Canon Comparison

Memorized entirely by millions of hafiz (memorizers); considered the uncreated word of God in Islamic orthodoxy. Uthman's standardized text (Uthmanic codex) finalized around 650 CE, establishing the canonical written form. The Quran itself claims to be a recitation meant to be memorized and preserved orally.

Treated as a living Guru since 1708 — elevated to status equal with human Gurus. Contains hymns from 6 Sikh Gurus (Nanak, Angad, Amar Das, Ram Das, Arjan, Tegh Bahadur), 15 bhagats (saints from diverse Hindu and Muslim backgrounds including Kabir, Ravidas, Namdev), and 11 bards. Written in Gurmukhi script. No further additions allowed — canon closed.

Surviving texts represent roughly 25% of the original corpus — much was lost during Alexander the Great's conquest of Persia. The Avestan language is closely related to Sanskrit, providing crucial linguistic evidence for Indo-European languages. Originally memorized by Zoroastrian priests (Magi) and transmitted orally for centuries.

Open canon tradition with continuing revelation. The Book of Mormon is subtitled 'Another Testament of Jesus Christ.' Joseph Smith declared the Book of Mormon 'the most correct of any book on earth' (1841). D&C contains 138 sections plus 2 Official Declarations (1890 ending polygamy, 1978 extending priesthood). Fourth volume (Pearl of Great Price) added to canon in 1880.

Protestant traditions count these same texts as 39 books by splitting Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, and the 12 Minor Prophets. The order reflects theological priorities: Torah as foundation, Prophets as interpretation, Writings as reflection.

Primary scripture of Theravada Buddhism. Maintained through oral tradition for approximately 400 years before being committed to writing. The Pali language has been preserved with remarkable consistency in Sri Lanka, making it invaluable for understanding early Buddhism. Written on palm leaves (ola leaf manuscripts) starting around 1st century BCE.

Significant sectarian divide: Shvetambara Jains maintain the written Agamas (45 texts), while Digambara Jains reject these as inauthentic and claim the original canon was lost. Agamas were transmitted by succession of disciples (ganadharas) for ~300 years before writing. Oral transmission officially ended around 5th century CE when texts were committed to writing to prevent further loss.

The Peshitta OT was translated from Hebrew texts predating the Masoretic standardization, making it valuable for textual criticism. The missing 5 NT books were controversial in Syriac tradition: Revelation was especially disputed in Eastern churches. The Philoxenian/Harklean revision (508/616 CE) added the 5 missing books, but many Syriac churches still only use 22.

Martin Luther advocated for the Hebrew canon (Hebraica veritas) against the deuterocanonical books, calling them Apocrypha — useful to read but not to establish doctrine. The 39 OT books are the same texts as the Tanakh, just split and reordered.

Called 'deuterocanonical' (second canon) by Catholics — meaning received later, not secondary in authority. Officially defined at Trent partly in response to Luther's rejection of them. Jerome included them in the Latin Vulgate (the church's Bible for 1,000 years) though he personally doubted some.

No single ecumenical council has formally defined the Orthodox OT canon. The Synod of Jerusalem (1672) affirmed deuterocanonical books but Eastern churches vary. The Septuagint (Greek OT) is the authoritative OT text for most Orthodox churches, which includes books not in the Hebrew Bible.

The word 'Tewahedo' means 'unified' — referring to the miaphysite Christology. Ethiopia is one of the oldest Christian nations (4th century). The preservation of 1 Enoch in Ge'ez (when the Greek and Hebrew were lost) was crucial for scholarship until the Dead Sea Scrolls confirmed the Aramaic originals.

No fixed canon of collected texts — most writings exist as tablets (short essays) and letters not yet translated into English. Progressive revelation doctrine holds that God continues to reveal truth through successive manifestations. Estimates ~100 major works across all categories. Unique among world religions in treating earlier scriptures (Bible, Quran, etc.) as valid but incomplete revelations.

Open canon with no fixed count. New texts can achieve canonical status through tradition and acceptance. The Rigveda contains 1,028 hymns. Some Vaishnavite traditions emphasize the Bhagavata Purana (10th Purana) as supreme, sometimes above the Vedas. Represents millennia of continuous philosophical development from ~1500 BCE to present day.