ABSTRACT
Christians attach great importance to their sacred scriptures, known collectively as the Bible, or the Holy Bible. It is read publicly in churches, and privately by devout followers of the faith. It is not a single book, but an anthology of 66 books, arranged into two parts: 39 books comprising the Old Testament, and 27 comprising the New Testament. To these the Roman Catholic Church recognises a further 15, known as the Apocrypha. e word ‘canon’ is the technical name used by scholars for a body of sacred texts that is formally designated as authoritative. ‘Canon’ is the Greek word for a measuring rod, alluding to the Scripture’s function as a standard or a measure. Scripture serves to define the standard by which Christians ought to live their lives, it defines their history in divine providence, and it defines their doctrines.
