ow We Got the ibleow We Got the ible
Outline of Study:
1. What is the Canon?
2. Why Study the Canon?
3. Did the Catholic Church Give us the Bible?
4. Stages of Canonization
5. Evidence for a Closed Canon
“The list of books contained in scripture, the list of books recognized as worthy to be included in the sacred writings of a worshipping community. . .list of the writings acknowledged by the Church as documents of Divine revelation.”
(F.F. Bruce, The Canon of Scripture p. 17)
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What is the Canon?What is the Canon?
Greek: κανών - Reed or Measuring Rod
In reference to a set list of books the term first appears in the writings of Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria around A.D. 367.
Previously it referred to the summary of Christian Teaching and Doctrine
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What is the Canon?What is the Canon?
Greek: κανών – List of Accepted Books
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Why Study the Canon?Why Study the Canon?
Reason 1:
Not everyone accepts the same Canon
Samaritans = 5 books (Pentateuch only)
Nestorian Church (Syrian Church) = 22 books
Ethiopian Orthodox Church = 81 books
Catholic Canon = 66 plus Apocrypha
Mormons = Bible plus Book of Mormon, Doc & Cov
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Why Study the Canon?Why Study the Canon?
Reason 2:
To Determine The Limits of Divine Revelation
• Does God Still Speak today?
• Does the Holy Spirit lead and guide in extra-Canonical ways today?
Did the Catholic Church Give us the Bible?
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J.I. Packer – Noted Scholar
The church no more “gave us” the canon than Sir Isaac Newton “gave us” the force of gravity. God gave us gravity by the work of His creation, and similarly, He gave us the New Testament canon by inspiring the
original books that make it up.
(God Speaks To Man, p. 81)
CanonizationCanonization
Did Scripture Mold the church?Did the “Church” Mold Scripture?
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F.F. Bruce – Noted Scholar
The books did not become authoritative for the church because they were formally included in a canonical list – but on the contrary, the church included them in her canon because she already regarded them as divinely inspired.
(The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable, p. 27)
CanonizationCanonization
Did Scripture Mold the church?Did the “Church” Mold Scripture?
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CanonizationCanonization
And they continued steadfastly in the
APOSTLE’S DOCTRINE and fellowship, in the
breaking of bread, and in prayers.
(Acts 2:42 NKJV)
Stages of CanonizationStages of Canonization
1. Composition – gospel preached and epistles written
2. Community – writings read and circulated by the church
3. Compilation– letters collected and bound in codices
4. Canonization– ex post facto authority given to books
5. Criteria – determination of what writings were legitimate
The Word became flesh and dwelt among men (John 1:14)
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• Jesus’ Birth
• Jesus’ Ministry – Oral Teaching
• Jesus’ Death, Burial, Resurrection
CompositionComposition
The Role of Jesus
Holy Spirit Superintended Apostle’s Words
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However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
(John 16:13 NKJV)
CompositionComposition
The Role of the Holy Spirit
The first New Testament book was not written until perhaps 15 years after Jesus’ ascension.
At first the gospel was passed on by “oral tradition.”
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CompositionComposition
Jesus Apostles Oral Tradition
EpistlesGospelsLetters
The Role of Oral Tradition
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CompositionComposition
Jesus Apostles Oral Tradition
EpistlesGospelsLetters
A.T. Robinson argued in his Redating the New Testament that the entire New Testament was written and in circulation between 40 and 65 A.D
Such a short “Transmission Period” adds veracity to the reliability of the NT Canon.
The Role of Time
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CommunityCommunity
Jesus Apostles Oral Tradition
EpistlesGospelsLetters
Letters were Written to Address NeedsBeloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
(Jude 1:3 NKJV)
Writings Needed
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CommunityCommunity
Paul
Peter
Matthew
Luke
Laodicea
Colosse
Titus
GalatiaChurches
JewishChristians
GentileChristians
Writings Written
Gospel of Luke
Gospel of Matthew
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CommunityCommunity
Laodicea
Colosse
Titus
Book of Galatians
Writings Circulated
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CompilationCompilation
Early Church Collected Sacred Writings
Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. Colossians 4:16 NKJV
Writings Collected
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CompilationCompilation
Spiritual Gifts guided the Church until the Word could be fully Revealed and Compiled
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is complete is come, then that which is in part shall be
done away. (1 Corinthians 13:9-10 KJV)
Writings Compiled
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CanonizationCanonization
“Ex Post Facto Authority”
•Canonization approved books already accepted
•Canonization approved books already used in worship
•Canonization approved books already known to be valid
Writings Approved
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CanonizationCanonization
Over Time 27 New Testament Books Were Accepted
•Clement of Rome – Recognized 8 Books (A.D. 95)
•Polycarp – Recognized 15 Books (A.D. 108)
•Irenaeus – Mentions 21 Books (A.D. 185)
•Muratorian Canon – All but Hebrews, James, 3 John (A.D. 170)
•Eusebius – Lists 22 Books (A.D. 275)
Writings Recognized
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CanonizationCanonization
Writings Standardized
Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria
•First to list all 27 books of the NT (A.D. 367)
•Distinguished canonical from apocryphal
•Rejected “Shepherd of Hermas”
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CanonizationCanonization
Letters “Officialized”
The 27 books of the New Testament are formally confirmed as canonical by the Synod of Carthage in AD 397, thus recognizing three centuries of use by followers of Christ.
