The Canons of the Bible

Flashcards covering the Canons of the Bible lecture: definitions, Old and New Testament canons, historical development, major lists, and canonicity criteria.

What term describes writings that serve for the faith and practice of a religious group but lack a formal and fixed canon?

Apocrypha

What is the definition of the canon in the context of scripture?

A definitive list of those scriptural (authoritative) texts.

The term 'Testament' in the Christian Bible translates the Greek term for covenant. What is that term?

diatheke (diathekē)

Name the three Old Testament collections and their approximate dates.

Pentateuch/Torah ca. 400 BCE; Prophets ca. 200 BCE; Writings ca. 100/200 CE

What is the New Testament collection that includes Paul's letters, and around what date did it form?

Pauline Letters; ca. 100 CE

When did the Four-Gospel Collection emerge in the canon formation?

Ca. 150 CE

When did the Catholic Collection of writings arise in the canon development?

Ca. 300 CE

Why does part of the Christian Bible include the Jewish Bible?

Because Jesus and His early followers were Jewish

Name one difference between the Christian Old Testament and the Jewish Bible as noted in the notes.

Arrangement

What are the threefold divisions of the Hebrew Bible and their names?

Torah (Pentateuch); Nevi'im (Prophets); Ketuvim (Writings)

In the Christian Old Testament, what are the divisions corresponding to Pentateuch, Historical Books, Poetry/Wisdom, and Prophets?

Pentateuch; Historical Books; Poetry/Wisdom; Prophets

What is the Hebrew term for the Hebrew Bible and its common English name?

Tanakh

What is the ending of the Hebrew Bible and what theme does it emphasize?

Chronicles ends with consolation and the fulfillment of prophecy that Israel will return from exile

How does the Christian Old Testament end, and what does Malachi 4:5 point to?

Ends with a promise; anticipation of fulfillment through the New Testament

Two differences between the Christian OT and the Jewish Bible noted in the notes?

Arrangement and the presence of additional books in some Christian traditions (10-15 books)

What is the Septuagint (LXX)?

The ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible

Where did the Septuagint originate and when was it completed?

Originated in Alexandria; began in the 3rd century BCE and completed in the 2nd century BCE

What are the additional books in the Septuagint called?

Apocrypha or deuterocanonical books

How many books are in the New Testament and is there agreement on order and content?

Twenty-seven; there is virtual agreement

Name the five categories of New Testament writings.

Gospels; Acts; Pauline Letters; General Letters; Revelation

When did the New Testament canon reach general closure?

5th century CE

Name the four aspects used to describe the formation of the New Testament canon.

Composition; Circulation; Collection; Canon

Describe the Pauline Collection by ca. 100 and its contents.

Ten-letter collection: Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, 1-2 Thessalonians

How did the Pauline collection evolve by the early 3rd century?

Expanded to thirteen or fourteen letters with the Pastoral Epistles (1-2 Timothy, Titus) and Hebrews (not always counted)

When did the Four-Gospel Collection arise and what were the two major arrangements?

Near the end of the 2nd century; Mt Mk Lk Jn or Mt Jn Lk Mk

What is Tatian’s Diatessaron and when did it appear?

A harmonized gospel text ca. 170, not the Four-Gospel collection

What does the Four-Gospel collection affirm about the gospel?

One gospel testified by the four Evangelists

What is the Catholic Collection and its purpose in the canon?

A collection to provide apostolic balance to the Pauline collection

Which epistles are typically included in the Catholic (general) epistles, and what is their relation to Paul’s churches?

James; 1-2 Peter; 1-3 John; Jude (Hebrews sometimes included); correspond to Paul’s seven churches

What was the status of Acts and Revelation in early canon formation?

Acts associated with Luke; Revelation disputed and not canonically recognized in the East until late 4th century

When was Revelation canonically recognized in the East?

Late 4th century

What is the significance of Athanasius’ Festal Letter 39 (367)?

Earliest list close to the modern New Testament canon: Matthew–John; Acts; Catholic Epistles; fourteen Pauline epistles; Revelation

What texts does Codex Sinaiticus (4th cent.) include beyond the standard New Testament books?

Epistle of Barnabas; Shepherd of Hermes

What are the canonical criteria for canonicity mentioned, and what do they entail?

Apostolicity; Universality; Traditional use; Inspiration (not used as a strict checklist)

What does Apostolicity require?

Written by an apostle; written in/near the time of the apostles; agrees with apostolic teaching

Name one major bibliography resource on the Canon of Scripture.

Bruce, F. F. The Canon of Scripture