The Biblical Canon

• The canon of the Bible is the officially accepted list of books.
• The church did not create the books now recognized as Scripture.
• The church recognized those books which were inspired from their inception.
• The canon is history's first line of defense against fraudulent revelation.
• The original canon gives an ancient perspective on Biblical authenticity.

• Was it authoritative? Did it come from the hand of God and state so?
• Was it prophetic? Was it written by a man of God?
• Was it authentic? The fathers had the attitude of "If in doubt, throw it out."
• Was it dynamic? Did it come with the life transforming power of God?
• Was it received, collected, read & used? Was it accepted by people of God?

• The Hebrew canon had three sections: The Law, The Prophets & The Writings.
• These three sections had the same material that is in the Old Testament today.
• The number of books was not the same due to different divisions of some books.
• The earliest record of the three sections is 130 B.C. (Ecclesiasticus).
• Jesus referred to the three sections in Luke 24:27 & 44.
• The earliest recorded detailed list is 170 A.D. (Melito, Bishop of Sardis).

• Books that did not meet the requirements of the canon are called Apocrypha.
• The following characteristics are typified by Apocryphal literature:

Historical and geographical inaccuracies & anachronisms.
False doctrine & practices at variance with Scripture.
Literary types & artificial subject matter & style varied from Scripture.

 
• In 1546 the Catholic Church canonized many Old Testament Apocryphal books.
• Of course, increased time from the original contexts distorts perspective.
• Earlier canons have an advantage in historical accuracy over later attempts.

• The same criteria was used for determining the New Testament canon.
• In addition, the book was to be authored or approved by an apostle.
• The earliest recorded detailed list is 367 A.D. (Athanasius of Alexandria).
• The earliest church counsel listing is 393 A.D. (Synod of Hippo).
• While New Testament Apocryphal books exist, they have not been recognized.

• The stringent criteria of the canons testify of the authenticity of the Bible.