1. How Did We Get The Books Of The Bible?
TeenSS Sunday June

2. An activity…
a b c d e f g h i j k

3. An activity…
a b c d e f g h i j k
How long is a metre? (From the dot)

4. 1. The Canon of scripture

5. 1. The Canon of scripture X

6. 1. The Canon of scripture Canon means measuring stick
So the canon of scripture means the measuring stick of what we believe
It’s the collection of books which we believe to be authoritative: the bible

7. What our church believes
“The divine inspiration and infallibility of the Holy Scripture, as originally given, and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.”
In other words we believe:
The bible is God's word
The bible is highest authority when it comes to what we believe and how we should live

9. 2. Potential problems

11. 2. Potential problems Issues arising:
Is there a higher authority than the bible?
Is there dodgy stuff in the bible?
Is there God's word that's not in the bible?

12. 3. The Old Testament

13. 3. The Old Testament The New Testament is usually the issue
Generally people are cool with the Old Testament
With one exception…

14. The issue is the Apocrypha
The Apocrypha – in Catholic bible
Extra books in the Old Testament, written between the OT and NT
Some history, some wisdom sayings, some poetry and prayers, extra bits to Daniel
Becomes part of the Catholic Canon in during the Council of Trent

15. Why not accept the Apocrypha?
Because it’s not what the temple accepted as scripture
Josephus lists the books the Jews in Judea see as being scripture
The temple, Jesus

16. Why not accept the Apocrypha?
The time for prophecy was over
50 Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! (Luke 11:50- 51)

17. Why not accept the Apocrypha?
The time for prophecy was over
27 So was there a great affliction in Israel, the like whereof was not since the time that a prophet was not seen among them. (1 Maccabees 9:27)

18. So how should we view the Apocrypha?
Not the word of God
The word of God’s people
Recording their history
Giving some of their wisdom
So it’s potentially helpful, but fallible

19. 4. The New Testament

20. 4.a) Two dodgy dudes Marcion (85-160AD)
Wants to choose what he can ignore
The mouse who nibbles away at the gospel. God of mercy without judgement. Supreme but not creator
Gets rid of the OT
Keeps most of Luke and Paul’s letters

21. 4.a) Two dodgy dudes Montanus (~150AD)
Wants to make himself equal with scripture
He and his female colleagues claim to be prophets of God led by the Holy Spirit
Sounds like they wanted their words to be treated as equal to or maybe even higher than Jesus, or Paul or anyone else

22. 4.b) Choosing the books The Need for a Canon
How can we tell what’s legit and what’s dodgy?
What was worth keeping, teaching, translating and dying for?
So people start making and comparing lists of the books that they have and use, that they see as legit, authoritative and useful

23. 4.b) Choosing the books General criteria:
Written by an apostle of God?
Verified by acts of God?
Tells the truth about God?
Transforms by the power of God?
Accepted by the people of God?
But this isn’t a documented systematic process, they just knew

24. ~6BC-~33AD: Jesus
~50-70 Paul writes (Galatians -> 2 Timothy)
~50s/60s: Mark and then Matthew
60s: Luke and Acts
Late 60s: 1,2 Peter, Hebrews, Jude
70: seige of Jerusalem, destruction of temple
85-95: John’s gospel, letters, Revelation
100 onwards: Ignatius, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Polycarp show the church using the scriptures

25. 4.b) Choosing the books By the mid 200’s there is a consensus:
Irenaeus: four gospels and four only (~180AD)
The Muratorian Fragment ( before 200AD)
Origen (early 200s)
And then once Constantine becomes emperor things can be formalised
First Council of Nicea (325AD)
Athanasius’ Easter letter of 367AD

27. 5. Implications for us
1. Confidence in the bible

28. 5. Implications for us 2. Being willing to sit under the bible
Don’t be like Marcion

29. 5. Implications for us 2. Being willing to sit under the bible
b) Don’t be like Montanus

30. 5. Implications for us 2. Being willing to sit under the bible
c) Be like the early church

31. Bibles in restricted nations often have more value than gold to believers. I have seen Christians in restricted nations smile and laugh like children at Christmas when they open a suitcase of smuggled-in Bibles and other Christian literature. Many feel blessed to have just one page of God’s word. They memorize their page, then trade with another believer and memorize that page as well. They know that if they go to prison, the only Bible they will have is the one hidden in their hearts (Psalm 119:11). Therefore, they make it their goal to memorize as much of Scripture as possible.

32. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psa 119:11)