Carthage
By AD 400, the standard of 27 New Testament books is accepted in the East and West as confirmed by:
Athanasius Jerome Augustine Three church councils
Augustine
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CanonizationCanonization
Letters Canonized
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CriteriaCriteria
Why the Need for a Canon?
Apostasy
Heretics
Competing Writings
Persecution
Gospel of Judas
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CriteriaCriteria
Apostasy:
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
(1 Timothy 4:1 NKJV)
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CriteriaCriteria
•Excommunicated in 144 A.D.
•Rejected OT God and OT
•Established his own church.
•Established own “canon of scripture.”
Marcion’s Canon
LukeGalatians1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansRomans
1 Thessalonians2 ThessaloniansEphesiansColossiansPhilemon Philippians
Marcion (c.144)
Heretics:Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. (Acts 20:30 NKJV)
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CriteriaCriteria
Competing Writings
•Some produced by Heretical Groups
•Some by uninspired church leaders
•Some produced by Gnostics
•Scores produced in the 2nd and 3rd centuries.
Various Examples
Assumption of MosesGospel of ThomasGospel of JamesEpistle of BarnabusApocalypse of PeterApocalypse of PaulThe DidacheShepherd of Hermas1 and 2 Clement
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CriteriaCriteria
Persecution
For what “Truth” shall we die?
Diocletian’s persecution of Christians from A. D. 303-306 included the confiscating and destroying of New Testament books. This persecution motivated the church to sort through and settle on which books were really Scripture and which books were worth suffering for.
Criteria for Books to be Accepted
1. Written by an Apostle (ex: Paul, Peter)
2. Written by a student of an Apostle (ex: Luke)
3. Must accord with known apostolic writings4. Was it accepted by leading congregations
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CriteriaCriteria
The Apostles took part in setting the limits of Scripture
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We ask you not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
(2 Thessalonians 2:2 NKJV)
The Apostle’s WarningThe Apostle’s Warning
Inspired Apostles
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Divinely Ordained SafeguardsDivinely Ordained Safeguards
Inspired Apostles
Spiritual Gifts
Pente
cost
c. 3
0 A.D
.
Comple
ted C
anon
c. 9
5 A.D
.
““When That Which Is Complete is Come”When That Which Is Complete is Come”
1 Cor 13:10
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The Life of PaulThe Life of Paul
Paul’s Ministry
Pente
cost
c. 3
0 A.D
. Paul’s Epistles 13
Book of Acts 1
Paul’s Epistles and other books about Paul written Paul’s Epistles and other books about Paul written during his lifetime give evidence of a closed during his lifetime give evidence of a closed
New Testament CanonNew Testament Canon
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Paul’s Ministry
Pente
cost
c. 3
0 A.D
.
Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in you; As also in all his epistlesall his epistles . . . which they that are unlearned and . . . which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures,other scriptures, unto their own unto their own destruction.destruction.
(2 Peter 3:15-16 KJV)(2 Peter 3:15-16 KJV)
Peter Regards Paul as InspiredPeter Regards Paul as Inspired
Peter’s Influential Testimony
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Other Apostles WritingsOther Apostles Writings
Apostolic Authors
Pente
cost
c. 3
0 A.D
. John’s Writings 4
Peter’s Writings 2
The apostolic writings of John and Peter give evidence The apostolic writings of John and Peter give evidence of a closed NT Canonof a closed NT Canon
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Paul Quotes Matthew and/orPaul Quotes Matthew and/or LukeLuke
Other Inspired Authors
Pente
cost
c. 3
0 A.D
. 1 Timothy 5:18 1 Timothy 5:18
For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn.corn. And, The labourer is worthy of And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.his reward.
Deut 25:4Deut 25:4 Mt 10:10 or Luke 10:7Mt 10:10 or Luke 10:7
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Internal Claims and UnityInternal Claims and Unity
Other Inspired Authors
Pente
cost
c. 3
0 A.D
. Apostles guided into Apostles guided into ALLALL truth – Jn 14:26 truth – Jn 14:26
Jude says The Faith is Jude says The Faith is delivereddelivered – vs. 3 – vs. 3
Peter says we have Peter says we have ALLALL for Life – 2 Pet 1:3 for Life – 2 Pet 1:3
Paul Paul prohibitsprohibits other Revelation – Gal 1:6ff other Revelation – Gal 1:6ff
The unity that Hebrews, Jude, James, and Mark has with other known apostolic books attest to a closed canon.
The Assumption of ScholarsThe Assumption of Scholars
1. The Canon process took several hundred years.
2. The Canon was not settled until long after Spiritual Gifts ceased.
3. The Canon came about via “natural means.”
4. The disputed books were unknown to “true believers.”
5. Those who disputed various books were “true believers.”
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 2 Thess 2:3
If the Canon Is Not Closed . . .If the Canon Is Not Closed . . .
1. Then Continual Revelation is Possible
2. Then Additional Guidance is Probable
3. Then Religious Chaos is Inevitable
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work,
this man shall be blessed in his deed. Jas 1:25