CANON OF SCRIPTURES
Rules by which certain books were declared to be inspired and accepted
KNOWING YOUR BIBLE IS VERY IMPORTANT
Key Verses
Rev. 22:18 – 19
John 20:30 – 31
Deut 4: 2
Deut 12:32
Prov. 30:6
1. MEANING OF THE WORD “CANON”
The word “canon” applied to scripture means the rules by which certain books were declared to be inspired and accepted as such.
The term “The Canon of Scripture” means the officially accepted list of books that are regarded as of Divine Authority.
2. OLD TESTAMENT CANON
Factors determining the need for OT canon
2.1 The Jewish sacrificial systems were ended by the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 A.D. Even though the OT Canon was settled in the Jewish mind long before 70.A.D, there was a need for something more definitive. The Jews were scattered and they needed to determine which books were the authoritative Word of God because of the many extra scriptural writings and the decentralization. The Jews became a people of one book and it was this book that kept them together.
2.2 Christianity started to blossom and many writings of the Christians were beginning to be circulated. The Jews needed to expose them vividly and exclude them from their writings in their use in the synagogues.
2.3 The Hebrew Canon
The following is the breakdown of the Jewish OT Canon. The books that were acceptable as inspired by God.
The law (torah)
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
The Prophets (Nebhim)
a. Former Prophets
Joshua
Judges
Samuel
Kings
b. Latter Prophets
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Ezekiel
The Twelve
The Writings (Kethubhim)
a. Poetical Books
Psalms
Proverb
Job
b. Five Rolles (Megilloth)
Songs of Songs
Ruth
Lamentations
Esther
Ecclesiastes
c. Historical Books
Daniel
Chronicles
Ezra – Nehemiah
Although the Christian church has the Same Old Testament Canon, the number of books differs because Samuel, Kings, Chronicles were divided into two books each; the Jews also consider the Minor Prophets as one book. And the order of the books also differs.
2.4 Christ’s Witness to the Old Testament Canon
Luke 24:44, in the upper room Jesus told the disciples. “That all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses, and the Prophets, and the Psalms concerning me.” With these words he indicated the three sections into which the Hebrew Bible was divided – the Law, The Prophets and the ‘Writings’ (here called, The Psalms”).
3. OLD TESTAMENT APOCRYPHAL LITERATURE
From the Greek word apokruphos meaning “hidden or concealed”. The apocrypha consists of the books added to the Old Testament by the Catholic church that Protestants say are not Canonical.
Why apocryphal books are are not canonical?
They were not written or approved by a prophet.
They were not recognised by the Jews, as inspired and a part of scripture.
Jesus and the New Testament writers never once quoted from it although there are hundreds of quotes and references to almost all of the canonical books of the Old Testament. A fact that is more striking when we realized that Paul even quoted twice from heathen poets.
The Last prophet predicted that the next messenger coming to Israel from God will be the forerunner of Christ (Mal 3:1). Most of the apocryphal books were written during the period of Malachi and Christ.
Divine authority is not claimed by these authors and by some it is virtually disowned (2Maccabbees 2:23, 15:38)
The books contained statements at variance with the Bible history.
They are self-contradictory and in some cases opposed to doctrines of scripture.
The apocryphal books were not a part of the ancient scripture. They were first added after 300 A.D. The Laodicean Council in 363 A.D rejected them as being uninspired, thus proving that by that time some were claiming inspiration for them.
It was not until 1546 AD that the Apocryphal books received full canonical status by the Roman Church.
Jewish Scholars like Josephus (Jewish Historian), Philo (Jewish Philosopher) did not regard the Apocrypha as scripture. Josephus stated that the OT books (the ones in our present version) were the only inspired writings.
Jerome, a great scholar and translator of the Latin Vulgate Bible rejected the Apocrypha as part of the canon. He even refused to translate the apocryphal books into Latin, but later made a hurried translation of some. After his death, literally over his dead body, the apocryphal books were brought into the Latin Vulgate directly from the Old Latin Version.\
Martin Luther and the Reformers rejected the canonicity of the Apocrypha.
3.1 A list of the Apocryphal Books
1&2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus or Wisdom of Sirach,
Baruch, 1&2 Maccabbees
4. NEW TESTAMENT CANON
4.1 Tests for including a book in the New Testament Canon
The basic factor for determining NT canonicity was inspiration by God, and its chief tests: apostolic authority or apostolic approval.
4.2 The NT Canonical Books
Three Reasons for the Need to Determine a New Testament Canon
a. A heretic, Marcion 140AD developed his own canon and began to propagate it. The church needed to offset his influence by determining what the real canon of New Testament Scripture was.
b. Many eastern churches were using books in services that were definitely incorrect. It called for a decision concerning the canon.
c. Edict of Diocletian 303AD, declared the destruction of the sacred books of the Christians. Who wanted to die for just a religious book? They needed to know!
