canon new testament

1. THE CANON OF
SCRIPTURE
An important foundation that is being shaken

2. Definition
Canon of scripture: List of all books that
belong in the Bible
Why is this important for us today?
• The Bible no longer is culturally accepted as important/relevant
• The Bible is increasingly either under attack or disregarded
• There are false ideas about the canon that are out there.
• We need to be well-grounded in our understanding of the
canon of scripture, for ourselves, those we evangelize, and
future generations

3. Outline
• Old Testament Canon
• The Apocrypha
• NT Canon
• The status quo of understanding the canon (not all good!)
• Definitions of canon
• Were the NT authors unaware of their own authority?
• Other reasons to believe the books were considered scripture
from the beginning
• What makes a book canonical
• Is the canon closed?

4. Not Directly Covering
• Inerrancy of Scripture
• Sufficiency of Scripture
• Infallibility of Scripture
• Verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture (God’s
superintendence of the writing of scripture carries down to
the choice of words, not just ideas)
• Detailed history of the formation of the Biblical canon

5. Primary References

6. Old Testament Canon
• The beginning of a canon—the idea that the people of Israel
should preserve the written words of God—when?
• The 10 commandments—Ex 31:18
• The collection of authoritative writings then grew
• Moses recorded the law (Deut 31:24-26)
• Pentateuch generally attributed to Moses
• Many other additions: 1 Sam 10:25, 1 Chron 29:29, 2 Chron 20:34 cf. 1
Kings 16:7, 2 Chron 26:22, 2 Chron 32:32, Jer 30:2
• After Malachi (435 BC), there were no further additions to the
OT canon
• At the time of Jesus, there was no dispute between Jesus and
the Jews on the extent of the OT canon (and it matches what
we have today, although organized a little differently)
• Common understanding that the prophetic writings had ceased
after Malachi

7. The Apocrypha
• Set of books from the “intertestamental period” (between
Malachi and Jesus)
• Were never accepted by the Jews as scripture
• The early church was mixed—some treated as scripture,
but many treated as less than scripture
• Jerome said they were not “books of the canon” but merely “books
of the church”
• Jesus and the NT authors quote OT scriptures as
authoritative over 295 times, but not once do they cite the
Apocrypha as authoritative

8. The Apocrypha (cont’d)
• The Roman Catholic church put the Apocrypha on par
with the rest of Scripture at the Council of Trent in 1546
• Council of Trent was a response to Martin Luther/the reformation
• Books of the Apocrypha provide support for catholic teachings of
praying for the dead and justification by faith plus works
• Reasons we don’t consider Apocrypha scripture
(Grudem):
1. They don’t claim for themselves the same kind of authority as
OT writings
2. They weren’t regarded as God’s words by the Jewish people
from whom they originated
3. They weren’t considered Scripture by Jesus or the NT authors
4. They contain teachings inconsistent with the rest of the Bible

9. Outline
• Old Testament Canon
• The Apocrypha
• NT Canon
• The status quo of understanding the canon (not all good!)
• Definitions of canon
• Were the NT authors unaware of their own authority?
• Other reasons to believe the books were considered scripture
from the beginning
• What makes a book canonical
• Is the canon closed?

10. Scholarly Challenges to the Integrity of the
New Testament
• Historically, many of the challenges to NT authority have
been in regards to the problem of boundaries:
• How do we know we have the right books?
• Why these books and not others?
• In recent years, a more foundational question has come into
the forefront, that of the canon’s existence:
• Why is there a New Testament at all?
• Is there really any valid distinction between “canonical” books and
other books or writings?

11. Two Models of Canon Formation
• The canon was created by
the church
• The issue of canonicity came
up later (1-3 centuries after
documents written)
• The texts themselves are not
inherently canonical
• Canonicity was imposed on
the text by others
• The NT was “pulled” into
being by forces of the church
and society largely external
to the texts themselves
• The idea of canon was not
imposed from the outside
• It was something that
developed organically from
within early Christianity itself
• The texts are inherently
canonical
• The NT was “pushed” into
being from elements inherent
with itself or its Jewish origins
Extrinsic Model
“Imposed from the outside”
Increasingly Predominant View
Intrinsic Model
“Inherent to the texts”

12. Outline
• Old Testament Canon
• The Apocrypha
• NT Canon
• The status quo of understanding the canon (not all good!)
• Definitions of canon
• Were the NT authors unaware of their own authority?
• Other reasons to believe the books were considered scripture
from the beginning
• What makes a book canonical
• Is the canon closed?

