How How thethe Bible come together Bible come together

Joshua & David Joshua & David FellowshipsFellowships

Question?

• How it came into existence

• How it has come down to us

Ten steps from God to us: 1. God2. The Holy Spirit3. Human Writers4. Original Manuscripts5. Manuscript Copies6. Ancient Version7. Quotation from the Fathers8. Printed editions of the text9. Modern Versions10. Us

It discusses :

1. Inspiration

2. Canonicity

3. Transmission

Inspiration

Inspiration is the mysterious process by which divine causality on prophetic agency resulted in the original autographs of the Bible which are a verbal, plenary, inerrant and authoritative revelation.

“What I'm about to tell you is true. Heaven and earth will disappear before the smallest letter disappears from the Law. Not even the smallest stroke of a pen will disappear from the Law until everything is completed.” Matt. 5:18

“Heaven and earth will pass away. But my words will never pass away.” Matt. 24:35

“I am warning everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If you add anything to them, God will add to you the plagues told about in this book. If you take any words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from you your share in the tree of life. He will also take away your place in the Holy City. This book tells about these things.” Rev. 22:18-19

“You have known the Holy Scriptures ever since you were a little child. They are able to teach you how to be saved by believing in Christ Jesus.   God has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right. By using Scripture, a man of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing.” 2 Tim. 3:15-17

THE CANON OF THE BIBLE

A. Characteristics of canonicity

B. The Old Testament Canon

C.The New Testament Canon

D.The apocryphal books and Pseudepigraphal books

A. Characteristics of canonicity

1. The stimuli for collection

2. Meaning of “Canon”

3. Test of Canonicity that is inspiration

4. Recognition of Canonicity

5. Bible is Self-Authenticating

6. Canonicity Implies Selection

7. Process of Canonicity

1. The stimuli for collection

a. Books were prophetic

b. Demands of early church

c. Heretical stimulus

d. Missionary stimulus

e. Persecutions and politics

• “…….Our dear brother Paul also wrote to you about that. God made him wise to write as he did. He writes the same way in all his letters. He speaks about what I have just told you. His letters include some things that are hard to understand. People who don't know better and aren't firm in the faith twist what he says. They twist the other Scriptures too. So they will be destroyed.” 2 Peter 3:15-16

• “After this letter has been read to you, send it on. Be sure that it is also read to the church in Laodicea. And be sure that you read the letter from Laodicea.” Col. 4:16

• “While the Lord is watching, here is what I command you. Have this letter read to all the believers.” 1 Thess. 5:27

• “Until I come, spend your time reading Scripture out loud to one another. Spend your time preaching and teaching.” 1 Tim. 4:13

• “God has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right. By using Scripture, a man of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing.” 2 Tim 3:16-17

• “He said to them, "Go into all the world. Preach the good news to everyone” Mark 16:15

• “Brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the good news I preached to you. You received it and have put your faith in it. Because you believed the good news, you are saved. But you must hold firmly to the message I preached to you. If you don't, you have believed it for nothing.   What I received I passed on to you. And it is the most important of all. Here is what it is. Christ died for our sins, just as Scripture said he would. He was buried. He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as Scripture said he would be” 1 Corn 15:1-4

2. Meaning of “Canon”

a.Greek

b.Active sense

c.Passive sense

3. Test of Canonicity that is inspiration

• “You are a building that is built on the apostles and prophets. They are the foundation. Christ Jesus himself is the most important stone in the building.” Eph. 2:20

• “But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own. He will speak only what he hears. And he will tell you what is still going to happen.” John 16:13

“In the past, God spoke to our people through the prophets. He spoke at many times. He spoke in different ways. But in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one whom God appointed to receive all things. God made everything through him.” Heb.1:1-2

O.T.—Prophetic Authority

N.T. —Apostolic Authority

4. Recognition of Canonicity

(God’s people i.e. Jews in OT, Church in NT )

5. Bible is Self-Authenticating

(The Bible is the own witness to its authority, because it is inspired. )

