The Bible: The Canon of Scripture

Free Spirit Filled Online Bible School: JesusChrist.co.uk
The Canon of Scripture
Adrian Dighe

‘canon’ – what does it mean?
‘the list of the writings acknowledged by
the church as documents of divine
revelation’.
In this sense first used by Athanasius,
bishop of Alexandria in a letter of AD 367.

the Greek word kanōn
a rod, especially a straight rod used as a rule
or measure
common meaning in English – ‘rule’ or
‘standard’
An example - ‘canons’ (‘rules’) of the Church
of England.

the Greek word kanōn
a straight rod might have a series of ‘marks’
eg measures of length
so the word came to mean ‘series’ or ‘list’
this is the usage in the term canon of scripture

Modern meaning of canon
the list of books deemed inspired as Holy
Scripture
the list of books which are uniquely
acknowledged to be the rule of Christian
belief and practice.

‘People of the book’
Christians are known as ‘people of the book’
Conformity to what the book prescribes is a
major test of loyalty to their religious faith and
practice

The Christian Bible comprises Old and New
Testaments
• In English ‘testament’ = a will
• Latin testamentum = a will
• This Latin word is used as the translation of
a Greek word –diathēkē
• diathēkē = agreement or settlement
between two parties

diathēkē.
• It is used especially where one party is superior in power or
is able to confer privileges on an inferior, while the inferior
undertakes obligations to the superior.
• This word could also be rendered by our word ‘covenant’
and distinctively is used to indicate an agreement between
God and human beings

The Book
The function of the Book was to bear witness
to Christ.
The road to Emmaus
The disciples increasingly discovered ‘in all the
scriptures the things concerning himself’

Hebrew Bible
• The function of the book was to bear witness
to Jesus
• Jesus enters the synagogue and is handed the
scroll of Isaiah from which he reads and then
states “today this scripture has been fulfilled
in your hearing” Luke 4:18 f

Old Testament
The first Christians viewed the Old Testament
(as it came to be known) as a book about
Jesus – they discovered increasingly ‘in all the
scriptures the things concerning himself’, just
as Jesus described to the 2 disciples on the
road to Emmaus

Hebrew Bible
There are 24 books in 3 divisions
1. The Tôrāh - law or ‘direction’: the five books
of Moses which are Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

Hebrew Bible
2. The Nebiim ‘prophets’: the former
Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel &
Kings) and the latter prophets (Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the Book of the
Twelve Prophets)

Hebrew Bible
3. The Ketubim ‘writings’: eleven books -
Psalms, Proverbs & Job; and then the
scrolls (Megillot) of Song of Songs, Ruth,
Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther; then
finally Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah (one book)
and Chronicles.

Septuagint
This is a Greek version of the Law and the
Prophets. It was the work of seventy elders of
Israel brought to Alexandria for the purpose. It
is because of this legend that the name
Septuagint (from Latin septuaguinta ‘seventy’)
came to be attached to this version.

Septuagint
The order of books in the Septuagint which
has come down to us as the Christian Old
Testament differs from that in the Hebrew
Bible.
There are extra books too – which we refer to
as the Apocrypha

The Chester Beatty Papyri
A folio from P46 containing
2 Corinthians 11:33-12:9

Codex Sinaiticus

Codex Vaticanus

Codex Alexandrinus

Early Church Fathers
Melito
Origen
Athanasius
Council of Hippo (Augustine)
Jerome (The Latin Vulgate)

The Reformation
Luther – the canon should include those books
that ‘preach Christ’
Eventually the apocrypha is separated as an
appendix by the Protestants but the Catholics
retain it

The 39 Articles of Religion (CofE)
These are authoritative for the C of E
Article VI deals with scripture (1562)
‘Holy scripture contains all things necessary
for salvation, what isn’t in there is not
required to be believed as an article of faith’

The Old Testament
Genesis Exodus Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua Judges Ruth 1 & 2
Samuel 1& 2 Kings 1 & 2
Chronicles 1 & 2 Esdras
(Ezra – Nehemiah)
Esther Job Psalms Proverbs
Ecclesiastes Songs of
Solomon
4 Prophets the Greater
12 Prophets the Less

The Other Books – to be read for an example
and instruction
3 & 4 Esdras
Tobias Judith
The rest of Esther
Book of Wisdom
Jesus Son of Sirach
Baruch the Prophet
Story of Susanna
Bel and the Dragon
Prayer of Manasses
1 & 2 Maccabees

The Authorised Bible
The Geneva Bible has the apocrypha as an
appendix
Vocal Puritans object
The Authorised has it in (1611) –George
Abbott (Archbishop of Canterbury) forbids
binding or selling without it – or 1 yr in
prison!

