Christian Texts



Overview

The Bible is the only text which is recognized by all Christians, regardless of denomination. Within the Bible, there are 66 books which are nearly unanimously accepted as canonical, and an additional 7 which are accepted by a large majority of Christians.

These additional books are:

  • Baruch
  • Judith
  • 1 & 2 Maccabees
  • Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)
  • Tobit
  • Wisdom (Wisdom of Solomon)

Those who accept the above books typically also accept Greek additions to the books of Daniel and Esther.

In addition to the above, most Eastern Orthodox Christians regard 3 Maccabees, the Prayer of Manasseh, and Psalm 151 as canonical, and also commonly have 1 and 2 Esdras where others have Ezra and Nehemiah.

Apart from the Bible, the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox denominations regard the first seven Ecumenical Councils as authoritative.

These are:

  1. First Council of Nicaea (325 AD)
  2. First Council of Constantinople (381 AD)
  3. Council of Ephesus (431 AD)
  4. Council of Chalcedon (451 AD)
  5. Second Council of Constantinople (553 AD)
  6. Third Council of Constantinople (680-681 AD)
  7. Second Council of Nicaea (787 AD)

Protestants vary in which of the above they accept. Oriental Orthodox Christians accept only the first three. Assyrian Christians accept only the first two.

In addition to the seven major councils, Roman Catholics accept an additional fourteen councils as authoritative. Eastern Orthodox Christians accept various other later councils as well if they are received by all of the Eastern Patriarchates, such as the Palamite Councils (1341-1368 AD), or the Synod of Jerusalem (1672 AD).

Additionally, many Christians view various creeds, confessions, catechisms, and writings of Saints to be more or less authoritative, though which documents are accepted varies significantly between denominations.