This week we are in part three of our apologetics’ evidence for the Bible, focusing on the canonization process. Skeptics will say things like, “a group of men in a council decided what books should be in the Bible,” but that is simply not true. There were hundred of years of use for the books that were finally recognized as inspired, and this week’s presentation will look at that process. It is important, as Christians, to remember that the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed; and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed! We can take confidence in the fact that God would make sure that what we have today is the books He inspired!

Watch this week’s presentation on this topic:

Overview Notes from the Presentation

HOW DID THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE BECOME CANONIZED?

Canonization

The word canon means measurement, body of principles, rules, standards, or norms
According to Smith’s Bible Dictionary: The Biblical Canon “may be generally described as the collection of books which form the original and authoritative written rule of the faith and practice of the Christian Church, i.e., the Old and New Testaments
The word canon in classical Greek, is properly a straight rod, a rule in the widest sense, and especially in the phrases: the rule of the Church, the rule of faith, and the rule of truth”

How were the books of the Old Testament canonized?

The books of Old Testament were well established by the Jewish community from the time of Moses (Torah), and was in use through the history of the Nation of Israel (Writings and the Prophets)
The Tanakh was translated into the Greek Septuagint and used in the first century AD/CE
Later translations are taken from the Massoretic text

The New Testament, and the Christian story, is an extension and fulfillment of the Old Testament

How were the books of the New Testament canonized?

In the first century AD/CE, as soon as the books were written, they were in use by the early Churches (Colossians 4:16; 2 Peter 3:15-16; 1 Timothy 5:18)
In the first and second centuries the churches in Corinth, Philippi, Thessalonica, Ephesus and Rome still possessed the autographs (the original writings) and many of the manuscripts (copies from the originals)
By the second and third centuries these manuscripts had been widely dispersed and were being used in the early Churches—this is evidenced by the early Church leaders’ lectionaries and quotations (over 1 million) from the books of the New Testament, and we can still reference them today

What standards were used to canonize the Bible?

Does it speak with God’s authority?

Is it consistent with God’s teachings throughout history?
Is there evidence of God’s Words and promises from Scripture?
Does it contain the Prophetic principle? —“Thus says the LORD”

Does it have the authentic stamp of God?

Do the teachings relate to truth and the truths of the Old Testament?
Are the teachings consistent with the teachings of Jesus, the Prophets and the Apostles?
Does it follow the past truth principle of previous revelation found in Scripture?

Does it impact us with the power of God?

Were miracles evidenced based on these teachings?
Was there evidence for changed lives in the life of the believers?

Was it accepted by the people of God?

The Patristic principle: Was it accepted by the early Church leaders?
Did the believers in the early church lived by it?
Was the Scripture found in the early believers’ personal item such as quotations, inscriptions, testimonies, etc.?

Was it supported by the other authors of Scripture?

Petrine principle: Did Peter support it?
Pauline principle: Did Paul support it?
Can it be referenced in other books of the Bible?

Greg Koukl, from Stand to Reason, explains how the books of the Bible were compiled:

New Testament Manuscript Families:

The Western Text: (2nd to 13th century)
- Includes two early second century manuscripts from the Old Latin and Syriac translations
- Used mainly in North Africa, and then early on in the west
- Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Cyprian used this text

The Alexandrian Text: (3rd to 12th century)
- Originated in Alexandria, Egypt and was used by the early Alexandrian Church fathers

The Caesarean Text: (3rd to 13th century)
- Thought to be a compilation of the Western and Alexandrian texts
- Origen and Eusebius are associated with this group of texts

Most of our modern English Bibles today are taken from one of these last two families. The difference between them is about 200 variants or the equivalent a few words:

The Proto-Alexandrian Texts/Critical Text:

(2nd to 4th Century)

Best known as the “Critical Text” because it has some of the oldest copies available including: Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, Papyrus 66 and the Bodmer Papyrus 75
The New American Standard Version (NASB), English Standard Version (ESV), and New International Version (NIV) reflect this family of texts

The Byzantine Text/Majority Text:

(5th to 10th Century)

Best known as the “Majority Text” because there are more available copies
Adopted in Constantinople and used as the common text in the Byzantine world
Martin Luther translated his German Bible from this family
The King James Version (KJV, NKJV) reflects this family of texts

Note: Next we will look at translations and versions that we have today process…

Reflection: Memorization Practice

To practice your memorization skills, and to improve your Biblical knowledge, practice memorizing the following things…

Review the Ministry Statement’s four focus points for your Christian Walk (from the “Class Introduction” post). Reflect on how you think you are doing in each area, or how you might make improvements.
Recite, and practice memorizing in order to tell the story, the 15 points for the Bible’s Big Picture from our previous post.
Recite, and practice memorizing the 27 books of the New Testament, in order by their categories.

Bible Study

(Review answers will be posted during the week so you can have a “leader’s guide” for your own studies)

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

NOTE: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for “Discussion” or “Going Deeper” questions.

Read Acts chapter 11 then, to the best of your ability, answer the following questions:

Peter reports in Jerusalem; the Church at Antioch

1. Read Chapter 11:1-18 with your table group

In the first part of this chapter Peter returns to Jerusalem:

a. What did the “circumcised” brethren accuse Peter of doing, and why?

b. How did Peter go about explaining what happened? How did they end up responding?

c. Going Deeper: Where in the Old Testament can we find promises about the Gentile “Nations” and in what context? (There are quite a few places – extra credit if you can find them all)

2. Read Chapter 11:19-30 with your table group

The second part of this chapter picks up with the “scattering of the Church”:

a. What caused the “scattering” and where did they go? What seemed to be the result of this scattering?

b. Who did the Apostles in Jerusalem send to Antioch, what did he do and what was his report back? Where did he go after this, and who did he bring back to Antioch?

c. What specific information does this passage give about the Church in Antioch? (Hint: verse 26)

d. Going Deeper: What did Agabus say in a prophecy, and are there sources to confirm this happened?

e. Discuss: Write down and share two or three things that you think are important to remember about chapter eleven.

Join us next week as we continue our “Case for the New Testament” and a study in Acts!

———————————————————————

You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15