The Canonical Church John Stevenson, 2008

Upon what do Christian base their beliefs?

The Greek KanonIt had to be unbendableIt had to be dependable as to its straightnessKANWN

Galatians 6:16Those who will walk by this RULE, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

DefinitionCanonicity is the process by which the books of the Bible were gathered and collected so that they came to be regarded as the standard and norm for Christians.

Canonicity refers to the churchs recognition of the authority of the inspired writings.

Questions on CanonicityHow are we to determine if we have the right books in the Bible?What about the Apocrypha?Are there certain books in our Bible which should not be there?Are we missing some books?

TheMedievalChurchTheReformedChurchCanonRecognizedNew TestamentTheAncientChurch

Canonicity & the Old TestamentThe Testimony of JesusNow 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. (Luke 24:44).

Canonicity & the Old TestamentThe Testimony of JesusThe Testimony of the Septuagint

The SeptuagintTranslation of Hebrew Bible into GreekPtolemy IIGreat Library of AlexandriaAlexandria

The Septuagint70 ScholarsEntire Old Testament translatedApocrypha also included

Canonicity & the Old TestamentThe Testimony of JesusThe Testimony of the SeptuagintThe Testimony of the New TestamentFull of quotations from the Old TestamentNot a single quotation from the Apocrypha

Canonicity & the Old TestamentThe Testimony of JesusThe Testimony of the SeptuagintThe Testimony of the New TestamentThe Testimony of Josephus

Josephus"For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us, disagreeing from and contradicting one another [as the Greeks have], but only twenty-two books, which contain the records of all the past times; which are justly believed to be divine...(Contra Apion 1:8).

Josephus"It is true, our history has been written since Artaxerxes, very peculiarly, but has not been esteemed of the like authority with the former by our forefathers, because there has not been an exact succession of prophets since that time." (Contra Apion 1:8).

Canonicity & the Old TestamentThe Testimony of JesusThe Testimony of the SeptuagintThe Testimony of the New TestamentThe Testimony of JosephusThe Testimony of the Apocrypha

The ApocryphaMeaning: Hidden awayThe Apocrypha speaks of the division of the Scriptures into the Law and the Prophets (Prologue of Sirach 1:1; 2nd Maccabees 15:9; 4th Maccabees 18:10). You do not find the Old Testament mentioning this division

The church was born with a completed canon in her hands

The Existence of the Canon=The Recognition of the Canon

The Muratorian CanonOur oldest copy dates to the 7th CenturyOriginally written in latter part of 2nd CenturyIt is a partial list (starts with Luke, but refers to it as the 3rd Gospel)Includes Gospels, Epistles of Paul, John, & Jude

Latin Manuscript

Factors Necessitating aNew Testament Canon The Problem of Heretics

Factors Necessitating aNew Testament Canon The Problem of HereticsThe Presence of other Christian WritingsDidacheEpistles of Ignatius and other church fathers

Factors Necessitating aNew Testament Canon The Problem of HereticsThe Presence of other Christian Writings

Factors Necessitating aNew Testament Canon The Problem of HereticsThe Presence of other Christian WritingsThe Persecutions against the church and laws against ownership of the Scriptures

Criteria for New Testament CanonicityApostolic AuthorshipConsistencyReception by the ChurchesThe church did not make certain books canonical; the church recognized certain books to be canonical

1 50 100 150 200 250 300 350New Testament writtenApostolic FathersMuratorian CanonMarcionPaulJohnPolycarpIgnatiusNicaeaConstantine

The DaVinci CodeConstantine chose the books of the Bible and ordered other non-canonical books to be burned Gospels were edited after Council of Nicaea (325)Gnostic gospels are older than four canonical gospels