Can We Count on the Bible? (5)

1
Can We Count on the Bible? (5)

• The Canon of the New Testament

2
How the Word of God Spread

• Within a few decades gospel was preached to
  every creature under heaven Col. 123
• How did that happen?

3
How the Word of God Spread

• Jesus revealed the word of God Jn 1410, 24
  519, 716
• He promised the Holy Spirit John 1425-26,
  167-11
• The Apostles spoke with authority 1 Cor. 26-14,

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How the Word of God Spread

• The written letters were circulated almost
  immediately Col. 416, 1 Thess. 527 Read to
  allGalatians 12 churches of GalatiaRev. 111
  7 churches of Asia1 Pet. 11 To pilgrims

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How the Word of God Spread

• Consider IF the New Testament is the word of
  God, is it unreasonable to think that He had a
  hand (providentially) in its preservation?

6
Compiling the Books of the NT

• The first recorded record of all 27 books was 367
  AD in a letter written by Athanasius. NOT first
  recognition of Books were mentioned and (partial)
  lists compiled very early!

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• Why the need for a NT Canon?
• As Gospel spread need to verify which ones were
  true.
• With end of age of miracles and prophets, true
  writings needed to be verified
• The growth of heretical movements
• As gospel spread to foreign lands, need for
  translations
• Persecutions Who wanted to die for just a
  religious book?

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• Criteria for determining canonicity
• Did it possess the quality of inspiration?
• Did it have apostolic authority Either an
  apostle or one with the apostles.
• Did it agree with canon of truth?
• Was work accepted and circulated by early
  churches?

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• MOST books are mentioned very early, in the 2nd
  century
• The church fathers a group of influential
  church leaders theologians from 2nd 6th
  centuries who works lend evidence to NT integrity.

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• The contribution of the church fathers
• NOT inspired! Dont forget this!
• They helped identify books that were accepted as
  inspired.
• They quoted from NT books helping to compile its
  context
• They helped construct a history of church
  development and heresies.

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• The church fathers
• Clement of Rome (in 95 AD) wrote a letter to
  the Corinthians referencing Matthew Luke. Also
  familiar with Hebrews, Romans, Corinthians, 1
  Timothy, Titus, 1 Peter and Ephesians

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• The church fathers
• Ignatius (martyred 110 AD) Quoted from a total
  of 8 lettersMatt. Luke, Acts, Rom., etc.
• Polycarp (70-155 AD), elder in Smyrna
  identified 17 books of New Testament.

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• The church fathers
• The first three outstanding church fathers
  used bulk of the New Testamentonly Mark, 2 3
  John, Jude 2 Peter are not clearly attested.
  Milton Fisher, The origin of the Bible

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• The church fathers
• Irenaeues of Lyons (120-200) In Against
  Heresies quotes or alludes to all books of New
  Testament except, Philemon, 2 Peter, 3 John
  Jude. Attests to the FOUR gospels.

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• The church fathers
• Marcion (144 AD) A heretic who rejected the Old
  Testament, identified Luke and listed all of
  Pauls epistles, except 1 2 Timothy and Titus
  (though he changed many of them)

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• The church fathers
• Valentinus (100-160 AD) A Gnostic, but he
  referenced all four gospels, Romans Colossians,
  1 Peter, 1 John Revelation. Wrote, Gospel of
  Truth, a Gnostic gospel which was patently
  rejected

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• The church fathers
• The Muratorian Canon (dated ca. 200 AD) a
  manuscript written in 8th century was a copy of
  this document. Consisted of a list of books
  beginning with Luke Philemon, 1 2 John, Jude
  Revelation. Beginning of document is missing
  (implies Matt Mark.)

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• In all, 20 of the 27 books were accepted WITHOUT
  question very early.

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• What about the other 7 books?
• NOTE These books were not generally rejected,
  but there were questions by some. The were
  slow to be accepted!

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• Books questioned and why
• Hebrews because author was unknown, referenced
  earlier.
• James teachings on faith and works compared to
  writings of Paul. Same message to two different
  groups and reasons.

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• Books questioned and why
• 2 Peter Most disputed 1) Different style than
  1st Peter 2) 32-4 makes reference to earlier
  generation 3) Mention of letters of Paul (2
  Pet. 315-16) 4) Materials similar to Jude

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• Books questioned and why
• 2 3 John limited circulation and private
  nature.
• Jude mentioned a prophecy of Enoch not
  recorded in OT.
• Revelation Apocalyptic nature. Question more
  about interpretation than inspiration!

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Compiling the Books of the NT

• Books questioned and why
• NOTE Such scrutiny demonstrates the high
  standard set for recognition as inspired and
  canon. In short time, all of these were accepted
  universally by professing Christians (except
  liberal theologians).

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Books Not Accepted

• Books rejected as canon fit into two categories
• Pseudepigrapha (rejected by virtually all)
• Apocryphal (rejected by most, but accepted by
  some)

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Books Not Accepted

• Books rejected by all
• Gnostic gospels Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of
  Peter, Gospel of Truth, etc. content and date
• Gospel of Ebionites stressed keeping Old Law
  and heresies about Jesus content and date

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Books Not Accepted

• Apocryphal books
• Shepherd of Hermas allegory about Jesus and
  Hermas - too alegorical, dated 2nd century
• 1 Clement ca 95-96 AD to Corinth, questionable
  content and unavailable (complete) until 1873
• Epistle of Barnabas early enough, and similar
  to Hebrews in content - filled with allegory and
  anti-Jewish. Questionable content and doubtful
  authorship

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Books Not Accepted

• Apocryphal books
• Didache, Teaching of the Twelve (100-120 AD)
  A manual of church order and practices- too late,
  unknown author, lost and rediscovered in 1873.
• Epistle of the Laodiceans possible letter
  referenced in Col. 416, Included in early
  Bibles. Not discovered until late 3rd or early
  4th century. Too suspicious.
• Many others like these were rejected for
  numerous reasons. MOST apocryphal writings only
  accepted locally or by a few church leaders.

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WE CAN trust the Bible we have before us

• Let us seek not only to defend it, but also to
  apply it in our lives