Bibliology Session 14-Old Testament Canonicity

Old Testament Canonicity What, Why, & Which Last week we learned what Canonization is, & why certain books were considered authoritative, while others were not. This week we will look at both internal & external evidences for the books that passed the tests. Also note that the “evidences for inspiration” that we have covered the last several weeks, furnish evidence that is also helpful in the discussion of Canonicity. What is “Canonicity”? Our English word “canon,” comes from the Greek word κανών, which means, “measuring rod, rule, or test.” This word was used by the early church to refer to writings accepted as sacred. Canonicity then, is the right of a piece of literature to be recognized as inspired & accepted as the Word of God. Tests of Canonicity 1.Inspiration: Does the book claim to be inspired, or claim to carry the authority of God? 2.Authorship: Was it written, edited, or endorsed by an accredited agent of God? 3.Genuineness: Can the book be evidenced to have been written when, and by whom it professes to be? Is the evidence credible? eg. it cannot have anachronisms (i.e. historic inaccuracy, like bombers in the American Revolution). 4.Authenticity: Is it true? Is it Historically accurate and verifiable? 5.Testimony: Has it been recognized by Jesus and/or the early church? (eg. Jesus quotes from many O.T. books, but never from Apocrypha). 6.Authority: Does the book expect faith & obedience? (“I charge you by God…”) 7.Agreement: Is the book in doctrinal harmony with the rest of the canon? Inspired writings will not contradict each other. Genuine revelation may be progressive, but never contradictory. 8.Fulfillment: Is there evidence of fulfillment of the promises or predictions of the book? 9.Endurance: Did the value of the book diminish over time, or did it speak to later generations? 10.Spirituality: Do the contents of the book promote the high morality of godliness? Goals for Tonight I. Internal Evidence for O.T. Canon A. Internal Claims B. Internal Authentication II. External Evidence for O.T. Canon A. Extra-Biblical Sources B. N.T. Confirmation Internal Claims from O.T. Canon Moses claimed the Torah was from God, and that it ought be read publicly (Deuteronomy 31:10-11). Joshua was told to meditate and obey the Torah (Joshua 1:8-9). Josiah recognized the authority of the books of Moses (2 Kings 22:3-13). Internal Claims from O.T. Canon Moses commanded future kings to recognize the authority of the Torah (Dt. 17:18-20). Ezra recognized the authority of the books of Moses as he taught (Neh. 8:1-3). Internal Claims from O.T. Canon God foretold of the office of “Prophet,” which would rise in Israel, through which God would pronounce His truth (Deut. 18:18-22). God then raised up men who served as authoritative mouthpieces. God authenticated these men through mighty works and/or prophesies. Internal Claims from O.T. Canon God authenticated Moses (Ex. 4; Num. 16:28). God authenticated Samuel (1 Sam 3:1-4:1). God authenticated Isaiah (Isaiah 48:16). God authenticated Jeremiah (Jeremiah 23:28-29; chap. 28). Internal Claims from O.T. Canon God authenticated Amos (Amos 7:10-17). God authenticated Zechariah (Zech. 4:8-9). These “authenticated men” became the authors of the O.T. Internal Authentication As we explored during our defense of Inspiration, prophesy gives us one of the most concrete forms of authentication for the Bible. Except for Ruth & Song of Solomon, every book contained in the Hebrew Scriptures (a.k.a. Old Testament) contains predictive material. Internal Authentication We also explored the idea of “historicity,” during our defense of Inspiration. The 39 books of the O.T. (24 in the Hebrew Bible), stand the test of historic accuracy, as we have already demonstrated. External Evidence for O.T. Canon The catalyst for recognizing the O.T. canon is believed to be the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. Jews located in Babylon were cut off from temple worship, and began to recognize the need for Scriptures. Jewish tradition recognized Ezra as the last authorized writer of the O.T. when he wrote 1-2 Chronicles in 424 B.C. External Evidence for O.T. Canon The Babylonian Talmud states that after the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, & Malachi, “the Holy Spirit departed from Israel.” Josephus (AD 