The Bible: The Canon of Scripture

Free Spirit Filled Online Bible School: JesusChrist.co.uk

The Canon of Scripture

Adrian Dighe

‘canon’ – what does it mean?

‘the list of the writings acknowledged by the church as documents of divine revelation’.

In this sense first used by Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria in a letter of AD 367.

the Greek word kanōn

a rod, especially a straight rod used as a rule or measure

common meaning in English – ‘rule’ or ‘standard’

An example - ‘canons’ (‘rules’) of the Church of England.

the Greek word kanōn

a straight rod might have a series of ‘marks’ eg measures of length

so the word came to mean ‘series’ or ‘list’

this is the usage in the term canon of scripture

Modern meaning of canon

the list of books deemed inspired as Holy Scripture

the list of books which are uniquely acknowledged to be the rule of Christian belief and practice.

‘People of the book’

Christians are known as ‘people of the book’

Conformity to what the book prescribes is a major test of loyalty to their religious faith and practice

The Christian Bible comprises Old and New Testaments

• In English ‘testament’ = a will • Latin testamentum = a will• This Latin word is used as the translation

of a Greek word –diathēkē • diathēkē = agreement or settlement

between two parties

diathēkē. • It is used especially where one party is superior in power or

is able to confer privileges on an inferior, while the inferior undertakes obligations to the superior.

• This word could also be rendered by our word ‘covenant’ and distinctively is used to indicate an agreement between God and human beings

The Book

The function of the Book was to bear witness to Christ.

The road to Emmaus

The disciples increasingly discovered ‘in all the scriptures the things concerning himself’

Hebrew Bible

• The function of the book was to bear witness to Jesus

• Jesus enters the synagogue and is handed the scroll of Isaiah from which he reads and then states “today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” Luke 4:18 f

Old Testament

The first Christians viewed the Old Testament (as it came to be known) as a book about Jesus – they discovered increasingly ‘in all the scriptures the things concerning himself’, just as Jesus described to the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus

Hebrew Bible

There are 24 books in 3 divisions

1. The Tôrāh - law or ‘direction’: the five books of Moses which are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

Hebrew Bible

2. The Nebiim ‘prophets’: the former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel & Kings) and the latter prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the Book of the Twelve Prophets)

Hebrew Bible

3. The Ketubim ‘writings’: eleven books - Psalms, Proverbs & Job; and then the scrolls (Megillot) of Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther; then finally Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah (one book) and Chronicles.

Septuagint

This is a Greek version of the Law and the Prophets. It was the work of seventy elders of Israel brought to Alexandria for the purpose. It is because of this legend that the name Septuagint (from Latin septuaguinta ‘seventy’) came to be attached to this version.

Septuagint

The order of books in the Septuagint which has come down to us as the Christian Old Testament differs from that in the Hebrew Bible.

There are extra books too – which we refer to as the Apocrypha

The Chester Beatty Papyri

A folio from P46 containing 2 Corinthians 11:33-12:9

Codex Sinaiticus

Codex Vaticanus

Codex Alexandrinus

Early Church Fathers

MelitoOrigenAthanasiusCouncil of Hippo (Augustine)Jerome (The Latin Vulgate)

The Reformation

Luther – the canon should include those books that ‘preach Christ’

Eventually the apocrypha is separated as an appendix by the Protestants but the Catholics retain it

The 39 Articles of Religion (CofE)

These are authoritative for the C of EArticle VI deals with scripture (1562)

‘Holy scripture contains all things necessary for salvation, what isn’t in there is not required to be believed as an article of faith’

The Old Testament

Genesis Exodus Leviticus NumbersDeuteronomyJoshua Judges Ruth 1 & 2 Samuel 1& 2 Kings 1 & 2 Chronicles 1 & 2 Esdras (Ezra – Nehemiah)

Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Songs of Solomon 4 Prophets the Greater12 Prophets the Less

The Other Books – to be read for an example and instruction

3 & 4 EsdrasTobias JudithThe rest of EstherBook of WisdomJesus Son of SirachBaruch the ProphetStory of Susanna

Bel and the DragonPrayer of Manasses1 & 2 Maccabees

The Authorised Bible

The Geneva Bible has the apocrypha as an appendixVocal Puritans objectThe Authorised has it in (1611) –George Abbott (Archbishop of Canterbury) forbids binding or selling without it – or 1 yr in prison!

