Deuterocanonical books (Tobit, Wisdom, etc.) not accepted as canon
Mennonites follow the Protestant canon and do not accept the deuterocanonical books (Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, Maccabees, etc.) as authoritative Scripture. These books are found in the Septuagint (Greek OT) and are included in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles but are not in the Hebrew Bible canon.
The Mennonite Confession of Faith affirms Scripture as the authoritative guide for faith and practice, and Mennonites follow the 66-book Protestant canon (39 OT + 27 NT). The deuterocanonical books may have historical and devotional value, but they are not treated as authoritative revelation. This distinction reflects the Reformation principle of 'sola scriptura' applied to the agreed-upon canon of Scripture.
Key Distinctions
- Canonical status:
- 66-book Protestant canon accepted
- Apocrypha status:
- deuterocanonical books not authoritative
- Historical value:
- may have devotional but not doctrinal authority
Scripture References
Sources
- Mennonite Confession of Faith (1995), Article 3 (Scripture)