Inspired Bible :66 Book (protestant), 73 Books (catholic), or More (Orthodox traditions)?
1) Direct Answer
The inspired canon is the 66 books—Genesis to Revelation. Nothing to add and nothing to take away.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- The Bible says all Scripture is God-breathed and sufficient to thoroughly furnish the believer (2 Timothy 3:16–17). That speaks of a complete body of writings that fully equips.
- Jesus identified the Old Testament as “the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms” (Luke 24:44). He also marked its bounds “from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zacharias” (Luke 11:51), which covers the full Hebrew canon.
- The oracles of God were committed to the Jews (Romans 3:2). Jesus affirmed their Scriptures; He never placed other writings on equal footing.
- God then spoke in the Son and through those He sent (Hebrews 1:1–2; John 14:26; John 16:13). The New Testament came through apostles and their close associates, confirmed by God (Hebrews 2:3–4).
- We are told the faith was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3). And the Word warns not to add to or take from what God has given (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:5–6; Revelation 22:18–19).
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- Jesus endorsed the recognized Scriptures of Israel; the apostles, led by the Holy Spirit, gave the New Testament. That forms a complete, Spirit-sealed witness.
- The extra books can be historical or moral in places, but they were not received by Jesus and the apostles as Scripture, nor do they carry the “It is written” authority in the New Testament.
- Since God warns against adding to His Word, we hold to the closed canon He vindicated: the 66 books.
Short reinforcement
You see, God keeps His Word pure. The Bible is complete—one Book, from Genesis to Revelation, perfectly in step, without the need of additions.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Questions and Answers
59-0628E §93
Luther brought a lot of it out with him. Wesley brought the rest of it, and we still go to it. And the Catholic catechism, what's called Faith of Our Fathers, I believe it is, on page 144, I think it is, they said, "Will any Protestants be saved?" Said, "Perhaps some of them. They claim to live by the Bible, but they still take the Catholic teaching." Said, "The Bible, the early Catholics, baptized in the name of Father ... in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, but we taking the solemnity from that and place it upo...
Expectations
53-0217 §9
...it that he wasn't going to die until he seen Christ. Now, that's a good way to believe: when the Holy Spirit reveals it to you. Believe it. There's just a whole lot in this book, much that I don't know anything about, but yet, I believe every word of it. I can't explain it, but I believe it. And I'm running a series, myself, now, at home, in Genesis, taking Genesis through. Why, my! If you see the inspiration in Genesis. You can take the first chapter of Genesis and weave it through the last chapter of Revelation,...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 7:E-38
...y were these fine teachers of great importance but also the invention of what became the basis of our modern printing presses was discovered, facilitating the production of books. Thus we find the great hunger and demand for the Bible could be answered. God raised up many mighty men of which Luther was but one. Calvin and Zwingli were two other luminaries and besides these were many, many more who are not so well known. However, though all this was not in vain, the mighty work of God was actually hindered by these...
Confirmation of the Commission
62-0122 §114
...rp, Ignatius, Martin, Irenaus, Columba (oh, my), Justin, how many more of real godly ones that wouldn't tolerate that other church at all, the Roman side of it. They stayed catholic. We're catholic, too, apostolic catholic. Now, "catholic" means universal. But the Roman Catholic took into crucifix and dogmas, and so forth, like that; and said (not the Bible) God was in his church. God is in his Word. The Bible said, "If any man shall take away or add anything to it, the same will be taken ... his part out of the bo...
Who is this?
59-1122 §5
..."No." Then I met Billy here and he said, "Yes." So then I guess we will have prayer line this afternoon, the Lord willing, after the message. And now before we turn to the Book, the Book of books, it's a Book that's never been anything written like it, and there's a... It's a love story of prophecy, it's a Book of psalms, it's just the complete... Everything that we have need of in this journey is right here in the Book. And I'm kind of a person of one book, that's the Bible, plenty in it. I love what He said beca...