The Canon of Scriptures

by GAT 06/01/2025, updated 10/27/2025

We recognize the Masoretic Texts as written in the Leningrad Codex 1008-1009 and the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia 1977 to embody and accurately represent the original text of the Old Testament.

We recognize the Erasmus Textus Receptus Third Edition 1522, the Stephanus Textus Receptus 1550 and Beza Textus Receptus 1565 to collectively embody and accurately represent the original text of the New Testament.

The canon of Scriptures includes the 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books as in the KJV 1642 Printed Edition. Our acceptance of the Canon of Scriptures is based on the 62-66 books widely accepted by first through mid-second century Church congregations, the agreement between passages and references within the Scriptures, chain of custody, Scripture verses quoted verbatim or referenced in early Church writings, and upon discernment.

The canon of Scripture excludes the Deuterocanonical books, Old Testament pseudepigrapha, inter-testament writings, the gnostic gospels and other New Testament era apocryphal writings.

We recommend the following English language Bible translations which rely on the above texts: the King James Bible (KJV American English 1782, British 1642 & 1826), the Literal Translation of the Holy Bible (LITV). We are considering recommendations for: Literal Standard Version (LSV 2020), NKJV (1984), Webster Common Version (1833). While the NASB95 New Testament is not based on the Textus Receptus, it is a good translation if read in conjunction with the margin notes alternate translations and an interlinear based on the Textus Receptus.