37-100) confirms the Jewish view of the O.T. canon when he stated the belief that no more books were added to the O.T. after the death of Artexerxes in 424 B.C. “From Artaxerxes until our time everything has been recorded, but has not been deemed worthy of like credit with what proceeded, because the exact succession of the prophets ceased. But what faith we have placed in our own writings is evident by our conduct; for though so long a time has now passed, no one has dared to add anything to them, or to take anything from them, or to altar anything in them.” –Josephus (Contra Apionem I:8) External Evidence for O.T. Canon The Septuagint, completed about 246 BC, translated the O.T. from Hebrew into Greek, recognized the present O.T. cannon, and also contained the OT Apocrypha. Both the Jerusalem Talmud & Babylonian Talmud later acknowledged the view that the Apocryphal books were helpful, but not authoritative. External Evidence for O.T. Canon Qumran Community, which was active during the life of Christ and from which the DSS were found, had fragments from every book from the O.T. except Esther. They also had a large number of other writings including some Apocrypha. The most frequently copied O.T. books were Deuteronomy, Psalms, & Isaiah. N.T. Evidence for the O.T. Canon Perhaps the strongest evidence for which books of the O.T. bear inspiration is to be found in the words of Christ and the Apostles. Throughout His earthly ministry, Christ either directly quoted or indirectly alluded to all of the books in the O.T. Canon. N.T. Evidence for the O.T. Canon Jesus frequently quoted from all the books of the Torah (Genesis-Deuteronomy) during His temptation in the wilderness, the Sermon on the Mount, and His other teachings. While in the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read from Isaiah 61, and pronounced Himself to be the fulfillment of that prophesy. Jesus also alludes to Isaiah 6:9-10 to explain why He taught in parables (Matt. 13:14-15). Jesus most often quoted Deuteronomy, Isaiah, & Psalms. N.T. Evidence for the O.T. Canon In answering the Pharisees in Matthew 9, Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6. In Matthew 10:35-36 Jesus makes a strong allusion to Micah 7:6. In Matthew 11:10 Jesus applies the prophesy of Malachi 3:1 to John the Baptist. While cleansing the temple in Jerusalem, Christ quoted Jeremiah 7:11. N.T. Evidence for the O.T. Canon In predicting the scattering of the disciples at His arrest, Jesus quoted Zechariah 13:7. Jesus quotes Psalm 8 to silence the religious leaders after His triumphal entry in Matt. 21:16. Jesus quotes Psalm 118, and applies it to Himself as the chief corner-stone (Matt. 21:42). Jesus also applied Psalm 110 to Himself (Matt. 22:43-44). N.T. Evidence for the O.T. Canon Jesus quotes the book of Daniel in the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24:15-16), and calls Daniel a “prophet.” Jesus alludes to Jonah in Matt. 12. Jesus also alludes to the books of 1-2 Kings by speaking of the prophet Elijah, & Naaman the Syrian (Luke 4:24-27). N.T. Evidence for the O.T. Canon In Luke 11:37-52, Christ condemns the Jewish leaders as being guilty of the blood of all the prophets from “Abel to Zechariah.” Though this coincidently carries the connotation of “A-Z” in English, what Jesus is actually referring to is the order of the Hebrew Bible, from the first book (Genesis) wherein Abel is slain, to the last book (2 Chronicles), wherein Zechariah is slain. The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) The Law (Genesis- Deuteronomy) The Prophets - Former Prophets (Joshua-2 Kings - Later Prophets (Isaiah-Malachi) The Writings (Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, & Chronicles) N.T. Evidence for the O.T. Canon Read Luke 24:13-35. Notice the threefold division of the O.T. recognized by the Jews. Again Jesus excludes the Apocrypha even though it had existed for hundreds of years by this time. Apostolic References to the O.T. Every book of the N.T. quotes or alludes to passages from the O.T. thereby placing their stamp of approval upon the authority of the O.T. canon. Every book of the O.T. is either quoted or alluded to by the N.T. writers. Over & over, the N.T. writers declare their belief in “the Scriptures. See Rom. 1:2; 1 Cor. 10:1-11; 15:3-8; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21.