Understanding Bible History 3

Review

Recall what the Bible says about itself—it is self-authenticating

Oral transmission (not just oral tradition)

The autographs—

Copies

Textual Criticism—as opposed to “higher” or “redaction” criticism

Note: no accepted textual variants cause any deviation or difference in truth or basic doctrine of the entire Scripture

The Vulgate> Textus Receptus> early translations (Wycliff, Tyndale...Geneva, KJV> newer discoveries and a myriad of newer translations

Note: NKJV dominantly relies on the TR

Translation philosophies: formal/literal, dynamic equivalent, paraphrase

On to the Canon of Scripture

What Is the Canon of Scripture

That which “measures up” to the standards

Who Says So?

Valid question:

Determining the canon was a process conducted first by Jewish rabbis and scholars and later by early Christians. Ultimately, it was God who decided what books belonged in the biblical canon. A book of Scripture belonged in the canon from the moment God inspired its writing. It was simply a matter of God’s convincing His human followers which books should be included in the Bible. (Got Questions)

Old Testament Canon

The Hebrew Tanak

The current composition was most likely in that form by 400 BC; at latest, 200 BC

 Torah (תורה, twrh), the “Law” or Pentateuch; Nebi’im (נביאים, nby'ym), the “Prophets”; and the Ketubim (כתובים, ktwbym), the “Writings.”

The Law was the Pentateuch

The Prophets include Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings as well as what are considered by most Christians as prophets

The Writings are everything else: traditional wisdom literature plus Lamentations, Esther, Daniel, Ezra/Nehemiah and 1-2 Chronicles

The Tanak sees 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Chron., 1-2 Kings, plus Ezra-Nehemiah and Jeremiah-Lamentations as one-each, not two

Our understanding is 39 separate books

But...

(ref. Sean’s teaching on that Wed. nights—if you snoozed you loozed!)

The Apocrypha? The “hidden” books, deuterocanonical books...second canon

Roman and Eastern Orthodox traditions include 14 additional books authorized by the Council of Trent (number may vary)

It was during the Reformation that the reformers agreed with earlier scholar Jerome and limited the OT canon to 39 books

Though early printed copies of the KJV did include (some) of the others

[It’s final form and order was likely (my best guess) set by mid-4th century; the church was becoming less traditionally Jewish, the more logical order of the Greek/Roman mind might have helped set the order of the books]

New Testament Canon

We recognize 27 books…

Who Says So?

It was NOT the Counsel of Nicea! 325 AD, under Constantine

Common, pop-cultural understanding because of the DaVinci Code

It’s easier to trace its history than the OT canon...but not easy

Early, nearly complete, lists exited by late 2nd century

Muratorian Fragment

Anonymous work dated to have been original to late 2nd century (based upon reference to Pius 1, Bishop of Rome), omitted Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, and 3 John—-

It did include one that was later omitted—Apocalypse of Peter, and the Wisdom of Solomon, which is still included in RC and EO Bibles

It took several years for that to be sorted out

Apostolic author, or close association to an apostle—exception being Hebrews, but it’s clearly Pauline in nature (suspects include Apollos, Barnabas)

Other Sources

Justin Martyr (c. 100-165 CE): Quoted from Matthew and Luke, but referred to them as "the memoirs of the apostles".

Irenaeus (c. 130-202 CE): Firmly attributed the four Gospels to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and is considered the first to do so.

Clement of Alexandria (c. 150-215 CE): Discovered by Eusebius in his book Ecclesiastical History, Clement wrote that Mark wrote the gospel at the request of those who had heard Peter preach, and that John wrote a spiritual gospel after the external facts had been made plain in the other Gospels.

Tertullian (c. 160-220 CE): Mentioned that several of the original documents were still around in his time, including those of Corinth, Philippi, Thessalonica, Ephesus, and Rome.

Origen (c. 185-254 CE): Another early church father who discussed and expounded on the Gospels.

Papias (c. 120-130 CE): Often taken as evidence that at least two of the Gospels, Matthew and Mark, were called by those names already several decades after they were in circulation.

The Didache (c. 95 CE): The earliest extra-biblical manuscript, which quotes from Matthew's version of the Lord's Prayer.

Clement of Rome (c. 95 CE): Cites Matthew and the other Synoptic Gospels.

The Epistle of Barnabas (c. 100 CE): Cites Matthew 22:14. (not to be confused with Gospel of Barnabas)

Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110 CE): Quotes phrases from the Gospel of Matthew in his letters.

Polycarp of Smyrna (c. 120-135 CE): Cites Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Tatian (c. 173 CE): Created his Diatessaron that harmonized the four gospels.

What about the Lost Gospels?

...so called lost gospels

Works that are  pseudepigraphal, forgeries—many carry familiar names, Barnabas, Judas, Thomas, Mary...

The appeared late, are inconsistent with the accepted Scripture, have other features that identify them as false

Some appear to be influenced by gnostic thought, some of which pre-existed Christianity, and tried to incorporate Jesus into their doctrine; others make Jesus less than true man/true God

Can We Trust our Bibles?

ABSOLUTELY!

It is the divinely inspired work of the Almighty God, miraculously preserved so that we may have the full counsel of the King of Kings, Lord of Lords

That we may have all things ...that pertain to life and godliness...