The Canon of the Bible

Intro

Review

In this lecture

What is Canon

Who determines canonicity

Recogniiton of canonicity

Development of O.T. canon

Development oif N.T. canon

What is “canon”

Literal meaning

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 7070. קָנֶה

7070. קָנֶה qâneh, kaw-neh´; from 7069; a reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (espec. for measuring), shaft, tube, stem, the radius (of the arm), beam (of a steelyard):—balance, bone, branch, calamus, cane, reed, × spearman, stalk.

Ezekiel 42.16 “16 He measured the east side with the measuring rod, five hundred rods by the measuring rod all around.”

Gen 41.5 “5 He slept and dreamed a second time; and suddenly seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, plump and good.”

The Jews did not use the word to mean Scripture.

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 2583. κανών

2583. κανών kanōn, kan-ohn´; from κάνη kanē (a straight reed, i.e. rod); a rule (“canon”), i e. (fig.) a standard (of faith and practice); by impl. a boundary, i.e. (fig.) a sphere (of activity):—line, rule.

translated “sphere” a field or range of influence, area of activity

2 Corinthians 10:13–16 NKJV

13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15 not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.

translated “rule” - a standard, measure of assessment

Galatians 6:16 NKJV

16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

Philippians 3:16 NKJV

16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

Theological use

Irenaeus was first to use the word to refer to the “Kanon of Christian teaching”, also called -

the Kanon of the church

the Kanon of the church

the Kanon of the truth

the Kanon of faith

Athanasius, in around 350 A.D., was first to apply the word Kanon to the Bible

Canonicity Determined

The key is Jesus Christ

A General Introduction to the Bible, Revised and Expanded Canonicity Determined

In a real sense, Christ is the key to the inspiration and canonization of the Scriptures. It was He who confirmed the inspiration of the Hebrew canon of the Old Testament; and it was He who promised that the Holy Spirit would direct the apostles into all truth.

He confirmed the inspiration of the O.T. books

He promised the giving of the H.S. to guide the apostles into all truth

Wrong concepts on canonicity

Age determines canonicity - if it is ancient, it hsould be venerated and prized

However -

many ancient books are not in the canon

many young books were placed in the canon

Hebrews language determines canonicity

However -

many Hebrew books are not in the canon

Some books in the canon are not totally written in Hebrews

Agreement with the Torah determines canonicity -

However -

many books that did agree with the Torah are not in the canon

Religious value determines canonicity

same as above

Religious community determines canonicity - it was canonical if it was collected and preserved by the community of believers / church

Objections

a book is not the Word of God because it is accepted by the people of God. Rather, it is accepted by the people of God BECAUSE it is the Word of God.

This view shifts the “focus of authority” from God to man, making man the source of divine authority.

Comparison of Incorrect and Correct Views

Incorrect -> Correct

the church is the determiner of Canon

The Church is discoverer of Canon

the church is the Mother of Canon

the church is the child of Canon

the Church is Magistrate of Canon

the church is Recognizer of Canon

the church is Jusge of Canon

the Church is Witness of Canon

the Church is Master of Canon

the Church is Servant of Canon

The Right View of Canonicity

Canonicity is determined by God.

A General Introduction to the Bible, Revised and Expanded A More Sufficient View of Canonicity

Precisely speaking, canonicity is determined by God. In other words, the reason there are only sixty-six books in the canon is that God inspired only that many. Only sixty-six books were found to have the stamp of divine authority, because God only stamped that many, or invested that number with authority for faith and practice.

Canonicity is recognized by men of God.

A General Introduction to the Bible, Revised and Expanded A Mistake Common to the Inadequate Views of Canonicity

As J. I. Packer notes, “The Church no more gave us the New Testament canon than Sir Isaac Newton gave us the force of gravity. God gave us gravity, by His work of creation, and similarly He gave us the New Testament canon, by inspiring the individual books that make it up.”

A book is valuable because it is canonical.

a book is found valuable because it is determined to be canonical by God.

A book is canonical because it is inspired.

A General Introduction to the Bible, Revised and Expanded A More Sufficient View of Canonicity

When the Word of God was written it became Scripture and, inasmuch as it had been spoken by God, possessed absolute authority. Since it was the Word of God, it was canonical. That which determines the canonicity of a book, therefore, is the fact that the book is inspired by God. Hence a distinction is properly made between the authority which the Old Testament possesses as divinely inspired, and the recognition of that authority on the part of Israel.

The Distinctive mark of Canonical Books

Inspiration determines canonicity

A book is canonical if it is prophetic, it was written by a prophet of God, or apostle of Jesus Christ, or it bears the apostolic authority.

it is written by a prophet of God, or an apostle of Jesus Christ, or bears the prophetic or apostolic mark

the Word of the LORD came to the prophet

God spoke

the LORD said

Thus says the LORD

A General Introduction to the Bible, Revised and Expanded The Principles Involved

In short, a prophet was one who declared what God had disclosed to him. Thus, only the prophetic writings were canonic. Anything not written by a spokesman of God was not part of the Word of God.

in the N.T. - authors were apostles and associates

Matthew was an apostle

Mark and Luke were part of the apostolic team of missionaries

John was an apostle and prophet

Paul was an apostle

Peter was an apostle

James was a leader in the apostolic church in Jerusalem

Jude wrote prophetically

The Writer was confirmed by acts of God

their ministry was vindicated by miracles, signs and wonders

Hebrews 2:3–4 NKJV

3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

The message tells the truth of God

because God cannot contradict Himself

signs and wonders lead back to God

Deuteronomy 13:1–3 NKJV

1 “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

apostolic teaching must be in line with the O.T. teaching

the Bereans searched the Scripture

Acts 17.11 “11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

The writing comes with the power of God

edifying effect of the book

the word of God is living and active - Heb 4.12 “12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

transforming power - 2 Tim 3.16-17 “16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

saving power - 2 Tim 3.15 “15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

The writing was accepted by the people of God

men of God were not accepted by the masses - only by the true believers of God

initial acceptance

1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV

13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

Paul quoted Luke

Peter had a colleciton of Paul’s epistles

subsequent recognition - ratificaiton of the initial acceptance

A General Introduction to the Bible, Revised and Expanded The Principles Involved

But the decisions of church councils in the fourth and fifth centuries did not determine the canon, nor did they even first discover or recognize it. In no sense was the authority of the canonical books contingent upon the later church councils. All those councils did was to give later, broader, and final recognition to what was already a fact, namely, that God had inspired them and that the people of God had accepted them in the first century.

Summary

Canonicity of the Scripture was determined by God who inspired his human agents to speak and write His Word.

Canonicity was only discovered and recognized by the people of God.

Propheticity is the unique distinction of a canonical book. All canonical books were prophetic, and came with prophetic and apostolic seal.

The distinctive marks of canonical books are -

it was written by a prophet or apostle, or bears the apostolic authority

the writer was confirmed by acts of God

the book tells the truth of God

the book comes with the power of God

the book was accepted by the people of God in the first century