HOW THE BIBLE CAME TO BE Canonicity Chuck Gianotti March 2006

The Bible and Christian tradition claim that the Bible is God's direct verbal communication with us, and is the infallible source for instructions in life and values.

If the foundations are destroyed what can the righteous do? Matthew 7:24-27

Necessary Steps From God To Us REVELATION: God’s mind  mind of original writers INSPIRATION: Writers’ minds  original text CANONIZATION: Original text  post-apostolic acceptance TRANSMISSION: Accepted texts  manuscript copies (MSS) TRANSLATION: MSS copies  contemporary translations ILLUMINATION: Contemp. transl.  our minds/hearts

Definition: CANON “It means something straight or something to keep straight; and hence also a rule or something ruled or measured. It came to be applied to the Scriptures, to denote that they contained the authoritative rule of faith and practice, the standard of doctrine and duty.”

Definition: CANON Canonization is not the process of making a book to be Scripture by human decision. Rather, it is the process of recognizing that a book is inspired. A book would be inspired of God whether or not people recognized it as such.

Overview  The importance of this study  External – evidence of history  Internal – Bible’s claims about itself Claims of Jesus words (Matt 7:24-27, 24:35) Claims of Jesus words (Matt 7:24-27, 24:35) Bible’s claims for itself (2 Tim 3:16, 2 Pet 1:21) Bible’s claims for itself (2 Tim 3:16, 2 Pet 1:21) Bible’s warnings (Rev 22:18-19) Bible’s warnings (Rev 22:18-19)  If not true, then it’s a hoax.

Overview  Assaults on the integrity of the Bible  Current attacks  Nothing new

The Original Witnesses  12 disciples purportedly appointed to be Jesus’ official witnesses But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26 But you [i.e. the Apostles] … will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8

The Original Witnesses  12 disciples purportedly appointed to be Jesus’ official witnesses  Paul was purportedly appoint to be Jesus’ official spokesman … Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 2 Peter 3:15-16

The Eye-Witness Claims  John claimed to be eye-witness (1 John 1:1-3)  Peter claimed to be eye-witness (2 Peter 1:16-18)  Luke claimed to be accurate researcher (Luke 1:1-4)  Paul claimed to be eye-witness, appealed to eye-witnesses (1Cor 15:5-8)  Writer of Hebrews appealed to eye-witnesses (Heb 2:3-4)

“Some writers may toy with the fancy of a ‘Christ-myth,’ but they do not do so on the ground of historical evidence. The historicity of Christ is as axiomatic for an unbiased historian as the historicity of Julius Caesar. It is not the historians who propagate the ‘Christ-myth’ theories.” F. F. Bruce

PROBLEM  Jesus didn’t pen any writings himself  Witnesses spread the teachings of Jesus orally.  Some put into writing their testimony of Christ and his teachings.  After they died, other writings began to appear claiming apostolic authority.  Succeeding generation were faced with determining which writings were authentic and authoritative.

PROBLEM  They were concerned about corruptions of their teachings after they were gone (2 Peter 2:1, Acts 20:29-30)  They reportedly made provisions for their teachings to be preserved and circulated (2 Tim 2:2, Col 4:16)

The Historical Process  The process of investigation.  What do we have to work with?  No original documents  1000’s of copies and quotes from NT writings Manuscripts (MSS) Manuscripts (MSS) Lectionaries Lectionaries Ancient Translations Ancient Translations Quotes found in early church writings Quotes found in early church writings

The Rylands Papyrus 457 (a.k.a. P52) discovered in Egypt; dated not later than A.D Its present location is John Rylands Library in Manchester. John 18:31-32, 37-38

Chester Beatty Papyrus II (3 rd century) Romans 15:29-33, 16:25-27 Bruce Metzger, The Text of the New Testament, 2 nd ed., Plate II.

Codex Sinaiticus (4th century) John 21:1-25 Bruce Metzger, The Text of the New Testament, 2 nd ed., Plate IV.

A tattered page from the Geneva Bible ca. 1578

NUMBER OF MSS EXTANT 75 papyri MSS (A.D ) 75 papyri MSS (A.D ) John Rylands Fragment (A.D ) - oldest John Rylands Fragment (A.D ) - oldest Chester Beatty Papyri (A.D. 250) - most of the NT Chester Beatty Papyri (A.D. 250) - most of the NT Total: 5,015 MSS 1,997 Lectionaries (7th-12th cent) 2,646 parchment-minuscule MSS (9-15th cent) Oldest family of texts dates from 10th century 297 parchment-uncials MSS (4-9th cent.) Codex Vaticanus A.D – Oldest parchment

Comparing # of MSS  Homer’s Iliad 643  Caesar’s Gallic Wars 10  Livy’s History of Rome 20  Tacitus Annals of Imperial Rome 2  New Testament5,015

Comparing time to first MSS  Caesar’s Gallic Wars 900 years  Tacitus’ Annals of Imperial Rome 800 years  Homer’s Iliad (earliest fragments) 400 years  New Testament  Complete MSS 300 years  Most of the NT less than 200 years  Some books about 100 years  One fragment within 1 generation

