Chapter 3

canon

The list of all the books that belong in the Bible (from the Greek kanōn, "reed; measuring rod; standard of measure").

canonical

A term describing preserved writings that are deemed to have divine authorship and therefore which are to be included in the canon of Scripture as God's authoritative words in written form.

Apocrypha

The collection of books included in the canon of Scripture by the Roman Catholic Church but not included in the canon by Protestants (from the Greek word apocrypha, "things that are hidden").

history of redemption

The series of events throughout history by which God acted to bring about the salvation of his people.

textual variants

Differences in individual words and phrases that are to be found among the many ancient copies of Scripture that still exist.

apostle

A recognized office of the early church. Apostles are seen to claim an authority equal to that of the Old Testament prophets, an authority to speak and write words that are God's very words.

covenant

An unchangeable, divinely imposed legal agreement between God and man that stipulates the conditions of their relationship.

self-attesting

The quality of Scripture whereby the words bear witness to their own divine authorship as Christians read them.

graphē

A technical term in Greek used by the New Testament authors only of those writings thought to be God's words and part of the canon of Scripture.

deuterocanonical

The Roman Catholic term for apocryphal books; defined as "later added to the canon."

Josephus

One of the most important first century Jewish historians; knew of the apocryphal writings but did not consider them "worthy of equal credit" with the Old Testament Scriptures.

textual criticism

The study of textual variants.

Didache

A document of unknown authorship, likely from the first or second century AD, which purports to describe the teachings and practices of the early church, but which contradicts or adds to the commands of the New Testament at many points.

The Thirty-Ninth Paschal Letter of Athanasius

A document from AD 367 containing an exact list of the 27 New Testament books we have today, accepted at that time by churches in the eastern part of the Mediterranean world.

The Council of Carthage

A council representing churches in the western part of the Mediterranean world in AD 397 which affirmed its agreement with the eastern churches on the list of the 27 New Testament books we have today.