{{Orthodoxchristianity}}The '''Holy Scripture''' is a collection of books written over multiple centuries by those inspired by God to do so. It is the primary witness to the Orthodox Christian faith, within [[Holy Tradition]] and often described as its highest point. It was written by the [[prophetsprophet]] s and [[apostles]] in human language, inspired by the [[Holy Spirit]], and collected, edited, and canonized by the Church. Above all, the Bible is a faith document.

{{stub}}==The Nature of Scripture==The Scriptures both ''are'' the word of God and are ''about'' the Word of God, [[Jesus Christ]]. They are God's revelation of himself, the word of God in the words of men. The Bible is a witness to the revelation of God, and it is a part of the active and living [[Holy Tradition]] of the Church. Thus, if Tradition is the life of the Church, then the Scripture is the primary language of that life. The Scripture—both Old and New Testaments—is fundamentally about Christ. It is Christocentric and [[Christology|Christological]]. The whole Bible presupposes the [[Incarnation]] and [[Resurrection]] of Christ. Indeed, the very purpose in writing the New Testament was because Christ had already risen from the dead—with the death of the [[Apostle James (son of Zebedee)|Apostle James]], the Church realized that the eyewitnesses were not always going to be with them, therefore the preaching of the eyewitnesses was written down. The preaching of the apostles preceded the Scripture, so we must understand the Scripture as an expression of that preaching; the word of God had already gone out and established the Church, which served as the communal context for the Scripture's composition and canonization. Humanity naturally tends to preach before it makes a written record. [[Moses]]' word to the people of Israel after the Passover was first that they should tell their children. St. [[Mary Magdalene]]'s first act upon learning of the Resurrection was to run and tell [[Apostle Peter|Peter]]. Only later did these events get recorded in writing. ==The Presupposition of Faith==The Bible presupposes the [[faith]] of the reader. It is a faith document—not science, philosophy, history, archaeology, literature, ideology, or biography. Because of its origins and usage in the community of faith, it does not attempt to establish its own authenticity or to prove its basic assumptions. It was not intended as a logical proof for the existence of God or for the reality of that to which it attests.

== The Old Testament Canon Integrity of Scripture==Because the Bible is a faith document, we must respect its integrity as the final revelation of the Orthodox Christian faith. We do not recognize any other writings as canonical Scriptures other than those listed below. Though the Bible does not constitute an all-sufficient summary of revelation, no new revelation has been given. Even if another document were to be unearthed which scholars all agreed came from the hand of Paul or Moses, it would not be added to the canon. Likewise, if an existing part of the canon were undeniably proven not to be from its traditionally ascribed author, it would not be removed from the canon.

== The New Testament Canon =={| width="100%" align="center" cellpadding="2" border="0"| align="left" valign="top"|*[[Gospel of Matthew]]*[[Gospel of Mark]]*[[Gospel of Luke]]*[[Gospel of John]]*[[Acts of the Apostles]]*[[Book of Romans|Romans]]*[[I Corinthians]]*[[II Corinthians]]*[[Galatians]]{stub}}

| align="left" valign="top"|*[[Ephesians]]*[[Philippians]]*[[Colossians]]*[[I Thessalonians]]*[[II Thessalonians]]*[[I Timothy]]*[[II Timothy]]*[[Titus]]The Canon of Scripture==*[[Philemon]]{{Holy Scripture}}

| align="left" valign="top"|*The [[Book of Hebrews|HebrewsOld Testament]]*[[Book canon of Scripture is that of James|James]]*the [[I PeterSeptuagint]]*, which was the Bible of the [[II Peterapostles]]*. Other Christian communions through the years have deviated somewhat from this apostolic canon which the [[I JohnOrthodox Church]]*still uses. The canon of the [[II JohnNew Testament]]*[[III John]]*[[Book was developed over the early centuries of the Church. Its first known listing in its final form is the ''Paschal Letter'' of Jude|Jude]]*St. [[Book Athanasius of Revelation|RevelationAlexandria]]|}in A.D. 367.