The Chronology of Canon
An interactive exploration of Christian texts across history, sects, and traditions. From the ancient scrolls of Enoch to the modern revelations of the 19th century, discover how the library of faith has evolved.
The Divergence of Texts
Christianity is not a single book, but a library. While the "Bible" is a central term, its contents vary significantly depending on the tradition.
The timeline represents the emergence of key texts. While Protestant and Catholic canons share a core, texts like 1 Enoch (Ethiopian) or the Book of Mormon (LDS) represent distinct branches of textual authority.
Key
- Universal/Mainstream
- Catholic/Orthodox Deuterocanon
- Ethiopian/Coptic
- LDS (Latter-day Saints)
- Gnostic/Lost Texts
Timeline of Emergence (Approx. Date Written)
Hover over points to see specific texts and dates.
The Scale of Scripture
How many "books" make up the Bible? The answer depends on who you ask. The graph below compares the total number of books accepted in the Old and New Testaments across major traditions. Note the expansive nature of the Ethiopian Orthodox canon compared to the stricter Protestant selection.
Protestant (66 Books)
Rejects the Apocrypha/Deuterocanon, adhering strictly to the Hebrew Masoretic text for the Old Testament.
Roman Catholic (73 Books)
Includes the Deuterocanon (Tobit, Judith, Maccabees, etc.) as fully inspired scripture.
Ethiopian Orthodox (81 Books)
The largest biblical canon, preserving ancient texts like 1 Enoch and Jubilees.
The Archives: Detailed Chronology
A curated list of significant texts, ordered from earliest composition.
Restorationist Texts
In the 19th century, the Latter-day Saint movement introduced new volumes of scripture. Unlike the debates of antiquity which focused on selecting ancient texts, this movement involved the production of new texts attributed to ancient or divine sources.
The Book of Mormon (1830)
Accepted by the LDS Church and Community of Christ. Narrates the history of ancient American civilizations.
Distribution of Text Types
Breakdown of the researched documents by their primary theological function.