Where did we get it?

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• Where did we get it?
• How did we get it?
• Is it trustworthy?

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• Our post-modern culture attacks the authenticity
  of Scripture on at least 3 fronts

• Inspiration thus, the inerrancy of the Bible
• Preservation of ancient texts
• Determination, which books belong and which dont

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• What is the canon?

• An English word, from a Greek word, from a Hebrew
  word
• cane, from a reed, measuring stick, to a rule
  or standard

Acceptance was tied to authorship. The letters to
be recognized were recognized immediately.
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• 5 Issues fundamental to understanding the canon

1. The issue of the canon is a matter of faith
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2 Corinthians 57

• for we walk by faith, not by sight.

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• Belief in God is a matter of faith
• Belief in the resurrection is a matter of faith
• Belief in the Bible is a matter of faith

Faith is a rational conclusion based on evidence.
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• 5 Issues fundamental to understanding the canon

2. Human involvement in the canon is to be
expected.
God has always used human processes.
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• 5 Issues fundamental to understanding the canon

3. There is no Bible claim to be an exhaustive
collection of inspiration.
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Acts 240

• And with many other words he bore witness and
  continued to exhort them, saying, Save
  yourselves from this crooked generation.

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1 Corinthians 59

• I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with
  sexually immoral people

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Colossians 416

• And when this letter has been read among you,
  have it also read in the church of the
  Laodiceans and see that you also read the letter
  from Laodicea

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• 5 Issues fundamental to understanding the canon

4. The basis for testing the truth of Gods word
unchanged, thru the centuries.
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Deuteronomy 131-3

• If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among
  you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the
  sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass,
  and if he says, 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.

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• Prophets words are true, but he leads the people
  astray? REJECT him.
• His word is inconsistent with revealed truth.
• Scripture is self-authenticating
• We measure truth BY truth
• Truth wont contradict truth

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• 5 Issues fundamental to understanding the canon

5. Christ is the key to the canon, Jesus
validated it.
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John 539

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

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Luke 2427, 44-45

• Then beginning with Moses and with all the
  prophets, He explained to them the things
  concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
• 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. 45. Then He opened their minds to
  understand the Scriptures,

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• The people knew what the scriptures were, the
  O.T. canon was valid
• Jesus gave His authority to His apostles, His
  word
• The apostles authority was recognized in the
  early church, because it was Jesus authority

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• Three Erroneous Assumptions

• The N.T. writers had no awareness they wrote for
  God.

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1 Thessalonians 213

• For this reason we also constantly thank God that
  when you received the word of God which you heard
  from us, you accepted it not as the word of men,
  but for what it really is, the word of God,
  which also performs its work in you who believe.

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Ephesians 34

• By referring to this, when you read you can
  understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

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1 Corinthians 1437

• If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual,
  let him recognize that the things which I write
  to you are the Lord's commandment.

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• Three Erroneous Assumptions

• The N.T. writers had no awareness they wrote for
  God.
• Recipients were unaware they were reading Gods
  word

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2 Peter 31-2

• This is now, beloved, the second letter I am
  writing to you in which I am stirring up your
  sincere mind by way of reminder, 2. that you
  should remember the words spoken beforehand by
  the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord
  and Savior spoken by your apostles.

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1 Timothy 518

• For the Scripture says, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE
  OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING," and "The laborer is
  worthy of his wages."

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• Three Erroneous Assumptions

• The N.T. writers had no awareness they wrote for
  God.
• Recipients were unaware they were reading Gods
  word
• Took a loooong time to identify and gather the
  canon

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Romans 11-5

• Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as
  an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
  2. which He promised beforehand through His
  prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3. concerning
  His Son, who was born of a descendant of David
  according to the flesh, 4. who was declared the
  Son of God with power by the resurrection from
  the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness,
  Jesus Christ our Lord, 5. through whom we have
  received grace and apostleship to bring about the
  obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His
  name's sake

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• There IS a rational basis to believe the canon is
  complete and it has been complete since the 1st
  century.
• The foundation is solid.