Canonicity
Notes
Transcript
Theological and Historical
Theological and Historical
What are the main criteria of recognizing New Testament Scripture?
What are the main criteria of recognizing New Testament Scripture?
There are both THEOLOGICAL and HISTORICAL rational.
Theology informs us that God is the ultimate author of Scripture () and thus also the ONLY one who determines what is Scripture. The church’s (The People of God) responsibility is to recognize not determine Scripture. We can see this practiced historically.
There is the internal evidence of the Scriptures themselves
There is the internal evidence of the Scriptures themselves
The idea of “Scripture” comes from God Himself. The first writing is from the finger of God on stone tablets stored in the Arc of the Covenant. Moses’ God breathed writings were added later. Joshua’s were adds to this etc.
295 times the New Testament Authors quote various parts of The Old Testament Scriptures as divinely authoritative. “It is written” is used 60 times in the New Testament to authoritatively quote Scripture and is based off roughly 15 uses in the Old Testament referring to Scripture. The term “Scriptures” is used 52 times in the New Testament to reference Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures! Jesus Himself quoted the Old Testament using “It is written” 17 times and “Scriptures” 13 times. Not to mention all the times Jesus is said to have fulfilled “Scripture”.
The New Testament calls New Testament writings Scripture:
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Bible Doctrine A. The Old Testament Canon
According to one count, Jesus and the New Testament authors quote various parts of the Old Testament Scriptures as divinely authoritative over 295 times, but not once do they cite any statement from the books of the Apocrypha or any other writings as having divine authority.6
Peter uses the same technical word for “Scripture” of Paul’s writings along side Old Testament “Scripture”:
as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,
as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Paul calls Luke’s Gospel Scripture along side Old Testament Scripture:
The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
4 Criteria for Recognizing Scripture
4 Criteria for Recognizing Scripture
Was it written by an “Apostle”?
Was it written by an “Apostle”?
Jesus designated the 12 (). Promised to lead and guide them into all the truth (). And commissioned them to take His message and teachings to the ends of the earth ().
The early church devoted themselves to the teachings of the Apostles from day 1 (). They appealed to the Apostles authoritatively to counter false teachings (). The Apostles themselves equated their teaching as having its origin from God and saw it as a litmus test for what is true ().
Matthew, John, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John and Revelation are all written directly by an Apostle.
Paul who is responsible for 13 letters in the New Testament is called an apostle and is directly commissioned by Jesus but is not one of the twelve. He has tight harmony with the twelve and even appeals to their teaching (; ). God in His providence has the Apostle Peter call Paul’s writings Scripture.
James, brother of the Lord Jesus, is called an Apostle alongside Peter in .
Matthew, John, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John and Revelation are all written directly by an Apostle.
The Gospel of Luke and Acts, the two part series, was written by Paul’s traveling companion Luke. Paul is the authoritative backing behind it. Remember Paul quotes the Gospel of Luke verbatim as Scripture. Acts accounts the work of two very important Apostles (Peter and Paul) and fits right in with the principle of Apostolic backing.
Mark, historically, is considered to be Peter’s account of events. There is widespread and early evidence of this. See ESVSB.
Jude references the Apostles’ teachings and much of Jude is quoting 2nd Peter (or visa versa).
This leaves the book of Hebrews. Authorship is highly disputed, but what is not disputed is that it is Pauline in theology and a contemporary of Timothy. It again appeals to the teachings of the Apostles: .
Is it consistent with the rest of Scripture?
Is it consistent with the rest of Scripture?
Does it reflect the nature of Scripture?
Does it reflect the nature of Scripture?
Has it been accepted by Believers through the ages?
Has it been accepted by Believers through the ages?
“My sheep hear My voice.” -
AD 170 we have the Muratorian cannon which has 22 of the 27 New Testament books listed. That is well within 100 years of the last book being written.
AD 367 Athanasius put together the full list that we have today
AD 397 The Council of Carthage The Eastern and Western Church agree upon this list
Contrast this with the books in the Apocrypha.
Canonized at the Council of Trent by the Catholic Church in 1546 (response to the reformation)
Jerome included them in the Latin Vulgate (404 AD) but states that they are not books of the canon but books of the church.
The earliest Christians after the New Testament rejected them as Scripture
The internal evidence of Scripture rejects them. They are rarely quoted and never done done so authoritatively.
The internal evidence of Scripture rejects them. Extra biblical books are rarely quoted and never done so authoritatively.
Did The Church Successfully Do This?
AD 170 - Bishop of Sardis, Melito provides the earliest Christian list of Scripture (Old Testament). Includes all the books except Esther.
AD 367 - Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, listed all the present books of our New Testament. Mentions several books of the Apocrypha and notes these are NOT Scripture.
Books of the Apocrypha: canonized at the Council of Trent by the Catholic Church in 1546 (response to the reformation). Jerome included them in the Latin Vulgate (404 AD) but states that they are not books of the canon but books of the church. The earliest Christians after the New Testament rejected them as Scripture.
Is the Canon Closed?
Is the Canon Closed?
The internal evidence of Scripture rejects them. They are rarely quoted and never done done so authoritatively.
Yes because there is no way to give apostolic backing today
There is no dispute amongst Jews or Christian on what is considered to be Old Testament cannon.
Yes because the whole premise of the Apostles was for them to have been with Jesus ()
New Testament Canon
Yes because Jesus is the perfect and full revelation of God and His redemptive plan so no further revelation of Scripture is needed (; )
is believed to be an early Christian creed created within the first few years of Jesus resurrection:
Jesus’ Resurrection AD 30-32
Paul’s Conversion AD 34-37
Paul’s first visit to Jerusalem AD 37-38
Paul writes 1 Corinthians AD 54-55
Within 5 years this would have already been an early Christian Creed.