witness and canonical standing of the 66-book canon.
Key Distinctions
- Canonical status:
- 66 books (Protestant)
- Apocrypha status:
- non-canonical
- Historical value:
Scripture References
Sources
- Iglesia ni Cristo ecclesiastical teachings