Liberty University
APOL 480 - Biblical Studies and Apologetics
Canon of Scripture
Multiple Choice (1–15)
1. What does the term “canon” mean in the context of Scripture?
A. A spiritual leader
B. A collection of lost scrolls
C. A standard or rule
D. A genre of biblical literature
Answer: C
2. The canon of the Old Testament was primarily recognized by which group?
A. Christians in Rome
B. The Pharisees
C. Jewish rabbis and leaders
D. Egyptian monks
Answer: C
3. Which council formally recognized the 27-book New Testament canon?
A. Council of Nicaea
B. Council of Trent
C. Council of Carthage (AD 397)
D. Council of Jerusalem
Answer: C
4. Which of the following was NOT a criterion for New Testament canonicity?
A. Apostolic authorship
B. Widespread use in the church
C. Agreement with Gnostic beliefs
D. Consistency with accepted Christian doctrine
Answer: C
5. What language was most of the Old Testament originally written in?
A. Greek
B. Latin
C. Hebrew
D. Aramaic
Answer: C
6. What language was most of the New Testament originally written in?
A. Hebrew
B. Latin
C. Aramaic
D. Greek
Answer: D
7. What was the Septuagint?
A. The original Hebrew scrolls
B. A Latin commentary on Scripture
C. A Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament
D. A lost gospel
Answer: C
8. Which of the following is a deuterocanonical book recognized in Catholic Bibles
but not in Protestant Bibles?
A. Ezra
B. Tobit
C. Jude
D. Ruth
Answer: B
9. Which early church father first listed all 27 books of the New Testament in AD
367?
A. Tertullian
B. Augustine
C. Athanasius
D. Jerome
Answer: C
10. The term “apocrypha” refers to books that are:
A. Canonical in all traditions
B. Included in the Hebrew Bible
C. Of doubtful authenticity or authority
D. Part of the New Testament
Answer: C
11. What was a primary reason the church rejected many apocryphal gospels?
A. They were written in Latin
B. They were too long
C. They contained doctrinal errors and lacked apostolic origin
D. They were too similar to canonical books
Answer: C
12. Which Gospel is considered the earliest written?
A. John
B. Matthew
C. Mark
D. Luke
Answer: C
13. Which book of the Bible was the last to be written?
A. Revelation
B. Jude
C. 2 Timothy
D. James
Answer: A
14. Why is apostolic authorship important in determining canonicity?
A. It guarantees scientific accuracy
B. It links the text directly to Jesus' authority
C. It makes the book easier to translate
D. It ensures it was written in Greek
Answer: B
15. What is the Muratorian Fragment?
A. A manuscript of Psalms
B. An early list of New Testament books (c. AD 170)
C. A Gnostic gospel
D. A Roman legal code
Answer: B
True/False (16–20)
16. All Christian denominations agree on the exact same books in the biblical canon.
False
17. The canon of Scripture was formed gradually over centuries, not all at once.
True
18. The Gospel of Thomas is included in the New Testament canon.
False
19. Canonization was based only on popularity, not theological accuracy.
False
20. The church recognized the canon; it did not create it.
True
Short Answer (21–25)
21. What does "canon" literally mean, and why is it important in biblical studies?
Answer: "Canon" means "measuring rod" or "standard." It refers to the authoritative
collection of books considered divinely inspired and normative for faith and practice.
22. Name three criteria used by early Christians to determine if a book belonged in
the New Testament canon.
Answer: Apostolic origin, widespread use in worship, doctrinal consistency.
23. Why was the Septuagint influential in the development of the Old Testament
canon for early Christians?
Answer: It was widely used by Greek-speaking Jews and early Christians, including
the apostles, and influenced the structure of the Christian Old Testament.
24. List two reasons certain writings were excluded from the canon.
Answer: They lacked apostolic authorship and contained theological errors or
inconsistencies with accepted doctrine.
25. Why is the canon of Scripture significant for Christian theology and practice?
Answer: It defines the boundaries of divine revelation, shaping doctrine, ethics,
worship, and the church’s authority.