13. Definitions of Canon
• Exclusive: A fixed, final, and closed list of books
• Currently, a very popular way to define canon
• Problem: Not true across all of Christendom
• Also, overemphasizes the late role of the church in defining canon
• Functional: What the church used
• There was widespread agreement about the core canonical books,
but some disagreement about peripheral books was inevitable
• Problem: What about books that the church used at some point but
were not ultimately included in the canon?
• Ontological: What was intended by God
• The canon is the authoritative books that God gave His corporate
church
• Books do not become canonical—they are canonical because they
are the book God has provided his church

14. Which Definition of Canon Should We
Use?
• All three, together
• Exclusive: A fixed, final, and closed list of books
• Reminds us that the canon did not fall in place overnight—it took several
centuries to define the edges
• Functional: What the church used
• Reminds us that prior to the determination of the final shape of the canon,
there was a core collection of books that functioned with supreme
authority in early Christian communities
• Ontological: What was intended by God
• Reminds us that books are authoritative by virtue of what they are—books
given by God.
• Note that these definitions capture the flow of canonical history:
1. The canonical books are written with divine authority
2. They were recognized and used as Scripture by early Christians
3. The Church reaches a consensus around these books

15. Outline
• Old Testament Canon
• The Apocrypha
• NT Canon
• The status quo of understanding the canon (not all good!)
• Definitions of canon
• Were the NT authors unaware of their own authority?
• Other reasons to believe the books were considered scripture
from the beginning
• What makes a book canonical
• Is the canon closed?

16. Did the NTAuthors Know They Were
Writing Scripture?
• This is the crux of the matter
• Many would say that the authors were just writing
histories or letters to various churches as simply a way to
address them, and that only later did people place
scriptural authority on them
• I am going to attempt to refute this claim primarily using
Scripture itself

17. Paul Was Aware of his Scriptural Authority
• Gal 1:1, 11-12
• Leaves the Galatian readers with the unmistakable impression that
Paul’s letter comes to them with the authority of Christ himself and
is designed to correct their false thinking about the gospel
message. (Kruger)
• 1 Cor 14:37-38
• Paul is equating the things that he is writing with the very words of
God
• 2 Thess 3:6, 14
• Paul calls for his commands to be obeyed, to the point of
excommunication for those who don’t

18. Paul Was Aware of His Scriptural
Authority (continued)
• 1 Thess 2:13
• Paul states that his Apostolic teaching was the word of God
• Is it possible that his teaching was authoritative, but the writing was
not? Three reasons this isn’t the case;
• In 1 Thess 4:2-8, Paul expressly states that he is reiterating his
apostolic teaching about personal holiness that he previously delivered
to them— teaching that came “through the Lord Jesus” and therefore
could be regarded as “the will of God” Thus, 1 Thessalonians, a written
letter, clearly presents itself as containing divine instruction. So much so
that, after Paul finishes his instructions about holiness, he warns the
Thessalonians that whoever disregards this instruction, “disregards not
man but God” (Kruger)
• In 2 Thess 2:15, Paul acknowledges that the mode of delivery is
secondary
• In 1 Thess 5:27, Paul ends by telling the Thessalonians to make sure
that the letter was read publicly to the church

19. The Gospel Writers Were Aware of Their
Scriptural Authority
• Overall, they were writing about what Jesus said and did, so they carry
with them the authority of Jesus
• Matthew
• Appears to be following pattern of OT books (e.g., Matt 1:1, which speaks of the
records of the “new genesis” in Jesus).
• Written by an Apostle
• Mark
• Mark 1:1: The term “gospel” was not originally used among early Christians to refer
to written texts, but rather was a reference to the authoritative message of the
apostolic preaching. (Kruger)
• Mark appears to be heavily based on teachings of Peter
• Luke
• Luke 1:1-4: Luke explicitly states that he is basing what he writes on the teachings
of “those who were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word” (i.e., apostles)
• 1 Tim 5:17-18: Like is called “scripture” by Paul.
• John
• John 21:24: Apostle John is the author
• John 20:30-31: Purpose

