How God Gave Us His Word, Part 4

Canonicity refers to the bible’s sacred status, and authority on religious matters.

What does the word canon mean?

The Greek term: is “kanon” meaning rule or standard.

The Hebrew term: “qaneh” means measuring rod.

It then represents the standard for which books are collected into the bible.

The discussion of the canon dates back to 400 B.C. in the written record 2 Maccabees 2:13-15.

2 Maccabees 2:13–15 ERV

13 And the same things were related both in the public archives and in the records that concern Nehemiah; and how he, founding a library, gathered together the books about the kings and prophets, and the books of David, and letters of kings about sacred gifts. 14 And in like manner Judas also gathered together for us all those writings that had been scattered by reason of the war that befell, and they are still with us. 15 If therefore ye have need thereof, send some to fetch them unto you.

The Talmud and other Jewish writings contain references to the Great Assembly ( 120 scribes) formed during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.

They created the standards of canonization and finalized the OT from 200 BC to 70 BC.

This created a consensus of what books were in the OT by the 1st century. The number of books are recorded in 2 Esdras and Josephus.

The Torah (first five books of the OT) was not contested by any Jewish groups.

The Prophets and Writings were debated by some Jews, but Jesus in Luke 24:44 gave these writings his approval.

What are the complicating factors for the canon?

The Septuagint (LXX) translation is made because of the spread of Greek culture from 300-350 BC.

It complicates the canonization process because it had extra books (Apocrypha) and it is the bible for Greek-speaking Jews.

This is the OT for the NT writers. This is demonstrated in that they quote the LXX and not the Hebrew text.

The Dead Sea Scrolls also include other book in their canon, such as 1 Enoch and the Temple Scroll. These are cited like Scripture.

The debate of certain books and elements of certain books to be included in the canon such as:

The book of Song of Solomon is because of erotic literature.

The book of Esther because the name of God is not even mentioned, the condition of the time and her behavior.

Ezekiel 40-48 was also contested because of the temple description not conforming to Solomon’s Temple nor to the 2nd Temple.

The book of Ecclesiastes because it can sound too pessimistic.

How in the world was all this settled?

The Jews in around 100 AD held the Council of Jamnia.

The Council of Jamnia decided the book must exist in Hebrew.

This is where protestants get their 39 books of the OT. This is going back to the pre-Septuagint count.

This marginalized the Septuagint in the Jewish community creating a category known today as Apocryphal books.

The Council of Jamnia decided the books for the Jewish community, but not for the Christian community.

Jerome in 400 AD created the Vulgate and had to decide if he would go with the Jewish standard or the Septuagint standard.

Jerome wanted the Jewish standard, but the Pope wanted the Septuagint.

Catholics then have the Septuagint version of the OT. The extra books are often called deutero-canonical.

The Reformation decided to go back to the decision of the Council of Jamnia going with the Hebrew count.

Are the additional books Canonical?

This is debatable and comes to Catholic or Protestant preference.

Regardless of preference, these books should be read for historical and cultural context, giving them value whether sacred or not.

The early church used them in the writing of certain books of the NT, such as Jude, and Revelation. However, this does not make them canonical.

Next week we will take a look at the early transmission of the Hebrew Bible.