Meaning of CANON

(cane, ruler).
This term has various meanings:
(A) Any ruler or rod used for measuring (e.g., a bricklayer's level).

(B) In a figurative sense, a model that allows standards to be set, especially for classic books; guide, standard (Gal. 6:16; Phil. 3:16).

(C) Orthodox Christian doctrine, in contrast to heterodoxy.

(D) The Scriptures considered as a standard of faith and conduct.
The term canon comes from Greek.

The Fathers of the Church were the first to use that word in the 4th sense, but the idea represented is very old.

A book that has the right to be included in the Bible is called "canonical"; one who does not possess this right is said "non-canonical"; The right to be admitted into Scripture is "canonicity."

(E) The canon is also the normative list of books inspired and received from God. When we speak of the OT or NT canon, we speak in this sense.