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Monday, July 18, 2005 |
A Canon At Carthage?
Understanding The Canon Of Scripture
Are we to accept the premise that 300 years passed with confusion while believers waited for the church to decide in 397 A.D. what was to be the Scripture? The truth is that we can produce almost the entire New Testament we have today from early church writings in the first three centuries A.D.- exclusive of the actual books included in the Canon of Scripture. What does "Canon" mean? The Greek word for "standard" or "rule", kanon, was used in early Christian circles to mean "the standard of faith" - the standard in which we measure and evaluate something that is true or right and from God. Over time, the word kanon, which can be found in Galatians 6:16, has come to be associated with the books commonly recognized as belonging to the Bible. - And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Galatians 6:16
Why did the Church really need for a "Canon of Scripture"? As the church grew and as the eyewitnesses to the life of both Jesus and the Apostles passed away, there was a need to establish a standard of Scripture for a variety of reasons to include: - There were false canons that were being presented as authoritative - example: Marcion.
- There were apocryphal gospels, acts and epistles that were being written and represented falsely - examples: Epistle of Barnabas.
- The Montanist Movement had arisen and this early movement placed much emphasis on charismatic prophecy, with these prophecies being given the same authority as the writings of the Old Testament and the writings of Jesus and the Apostles.
- As Church services/meetings featured readings from the writings of the Apostles. there was a need to understand which writings could be confidently read and represented as Apostolic during these services.
- The times of persecution in which there were extreme penalties for possessing sacred writings presented the need for people to understand which writings were in fact sacred and worth dying for if possessed - example: Diocletian persecution of those possessing sacred writings.
What were the key tasks of the early church fathers in determining the Canon of Scripture? Early Church fathers faced two key tasks in determining the place of early writings: - The task of determining which writings were authentic.
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 - The task of determining which writings belonged in the Bible.
What were the selection criteria for Canon of Scripture inclusion? While most books in Canon were accepted from their very inception, full consensus within the Church concerning the accepted New Testament Canon of Scripture was not reached until 397 AD at the Third Council of Carthage. Considerations of early church fathers for selection and inclusion of writings into the Canon of Scripture include: -
Were the books inspired? Not that the authors were "inspired" or that the reader became "inspired" by reading the books, but that the books were written by writers inspired with supernatural ability to write the exact words that God wanted written, just like the writers of the Old Testament. This test appears to have been incredibly subjective - yet as it was only one test - hence not used in a vacuum in determining acceptance into Canon - it certainly provided value in Canon selection. -
Did the books carry apostolic authority? Was the author an apostle or was he connected to an apostle (known as a apostolic legate). An example of this is Mark wrote under Peter's authority and Luke wrote his Gospel and book of Acts under Paul’s authority. Was the book accepted and received by the other apostles who were eye witnesses? Such as when Peter stated that Paul's writings were considered Scripture as they were being written (2 Peter 3:15-16). -
Were the books accepted by the overall church? Did the people bear witness of book by the Holy Spirit and did the book not conflict with the already revealed body of Scripture? -
Were the books authoritative? Did they come as "thus saith the Lord"? Was God's voice recognizable in them? Did they have the life transforming power of God when they were applied? Were they consistent with the word of God? What are the New Testament books that are included in our Canon of Scripture today? From 397 AD / Third Council of Carthage - Historical Books - 5 books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts
- Pauline Epistles - 13 books: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians. 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon
- Non-Pauline Epistles - 9 books: Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation
- Pentateuch - 5 books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
- Historical Books - 12 books: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Samuel, Second Samuel, First Kings, Second Kings, First Chronicles, Second Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.
- Poetical - 5 books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
- Prophetical - 17 books:
- Major Prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
- Minor Prophets - Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
* In Roman Catholicism, additional books are included in the Canon of Scripture. These books are known as the apocryphal books: Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, The Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), and Baruch. Interestingly, Cardinal Cajetan, a leading Roman Catholic scholar at the time of the Reformation in the sixteenth century, clearly states that the Apocryphal books are not canonical and cannot be used to confirm matters of faith. Were there Canons of Scripture prior to the Third Council of Carthage? Yes, there appears to have been canons of Scripture as canons prior to the establishment at the Third Council of Carthage of the Canon of Scripture we acknowledge today. These Canons include: -
The Muratorian Fragment (c. 170) The Muratorian Fragment is the oldest known list of New Testament books. It was discovered by Ludovico Antonio Muratori in a manuscript in the Ambrosian Library in Milan, and published by him in 1740. -
Melito (c. 170). Melito was bishop of the church in Sardis, an inland city of Asia Minor. His list gives the Hebrew canon minus Esther, and makes no mention of any of the disputed books. This list was published abroad and recommended by Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea. - Origen (c. 240). Origen was an influential teacher in Alexandria, the chief city of Egypt. His canon is known from the compilation made by Eusebius for his Church History. He accepted Hebrews as Scripture while entertaining doubts about its author.
- Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 324). Eusebius of Caesarea was an early historian of the Church. His list was included in his Church History. He ascribed Hebrews to Paul.
- Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 350). Cyril of Jerusalem was a bishop of Jerusalem. The omission of Revelation from his list is due to a general reaction against this book in the east after excessive use was made of it by the Montanist cults.
- Hilary of Poitiers (c. 360). Hilary of Poitiers was a bishop of that city (in Gaul). He lists only the books of the Hebrew canon, but mentions that some add Tobit and Judith.
