What The Bible Says About The Canon Of Scripture

(Text: II Timothy 3:16-17)
By: Barry L. Cameron


* How did we come to accept the Old and New Testaments as the Holy Scriptures. * Why aren’t the apocryphal books accepted as a part of what we know as the Bible?

From the beginning . . .
* There were 40 different authors of Scripture who produced the Bible over a period of 1500 years. Without any real opportunity for collaboration they were able to produce a masterpiece of literature that is absolutely unmatched because of its infallibility and perfection. Some of the writers had some formal education—most were farmers, herdsmen, fishermen, etc.

* These authors never made disclaimers or apologies but rather boldly proclaimed that they were writing the WORD of GOD.

* In the Old Testament alone there are over 2600 such claims: (682) in the Pentateuch, (1,307) in the Prophetic Books, (418) in the historical books, and (195) in the Poetic Books.

What About The New Testament Writers? Did They Think They Were Writing The Word Of God?
* There are 320 direct quotes from the Old Testament in the New Testament.
* New Testament writers refer to the Old Testament over 1,000 times. There was no question that the New Testament writers believed that the Old Testament was the Word of God.
- Romans 15:4; Hebrews 1:1-2

* New Testament writers also claimed and believed that other New Testament writers were inspired.
- I Timothy 5:18; II Peter 3:14-16; Galatians 1:11; I Thessalonians 2:13)

* From the beginning to the end of the Bible, its writers are fully convinced that they are speaking and writing the true words of God.

What About The “CANON”?
* The term: CANON comes from the Greek word KANON meaning “a rod, or bar, a measuring rule, standard or limit.”
* Eventually, the term CANON was used to refer to the completed list of books given to man by God.

* Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, referred to the completed New Testament in A.D. 350 as the CANON.

How Was The CANON Chosen?
* Two basic tests were used for the Old Testament Canon:
1. Was it inspired by God, written by a prophet or someone with the gift of prophecy?
2. Was it accepted, preserved and read by God’s people, the Israelites?

* The Old Testament CANON was closed around 425 B.C. with the prophecy of Malachi. There was no question which books were inspired by God.
1. The writers claimed to be inspired.
2. The people of God, who checked their writings, found no errors.
3. Their writings harmonized perfectly with history, geography, science, theology, and everything else that would have a bearing on their divine inspiration.

* Jewish tradition/final compilers of the Old Testament CANON were from the GREAT SYNAGOGUE (a school of Scribes founded by Ezra).

- It was here that attempts were made to add books (14 to be exact).

* This collection is called the APOCRYPHA and includes: I & II Esdras, Tobit, Judith, The Rest of Esther, The Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch (with the Epistle of Jeremiah), the Song of the Three Holy Children, The History of Susanna, Bell and the Dragon, The Prayer of Manasses, and I & II Maccabees.

* The APOCRYPHAL books were not allowed into the Old Testament by the Jews because:
1. They were written long after the CANON was completed about 400 B.C., and lacked the prophetic quality to stamp them as inspired Scripture.
2. None of the APOCRYPHAL writers claimed divine inspiration, and some openly disclaimed it.
3. APOCRYPHAL books contain numerous errors of fact and teach questionable ethics and doctrines. (i.e. they justify suicide and assassination, also teach praying for the dead, etc.)

*** Interesting Side Note: The Roman Catholic Church accepted the APOCRYPHAL books and were included as part of the Roman Catholic Version of the Bible.

How Were The New Testament Books Chosen?
* Similar tests were used that were used for the Old Testament books.
1. Was the book authored by an apostle or someone closely associated with an apostle?
2. Content. (Did it square with apostolic doctrine?)
3. Was the book read and used in the churches?
4. Was the book recognized and used by the next generation after the first church, especially by the apostolic fathers?

* No one man or group of men made the CANON. God determined the CANON and man discovered it through long and steady usage.
- APOCRYPHAL books showed up to challenge New Testament authenticity.
- Among those books were: The Epistle of Barnabas, The Apocalypse of Peter, The Gospel of Nicodemus, and The Shepherd of Hermas.
- There were also: gospels of Andrew, Bartholomew, Thomas and Phillip.

Why Were They Not Included?
* All of them failed to make the final New Testament CANON because they failed one or more of the key tests of authenticity.

* By the end of the 4th century, the collection was complete—the CANON was closed.

* The CANON of Scripture includes all 66 books that have been determined to be the infallible rule of faith and practice for the church for all time.
- Revelation 22:18
- Hebrews 4:12
- II Timothy 3:16-17