protocanon

The protocanon refers to the collection of books that were universally accepted as canonical by early Christian churches. This collection largely corresponds to what is now known as the Old Testament in Protestant Bibles. The term "protocanonical" is used in contrast to "deuterocanonical," which designates books accepted as canonical by some branches of Christianity, particularly Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, but not by others.

The early acceptance of the protocanonical books was based on various factors, including their perceived antiquity, apostolic origin, and consistent theological message. The Jewish canon of Scripture, which was largely established before the Christian era, served as a significant foundation for this early Christian acceptance. The Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, played a role in disseminating these texts among Greek-speaking Christians.

Over time, as Christianity spread and developed, discussions and debates arose concerning the canonicity of certain texts. The Council of Trent in the 16th century officially affirmed the deuterocanonical books as part of the Catholic canon. However, the Reformation led to a rejection of these deuterocanonical books by many Protestant reformers, who favored a canon that more closely mirrored the Hebrew Bible. Therefore, the distinction between protocanonical and deuterocanonical books remains a point of difference between various Christian traditions.