6. Canonicity Implies Selection

(exclude the apocryphal books and Pseudepigraphal books )

7. Process of Canonicity

a. Selecting

b. Reading

c. Circulating

d. Collecting

e. Quotation

a. Selecting • “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in front of his dis

ciples. They are not written down in this book.” John 20:30

• “Jesus also did many other things. What if every one of them were written down? I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”John21:25

• “Many people have attempted to write about the things that have taken place among us. Reports of these things were handed down to us. There were people who saw these things for themselves from the beginning and then passed the word on.   I myself have carefully looked into everything from the beginning. So it seemed good also to me to write down an orderly report of exactly what happened. I am doing this for you, most excellent Theophilus. I want you to know that the things you have been taught are true." Luke 1:1-4

b. Reading • “While the Lord is watching, here is what I

command you. Have this letter read to all the believers.”1 Thes. 5:27

• “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy. Blessed are those who hear it and think everything it says is important. The time when these things will come true is near.” Rev. 1:3

c. Circulating • “The voice said, "Write on a scroll what yo

u see. Send it to the seven churches in Asia Minor. They are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."” Rev. 1:11

• “After this letter has been read to you, send it on. Be sure that it is also read to the church in Laodicea. And be sure that you read the letter from Laodicea.” Col. 4:16

d. Collecting “……..Our dear brother Paul also wrote to y

ou about that. God made him wise to write as he did. He writes the same way in all his letters. He speaks about what I have just told you. His letters include some things that are hard to understand. People who don't know better and aren't firm in the faith twist what he says. They twist the other Scriptures too. So they will be destroyed. ”2 Peter 3:15-16

• “Dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said was going to happen. They told you, "In the last days, some people will make fun of the truth. They will follow their own ungodly longings."” Jude 17-18

• “I want you to remember the words the holy prophets spoke in the past. Remember the command our Lord and Savior gave through your apostles. First of all, here is what you must understand. In the last days people will make fun of the truth. They will laugh at it. They will follow their own evil longings.”2 Peter 3:2-3

New Testament books first found at different places:

Places New Testament books

Palestine Matthew, James, Hebrews

Asia Minor

John, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Philemon, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude, Revelation

Greece 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, Luke

Crete Titus

Rome Romans

e. Quotation • “Scripture says, "Do not stop the ox from eating

while it helps separate the grain from the straw."—(Deuteronomy 25:4) Scripture also says, "Workers are worthy of their pay."—(Luke 10:7)”1 Tim. 5:18

• “Don't stop an ox from eating while you use it to separate grain from straw.” Deuteronomy 25:4

• “Stay in that house. Eat and drink anything they give you. Workers are worthy of their pay. Do not move around from house to house.” Luke 10:7

B. The Old Testament Canon

• “"Do not think I have come to get rid of what is written in the Law or in the Prophets. I have not come to do that. Instead, I have come to give full meaning to what is written.” Matt. 5:17

• “Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures. He began with Moses and all the Prophets.” Luke 24:27

• “"So you will pay for all the godly people's blood spilled on earth. I mean from the blood of godly Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berekiah. Zechariah was the one you murdered between the temple and the altar.” Matt. 23:35

• “Jesus said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything written about me must happen. Everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms must come true."” Luke 24: 44

THE HEBREW OLD TESTAMENT ARRANGEMENT

The Law (Torah) The Prophets (Nevi’im) The Writings(Kethuvim)

1.Genesis2.Exodus3.Leviticus4.Numbers5.Deuteronomy

A)Former Prophets1.Joshua2.Judges3.Samuel4.Kings

B)Latter Prophets1. Isaiah2. Jeremiah3. Ezekiel4. The Twelve

A)Poetical Books1.Psalms2.Job3.Proverbs

B)Five Rolls (Megilloth)

1.Ruth2.Song of Songs3.Ecclesiastes4.Lamentations5.EstherC) Historical Books1.Daniel2.Ezra-Nehemiah3.Chronicles

HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CANON

National Events Probable Date of Writing of Canonical Books

Suggested History of the Manuscripts and Copies

1500 B.C.

Exodus from Egypt Original Pentateuch, Job(?)