End of the Apocrypha
In 1644 the Long Parliament bans it being read
in C of E
In 1647 the Westminster Assembly banishes it
from the ‘canon’

The Bible Societies
• British & Foreign Bible Society formed in 1804 to promote
production and circulation of Bibles for personal use
• It has equal nos of Anglicans and free church members
• Most anti apocrypha but big row in 1826 lasting 5 yrs.
After that none included and people were quite happy
• Present to King Edward VII refused as ‘mutilated’ !

The New Testament
Why add to the Hebrew Scriptures?

Apostles
The apostles had been “made sufficient as
ministers of a new covenant”
“who also made us sufficient as ministers of
the new covenant, not of the letter but of the
Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives
life.” (2 Cor 3:6)

The Gospel – divine revelation
Not only was the Gospel delivered – itself a divine
revelation- but it was also preached “in the Holy Ghost” (1
Pet 1:12).
“To them [the prophets] it was revealed that, not to
themselves, but to us they were ministering the things
which now have been reported to you through those who
have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent
from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.”

The Gospel – divine revelation
In fact the very words in which it was clothed
were “of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 2:13).
“These things we also speak, not in words
which man’s wisdom teaches but which the
Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things
with spiritual.”

Apostles and scripture
Their own commands were therefore of divine
authority (1 Thess 4:2)
“for you know what commandments we gave
you through the Lord Jesus.”

Their writings were the record of these
commands (2 Thess 2:15).
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the
traditions which you were taught, whether by
word or our epistle.”

They were to be obeyed (2 Thess 3:14).
“And if anyone does not obey our word in this
epistle, note that person and do not keep
company with him, that he may be ashamed.”

The test of a Spirit led man is to
recognise that what was written to them
was “the commandments of the Lord” (1
Cor 14:37).
“If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet
or spiritual, let him acknowledge that
the things which I write to you are the
commandments of the Lord.”

Paul and scripture
Paul combines what we call OT with these
new writings in 1 Tim 5:18
For the Scripture says, “You shall not
muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,”
[a] and, “The laborer is worthy of his
wages.” [b]
[a] Deuteronomy 25:4
[b] Luke 10:7

The Gospels
The gospels were authoritative because they
preserved the sayings of Jesus, and the church
knew of no higher authority.

Pauline letters
The epistles of Paul were authoritative
because he was recognised uniquely as an
acknowledged apostle to the Gentiles.

The Acts of the Apostles
Written by a Gospel writer and an associate of
Paul – so a reliable and inspired source. Paul
even quoted it in his own letters.

Heresy and Gnosticism
Marcion – listed his own version of the New
Testament.
It was not a list customarily used by the whole
church – it was narrow and reflected his own
teaching

Modern interpretation of canon
The four “Criteria for Canonicity”:-
1. Apostolic Origin – or 1st
generation
companions
2. Universal Acceptance by end 4thC
3. Liturgical use – read publicly at weekly
gathering of the Lord’s Supper
4. Consistent message

The New Testament Books
Authorship Date Place of Origin
Matthew Apostle M 75-85 Antioch
Mark John Mark 67-72 Rome
Luke Luke 75-90 Greece?
John Apostle John 90-100 Asia Minor
Acts Luke 75-90 Greece?
Romans Apostle Paul 55-56 Corinth

Authorship Date Place of origin
1 Corinthians Paul 4-55 Ephesus
2 Corinthians Paul 55 Macedonia
Galatians Paul 55 Ephesus?
Ephesians Paul 60-62 Rome
Philippians Paul 60-62 Rome
Colossians Paul 60-62 Rome

1 Thess Paul 50-51 Corinth
2 Thess Paul 50-51 Corinth
1 Timothy Paul 62-64 Macedonia
2 Timothy Paul 64-68 Rome
Titus Paul 62-64 Macedonia
Philemon Paul 60-62 Rome

Hebrews Anonymous 62-66 Asia Minor?
James James, brother
of Jesus
50-60? Unknown
1 Peter Apostle Peter 63-64 Rome
2 Peter [Apostle Peter] 80-90? Unknown
1 John Apostle John 90-100 Asia Minor

Jude Jude, brother of
Jesus
70-90? Unknown
Revelation Apostle John 96 Asia Minor

The Bible: The Canon of Scripture

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