Lessons 6 The Canon of Scripture
“When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.” (Ex 31:18)
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.”And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” (Rev 22:18-19)
Meaning of the term Canon
The source of the word is the Greek word “kanon” which refers to a measuring instrument. By the middle of the fourth century it came to be used of the Bible. The canon of Scripture is therefore the list of all the books that belong in the Bible.
The Old Testament Canon
The Old Testament records and interprets redemptive history for us. It informs us concerning the calling of Abraham and the lives of his descendants, the exodus from Egypt and the wilderness wanderings, the establishment of God’s people in the land of Canaan, the establishment of the monarchy, and the Exile and return from captivity. It closes with the expectation of the Messiah to come.
Writing of God
(Ex 31:18) The Ten Commandments written by God on two tablets of stone which were placed in the ark of the covenant
Writings authored by Moses and Joshua
(Deut 31:24-26) Moses wrote additional words that were placed in the ark of the covenant. This constitute the book of Deuteronomy.
(Ex 34:27) The words of God were written down by Moses and form the first four books of the Old Testament in addition to Deuteronomy.
(Josh 24:26) Joshua added to the collection of writings.
Writings by other prophets
(1 Sam 10:25) (1 Chron 29:29) (2 Chron 20:34) (2 Chron 26:22) (2 Chron 32:32) (Jer 30:2)
The content of the Old Testament canon continued to grow until the end of the writing process. From Moses until Malachi the whole process stretched over a period of ten centuries(1400 -400 B.C.).
The book of Malachi was written most likely in 435 B.C. After that year there were other Jewish writings which include a collection of books known as the Aprocrypha. All these writings were considered non-canonical. Jesus and the Jews were in agreement as far as the Old Testament canon is concerned. This is demonstrated by the fact that Jesus and the New Testament authors quote various parts of the Old Testament Scriptures as authoritative over 295 times but not once was any part of the Apocrypha and other writings quoted.
The New Testament Canon
Redemptive history reaches its climax with the coming of the Messiah in his birth, death and resurrection. The New Testament records and interprets this climactic event in the light of the Old Testament. It is then primarily the writings of the apostles witnessing to the life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus.
Criteria for selection of books to be included in the canon
(a) The books of the canon must have divine authorship
(John 14:26) The Holy Spirit will teach the disciples all things and guide them into remembering the words of Jesus.
(John 16:13-14) The Holy Spirit will guide the disciples into all truth.
(2 Pet 3:2) Peter claims a God-given authority to expound the commandments of God.
(Acts 5:2-4) To lie to the apostles is equivalent to lying to the Holy Spirit and lying to God.
(1 Cor 2:9-10) Paul claims to speak the words of God.
(2 Pet 3:15-16) Paul’s writings were acknowledged as on par with the Old Testament Scriptures.
For a book to belong in the canon, it is absolutely necessary that the book have divine authorship with the human authors being either apostles or those associated with them. Matthew, John, Romans to Philemon, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1,2,3 John and Revelation were written by the apostles. Mark was associated with the apostle Peter. Luke-Acts was written by Luke who was associated with Paul. Jude was a brother of the apostle James. There is an assumption of Pauline authorship for Hebrews.
(b) The books of the canon are self-attesting
(John 10;27) Christians can hear the voice of Jesus.
For a book to belong to the canon it must give a perception that it is “God-breathed” on the part of an overwhelming majority of believers. It must therefore be widely used. Hebrews was included in the canon even though there is some doubt about its authorship because the majestic glory of Christ shines so brightly from its pages. For Mark, Luke-Acts and Jude (not written by the apostles) the same self attestation confirms their divine authorship.
(c) The books of the canon are consistent
(2 Pet 1:21) The Holy Spirit carries along the Old Testament prophets as they wrote Scripture.
The same Holy Spirit is at work in the writing of the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. Therefore for a book to belong to the canon its teachings must be consistent with the Old Testament and with other books of the New Testament.
Earliest final lists of the canon
Thirty-ninth Paschal Letter of Athanasius (A.D. 367)- accepted by the Eastern church Council of Carthage (A.D. 397) – Western church accepts the list of the Eastern church.
