Where Did We Get Our Bible?

Where did we get it?

How did we get it?

Is it trustworthy?

Where Did We Get Our Bible?

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

fronts

1. Inspiration & thus, the inerrancy of the Bible

2. Preservation of ancient texts

3. Determination, which books belong and which don’t

Where Did We Get Our Bible?

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.

Where Did We Get Our Bible?

5 Issues fundamental to understanding the canon

1. The issue of the canon is a matter of faith

2 Corinthians 5:7

for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Where Did We Get Our Bible?

• 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.

Where Did We Get Our Bible?

5 Issues fundamental to understanding the canon

2. Human involvement in the canon is to be expected.

God has always used human processes.

Where Did We Get Our Bible?

5 Issues fundamental to understanding the canon

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

inspiration.

Acts 2:40

And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them,

saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

1 Corinthians 5:9

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

people…

Colossians 4:16

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

Where Did We Get Our Bible?

5 Issues fundamental to understanding the canon

4. The basis for testing the truth of God’s word unchanged, thru the

centuries.

Deuteronomy 13:1-3

“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….

Where Did We Get Our Bible?

• Prophet’s 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 won’t contradict truth

Where Did We Get Our Bible?

5 Issues fundamental to understanding the canon

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

John 5:39

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal

life; it is these that testify about Me”

Luke 24:27, 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,

Where Did We Get Our Bible?

• 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

Where Did We Get Our Bible?

Three Erroneous Assumptions

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

1 Thessalonians 2:13

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.

Ephesians 3:4

By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the

mystery of Christ,

1 Corinthians 14:37

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.

Where Did We Get Our Bible?

Three Erroneous Assumptions

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

2. Recipients were unaware they were reading God’s word

2 Peter 3:1-2

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.

1 Timothy 5:18

For the Scripture says, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS

THRESHING," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages."

Where Did We Get Our Bible?

Three Erroneous Assumptions

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

2. Recipients were unaware they were reading God’s word

3. Took a loooong time to identify and gather the canon

Romans 1:1-5

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…

Where Did We Get Our Bible?

There IS a rational basis to believe the

canon is complete and it has been

complete since the 1st century.

The foundation is solid.