- The Cheltenham List (c. 360). The Cheltenham list is a list contained in a tenth-century Latin manuscript of miscellaneous content, probably from Africa.
- Council of Laodicea (c. 363). Council of Laodicea. The authenticity of this list of canonical books has been doubted by many scholars because it is absent from various manuscripts containing the decrees of the regional (Galatian) Council. The list may have been added later. On the omission of Revelation see Cyril of Jerusalem.
- Letter of Athanasius (367). Athanasius was the bishop of Alexandria. His list was published as part of his Easter Letter in 367. After the list he declares, "these are the wells of salvation, so that he who thirsts may be satisfied with the sayings in these. Let no one add to these. Let nothing be taken away."
- Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 380). Gregory of Nazianzus was bishop of Constantinople from 378 to 382.
- Amphilocius of Iconium (c. 380). Amphilocius of Iconium was bishop of Iconium in Galatia.
- The "Apostolic Canons" (c. 380). The Apostolic Canons was one of many additions made by the final editor of an ancient Syrian book of church order called The Apostolic Constitutions. The whole document purports to be from the apostles, but this imposture is not taken seriously by any scholar today. Nevertheless, the work is useful as evidence for the opinions of a part of the Syrian churches towards the end of the fourth century. The list of canonical books was probably added about the year 380.
- Rufinus of Aquileia (c. 380). Rufinus was an elder in the church in Aquileia (northeast Italy), and a friend of Jerome.
- Epiphanius (c. 385). Epiphanius was bishop of Salamis (isle of Cyprus) from 367 to 402.
- Jerome (c. 390). Jerome was born near Aquileia, lived in Rome for a time, and spent most of his later life as a monk in Syria and Palestine. He was the most learned churchman of his time, and was commissioned by the bishop of Rome to produce an authoritative Latin version (the Vulgate).
- Augustine (c. 397). Augustine was bishop of Hippo (in the Roman colony on the northern coast of western Africa). He was the first major figure in the Church to set forth a list which included all of the disputed Old Testament books without making any distinction between the fully canonical Hebrew books and the lesser books derived from the Septuagint.
- Third Council of Carthage (397). The Third Council of Carthage was not a general council but a regional council of African bishops, much under the influence of Augustine.
References:
5:30:31 PM 
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Fan Club Member? Don't Be Just A Fan Club Member!
There you are, a bona fide and certified member of a very important person's (VIP) Fan Club. And finally, after all of these years of being a Fan Club member you have the chance to meet the Fan Club's object of adoration, the VIP himself, in person. Yes, you have an opportunity after all of your reading, study, discussions, club meetings, and joint adoration activities with other Fan Club members, to finally get an opportunity to get to know and spend an incredible amount of one on one time with the person whom the Fan Club adores. The chance is yours for the taking to translate your knowing about the VIP into actually knowing the VIP. However, after much thought, you chose to be content with just being a Fan Club member who knows about, not knows, the VIP and you decide not to take advantage of the personal relationship opportunity. Pretty smart move right?
Well, believe it or not, one might apply this same scenario to his/her consideration of Jesus Christ and "the church" and be really surprised with how smart their moves truly appear.
Let me explain.
Are you part of the church? Simple question, right? Well, when you consider that there really does appear to be a great difference between being part of "Jesus' church" - the church that Jesus Christ established and that is shared with us in God's word to man (the Bible), and the "institutional church" - the church established over time by man as man's response to his experience with God, the answer may not be as simple as you would think.
- And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18
To become a part of "Jesus' church", one must believe in Jesus Christ. This belief in Jesus Christ is more than just an intellectual assent to the existence of a man named Jesus, but consists of a belief that truly recognizes Jesus Christ as the Son of God and acknowledges this fact through genuinely seeking to know and follow Christ with every aspect of one's life. It is through this belief in Jesus that one can actually have God living in him - or stated another way - can actually have a personal relationship with God.
- If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 1 John 4:15
On the other hand, to become part of the "institutional church" one may not have to really do anything other than associate with a group of people who are participants in the institutional church's activities. Sure, to become a member of an institutional church one may have to "agree in concept" with the institutional church's view of God, it's traditions, and possibly it's statements of belief. However, believe it or not, some groups within the institutional church do not even require one to agree with anything they teach. And, most importantly, one may not even have a personal relationship with God and still be considered a strong, vibrant, contributing member of an institutional church. Kind of like a Fan Club Member who truly adores the Fan Club VIP, yet when given an opportunity to demonstrate that adoration, they chose not to get to know the VIP personally.
Is there overlap between Jesus' church and the institutional church? Well, I think it safe to say that while only God truly knows, it does appear that individuals who are part of Jesus' church do participate within the institutional church. However, it can also be safely stated that only those who believe in Jesus Christ and have God living in them - or stated another way - have a personal relationship with God - are members of Jesus' church.
As members of Jesus' church, people actually know the object of their adoration personally. As members of the institutional church, people may just be members of a fan club - members who do not know personally the object of their adoration.
Are you a member of Jesus' church? If not, today is a great day to become a member of His church - and get to know Jesus Christ personally. He wants to get to know you and invites you to become a "Very Important Member" today! Take advantage of His invitation while it is extended - and be more than just a Fan Club Member.
7:20:24 AM
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