20. Other NT Writers Were Aware of Their
Scriptural Authority
• Hebrews
• Heb 2:3-4: Author is says that the “great salvaton” was “attested”
by the apostles (i.e., those who heard)
• Peter
• 2 Peter 3:2: The apostles were considered on par with OT
prophets
• 2 Peter 3:15-16: Peter refers to Paul’s letters as being scripture
• John
• 1 John 1:1-5: Vivid, eyewitness language. Doesn’t just testify, but
“proclaim” (v. 2 and v. 3)
• Revelation 1:1-3: Calls it the “revelation of Jesus Christ” and calls
it the “word of God”

21. Outline
• Old Testament Canon
• The Apocrypha
• NT Canon
• The status quo of understanding the canon (not all good!)
• Definitions of canon
• Were the NT authors unaware of their own authority?
• Other reasons to believe the books were considered scripture
from the beginning
• What makes a book canonical
• Is the canon closed?

22. Other Reasons to Believe that NT Books Were
Considered Canonical from the Beginning
• Early Christianity would have been expecting new
scripture to be written
• 2nd Temple Jews considered the OT incomplete and in need of a
proper conclusion
• OT pattern of redemption being followed by revelation (especially
the exodus)
• Unlike some popular thought, early Christians were not
adverse to written documents
• Historical evidence that the NT books were considered
canonical long before the end of the 3rd century
• Example: Iraneus (late 2nd century)—writings quote from many NT
books and assume that the readers are familiar with them.

23. Outline
• Old Testament Canon
• The Apocrypha
• NT Canon
• The status quo of understanding the canon (not all good!)
• Definitions of canon
• Were the NT authors unaware of their own authority?
• Other reasons to believe the books were considered scripture
from the beginning
• What makes a book canonical
• Is the canon closed?

24. What Makes a Book Canonical?
• Fundamental question: What writings are God’s own
words?
• Likely used a variety of factors
• Apostolic endorsement
• Consistency with the rest of scripture
• Perception of the book as “God-breathed” by the overwhelming
majority of believers
• While the books were God’s word from the beginning, it
took a little time for the exact list to settle in
• Much of the discussion/debate was about a few books on the
“edges”—most books were quickly considered scripture by the vast
majority

25. How Do We Know the Right Books are
Included?
• Ultimately, our confidence is based on the faithfulness of God
• God’s revelation is an integral part of the redemption of his people (we
see this in both the OT and the NT)
• It doesn’t make sense for God, who is sovereign over all history, to
allow the church to be deprived of something necessary for our
spiritual lives.
• Note: this same concept would apply to the preservation of scripture
• Two other factors
• Holy Spirit convincing us as we read scriptures for ourselves
• Historical data that we have available
• Important note:
• There are no strong candidates for addition to the canon
• There are no strong objections to any book in the canon

26. Outline
• Old Testament Canon
• The Apocrypha
• NT Canon
• The status quo of understanding the canon (not all good!)
• Definitions of canon
• Were the NT authors unaware of their own authority?
• Other reasons to believe the books were considered scripture
from the beginning
• What makes a book canonical
• Is the canon closed?

27. Reasons the Canon is Closed
• Christ’s redemptive work is the focal point of all history.
• Once the revelation concerning Christ was complete, there was no
further need for revelation
• Scripture teaches of Christ as being the ultimate and greatest
prophet (as both fully God and fully man)
• The next event to happen will be Christ’s return.
• The NT books all come with apostolic authority, and after
the last apostle died, this authority to write as the words of
God also was completed.
• Heb 1:1-2: Indicates that Jesus is the focus of revelation
• Rev 22:18-19
• Primarily refers to book of Revelation
• Secondarily applies to the whole of scripture (since Revelation
would clearly be the last book)

28. What We Covered
• Old Testament Canon
• The Apocrypha
• NT Canon
• The status quo of understanding the canon (not all good!)
• Definitions of canon
• Were the NT authors unaware of their own authority?
• Other reasons to believe the books were considered scripture
from the beginning
• What makes a book canonical
• Is the canon closed?