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Encyclopedia of Religion entry forCanonThe term Canon is commonly used (1) of a law or rule, (2) of a collection of sacred writings, especially of the Sacred Scriptures accepted by Christians, and (3) of a dignitary of the Church of England. The word is of course the same as the Greek Kav(,v. It meant originally a reed or rod. It then came to mean a measuring rod, and was next " used for a plumb line or for a level, or a ruler, for anything that was a measure or a rule for other things " (C. R. Gregory). Then in the intellectual sphere it denoted a rule " that told a man what was right or what he had to do." The grammarians in Alexandria called the ancient Greek writers the canon, because they were regarded as pat-terns or models. They also called their rules for declensions, conjugations, and syntax " canons." In common usage canon denoted " a measure, a definition, an order, a command, a law." Joshua, as an ideal leader, is called by Philo (c. 20 B.C.-45 A.D.) a canon. The word is found in the New Testament. In Galatians vi. 16 it is said : " And as many as shall walk by this rule (to kanoni touto), peace be upon them and mercy." In II. Corinthians x. 13 (Authorised Version) it is said: " But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule (Revised Version " province "; Revised Version margin " limit "; Gk. tou kanonos) which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you." In course of time the word came to be used in the Christian Church for a definite and certain decision, an ecclesiastical determination. At a synod at Antioch held in A.D. 266 one of Paul of Samosata‘s doctrines was said to be " foreign to the ecclesiastical canon." After this the ecclesiastical canon became a set phrase for the rule or custom of the Church. From A.D. 341 (Council at Antioch) the term " canons " was applied to the decisions of ecclesiastical councils. The term " canon " as applied to Holy Scripture was first used by the Greek Fathers of the fourth century. Cp. further CANON, OLD TESTAMENT. In the other sense of the term, a Canon is a residentiary member of a cathedral chapter. He is appointed by the Bishop or nominated by the Crown. There are also Honorary Canons who receive no emolument. They are appointed by the Bishop or Archbishop, and rank next after the residentiary Canons. Finally there are Minor Canons. These have to intone part of the Service. A good voice is therefore a necessary qualification for appointment. They are appointed by the Cathedral chapter. In some cases a professorship carries with it a canonry (e.g., at Oxford, Cambridge, and Durham). " The clergy of every large church in ancient times were termed Canonici, as being entered on the list (for this is one of the meanings of Kavwv) of ecclesiastics serving the church " (Addis and Arnold). See C. R. Gregory; Cath. Dict. citations: Encyc. of Rel., Canney
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12 |
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