The Canon

Question 1

The origin of the Bible

Answer 1

The Christian teachings were first passed through the Apostles by speech.
St Paul’s Letters were then sent to churches and copied
The Gospels were written between 66 - 110 AD

Question 2

What were the most important teachings?

Answer 2

The 4 Gospels and St Pauls Letters

Question 3

What are the criteria’s for canonisation?

Answer 3

1. Connection to the Apostles
2. Connection with the Churches
3. Doesn’t contradict any key Christian beliefs

Question 4

When was the official canon decided?

Answer 4

4th Century
The Christian Canonisation took place at the same time as the Jewish Canonisation

Question 5

Deutero-Canonical

Answer 5

Apocrypha = Not equal
Rejected by Protestants

Question 6

Proto-Canonical

Answer 6

Accepted by Protestants in the Christian Old Testament as well as the Jewish Canon

Question 7

Luther’s Views on Canonisation

Answer 7

Luther thought some of the books (Maccabees 12:46) were heresy as it denies justification by faith alone and suggests that purgatory does exist.

Question 8

The Inspiration of the order of the Canon

Answer 8

1. The order shows the progression of God’s revelation
2. The order is down to accidents of history
3. Only some parts are ordered
4. Humans decided on the order
5. The Holy Spirit influenced the order
6. If the order was important then wouldn’t Matthew be first?

Question 9

God’s Inspiration

Answer 9

The Bible says that God’s breath (Ru’ach) was breathed into the authors of the Bible - directly inspiring them
Inspire = God-Breathed

Question 10

Dictation Theory

Answer 10

The Holy Spirit directly moved Biblical writers (e.g., God speaking through Moses - Exodus 3:1 - 15)

Question 11

Literalism

Answer 11

The Bible is literally true
Ken Ham says that you can’t say that some parts of the Bible are true and others are false

Question 12

Issues with Literalism

Answer 12

1. Conflicts with science
2. We don’t have the original manuscripts of the Bible

Question 13

Plenary Verb Inspiration

Answer 13

‘Every word inspired’
Accepts and acknowledges the evidence of human influence on the Bible

Question 14

Issues with Plenary Verb Inspiration

Answer 14

1. Contradictions in the Bible - Bart Ehrman says it’s impossible to reconcile the difference in the birth narratives
2. N Geisler says there is no contradiction we just don’t understand how they’re harmonised

Question 15

Catholic View

Answer 15

Dei Verbum states that the Bible is written by humans but inspired by God

Question 16

Issues with the Catholic View

Answer 16

1. The paradox of plenary verb inspiration - how can the Bible be authored by God and humans?
   God is omnipotent so it’s possible

Question 17

Liberalism

Answer 17

Accepted scientific, historical and literary evidence of human influence on the Bible
John Hick thought that we should view the Bible as a record of how ancient humans interpreted events

Question 18

Issues with Liberalism

Answer 18

How does the Bible have authority if it’s written by humans?
Perhaps God wanted people to have their own interpretation

Question 19

Neo-Orthodox

Answer 19

The scientific, historical and textual criticism show that the Bible might not be God’s work

Question 20

Calvin’s use of accommodation

Answer 20

God is beyond our understanding so language needs to be altered for us to understand e.g., a nurse speaking to an infant