Session 3: WCF Chapter I Of the Holy Scripture, Sections 2 and 3

CHAPTER I - Of the Holy Scripture 2. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these, The Old Testament …[the 39 books we use] The New Testament …[the 27 books we use], All which are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life.

Old Testament Law History Poetry “Major” Prophets “Minor” Prophets Genesis Joshua Job Isaiah Hosea Exodus Judges Psalms Jeremiah Joel Leviticus Ruth Proverbs Lamentations Amos Numbers 1 Samuel Ecclesiastes Ezekiel Obadiah Deuteronomy 2 Samuel Song of Solomon Daniel Jonah 1 Kings Micah 2 Kings Nahum 1 Chronicles Habakkuk 2 Chronicles Zephaniah Ezra Haggai Nehemiah Zechariah Esther Malachi New Testament Gospels Church History Pauline Epistles General Epistles Apocalypse Matthew Acts Romans Hebrews Revelation Mark 1 Corinthians James Luke 2 Corinthians 1 Peter John Galatians 2 Peter Ephesians 1 John Philippians 2 John Colossians 3 John 1 Thessalonians Jude 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon

Four Views on Inspiration 1. The Neo-orthodox View – God is so transcendent that words are inadequate; only direct revelation is possible. The Bible only serves as a witness of God, a human account. 2. The Dictation View – God directly wrote the Bible, verbatim. Humans merely took dictation. Jeremiah 30:2, Luke 1:1–4 3. The Limited Inspiration View – God gave general, doctrinal guidance, but human authors expressed themselves. Thus the Bible contains non-doctrinal human errors, e.g., history. 4. The Plenary Verbal Inspiration View – God inspired the entire Bible, down to every word. theopneustos – “God-breathed.” 2 Peter 1:21 The Chicago Statement on Bible Inerrancy (1978)

CHAPTER I - Of the Holy Scripture 3. The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the Scripture, and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings.

Apocrypha (“hidden” or “concealed”) – texts that are of unknown authorship, of doubtful authenticity, or not considered to be within a particular canon. Pseudepigrapha (“false texts”) – texts that falsely purport their authorship or have a falsely attributed authorship. Historic Works – texts that don’t purport themselves to speak on behalf of God or be divinely inspired. (e.g., Jewish Antiquities by Flavius Josephus)

Old Testament Apocrypha New Testament Apocrypha Pseudepigrapha 1 Esdras Dead Sea Scrolls The Apostles' Creed The Report of Pilate to Caesar The Books of Adam and Eve -- Translation of the Latin Version 2 Esdras Community Rule The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Laodiceans Gospel of Bartholomew Life of Adam and Eve -- Translation of the Slavonic Version 1 Maccabees The 'Zadokite' Document The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to Seneca (W/Seneca's to Paul) Gospel of Thomas Life of Adam and Eve -- Translation of the Greek Version (a/k/a The Apocalypse of Moses) 2 Maccabees Narrative of Joseph of Arimathaea The Acts of Paul and Thecla Gospel of Phillip The Apocalypse of Adam 3 Maccabees Epistle of the Apostles The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians Secret Gospel of Mark The Book of Adam 4 Maccabees Report of Pilate the Procurator The Second Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians Book of Marcion The Second Treatise of the Great Seth Letter of Jeremiah History of Joseph the Carpenter The General Epistle of Barnabas Excerpts From the Gospel of Mary 1 Enoch (Ethiopic Apocalypse of Enoch) The Prayer of Azariah Apocryphon of James (Another Version) The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians The Letter of Aristeas 1 Enoch Composit (Inc. Charles, Lawrence & Others) Baruch The Letter of Peter to Philip The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians The Didache 2 Enoch (Slavonic Book of the Secrets of Enoch) Prayer of Manassas Book of John the Evangelist The Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians Enoch (Another Version) Bel and the Dragon Ptolemy's Commentary on the Gospel of John Prologue The Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans Melchizedek Wisdom of Sirach Avenging of the Saviour The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians The Book of Abraham Wisdom of Solomon The Apocryphon of John (Long Version) The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans The Testament of Abraham Additions to Esther The Sentances of Sextus The Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp The Apocalypse of Abraham Tobit Book of Thomas the Contender The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians The Story of Asenath Judith Lost Books of the Bible Hermas Selections From the Book of Moses Susanna The Gospel of the Birth of Mary The First Book of Hermas (or Visions) Revelation of Moses Psalm 151 The Protevangelion (Another Version) The Second Book of Hermas (or Commands) The Assumption of Moses (Aka: the Testament of Moses) The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ Letters of Herod and Pilate The Martyrdom of Isaiah The Infancy Gospel of Thomas Composit The Lost Gospel According to Peter The Ascension of Isaiah Greek (A) The Gospel of Peter – Last The Revelation of Esdras Greek (B) The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philippians The Book of Jubilees Latin The Martyrdom of Ignatius Tales of the Patriarchs Infancy Compilation (All) The Martyrdom of Polycarp The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew Tertullian on Specticals The Book of the Apocalypse of Baruch (Aka: 2 Baruch) The Epistles of Jesus Christ and Abgarus King of Edessa (Another Version) Tertullian on Prayer The Greek Apocalypse of Baruch (Aka: 3 Baruch) The Gospel of Nicodemus (or Acts of Pontius Pilate) (Another Version) Tertullian on Patience Fragments of a Zadokite Work (Aka: the Damascus Document) Tertullian on Martyrs The Testament of Solomon

Inspiration Issues? The “Synoptic” Gospels – Matthew, Mark and Luke Hebrews

Controversy of the Week!

Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha Would you study Apocryphal or Pseudepigraphal works? Have you studied any of the Apocrypha or Pseudepigrapha?

Personal Personal Focus Focus

What does the canonization of the Bible say to you about God’s sovereignty? What does your interpretational view say about your view on the sovereignty of God?