Original scrolls of Moses stored beside ark

1400 B.C.

- Conquest of Canaan

- Ark kept at Shiloh

Joshua Copy of Law available to Joshua

1100 B.C.

- Shiloh destroyed by Philistines and Tabernacle moved

- Israel’s Kingdom established

Judges and Ruth Original scrolls dispersed and new copies made (?)

1000B.C.

- David captures Jerusalem

- Division of Kingdom

Davidic Psalms1 & 2 SamuelProverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon

Samuel, David and Levites distribute copies throughout Israel. Apology for David’s reign and his court annals

HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CANON

National Events Probable Date of Writing of Canonical Books

Suggested History of the Manuscripts and Copies

900B.C.

Samaria made capital of Northern Kingdom

ObadiahJoel?

Copies brought to Northern Kingdom during Elijah’s reform(?)

800B.C.

Assyrians capture Samaria

Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Micah

Kings written by a succession of prophets and collected, edited by Jeremiah(?)

700B.C.

- Revival under Hezekiah

- Revival under Josiah

- Daniel taken hostage to Babylon

IsaiahNahumZephaniahHabakkuk

- Copies obtained for Samaritans by Israelite priest at order of Sargon II (2 Kings 17:27-28)?

- Copy of Book of the Law recovered during Temple repair; and copies distributed to the people during Josiah’s reform (2 Chron. 34:6-9,21)?

HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CANON

National Events

Probable Date of Writing of Canonical Books

Suggested History of the Manuscripts and Copies

600B.C.

Ezekiel taken captive

Jeremiah, Lam. Copies taken to Babylon

587B.C.

- Jerusalem destroyed

- Cyrus captures Babylon

- Jewish returnees rebuild Temple

1 & 2 KingsEzekielDanielHaggaiZechariah

500B.C.

- Ezra returns to Jerusalem

- Nehemiah rebuilds walls

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther Copies brought back from Babylon

400B.C.

Malachi, 1 & 2 chronicles

Copies taken to Samaria at time of Nehemiah’s exclusion (Neh. 13:28-30)?

C. The New Testament Canon

1. apostolic fathers: – Pseudo-Barnabas (70-130A.D.)

– Clement of Rome (95-97A.D.)

– Ignatius (110A.D.)

– Polycarp (110-50A.D.)…..

– Jerome (340-420A.D.)

– Augustine (400A.D.)

2. canons: – Marcion (140A.D.)

– Muratorian (170A.D.)

– apostolic (300A.D.)

– Cheltenham (360A.D.)– Athanasius (367A.D.)

3. translations: – Tatian Diatessaron (107A.D.)

– Old Latin (200A.D.)

– Old Syriac (400A.D.)

4. councils: – Nicea(325-40A.D.)

– Hippo (393A.D.)

– Carthage(397A.D.)

– Carthage(419A.D.)

D. The apocryphal books and Pseudepigraphal books

The Old Testament apocrypha includes: 1 and 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, the rest of Esther, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, the Song of the Three Children, the Story of Susannah, Bel and the Dragon, the Prayer of Manasses, and 1 and 2 Maccabees.The New Testament apocrypha includes: The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, The Epistle of Barnabas, The First & Second Epistles of Clement, The Shepherd of Hermas, The Apocalypse of Peter, The Acts of Paul, The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, The Seven Epistles of Ignatius, The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, The Protevangelium of James, The Gospel of the Nativity of Mary, The Gospel of Nicodemus, The Gospel of the Saviour Infancy, The History of Joseph the Carpenter.

Transmission• Old testament manuscripts

– The Masoretes– The Septuagint (LXX)– Dead Sea Scrolls (Qumran Scrolls)

• New testament manuscripts– Papyri– Uncials

• Codex Vaticanus 325-50 A.D. • Codex Sinaiticus 340 A.D• Codex Alexandrinus 450 A.D

– Minuscules

• Translations