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One of the common criticisms of Sola Scriptura (meaning that Scripture is the only infallible rule for Christians) is that the canon list is not found in the Bible itself, so Protestants rely on Scripture being infallible without infallibly knowing what is infallible. I hear this especially from Catholics, but I also hear it from Eastern Orthodox. Anyway, I don't want to debate that point here; I'm just mentioning it to give context.

Catholics and Eastern Orthodox believe that in addition to Scripture, the ecumenical councils are also infallible. As I understand it, local synods and councils are not regarded as infallible by either tradition. For the Catholics, this doesn't threaten the integrity of the canon of Scripture, as it was defined for them by the Council of Trent. However, regarding Eastern Orthodoxy, the canon was not defined by any of the seven ecumenical councils. Instead, they follow the decision of the Council in Trullo (692), a.k.a. the Quinisext Council, which was reaffirmed by the Synod of Jerusalem (1672). However, neither of these is one of the seven ecumenical councils. I know that the Quinisext Council may be seen as an emendation of the decisions of the fifth and sixth ecumenical councils, but is it therefore regarded as infallible despite not being itself an ecumenical council? This canon list is different from those of the Council of Laodicea (364) and the Council of Rome (382), both local councils (though admittedly the provenance of the preserved canon lists from those councils is disputed).

So my question is: Despite not being defined by any of the seven ecumenical councils, does the Eastern Orthodox Church have a belief in an infallible canon list for Scripture? If so, how is it known to be infallible?

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  • Different Eastern Orthodox Churches will have slightly different biblical Canons. Commented Mar 6, 2025 at 2:59
  • Curiouser and curioser Commented Mar 6, 2025 at 3:00
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    The notion of infallibility is more important to Protestants than to the Orthodoxy, as it grew up as a reaction against the supreme authority of the pope, which Orthodox didn't accept in the first place. If we look at Orthodox notions of infallibility through Protestant eyes, we risk getting stuck in a sort of legalistic outlook which the Orthodox do not share. Not sure this is helpful to the OP's question but it does give some context. Commented Mar 6, 2025 at 3:27
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    @DanFefferman Sure, I get that. The issues surrounding infallibility are more of a Western concern. But I would still say it's not inappropriate for Western Christians to ask Western questions of our Eastern brothers. If they want to undermine the very premise of the question, that is still a legitimate answer. Commented Mar 6, 2025 at 3:31
  • Check out this podcast on this topic: ancientfaith.com/podcasts/lordofspirits/delivered_by_angels (there are so many misconceptions about how Orthodox tradition works, this may be a better start) Commented Mar 6, 2025 at 7:04

2 Answers 2

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For Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the canon of the Holy Bible is authoritatively listed by the Canons of the Orthodox Church.

It is fundamentally important to recognize that the establishment of these approved lists of acceptable scriptures predominantly originated with individual bishops and regional synods, who endeavored to counteract the proliferation of heretical writings.

It is equally critical to acknowledge that not all regionally formulated lists received endorsement from an ecumenical council. (This is noted in the question as well)

Additionally for us the inclusion or exclusion of a text within the biblical canon is not determined solely by manuscript evidence.

I know that the Quinisext Council may be seen as an emendation of the decisions of the fifth and sixth ecumenical councils, but is it therefore regarded as infallible despite not being itself an ecumenical council?

The Eastern Orthodox Church grants it significant authority treating it as an extension of the Sixth Ecumenical Council. Its canons are included in the Orthodox Church’s canonical collections and are considered binding.

This Council is basically the 6th Ecumenical council part 2.

According to the author Romanus in his Prolegomena to the present Council, the prelates who convoked the Sixth Ecumenical Council in the reign of Pogonatus convoked also this one in the reign of his son Justinian.

Also the Seventh Ecumenical Council, welcomes and embraces the canons from this council all the way to those of the Apostles.

we welcome and embrace the divine Canons, and we corroborate the entire and rigid fiat of them that have been set forth by the renowned Apostles, who were and are trumpets of the Spirit, and those both of the six holy Ecumenical Councils and of the ones assembled regionally for the purpose of setting forth such edicts, and of those of our holy Fathers. For all those men, having been guided by the light dawning out of the same Spirit, prescribed rules that are to our best interest. Accordingly, we too anathematize whomsoever they consign to anathema; and we too depose whomsoever they consign to deposition; and we too excommunicate whomsoever they consign to excommunication; and we likewise subject to a penance anyone whom they make liable to a penance. (7th Council, Canon I)


Despite not being defined by any of the seven ecumenical councils, does the Eastern Orthodox Church have a belief in an infallible canon list for Scripture? If so, how is it known to be infallible?

Well at this point the first half of the question has fallen apart, we believe that the 6th Council did exactly that. (And as such would be "infallible")

Additionally it has been "reconfirmed" multiple times. From the 7th council onwards in every council that reaffirms the previous canons. So the 7th Council technically also "infallibly reconfirmed it"

Related extra information.

This is technically beyond the question, but I felt like sharing?

There are several sources for the Canon specifically named, not just the 2 you mentioned in the question. They are listed in Canon II of the Holy and Ecumenical Sixth Council. However I think a chart is easier to read so... here you go.

