1. Canon - a "straight rod" meaning that it could be used to measure something else.
2. Some confusion over books of the early Apostolic Fathers, plus the false literature, led to the need for a canon, for knowing which Books were considered to be inspired.
3. The process of canonization occurred over several centuries. Certain Books came to be recognized as Scripture.
4. From 100AD to 200AD => circulation of the New Testament Books. Clement and Ignatius had certain Books of the New Testament. They quoted from those Books. The middle of the second century was Justin Martyr, Anaxagorus, and Polycarp, and they quoted from them.
5. From 200AD to 400AD => Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, and Tertullian
a. Clement wrote seven books on interpreting Scripture, piety, and the meaning of certain passages. He identified practically all twenty-seven Books of the New Testament.
b. Tertullian (lived in Africa and wrote in Latin) - Father to the West. He also identified almost all twenty-seven Books of the New Testament.
c. Irenaeus - His testimony comes from John (John => Polycarp => Irenaeus). Polycarp sat at the feet of John and then taught Irenaeus.
6. These three men were at different times in history but said basically the same thing. Know them, where they were, and what they said.
7. The ruling principles of canonization
a. Apostolic Authorship - had to have seen the risen Christ
b. Church Testimony and Use - some churches received specific epistles.
c. Doctrinal Reliability (Isaiah 8:20) - Law of the Prophet - New Testament doctrine had to agree with the words of Christ and the Apostles. This caused many books to be rejected.
d. Inspiration (Isaiah 55) - Words will not return void. Scripture, itself, bears record of its Holy Spirit inspiration. We do not need to prove the Bible because the Holy Spirit proves it and corrects the hearer.
8. Antilegomena ("spoken against one") - Seven books were spoken against in "some" quarter
a. Hebrews - Author was not known. Origen wrote two hundred page thesis and basically said only God knows. By 400AD, all twenty-seven were accepted.
b. James - which James wrote it?
c. II Peter - Different from I Peter style. In I Peter 5:12, Silvanus might have authored/scribed I Peter. Silvanus may have used some of his own work in I Peter.
d. II and III John - They were so short and were not clearly sent to anyone or any church. They may not have been so readily accepted because they were not circulated in the early past, unless they had been connected to I John.
e. Jude - not an Apostle and a very short Book. Jude was a half-brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3)
f. Revelation - it was apocalyptic and similar to other false books
9. Hastening of canonization - (a) Marcion (140AD), (b) Other false books, and (c) Edict of Diocletian (303AD)
10. Homolegomena - the twenty books that everyone said the same thing about
Tom of Bethany "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
Index to Selected Essays And Book Reviews
Lesson 12 - The Textual Criticism of the New Testament
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