The canon is closed
(Heb 1:1-2) God speaking to us by his Son is the climax of redemptive history. The New Testament authors record this event. It contains the final, authoritative and sufficient interpretation of Christ’s work of redemption.
(Rev 22:18-19) There is no more addition to be made. Primarily this command refers to the book of Revelation. But since it is necessary to place Revelation at the end of the Bible it, in a secondary sense, refers to the whole Bible.
The process of establishing the canon.
The process of assembling of the canon of Scripture must ultimately be understood as an integral part of redemptive history. God was at work in the preservation and assembling together of the books of Scripture.
Conclusion
The work of the early church was not to bestow divine authority upon any set of writings but rather to recognize divine authorship of certain writings. In recognition of divine authorship the writings were placed in the canon list. Ultimately the criterion of canonicity is divine authorship and not human approval. We can therefore be confident that the sixty six books of the present canon of Scripture is ultimately what God purposes for us, no more no less.
Review questions
(John 14:26) The Holy Spirit will teach the disciples all things and guide them into remembering the words of Jesus.
(John 16:13-14) The Holy Spirit will guide the disciples into all truth.
(2 Pet 3:2) Peter claims a God-given authority to expound the commandments of God.
(Acts 5:2-4) To lie to the apostles is equivalent to lying to the Holy Spirit and lying to God.
(1 Cor 2:9-10) Paul claims to speak the words of God.
(2 Pet 3:15-16) Paul’s writings were acknowledged as on par with the Old Testament Scriptures.
For a book to belong in the canon, it is absolutely necessary that the book have divine authorship with the human authors being either apostles or those associated with them. Matthew, John, Romans to Philemon, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1,2,3 John and Revelation were written by the apostles. Mark was associated with the apostle Peter. Luke-Acts was written by Luke who was associated with Paul. Jude was a brother of the apostle James. There is an assumption of Pauline authorship for Hebrews.
(b) The books of the canon are self-attesting
(John 10;27) Christians can hear the voice of Jesus.
For a book to belong to the canon it must give a perception that it is “God-breathed” on the part of an overwhelming majority of believers. It must therefore be widely used. Hebrews was included in the canon even though there is some doubt about its authorship because the majestic glory of Christ shines so brightly from its pages. For Mark, Luke-Acts and Jude (not written by the apostles) the same self attestation confirms their divine authorship.
(c) The books of the canon are consistent
(2 Pet 1:21) The Holy Spirit carries along the Old Testament prophets as they wrote Scripture.
The same Holy Spirit is at work in the writing of the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. Therefore for a book to belong to the canon its teachings must be consistent with the Old Testament and with other books of the New Testament.
Earliest final lists of the canon
Thirty-ninth Paschal Letter of Athanasius (A.D. 367)- accepted by the Eastern church Council of Carthage (A.D. 397) – Western church accepts the list of the Eastern church.
The canon is closed
(Heb 1:1-2) God speaking to us by his Son is the climax of redemptive history. The New Testament authors record this event. It contains the final, authoritative and sufficient interpretation of Christ’s work of redemption.
(Rev 22:18-19) There is no more addition to be made. Primarily this command refers to the book of Revelation. But since it is necessary to place Revelation at the end of the Bible it, in a secondary sense, refers to the whole Bible.
The process of establishing the canon.
The process of assembling of the canon of Scripture must ultimately be understood as an integral part of redemptive history. God was at work in the preservation and assembling together of the books of Scripture.
Conclusion
The work of the early church was not to bestow divine authority upon any set of writings but rather to recognize divine authorship of certain writings. In recognition of divine authorship the writings were placed in the canon list. Ultimately the criterion of canonicity is divine authorship and not human approval. We can therefore be confident that the sixty six books of the present canon of Scripture is ultimately what God purposes for us, no more no less.
Review questions
- Is the Roman Catholic Bible the same as our Protestant Bible?
- What were the criteria for books to be included as part of the New Testament canon?
- “The early church is determined which books should be included in the canon of Scripture.” Therefore the church has an authority over matters of faith equivalent to the Bible. Discuss the statement.
- What should we do if another one of Paul’s epistles were discovered ? Would we add it to Scripture?
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