Outline
- Inspiration
- Inerrancy
ii. Evidenced in science
iii. Evidenced in archeology
iv. Evidenced in prophecy
3. Preservation
4. Development of the Canon
5. Apocrypha
6. Completeness or sufficiency of
7. Authority of
8. Literary styles
9. Hermeneutics - Interpretation and Application
Canon of the Scriptures
The Protestant Bible contains 66 books -- 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. The Catholic Bible contains the same 66 books, plus the Apocrypha. The 39 Old Testament books are the same books that were included in the Jewish Palestinian canon.
These books were considered canonical by the Jewish community, and were often quoted as authoritative by Jesus and the New Testament writers: "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms" (Luke 24:44). The Apocrypha is never quoted as authoritative by Christ or any New Testament writer.
Jesus promised that his words would be remembered. He promised that the Holy Spirit would not only bring his words to mind, but would provide instruction as well: "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:25-26). The New Testament is a fulfillment of that promise.
The first record of the completed New Testament canon, as we recognize it today, is found in the writings of Athanasius of Alexandria (A.D. 367). That is not to imply, however, that prior to A.D. 367 there was confusion as to which books were considered authoritative. The majority of books contained in the New Testament canon were considered authoritative from the time they were written. Of the 10 additional books seriously considered as possible additions to the canon, three were rejected because they did not meet the stringent criteria. The criteria used to determine canonicity are as follows: (a) apostolic authorship or endorsement; (b) accepted as authoritative by the early church; (c) written by a confirmed prophet of God; and (d) harmonization with uncontested books.
The legitimate Bible translations we use today are completely reliable. While many cults mistranslate God's word to fit their own theology, there is ample manuscript evidence to affirm that most modern translations of the Bible are extremely accurate. Those that deny this do so for personal reasons, and not because of manuscript evidences.
Clearly, the books included in our canon can be considered the inspired word of God.
Authority of Scripture
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). Christians believe the Scriptures are God-breathed and authoritative. By God-breathed we mean that the Holy Spirit communicated to the author precisely what God intended, and that the author, in his own words, accurately recorded what was communicated. Authority does not mean that everything contained in the Bible is true -- the narrative is completely accurate, but not necessarily every fact contained in the narrative is true.
For example, in Genesis 3:4 Satan told Eve, "You will not surely die." Not only did Eve die spiritually as result of her transgression, but she also began to die physically. Authority does mean that everything God spoke, either directly or through a prophet, is true: "For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). This is an aspect of Scripture that can be tested. The prophetic writings contained in the Old and New Testament are there because the authors have been tested and proven to be completely reliable. In ancient Israel a true prophet, one who spoke in the name of the Lord, had to be accurate 100% of the time. If found to be in error the prophet was labeled a false prophet, and was executed.
Christians are sometimes accused by critics of using circular reasoning when they use
Scripture to prove Scripture. After all, critics say, you can't quote the Bible to prove the Bible. That argument is flawed. The Bible is not a single book, but rather, it is a collection of 66 books penned by at least 35 different authors living on different continents and in different centuries. Each of the 66 books has been tested and shown to be a reliable witness of God's communication with man. The circular reasoning argument is not valid where the Bible is concerned.
The reliability of the Bible as God's word can be affirmed by examining manuscript,
archeological, prophetic, historical, and statistical evidences. It can be tested, and it passes the tests. All cults deny the authority of Scripture. All have additional writings that they consider to be on a par with, or superior to, the Bible. In reality, their extrabiblical "revelations" will not stand up to critical testing. Those cults that claim to accept the authority of Scripture accept it "only as long as it is interpreted correctly." In other words, they accept only their own cult's translation or interpretation of Scripture -- which they always twist or mistranslate in order to "confirm" the cults unscriptural teachings.
The authority of Scripture is an essential element of historic Christianity. It is not a
doctrine that can be compromised. As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. (Psalms 18:30)
For example, in Genesis 3:4 Satan told Eve, "You will not surely die." Not only did Eve die spiritually as result of her transgression, but she also began to die physically. Authority does mean that everything God spoke, either directly or through a prophet, is true: "For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). This is an aspect of Scripture that can be tested. The prophetic writings contained in the Old and New Testament are there because the authors have been tested and proven to be completely reliable. In ancient Israel a true prophet, one who spoke in the name of the Lord, had to be accurate 100% of the time. If found to be in error the prophet was labeled a false prophet, and was executed.
Christians are sometimes accused by critics of using circular reasoning when they use
Scripture to prove Scripture. After all, critics say, you can't quote the Bible to prove the Bible. That argument is flawed. The Bible is not a single book, but rather, it is a collection of 66 books penned by at least 35 different authors living on different continents and in different centuries. Each of the 66 books has been tested and shown to be a reliable witness of God's communication with man. The circular reasoning argument is not valid where the Bible is concerned.
The reliability of the Bible as God's word can be affirmed by examining manuscript,
archeological, prophetic, historical, and statistical evidences. It can be tested, and it passes the tests. All cults deny the authority of Scripture. All have additional writings that they consider to be on a par with, or superior to, the Bible. In reality, their extrabiblical "revelations" will not stand up to critical testing. Those cults that claim to accept the authority of Scripture accept it "only as long as it is interpreted correctly." In other words, they accept only their own cult's translation or interpretation of Scripture -- which they always twist or mistranslate in order to "confirm" the cults unscriptural teachings.
The authority of Scripture is an essential element of historic Christianity. It is not a
doctrine that can be compromised. As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. (Psalms 18:30)
Authors of the Bible
Moses
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Job
Joshua
Joshua
Samuel
Judges
Unknown
Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel
Jeremiah
1 Kings, 2 Kings, Jeremiah, Lamentations
Ezra
1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah
Mordechai
Esther
David
Many of the Psalms; editor of the others
Solomon
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Isaiah
Ezekiel
Ezekiel
Daniel
Daniel
Hosea
Hosea
Joel
Joel
Amos
Amos
Obadiah
Obadiah
Jonah
Jonah
Micah
Micah
Nahum
Nahum
Habakkuk
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Zephaniah
Haggai
Haggai
Zechariah
Zechariah
Malachi
Malachi
Matthew
Matthew
John Mark
Mark
Luke
Luke, Acts
John
Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Revelation
Paul
Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews
James
James
Peter
1 Peter, 2 Peter
Jude
Jude
