Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are all from the 1 st century A.D. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are all from the 1 st century A.D. All scholars agree on that fact. All scholars agree on that fact. Writings closest to the events are the most reliable ones. Writings closest to the events are the most reliable ones. There were eyewitnesses who can either confirm or deny the account. There were eyewitnesses who can either confirm or deny the account.

All scholars agree on that fact. All scholars agree on that fact. This calls into question how these “lost” books contain the “real” version of Christianity. This calls into question how these “lost” books contain the “real” version of Christianity. A.Many are forgeries – They pretend to be written by others – This calls into question the reliability of content.

B.Many contain embellishments and legendary additions. – Canonical gospels are very restrained. – The “lost” gospels fill in the gaps. C.Many contain a Gnostic-style theology – Only emerge in the 2 nd century

A.The Apostles Were Eyewitnesses to the Events – Reliability increases if eyewitnesses wrote it. B.The Apostles Were Authoritative Eyewitnesses – The NT is connected to the apostles. – Jesus commissioned His apostles. – He warns those who reject the apostles’ authority. – They had the authority of Christ Himself and were His mouthpiece. – Their teachings were the foundation of the church.

B.The Apostles Were Authoritative Eyewitnesses – To know true Christian message, refer to the teaching of the apostles. – The church valued apostolic books. – “Apocryphal” books were name after apostles to gain credibility. – The early church was in a better position to ascertain authorship than modern scholars.

Critical scholars claimed the NT was not used as Scripture till the end of the 2 nd century. Critical scholars claimed the NT was not used as Scripture till the end of the 2 nd century. This concept was not a later development, but is present in the earliest stages of Christianity. This concept was not a later development, but is present in the earliest stages of Christianity.

2 Peter 3: Peter 3:15-16 – Paul’s letter on par with the Old Testament. – Peter mentions multiple letters of Paul, indicating that he was aware of some sort of collection. – He assumes his audience is aware of this as well. It wasn’t a new or novel idea. – Apostolic letters had a scriptural status. – Peter expected his letters to be received with the same authority.

1 Tim 5:18 1 Tim 5:18 – Latter quote is from Luke 10:7 – Not oral tradition because he said, “The Scripture says.” This concept shows the canon was not a later development but some innate to the early Christian faith. This concept shows the canon was not a later development but some innate to the early Christian faith.

Critical scholars claim the apocryphal gospels were just as popular as the canonical ones. Critical scholars claim the apocryphal gospels were just as popular as the canonical ones. Irenaeus: “There are four zones of the world in which we live and four principle winds… [and] the cherubim, too, were four-faced.” Irenaeus: “There are four zones of the world in which we live and four principle winds… [and] the cherubim, too, were four-faced.” He pointed out that only these four gospels are recognized by the church. He pointed out that only these four gospels are recognized by the church.

Why listen to Irenaeus? Why listen to Irenaeus? – He was the disciple of Polycarp who was the disciple of John the Apostle. – He is only one person removed from the very source itself. Some critical scholars suggested that only Irenaeus held this view. Some critical scholars suggested that only Irenaeus held this view.

A.Irenaeus’ Own Writing – He assumes the reader knows these same gospels. – He doesn’t write like these books are a new concept. B.Irenaeus’ Contemporaries – Tatian’s Diatesseron: A harmony of the gospels. C.Irenaeus’ Predecessors

This contains our earliest list of books in the NT. This contains our earliest list of books in the NT. Hence, the central core of the NT was established. Hence, the central core of the NT was established. There were some disagreement over a handful of books. There were some disagreement over a handful of books.

A.The debate was over only a handful of books – It was not an open, free-for-all. – There was an agreed-upon core. B.The theology was already determined before this – Core doctrines were already established. – The acceptance or rejection of these books would not change that fact.

Those highly critical of the NT conclude that our NT writings are nothing special. Those highly critical of the NT conclude that our NT writings are nothing special. A.The Manner of Citation – Non-canonical literature are not cited as Scripture. – These books are helpful and illuminating. – NT canon overwhelmingly cited as Scripture.

B.Frequency of Citation – NT Canon cited with greater frequency – Cited 16 times more often than non-canonical ones. – Clement cited Matthew 757 times. The NT has been settled for over 1,600 years. The NT has been settled for over 1,600 years.

Nicea’s goal was how to articulate belief about the divinity of Jesus. Nicea’s goal was how to articulate belief about the divinity of Jesus. Which council voted on the NT books? Which council voted on the NT books? – This reason assumes that it had to be decided by a church council. – Regional councils didn’t just “pick” books they liked. – They recognized these books as foundational. – They declared the way things had been, not the way they wanted them to be. – They didn’t determine the canon, only recognizing.

The NT canon was not determined by a council but by a consensus. The NT canon was not determined by a council but by a consensus. The canon is not just a man-made construct. The canon is not just a man-made construct. The same was true for the OT canon. The same was true for the OT canon. There was widespread consensus for the OT. There was widespread consensus for the OT. Humans didn’t determine the canon, they responded to it. Humans didn’t determine the canon, they responded to it.

The development of the canon was not a problem-free process. The development of the canon was not a problem-free process. Some books were disputed. Some books were disputed. God gave His books through ordinary, historical means, and it is not always smooth. God gave His books through ordinary, historical means, and it is not always smooth.

A.These Disputes Only Affected a Handful of Books – Not every book was equally disputed. – Vast majority were in place. B.The Extent of these Disputes Are Overestimated – Origen accepts 2 Peter. – No reason to think most Christians rejected these books. Origen was acknowledging the minority report.

C.The Church Eventually Reached Consensus – The church was unified regarding these writings. – Critics suggest this fact should be disregarded. – Why should disagreements be significant and unity not be? Assumption: If these writings be from God, there should be few dissenters and universal agreement. Assumption: If these writings be from God, there should be few dissenters and universal agreement.

A.How does the critic know the manner in which God gives His books? B.Some disputes are inevitable The overly-pristine expectation is not from Scripture. The overly-pristine expectation is not from Scripture. God uses normal, historical processes to accomplish His ends. God uses normal, historical processes to accomplish His ends.

Christians appealed to the internal qualities of NT books. Christians appealed to the internal qualities of NT books. They bore certain attributes that distinguished them as being from God. They bore certain attributes that distinguished them as being from God. “My sheep hear my voice.” (John 10:27) “My sheep hear my voice.” (John 10:27) Objection: Why are they rejected by so many? Objection: Why are they rejected by so many? Answer: The Holy Spirit helps us see with objectivity. Answer: The Holy Spirit helps us see with objectivity.

Objection: How can Christians claim they are the only ones who can see the truth while other are blinded to it? Objection: How can Christians claim they are the only ones who can see the truth while other are blinded to it? Answer: It is biblically consistent that a person without the Spirit can’t discern spiritual things. Answer: It is biblically consistent that a person without the Spirit can’t discern spiritual things. A tone-deaf person can’t discern if a note is on key. A tone-deaf person can’t discern if a note is on key. These books impose themselves through their internal qualities. These books impose themselves through their internal qualities.