Source Description Approximate Date
Canon LXXXV (85) of the Holy Apostles Enacted in the name of the Holy and Renowned Apostles N/A
Canon LX (60) of the Council of Laodicea Established by the regional Council held in Laodicea ca. 364
“39th Festival Epistle” of St. Athanasios Authored by St. Athanasios the Great, Archbishop of Alexandria Before 373
“Heroic Verses” of St. Gregory the Theologian Composed by St. Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople Before 389
Verses of St. Amphilochios Written by St. Amphilochios, Archbishop of Iconium, addressed to Seleucus Before ca. 403
Canon XXXII (32) of the Council of Carthage Formulated by the regional Council of Carthage ca. 418–424

Here is each of those side by side.

Book Apostles Laodicea Athanasios Gregory Amphilochios Carthage
Genesis Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Exodus Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Leviticus Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Numbers Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Deuteronomy Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Joshua (son of Nun) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Judges Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ruth Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Not Listed
1 Kings Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2 Kings Yes Yes Yes Implied Yes Yes
3 Kings Yes Yes Yes Implied Yes Yes
4 Kings Yes Yes Yes Implied Yes Yes
1 Chronicles Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2 Chronicles Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hosea Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Amos Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Micah Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Joel Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Obadiah Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Jonah Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Nahum Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Habakkuk Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Zephaniah Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Haggai Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Zechariah Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Malachi Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Isaiah Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Jeremiah Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Baruch Implied Yes Yes Implied Implied Implied
Lamentations Implied Yes Yes Implied Implied Implied
Epistle of Jeremiah Implied Yes Yes Implied Implied Implied
Ezekiel Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Daniel Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Esther Yes Yes Prescribed Not Listed Yes Yes
Tobit Not Listed Not Listed Prescribed Not Listed Not Listed Yes
Judith Not Listed Not Listed Prescribed Not Listed Not Listed Yes
1 Esdras Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2 Esdras Yes Yes Yes Implied Yes Yes
1 Maccabees Yes Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed
2 Maccabees Yes Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed
3 Maccabees Yes Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed
4 Maccabees Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed
Psalms Psalter Yes Yes Yes Yes Psalter
Job Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Proverbs Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ecclesiastes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Song of Songs Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Wisdom Not Listed Not Listed Prescribed Not Listed Not Listed Yes
Sirach Permissible Not Listed Prescribed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed
Matthew Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mark Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Luke Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
John Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Acts Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
James Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
1 Peter Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2 Peter Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
1 John Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2 John Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
3 John Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Jude Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Romans Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
1 Corinthians Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2 Corinthians Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Galatians Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ephesians Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Philippians Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Colossians Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
1 Thessalonians Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2 Thessalonians Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hebrews Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
1 Timothy Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2 Timothy Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Titus Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Philemon Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Revelation Not Listed Not Listed Yes Not Listed Some Approve (1) Yes
1 Clement Yes Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed
2 Clement Yes Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed
Psalms of Solomon Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed Not Listed
  1. St. Amphilochios that "As for the Book of Revelation of John again, Some approve it, but at least a majority call it spurious." Yet note that this statement is followed by “This should be a most truthful canon of the God-inspired Scriptures,” suggesting that he accepts the book. It might also be noted that St. Gregory eventually came to think of the Apocalypse with some regard, for "in the constituent address which he made to the one hundred and fifty bishops composing the Second Ecumenical Council he expressly mentioned it, saying 'For I am persuaded that other ones (i.e., angels) supervise other churches, as John teaches me in Revelation.'" (Hieromonk Agaptios and Monk Nicodemos, The Rudder, p. 153)

Hope the extra stuff was interesting.

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  • Excellent answer, thank you. I missed that detail in Nicaea II. I suppose this would be better as a follow-up question, but I am curious what is meant by "of those of our holy Fathers" as the final element of that list. Commented Mar 6, 2025 at 13:24
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The EOC's view on the Quinisext Ecumenical Council

The EOC generally accepts the Quinisext Ecumenical Council as a valid addendum to the 5th and 6th Ecumenical Councils because it met only to ratify the unresolved canons from these 2 councils, and therefore, it does not count as separate from their authority. So, the EOC largely considers it infallible because it is considered a part of these councils.

However, the Quinisext Ecumenical Council defied the EOCs own principle that a thing can only be infallible if the Church makes a decision together. The Quinisext Ecumenical Council only invited legate representatives from the four Eastern episcopal sees, and did not invite any legates of the Roman See. This means that the 102 canons (including the canonization of the Books of the Bible) were made without the 5th Patriarch or any voting representative on his behalf in a time when the EOC still recognized the the legitimacy of the the Roman Patriarch.

Because the Quinisext Ecumenical Council defied the Church's own rules of infallibility, many critics (Especially Roman Catholics) say that it was not an infallible Ecumenical Council; however, many of the cannons were later accepted by Pope John VIII while he rejected others, and Pope Hadrian I later declared that the Quinisext Council should be seen as a legitimate part of the the sixth Council, but did not clarify if Rome was accepting them in their entirety or just in so much that Pope John VIII ratified. The murkiness of this has lead to centuries of debates and uncertainty because it is unclear if Popes 200-300 years after the fact could even chose to ratify canons that they were not present to discuss and that Pope Sergius I who was the the pope at the time chose to reject, as was his right in 692AD.

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  • kinda not the answer to the question. But interesting. I'll save this for later. Commented Jul 30, 2025 at 7:25
  • EO ecclesiology does not require unanimous initial participation for infallibility because the ecumenicity is retrospectively discerned through reception by the pleroma (fullness) of the Church. As St. Irenaeus and later Fathers like St. Vincent of Lérins taught, truth is what has been "believed everywhere, always, by all" (semper, ubique, ab omnibus). The Quinisext's canons were progressively received in the East (e.g., via the Seventh Council) and even partially in the West, demonstrating this organic consensus. Commented Nov 23, 2025 at 22:00

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