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Text: 1
Corinthians 2
What is the Canon?
“Canon” (Samarian, “reed) was “a
measuring stick,” “rule,” “standard.”
Canon of Bible is the list of inspired books
which belong to Scripture.
Basic Evidence:
Totally consistent
Written over a period of more than 1500 years
Written by more than forty different writers
No errors or inconsistencies; prophetic accuracy
Misconceptions:
Canon developed slowly by religious leaders over
long period of time.
Canon decided by Council of Trent in 1546.
Old Testament:
Jews held inspired leaders and their writings
sacred from time written.
Copies preserved very early (see Dead Sea
Schrolls; fragments to 250 BC)
New Testament:
Churches accepted epistles and gospels because
came from apostles (1
Thes. 2:13; 1 Cor. 14:37; 2 Pet. 3:15-16)
They were kept and read in churches (1
Thes. 5:27; Col. 4:1)
They were copied and circulated (Col.
4:16; 2 Thes. 2:15; 3:14-17; Rev. 1:4)
Books known uninspired were not copied and
distributed.
List essentially established by 130 A.D.
“Church fathers” copied much of epistles and
gospels in their letters.
Evidence for the Old Testament
(How do we know we have the right books?)
Evidence from authorship
Evidence from integration
Evidence from connecting links
Evidence from factual interrelationship
Evidence from corroboration
Evidence from acceptance
Why we reject the Apocryphal books?
They do not meet the above tests
They appeared after God silenced prophecy (see Mal.
4:5-6)
They were not accepted by the Jews
They were not accepted by the Septuagent
translators
Most of the writings were anonymous and did not
claim inspiration
None were quoted in the New Testament
They all contain material which contradicts other
Bible facts or teaching
Evidence for the New Testament
Evidence from Apostolic connection
Evidence from internal claims of inspiration
Evidence from consistency in content
Evidence from acceptance
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
Franklin
Church of Christ
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