Eastside Baptist Church, Winfield, Alabama
Religion & Spirituality:Christianity
From God to Us: A Guide to How We Got Our Bible (Eastside/Wed PM/May 15, 2013)
Where are we going?
Ø Composition
Ø Canonization
Ø Transmission
Ø Translation
Canonization
Ø What does Canonization mean?
Ø Old Testament canon
Ø New Testament canon
Canon Defined
Ø Greek kanōn = rod, staff, or measuring rod
Ø Hebrew qāneh = a measuring rod six cubits long
Ø So, “canon” came to refer to any standard, rule, or norm.
Scripture & Canon
Ø “Canon” adopted by earlier church to refer to the Gospel or official church doctrine.
Ø Around A.D. 350 used to describe the written Scriptures.
Ø Canon=standard list of inspired writings=Word of God
Theological Definition
Canonicity is the historical process by which the Spirit of God led the church to recognize those writings that were genuinely inspired.
Important Clarifications
Ø Canonicity is a historical process.
Ø Canonicity recognizes authority; it does not grant it.
Ø Inspiration determines canonicity, not vice versa.
Why is “Canon” important?
Ø Not everyone agrees on the list of inspired, authoritative books.
Ø Modern challenges to our faith based on recently discovered spurious writings in the early church.
Old Testament Canon
Ø The OT testifies to its own authority.
o Law
ü Testifies to its own authority
o Prophets & Writings
ü Testifies to Law’s authority
ü Testifies to authority of other Prophets and Writings
Ø External testimony to OT canon
o Evidence in favor of a 39 book OT canon
o Evidence against inclusion of “apocryphal” or “inter-testamental” writings
Ø Concluding implications:
o Strong historical evidence that Hebrew Scriptures were done by Ezra’s time around 400 B.C.
o Strong historical evidence that the OT canon included only 39 books (=24 in Hebrew order).
New Testament Canon
Ø Differences in process between development of OT canon and NT canon
o Length of time of production
o Location of origin and geographical distribution
Ø The NT testifies to its own authority.
o Pre-authentication by Jesus
John 13:7
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
John 16:12
"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.
John 16:13
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 15:20
…If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
o “Canonical self-consciousness”
1 Corinthians 14:37
If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.
1 Corinthians 2:13
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
Revelation 22:18
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.
Revelation 22:19
And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
Deuteronomy 4:2
Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.
o NT authors recognizing authority of other NT writings
2 Peter 3:15
Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
2 Peter 3:16
He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
1 Timothy 5:18
For Scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages."
Ø External testimony to NT canon
o Principles
ü Apostolic authorship
ü Universal acceptance
ü Orthodox teaching
ü Traditional Usage
o History
ü Paul’s epistles and Gospels recognized almost instantly
ü 22 books received early and near universal acceptance
ü Only 27 NT books recognized
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