Deuterocanonical books excluded; Protestant 66-book canon affirmed
Independent Fundamental Churches affirm the Protestant 66-book biblical canon (39 OT + 27 NT) and exclude the deuterocanonical books. These apocryphal works—Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, Maccabees, Baruch, and others—are not considered Scripture. While they may have some historical or devotional value, they lack apostolic authority and were appropriately excluded from the canon by the Reformation.
Fundamentalist theology is built on the conviction that Scripture alone (sola scriptura) is the authority for doctrine and practice. The 66 books constitute the complete and sufficient revelation of God's will. The apocryphal books, however valuable historically, do not possess canonical authority.
Key Distinctions
- Canonical status:
- 66 books (Protestant)
- Apocrypha status:
- non-canonical
- Historical value:
Scripture References
Sources
- Independent Fundamental Churches doctrinal statements