1. The Canon
How did we get the Bible?

2. Bible Jerome-The Divine Library
Greeks-Changed from Biblia (The Books) to Bible (The Book).
Scriptures vs Scripture

3. Canon Measuring rod or ruler The entire list that belongs in the Bible
Jesus accepted OT Scripture as well as Jews so earliest Christians have always had Scripture
God inspired through Holy Spirit
Written down by man
Inerrant-Original manuscript is without errors

4. Necessity
Much of Christian doctrine addressed certain situations but not entire doctrine
Early writers felt the need to address this issue and started forming the canon

5. Old Testament
10 Commandments-Written by the finger of God (Exodus 31:18) and preserved in the ark of the covenant
Deuteronomy and Joshua (Joshua 24:26)
Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther were the last books recorded
Nehemiah went to Jerusalem around 445 and Ezra around 458 B.C.

6. Apocrypha
Collection of books accepted by Roman Catholic church and eastern Orthodox
Jews never accepted this books
Earliest Christians were against it but the use grew until the Reformation
Jerome included them in his Latin vulgate which gave them credence even though he said they were not in the canon but books of the church

7. Apocrypha
In 1546 at the Council of Trent, the Catholic church confirmed the Apocrypha as books of the Bible
This council was a response to Martin Luther’s teachings
Apocrypha contains readings that contradict the Bible such as alms giving as atonement for sins

8. New Testament Primarily writings of the apostles
The apostles have authority to write down the Words of God
This leaves 5 books: Mark, Luke, Acts, Hebrews, and Jude
Mark, Luke, and Acts were acknowledged very early
Hebrews was accepted due to suspected Pauline authorship

9. New Testament NT-The only source we have for Christianity
Original manuscripts were written on papyrus scrolls
No original manuscripts exist
Book form (codex) was developed around 4th century
8 writers make up NT

10. New Testament Gospels-Not biographies-4 Different portraits
Synoptic Gospels (see together)
Letters are occasional
Do the gospels contradict?
1st century audience in NT
Different Genres

11. Canon
In 367 The 39th Paschal Letter of Athanasius contained an exact list of the 27 books in NT
In 397, the western portion of the Mediterranean world accepted those as well.

12. Order used in Church at Rome AD 200
4 Gospels, Acts, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, James, 1 and 2 John, Jude, Revelation of John
Also-Revelation of Peter, Wisdom of Solomon
To be used in private but not public worship- The Shepherd of Hermas

13. AD 250 used by Origen
4 Gospels, Acts, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, 1 Peter, 1 John, Revelation of John
Disputed-Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, The Shepherd oh Hermas, Letter of Barnabas, Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, Gospel of the Hebrews

14. AD 300 used by Eusebius
4 Gospels, Acts, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, 1 Peter, 1 John, Revelation of John
Disputed but well known-James, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, Jude
To be excluded-Shepherd of Hermas, Letter of Barnabas, Gospel of the Hebrews, Revelation of Peter, Acts of Peter, Didache

15. AD 350 Council of Carthage
The NT as we know it

16. Questions Will any ever be added? Revelation 22:18-19
Do we have the right books?
Does it matter who wrote them?
1 Peter has terrific Greek, Pastorals have different vocabulary than Paul’s other writings, Was the apostle John the author of Revelation?

17. How do we read OT?
Narrative-Don’t read too much theology into narrative (allegorizing)
Narrative-Not always good guys (Solomon and Samson)
Law-Read in context
Poetry-1/3 of the Bible but don’t read same as Romans

18. Poetry
Figurative imagery-My tears have been my food day and night-Psalm 42:3
Gordon Fee-The Psalms give us examples of how to sing and talk to God.
Much of the prophets is poetry
Only 2% of OT prophecy is messianic