בעצם נראה בלתי אפשרי לתמצת את המונח. מוסיפה כאן סימוכין. למעשה מדובר בסמכות אלוהית ובמופעה הדומם בספרים.
The word rule (Latin regula, Gr. kanon) means a standard by
which something can be tested, and the rule of faith means something extrinsic to our faith, and serving as its norm or measure. Since faith is Divine and infallible, the rule of faith must be also Divine and infallible; and since faith is supernatural assent to Divine truths upon Divine authority, the ultimate or remote rule of faith must be the truthfulness of God in revealing Himself. But since Divine revelation is contained in the written books and unwritten traditions (Vatican Council, I, ii), the Bible and Divine tradition must be the rule of our faith; since, however, these are only silent witnesses and cannot interpret themselves, they are commonly termed "proximate but inanimate rules of faith".
הלכה: כל אחת מן ההחלטות או הקביעות המחייבות הנקבעות בבית המשפט; חוק, דין.