Chapter 1: Holy Bible - Canonisation

Question 1

What are the other names for Intertestamental writings?

Answer 1

Apocryphal literature and Deutero-canonical books

Question 1

Which are the originally written languages of the Bible?

Answer 1

Hebrew, Aramiac, Greek

Question 1

What do you mean by Septuagint?

Answer 1

Greek Bible

Question 1

Name the metropolitan of our Church who discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls?

Answer 1

Metropolitan Mor Athanasius Yeshu Samuel

Question 1

Name the category of books added to the canon in 90 CE.

Answer 1

Ketuvim / Wisdom Literature

Question 1

Which version of the Bible is written in Latin?

Answer 1

Vulgate

Question 2

What is the Hebrew Bible called?

Answer 2

Tanakh

Question 3

What language is the Peshitha Bible written in?

Answer 3

Syriac

Question 4

Answer in 1-2 Sentences:
What is the significance of the term ‘canon’ in relation to the Bible?

Answer 4

The term ‘canon’ refers to the books of the Bible that are accepted as authoritative, containing divine revelation and inspiration. It serves as the norm for Christian faith and practice.

Question 5

Answer in 1-2 Sentences:
How does the Dead Sea Scrolls contribute to our understanding of the Bible?

Answer 5

The Dead Sea Scrolls are the oldest surviving copies of the Hebrew Bible, helping scholars verify the accuracy of later texts.

Question 6

Answer in 1-2 Sentences:
What is the Peshitha Bible?

Answer 6

The Peshitha Bible is the Syriac translation of the Hebrew Bible that dates back to the early centuries of the Christian era.

Question 7

Answer in 1-2 Sentences:
What was the role of St. Paul’s letters in the formation of the New Testament?

Answer 7

St. Paul’s letters were among the earliest written materials in the New Testament and were widely accepted as authentic instructions and explanation on Christian faith and Church.

Question 8

Write an essay:
Explain the process of canonisation of the Old Testament.

Answer 8

The thirty-nine books in the Old Testament are the final products of a lengthy process. The oldest part, the Pentateuch/Torah, the first five books, though ascribed to Moses, took many centuries after Moses to acquire its present form in the fifth-fourth century BCE. To this nucleus, prophetic books called Nevi’im were added as a separate entity, probably in the third century BCE, except the book of Daniel which came into existence only in around 165 BCE. Even though the historical narration dates back to the thirteenth century, the historical books ranging from Joshua were written and included in the canon around the beginning of the first century BCE. Even so the wisdom literature emerged during the reign of King Solomon in the tenth century BCE, its compilation was done in the fifth century BCE, and added to the canon later only in 90 CE under a new category called Ketuvim. The definitive determination of the contents of the Old Testament, as a whole, came only by the end of the first century CE at the Council of Jamnia in 90 CE, when the Jewish community was getting organised after the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 CE. The three collections of Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim were written in Hebrew and named ‘Tanakh’ (TNK).

Question 9

Answer in a paragraph:
What factors contributed to the creation of written New Testament scriptures?

Answer 9

Several factors led to the creation of the New Testament, including the spread of Christianity to new regions, the death of eyewitnesses to Christ’s life, the delay in His Second Coming, and the need for written texts to maintain uniformity in teaching and worship. The first written materials were Pauline letters, followed by the gospels and other books, which were eventually canonised by Church leaders.

Question 10

Answer in a paragraph:
Describe the discovery and historical significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls?

Answer 10

The Dead Sea Scrolls or the Qumran Scrolls, discovered in the caves of Qumran at Jerusalem in 1947 by Bedouin shepherds and Metropolitan Mor Athanasius Yeshu Samuel of Jerusalem Diocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church, are copies that can be dated to approximately between 250 BCE and 100 BCE. They are the oldest existing copies of the Hebrew Bible of any length that are not fragments.

Question 10

Answer in a paragraph:
What are Intertestamental Writings? What are the different approaches by various denominations in the canonisation of the Intertestamental literature?

Answer 10

The period between the formation of the two Testaments is referred to as the intertestamental period (150 – 50 EC), so the writings in this period are known as intertestamental literature. Also known as Apocryphal literature or Deutero-canonical books, the intertestamental writings were given different approaches by various churches in their canonisation. The Orthodox churches accepted 11 books and the Catholic Church included 12 books, whereas the Protestant and Reformed churches rejected all of them to be included in the biblical canon.

Question 11

Write an essay:
Explain the process of canonisation of the Old Testament.

Answer 11

The thirty-nine books in the Old Testament are the final products of a lengthy process. The oldest part, the Pentateuch/Torah, the first five books, though ascribed to Moses, took many centuries after Moses to acquire its present form in the fifth-fourth century BCE. To this nucleus, prophetic books called Nevi’im were added as a separate entity, probably in the third century BCE, except the book of Daniel which came into existence only in around 165 BCE. Even though the historical narration dates back to the thirteenth century, the historical books ranging from Joshua were written and included in the canon around the beginning of the first century BCE. Even so the wisdom literature emerged during the reign of King Solomon in the tenth century BCE, its compilation was done in the fifth century BCE, and added to the canon later only in 90 CE under a new category called Ketuvim. The definitive determination of the contents of the Old Testament, as a whole, came only by the end of the first century CE at the Council of Jamnia in 90 CE, when the Jewish community was getting organised after the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 CE. The three collections of Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim were written in Hebrew and named ‘Tanakh’ (TNK).

Question 12

Write an Essay:
Analyse the formation of the New Testament, focusing on the criteria used for selecting canonical texts.

Answer 12

The formation of the New Testament involved several criteria to determine which books were authoritative. Apostolic origin was crucial, meaning texts had to be linked to the apostles or their close associates. Ecclesiastical acceptance ensured that the writings were already in use across various Christian communities. Conformity with the rule of faith ensured that the content aligned with accepted Christian teachings, and texts used in liturgy held particular significance. Over time, these criteria guided Church leaders in selecting the 27 books that comprise the New Testament today.