Canonicity Began With The Apostles  The authority of the Apostles  Oral tradition

For I did not, like the multitude, take pleasure in those who spoke much, but in those who taught the truth … in those who rehearsed the commandments given by the Lord to faith, and proceeding from truth itself. If, then, any one who had attended on the elders came, I asked minutely after their sayings, — what Andrew or Peter said, or what was said by Philip, or by Thomas, or by James, or by John, or by Matthew, or by any other of the Lord’s disciples … For I imagined that what was to be got from books was not so profitable to me as what came from the living and abiding voice. Papias, Oracles, 1 (early 2 nd century)

Canonicity Began With The Apostles  The authority of the Apostles  Oral tradition  References to the four-fold gospel begin to surface in beginning of the 2 nd century

Let us act according to that which is written (for the Holy Spirit saith, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, neither let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in the Lord, in diligently seeking Him, and doing judgment and righteousness”), being especially mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus which He spake, teaching us meekness and long-suffering. For thus He spoke: “Be ye merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; forgive, that it may be forgiven to you; as ye do, so shall it be done unto you; as ye judge, so shall ye be judged; as ye are kind, so shall kindness be shown to you; with what measure ye mete, with the same it shall be measured to you.” 1st Clement to Corinthians

Canonicity Began With The Apostles  The authority of the Apostles  Oral tradition  References to the 4-fold gospel begin to surface in beginning of the 2 nd century  Gospel according to Matthew  Gospel according to Mark

Mark became Peter’s interpreter and wrote down accurately all that he remembered, whether the sayings or the doings of the Lord, but not in order—for he had neither heard the Lord nor followed him, but followed Peter later on, as I said. Peter was accustomed to teach as occasion required, but not as though he were making a compilation of the dominical oracles. So Mark made no mistake in writing down certain things as he called them to mind; for he paid attention to one thing: to omit none of the things he had heard and to make no false statements in any of them. Papias (ca. AD ) Canonicity Began With The Apostles

 Gospel according to Luke  Gospel according to John  The authority of the Apostles  Oral tradition  References to the 4-fold gospel begin to surface in beginning of the 2 nd century  Gospel according to Matthew  Gospel according to Mark

Canonicity Began With The Apostles  Acts  The authority of Paul’s writings.  The General Epistles of James, Peter, John, Jude  Epistle to the Hebrews (anonymous)

Circulation of the Apostolic Writings  Copies of Mark circulated to Matthew and Luke  Paul’s letters circulated almost immediately  Peter refers to “… in all Paul’s epistles” (1 Peter 3:15-16)  1 Peter was written to Christians in wide geo. area  Forgeries of Paul began to surface

The Apostolic Fathers  Clement of Rome (AD 95-96)  Ignatius of Antioch (110)  Didache ( )  Papias of Hierapolis (130?)  Epistle of Barnabas (130?)  Polycarp of Smyrna ( )  Shepherd of Hermas ( )

INFLUENCES ON DEVELOPMENT OF THE CANON  Apostolic Roots  Spread of False Teaching  Judaizers (Apostolic times)  Gnostics (2 nd -5 th centuries)

Absolute Truth Demiurge (God of Bible) Creation Emanations

INFLUENCES ON DEVELOPMENT OF THE CANON  Apostolic Roots  Spread of False Teaching  Judaizers (Apostolic times)  Gnostics (2 nd -5 th centuries)  Marcionites (2 nd century)  Montanists(last half of 2 nd century)

INFLUENCES ON DEVELOPMENT OF THE CANON  Apostolic Roots  Spread of False Teaching  Persecution  Book Making Practices

SUMMARY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CANON  General pattern of acceptance  Four Gospels (end of Apostolic period)  Paul’s writings, Acts, Revelation (end of 1 st cent.)  Rest of NT debated, took longer to be accepted.  Some other books debated, but rejected.

SUMMARY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CANON  General pattern of acceptance  No ecclesiastical headquarters  Recitations in church services

SUMMARY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CANON “Although the fringes of the emerging canon remained unsettled for generations, a high degree of unanimity concerning the greater part of the NT was attained among the very diverse and scattered congregations of believers not only throughout the Mediterranean world but also over an area extending from Britain to Mesopotamia. By the end of the third century and the beginning of the fourth century, the great majority of the twenty-seven books that still later came to be widely regarded as the canonical NT were almost universally acknowledged to be authoritative.” Bruce Metzger

CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION  Apostolic authority  Acceptance by the churches  Affirmed spiritual validation The canon has been considered to be closed since the 4 th century!

THE APOCRYPHA  Came from the Septuagint (LXX)  Writings  Esdras  Tobit and Judith  Prayer of Azariah, etc.  Ecclesiasticus  1& 2 Maccabbeees, Psalm 151  Additions to varrious OT books  Etc.

OTHER NON-CANONICAL WRITINGS

GNOSTIC WRITINGS  Gospel OF Thomas (A.D. 140)  Gospel of Philip (2 nd century)  Exegesis of the soul (A.D. 200)

For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith Hebrews 4:2 Hebrews 4:2 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ Romans 10:17