MEMORY VERSE
Deut. 4:2
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandment of the Lord your God which I command you.
Rev. 22:18 – 19
John 20:30 – 31
Deut 4: 2
Deut 12:32
Prov. 30:6
1. MEANING OF THE WORD “CANON”
The word “canon” applied to scripture means the rules by which certain books were declared to be inspired and accepted as such.
The term “The Canon of Scripture” means the officially accepted list of books that are regarded as of Divine Authority.
2. OLD TESTAMENT CANON
Factors determining the need for OT canon
2.1 The Jewish sacrificial systems were ended by the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 A.D. Even though the OT Canon was settled in the Jewish mind long before 70.A.D, there was a need for something more definitive. The Jews were scattered and they needed to determine which books were the authoritative Word of God because of the many extra scriptural writings and the decentralization. The Jews became a people of one book and it was this book that kept them together.
2.2 Christianity started to blossom and many writings of the Christians were beginning to be circulated. The Jews needed to expose them vividly and exclude them from their writings in their use in the synagogues.
2.3 The Hebrew Canon
The following is the breakdown of the Jewish OT Canon. The books that were acceptable as inspired by God.
The law (torah)
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
The Prophets (Nebhim)
a. Former Prophets
Joshua
Judges
Samuel
Kings
b. Latter Prophets
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Ezekiel
The Twelve
The Writings (Kethubhim)
a. Poetical Books
Psalms
Proverb
Job
b. Five Rolles (Megilloth)
Songs of Songs
Ruth
Lamentations
Esther
Ecclesiastes
c. Historical Books
Daniel
Chronicles
Ezra – Nehemiah
Although the Christian church has the Same Old Testament Canon, the number of books differs because Samuel, Kings, Chronicles were divided into two books each; the Jews also consider the Minor Prophets as one book. And the order of the books also differs.
2.4 Christ’s Witness to the Old Testament Canon
Luke 24:44, in the upper room Jesus told the disciples. “That all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses, and the Prophets, and the Psalms concerning me.” With these words he indicated the three sections into which the Hebrew Bible was divided – the Law, The Prophets and the ‘Writings’ (here called, The Psalms”).
3. OLD TESTAMENT APOCRYPHAL LITERATURE
From the Greek word apokruphos meaning “hidden or concealed”. The apocrypha consists of the books added to the Old Testament by the Catholic church that Protestants say are not Canonical.
Why apocryphal books are are not canonical?
They were not written or approved by a prophet.
They were not recognised by the Jews, as inspired and a part of scripture.
Jesus and the New Testament writers never once quoted from it although there are hundreds of quotes and references to almost all of the canonical books of the Old Testament. A fact that is more striking when we realized that Paul even quoted twice from heathen poets.
The Last prophet predicted that the next messenger coming to Israel from God will be the forerunner of Christ (Mal 3:1). Most of the apocryphal books were written during the period of Malachi and Christ.
Divine authority is not claimed by these authors and by some it is virtually disowned (2Maccabbees 2:23, 15:38)
The books contained statements at variance with the Bible history.
They are self-contradictory and in some cases opposed to doctrines of scripture.
The apocryphal books were not a part of the ancient scripture. They were first added after 300 A.D. The Laodicean Council in 363 A.D rejected them as being uninspired, thus proving that by that time some were claiming inspiration for them.
It was not until 1546 AD that the Apocryphal books received full canonical status by the Roman Church.
Jewish Scholars like Josephus (Jewish Historian), Philo (Jewish Philosopher) did not regard the Apocrypha as scripture. Josephus stated that the OT books (the ones in our present version) were the only inspired writings.
Jerome, a great scholar and translator of the Latin Vulgate Bible rejected the Apocrypha as part of the canon. He even refused to translate the apocryphal books into Latin, but later made a hurried translation of some. After his death, literally over his dead body, the apocryphal books were brought into the Latin Vulgate directly from the Old Latin Version.\
Martin Luther and the Reformers rejected the canonicity of the Apocrypha.
3.1 A list of the Apocryphal Books
1&2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus or Wisdom of Sirach,
Baruch, 1&2 Maccabbees
4. NEW TESTAMENT CANON
4.1 Tests for including a book in the New Testament Canon
The basic factor for determining NT canonicity was inspiration by God, and its chief tests: apostolic authority or apostolic approval.
4.2 The NT Canonical Books
Three Reasons for the Need to Determine a New Testament Canon
a. A heretic, Marcion 140AD developed his own canon and began to propagate it. The church needed to offset his influence by determining what the real canon of New Testament Scripture was.
b. Many eastern churches were using books in services that were definitely incorrect. It called for a decision concerning the canon.
c. Edict of Diocletian 303AD, declared the destruction of the sacred books of the Christians. Who wanted to die for just a religious book? They needed to know!
MEMORY VERSE
Deut. 4:2
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandment of the Lord your God which I command you.