Christian Essentials

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Christian Essentials

• Canonicity of the Bible

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Canon
Review
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Question

• Is the Bible a book written by man about God
• or
• is the Bible a book given by God to man?

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Canon
Overview

• Definition of Canon
• Principles of Canonicity
• Applying Principles of Canonicity
• Old Testament Canon
• New Testament Canon
• Common Objections

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Definition of Canon
What a Canon is...
a rule, a norm, or an authoritative standard
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Definition of Canon
Canon also refers to a list of divinely
authoritative books that comprise our Bible.1
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Question

• Is the Bible a book written by man about God
• or
• is the Bible a book given by God to man?

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Relationship between Church Canon2
Incorrect View
Correct View

• The church determines the canon
• The church is judge of the canon
• The church is master of the canon

• The church discovers the canon
• The church is witness of the canon
• The church is servant of the canon

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Relationship between Church Canon
God regulated the canon...
...man recognized it.
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Relationship between Church Canon
God determined the canon...
...man discovered it.
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Principles of Canonicity

• Was the book written by a prophet of God?

• Was the writer confirmed by acts of God?

• Does the message tell the truth about God?

• Did it come with the power of God?

• Was it accepted by the people of God?3

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Prophet of God
What is a Prophet?
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Canon
Questions?
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Principles of Canonicity

• Was the book written by a prophet of God?

• Was the writer confirmed by acts of God?

• Does the message tell the truth about God?

• Did it come with the power of God?

• Was it accepted by the people of God?

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Acts of God
Miracles
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Miracles
Exodus 41-9
Moses was given miraculous powers to prove his
call of God
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Miracles
Acts 222
Jesus was attested to by God with miracles,
wonders, and signs
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Miracles
John 32
Outsiders recognized these acts as confirming
works
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Miracles
Hebrews 24
Apostles were also confirmed with signs, wonders
and miracles
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Miracles
2 Corinthians 1212
Paul says these divine acts are the mark of a
true apostle
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A Miracle is...
an act of God
to confirm the Word of God
given through a prophet of God
to the people of God 4
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Principles of Canonicity

• Was the book written by a prophet of God?

• Was the writer confirmed by acts of God?

• Does the message tell the truth about God?

• Did it come with the power of God?

• Was it accepted by the people of God?

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Message about God
Truthfulness
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Truthfulness
2 Corinthians 117-18
God cannot contradict Himself
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Truthfulness
Hebrews 618
God cannot lie
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Truthfulness
Deuteronomy 131-3
Fulfilled false prophecies are not from God
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Truthfulness
Negative Test
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Truthfulness
Acts 1711
Bereans searched scripture regarding Pauls
teaching
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Truthfulness
1 John 41-6
Test truth claims by the standard of known
truth already received
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Truthfulness
Summary
A book from the God of truth must accord with the
truth of God 5
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Principles of Canonicity

• Was the book written by a prophet of God?

• Was the writer confirmed by acts of God?

• Does the message tell the truth about God?

• Did it come with the power of God?

• Was it accepted by the people of God?

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Power of God
Edifying
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Edifying
Hebrews 412
Living and Active
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Edifying
2 Timothy 315-17
There is a transforming force that is edifying to
the individual
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Edifying
1 Peter 123
There is an evangelizing force that is edifying
to the individual
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Edifying
Isaiah 5510-11
It can accomplish its purpose in the lives of
individuals who are Godly
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Edifying
Summary
A message of God would certainly be backed by the
might of God 6
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Principles of Canonicity

• Was the book written by a prophet of God?

• Was the writer confirmed by acts of God?

• Does the message tell the truth about God?

• Did it come with the power of God?

• Was it accepted by the people of God?

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People of God
Acceptance
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Acceptance
1 Kings 17-19
2 Chronicles 3611-16
Galatians 1
Rejection
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Acceptance
John 1833-37
The truth of God is accepted by the people of God
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Acceptance
1 Thessalonians 213
Initial acceptance by the people of God is
important
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Principles of Canonicity

• Was the book written by a prophet of God?

• Was the writer confirmed by acts of God?

• Does the message tell the truth about God?

• Did it come with the power of God?

• Was it accepted by the people of God?

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Canon

• Definition of Canon
• Principles of Canonicity
• Applying Principles of Canonicity
• Old Testament Canon
• New Testament Canon
• Common Objections

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End Notes

• Neil R. Lightfoot, How We Got the Bible, 3rd ed.
  (Grand Rapids Baker Books, 2003), 152.
• Norman L. Geisler and William E. Nix, A General
  Introduction to the Bible (Chicago Moody Press,
  1986), 221.
• Norman L. Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of
  Christian Apologetics (Grand Rapids Baker Books,
  1999), 81.
• Norman L. Geisler and William E. Nix, A General
  Introduction to the Bible (Chicago Moody Press,
  1986), 226.
• Ibid., 227.
• Ibid., 228.

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References
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Thank You