Canonization of the Bible

How was the Bible formed?

A unique collection of books:

Inspiration of the bible: defined as that direct influence of God on the writers of the Bible by which, while they did not cease to be themselves, they were so moved, guarded, and guided by the Holy Spirit that their resulting productions constitute the written Word of God (BEB)

God’s revelation with in history.

The Qur’an by comparison is believed to be “to be a miracle from God, eternal and uncreated, sent down from heaven… in Arabic by direct dictation. Its existence was used by Muhammad as proof of his apostleship.” Encountering The World of Islam, 92.

The Book of Mormon

When Joseph was 17, Moroni, then an angel, appeared to him as he was praying (see Joseph Smith—History 1:27–33). Joseph was told by Moroni that the ancient record he and his father had completed was written on golden plates and buried in a hill near Joseph’s home in rural New York. Moroni also told Joseph that God had a special mission for Joseph to complete, that Joseph was to obtain the plates, and that God had prepared a way for them to be translated.

The translation of the Book of Mormon was truly a miraculous event in the history of Mormonism. Joseph Smith, a poor farm boy, had very little formal education. He lacked the ability to translate the record on his own, so he needed divine assistance.

To help Joseph in the important task of translating sacred scripture, God had prepared instruments. Two of these instruments were called the Urim and Thummim—a pair of special stones or “interpreters” that Joseph found buried with the plates (see Joseph Smith—History 1:35). Similar instruments were used by prophets in the Old Testament (see Exodus 28:30). Joseph used these stones to interpret and dictate the record to scribes. Joseph also used another stone, called a seer stone, to aid in the translation. He testified that he was only able to translate the book “by the gift and power of God” (“Book of Mormon Translation,” Gospel Topics, topics.lds.org).

Today, the Book of Mormon has been translated from English into over 100 languages (see “Book of Mormon in 110 Languages,” Ensign, May 2015, 137). It has helped millions of people around the world draw closer to Jesus Christ and learn of His gospel.

https://ca.churchofjesuschrist.org/the-book-of-mormon-an-ancient-scripture-who-wrote-it-and-how-was-it-translated

The Bible is different than other faith’s scriptures.

The Bible was written by roughly forty different people from a whole range of backgrounds. Authors include kings (Solomon), fishermen (Peter), doctors (Luke), military leaders (Joshua), tax collectors (Matthew), and even some who are unknown. Biblical writers include almost every type of person: wise and foolish, faithful and treacherous, rich and poor, innocent and guilty, and young and old.

https://seanmcdowell.org/blog/7-fascinating-facts-that-make-the-bible-unique

So, how did we get the bible?

Its a big question with a lot of history.

Transmission - how the text was handed down to us.

Canonization - what is texts are authoritative for faith and doctrine? Today we’ll talk about Canonicity

Canonicity of the bible - refers to the normative or authoritative books inspired by God for inclusion in Holy Scripture. Canonicity is determined by God (see Bible, Evidence for). It is not the antiquity, authenticity, or religious community that makes a book canonical or authoritative. A book is valuable because it is canonical, and not canonical because it is or was considered valuable. Its authority is establishedby God and merely discovered by God’s people. (BECA)

God’s Determination and Human Discovery The Authority Relationship Between Church and Canon

Incorrect View

the church is the determiner of the canon.

the church is mother of the canon.

the church is magistrate of the canon.

the church is regulator of the. canon.

the church is judge of the canon.

the church is master canon.

Biblical View

the church is discoverer of the canon.

the church is child of the canon.

the church is minister of the canon.

the church is recognizer of the canon.

the church is witness of the canon.

the church is servant of the canon.

(BECA)

So how has God’s people recognized the canon of God’s revelation?

Old Testament Canon

Jesus and the disciples regarded a body of scripture as authoritative although there was no “official council.”

John 5.39

John 5:39 NASB95

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;

Matthew 5.17

Matthew 5:17 NASB95

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

Luke 24:44-46

Luke 24:44–46 NASB95

Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day,

so what are the Law and the Prophets?

The Law was the first five books of the OT. also referred to as the books of Moses.

The Prophets are everything not in the Law

Agreement of what was inspired by the 2nd/3rd Century AD.

Babylonian Talmud gives a list by Rabbinic Judaism

found in the baraitha quoted in the Babylonian Talmud.

this rabbinic tradition assigned inspired or authoritative authors to all 24 books of the OT.

Note that they identify 24 books.

Josephus

ancient historian of the Jews in the 1st century

references 22 books which probably corresponds to the 24 mentioned earlier.

Discussions of Jamnia

led by Yohanan ben Zakkai

Jews were faced with rebuilding their religious life after the Jewish/Roman war.

No temple, so now what?

They back to the books

They discuss what books are to be considered authoritative.

They asked the question, “What books defiled the hands?”

The phrase, “a book that defiles the hands,” is a technical expression that refers to a writing that is part of Holy Scripture. It has the idea that the hands would become ceremonially unclean for touching something holy. Therefore, a person had to wash their hands after touching one of those holy books. This would reinforce the sacredness of the work. Song of Solomon defiled the hands—it was a sacred work.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/stewart_don/faq/right-books-in-old-testament/question16-was-hebrew-canon-after-christ.cfm

The rabbis sought to determine what books were authoritative and what books were not.

They did not throw out any of the 24.

Jesus and the Pharisees

Their debates are not over what scripture is, but how scripture is to be interpreted.

“[Jesus and the apostles] appealed to an authority which was equally acknowledged by their opponents. This near-unanimity might suggest that some widely acknowledged authority had promulgated a decision on the matter.” F.F. Bruce, 40-42.

The idea is that the canon was “officially” recognizing a body of texts that was already held as authoritative by the worshiping community.

New Testament Canon

As with the OT, canonicity of the NT texts is recognized.

How did they recognize inspiration?

There is no book from antiquity tell us how, instead scholars have observed and inferred what the early church fathers did.

Here is the recognized criteria:

Did an Apostle or a colleague write it?

who was the author? Was it Paul, James, John, etc.

Or, was it someone they knew like the case of the Gospel of Mark.

Is the book orthodox?

is it theologically consistent with scripture(OT and perhaps already known texts)?

Gnostic texts are out.

Is the book relevant to church life?

does the book edify the saints? does it have value in christian living?

Is the book widespread and longstanding usage?

regarded as authoritative for a long time and in usage in worship?

Example of the process

Eusebius offers a list of 22 accepted books and 5 disputed books. Although disputed, the 5 are said to have known by most.

Eusebius also gives a list of spurious books like: Acts of Paul, Shepherd of Hermas, Didache, Revelation of Peter, etc. These were considered helpful, but not canonical.

Eusebius finally gives heretical books: Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Peter, Acts of John, etc.

When was the Canon official recognized?

Following Eusebius, Athanasius gives us our precise twenty-seven book New Testament in his Festal Letter (AD 367). Additionally, regional church Synods at Hippo (AD 393) and Carthage (AD 397) both affirm the twenty-seven book New Testament canon.

Work Cited:

https://crossexamined.org/what-biblical-books-are-included-in-the-earliest-canonical-lists/

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/stewart_don/faq/right-books-in-old-testament/question16-was-hebrew-canon-after-christ.cfm

https://seanmcdowell.org/blog/7-fascinating-facts-that-make-the-bible-unique

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0BCm2cRx9w&t=932s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W04J2N1IxTk

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, “Bible, Canon of the”

Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, “Bible, Canonicty of”

The Canon of Scripture by F.F. Bruce