The Canonization Of Scripture

How did we get the Bible? What factors led to the canonization of what we now call the New Testament Scriptures?

The Canon Of Scripture or The Bible is a collection, believed by the early church, to be actual stories and events written and collaborated by men under God’s instruction by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Old Testament is made up of the Jewish law given to the Israelites by God through Moses. It also includes some poetry, prophecy and history of the Jewish people.

The New Testament is made up of historical accounts of Jesus ministry on Earth, letters from some of Jesus closest followers to other churches of encouragement, discipline or edification, and some prophecy in the book of Revelation.

The OT came under little dispute as it’s content is has been with the Jews for a long time and taken care of by the tribe of Levi. This content was easily added. The NT however was not as easy to simply give the thumbs up to.

While most of the books that are in our modern Bible were without question added there were some disputed books that just made it into the mix. Hebrews was disputed, as were 2^nd and 3^rd John, due to the fact that there is not a listed author; and James, 2^nd Peter, Jude, and Revelation were disputed due to some content issues.

The question however still remains as to how the process of canonization came about for the Bible, specifically the NT, as we currently know it?

From the time of the death of the last apostle to c.140 all of the books in the NT had been written and were being circulated among the Christian community.

The phrase “New Testament” is first used by Ignacious in 110 when he says, “The Old Testament is good but, the New Testament is better.” This was not saying the OT was worthless or useless simply that the NT was a better addition to the OT.

Marcion, is probably best known for being the first to compile a list of books for the NT Canon. He did this because he felt that the OT Hebrew Scriptures were inferior and that it should not be read in the church or used as a basis for Christian instruction. The early church responded to this by forming it’s own Canon which included the OT Scriptures.

Origen played a part in helping to understand which books should and should not be included in the N.T. and actually had some issues with James, 2^nd Peter, and 2^nd & 3^rd John. However by c.340-400 Most of the 27 books had been agreed upon. Athanasius created a list which he presumed would be the canon and it is in fact the 27 books of the NT which we have now.

This list went through the approval of the Council of Laodicea in 363, the Council of Hippo in 292, and finally the Council of Carthage in 397 where the Canon we know today was made official.

Jiffy Lube Morning

I'm getting my oil changed at Jiffy Lube and taking advantage of their WiFi to write a little bit here. I'm sitting next to a gentlemen who is very obviously homosexual. My suspicions were confirmed when he saw my shirt (Thomas Road Baptist Church - Love God. Love People.) and quickly turned his head up with a "hmph, yeah right". And returned to the news. He and I have been watching the news reports on the shooting at the Holocaust Museum in D.C. I say out loud to him, "It's unbelievable isn't it." Without looking at me he replies, "That's what hate will do to you people." I tried to be cordial and conversational for the rest of the time we were here together before his car was ready and he went off on his way. I wanted to be loving to him as much I could. I didn't want him to feel like I was alienating him. I've read through the passages in Scripture that express homosexuality as sin. I think it's a mistake to call it more of a sin that drinking, or gluttony. I feel it's a gross hypocrisy to see it as anything different. This next statement might get me some weird looks. If it were not for the Bible saying that homosexuality is wrong and me believing everything that the Bible says to be true, I would have no problem with a monogamous homosexual couple being married. If the Bible didn't say it was wrong then I wouldn't have a problem. If it was all based on "feelings" and "emotions" (which I don't believe true love is based on anyway but, that's another blog) then I wouldn't have a problem. The truth is though that God didn't design us as having a choice to be homosexual. He designed the family unit as male and female. What is the best way for me to love that gentlemen? I don't agree with his lifestyle but, I know God loves him and has a plan for his life. I will be the best example of Jesus I possibly can be. I will love him. God break my heart for what breaks Yours.

I've Been Thinking A Lot Lately About...

I've been thinking a lot lately about this thing we have called a "relationship" with God. It makes me thankful I have a God who stirs in my heart and moves and speaks to me and calls me to know Him more. I'm thankful that my God doesn't sit on fluffy white clouds with lightning bolts and little Angel Soft Cupids flying around trying to sell toilet paper. I'm glad my God is intimate with me and knows me and longs to know me more.

I've been thinking a lot lately about what Francis Chan talked about in his session at the Innovate Church Conference this week. Specifically about opening God's Word and reading it like it's the first time you've ever read it. Reading it while putting away preconceived notions and looking for the "obvious truths" in the text. What are the obvious conclusions we come to? An example of this he gave was simply "Do you mean to tell me you read the Scriptures and when you are done the obvious conclusion you get is that you need to say a prayer to ask Jesus into your heart?" The truth is that this is not what we see Jesus saying about following Him. Jesus calls us to a deeper relationship with Him in which we abandon everything and run whole heartedly toward our God.

I wish I could lock myself in a room with a source of water and a vegetable tray and my Bible and just go cover to cover on the Bible. I want so badly to do this... I just have to plan it out.