End of the Apocrypha

In 1644 the Long Parliament bans it being read in C of E

In 1647 the Westminster Assembly banishes it from the ‘canon’

The Bible Societies

• British & Foreign Bible Society formed in 1804 to promote production and circulation of Bibles for personal use

• It has equal nos of Anglicans and free church members• Most anti apocrypha but big row in 1826 lasting 5 yrs.

After that none included and people were quite happy• Present to King Edward VII refused as ‘mutilated’ !

The New Testament

Why add to the Hebrew Scriptures?

Apostles

The apostles had been “made sufficient as ministers of a new covenant”

“who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Cor 3:6)

The Gospel – divine revelationNot only was the Gospel delivered – itself a divine revelation- but it was also preached “in the Holy Ghost” (1 Pet 1:12). “To them [the prophets] it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.”

The Gospel – divine revelation

In fact the very words in which it was clothed were “of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 2:13). “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

Apostles and scripture

Their own commands were therefore of divine authority (1 Thess 4:2)

“for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.”

Their writings were the record of these commands (2 Thess 2:15).

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.”

They were to be obeyed (2 Thess 3:14).

“And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.”

The test of a Spirit led man is to recognise that what was written to them was “the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor 14:37).

“If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.”

Paul and scripture

Paul combines what we call OT with these new writings in 1 Tim 5:18

For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” [a] and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” [b]

[a] Deuteronomy 25:4 [b] Luke 10:7

The Gospels

The gospels were authoritative because they preserved the sayings of Jesus, and the church knew of no higher authority.

Pauline letters

The epistles of Paul were authoritative because he was recognised uniquely as an acknowledged apostle to the Gentiles.

The Acts of the Apostles

Written by a Gospel writer and an associate of Paul – so a reliable and inspired source. Paul even quoted it in his own letters.

Heresy and Gnosticism

Marcion – listed his own version of the New Testament.

It was not a list customarily used by the whole church – it was narrow and reflected his own teaching

Modern interpretation of canon

The four “Criteria for Canonicity”:-1. Apostolic Origin – or 1st generation

companions2. Universal Acceptance by end 4thC3. Liturgical use – read publicly at weekly

gathering of the Lord’s Supper4. Consistent message

The New Testament Books

Authorship Date Place of Origin

Matthew Apostle M 75-85 Antioch

Mark John Mark 67-72 Rome

Luke Luke 75-90 Greece?

John Apostle John 90-100 Asia Minor

Acts Luke 75-90 Greece?

Romans Apostle Paul 55-56 Corinth

Authorship Date Place of origin

1 Corinthians Paul 4-55 Ephesus

2 Corinthians Paul 55 Macedonia

Galatians Paul 55 Ephesus?

Ephesians Paul 60-62 Rome

Philippians Paul 60-62 Rome

Colossians Paul 60-62 Rome

1 Thess Paul 50-51 Corinth

2 Thess Paul 50-51 Corinth

1 Timothy Paul 62-64 Macedonia

2 Timothy Paul 64-68 Rome

Titus Paul 62-64 Macedonia

Philemon Paul 60-62 Rome

Hebrews Anonymous 62-66 Asia Minor?

James James, brother of Jesus

50-60? Unknown

1 Peter Apostle Peter 63-64 Rome

2 Peter [Apostle Peter] 80-90? Unknown

1 John Apostle John 90-100 Asia Minor

Jude Jude, brother of Jesus

70-90? Unknown

Revelation Apostle John 96 Asia Minor

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