biblical canon

define the term canon.

measuring rod/standard. In this case it is the standardised list of biblical books that are officially recognised

define the term dispora.

The forced dispersion of Jews living outside of Israel

define the term hersey.

A belief/teaching that runs contrary to official Christian doctrine

define the term Septuagint.

The Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, also referred to as the LXX in reference to the legend of 70 Jewish scholars translating the Torah

What are the Hebrew Scriptures?

• Old Testament (accepted by both Jews and Christians)

• The Law (Torah) - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy

• The Prophets (Nevi'im) - Former Prophets (e.g. Joshua) and Latter Prophets (Isaiah and 12 minor prophets)

• Other writings (Ketuvim) - Psalms, Proverbs, Job etc

What is the Apocrypha?

Deutrocanonical books which are omitted by Protestants e.g. Tobit, Judith, The Wisdom of Solomon Sirach, I and II Maccabees and longer versions of Esther and Daniel

What is part of the New Testament?

• Four Gospels

• Acts

• Pauline Epistles (Letters of Paul) and other letters

• Revelation

When was the Old Testament canon accepted as canonical?

The Ketuvim and the Nevi'im were not recognised until about the first century CE and the Ketuvim was not complete during Jesus’ lifetime. The Torah was established much earlier, some argue about the 6th century BCE

Why was the Old Testament canon become canonical?

The Hebrew scriptures circulated as an oral tradition until the Jewish exile to Babylon. The Holy Temple wa destroyed, so written accounts were needed to help the Jewish people keep their faith while operating as diaspora

How was it decided that a text became canonical in the Old Testament?

For books to survive (some fell out of use), they needed to have supported the Torah and be commonly reognused by Jews across the globe

Who decided that a text was canonical in the Old Testament? What happened during the Reformation?

The Jewish canon was not closed when the New Testament was constructed so Augustine, and the Roman Catholic Church, accepted the Septuagint. During the Reformation, Martin Luther rejected them for supporting the doctrine of purgatory

How is the Jewish canon not the same as the Christian ‘Old Testament’?

Jews do not consider it to have been surpassed, therefore, it is not ‘old’

What are the three parts of the Hebrew Bible? What do Jewish believers refer to their Bible as?

The law (Torah), the Prophets (Nevi'im) and the Writings (Ketuvim) - many Jewish believers refer to their Bible by the acronym of TNK

What may be considered as the ‘canon of the canon’?

The Torah, which represents the first 5 books. That is, the law given to Moses is seen as central and itself guiding the recognition of subsequent books as canonical

When was the Torah written down?

After a long period of oral transmission, it was written down just prior to or during the Exile of Judah to Babylon in the 6th century BCE

When were the Prophetic writings written down? When were they recognised as canon by the Jews?

Likely written down soon after the Torah. They were not recognised as canon by Jews until the first centuries of the Common Era

To be canonical, what did a book have to be? Give the three points.

• Have survived

• Be seen as supporting the Law given to Moses

• Be recognised by a wide variety of believers as supporting their faith and practice

Why do Catholics and Protestants have different versions of the Christian Old Testament?

This stems from the fact that there were both Hebrew and Greek versions of the Hebrew scriptures

what books did the Greek version of the Hebrew scripture have? Are these books in the Hebrew collections?

• The Septuagint included some books which were originally written in Greek

• These books were not in the Hebrew collections

why was it natural for early Christians to refer to these ‘Greek’ books as scripture?

The Jewish canon was not closed when the Church was born so it was natural for early Christians to refer to these as scripture

When was the New Testament canon established?

The first declaration of the current canon was in the 4th century CE

Why was the New Testament canon established as canonical?

Many writings circulated as the Church grew. Some had dubious authorship o contained heresy. Different Christian groups operated with different canons. A collection of authoritative writings was needed to preserve the integrity of Christ's message and teaching

How was it decided that a text became canonical for New Testament scriptures? What are the scriptures that were rejected, named?

Books were selected based upon their date (closer to the time of christ the better), apostolic origins, or connection with the apostles - and whether they affirmed the established Christian faith. Those that were rejected are considered aprocryphal

Who decided that a text was canonical?

The first declaration of the canon was the Synod of Hippo Regius in 393 under the leadership of Augustine, who regarded the canon as closed (completed and not to be changed or added to)

What happened to the books originating in the Greek language when the Jewish canon was closed? What happened to them in the current canon?

They were excluded, however, they were now a part of the Christian canon for many Christians

What did Protestants, following Martin Luther, reject? What did they favour instead?

they rejected the Catholic ‘Old Testament in favour of only books included in the Jewish canon

What are the books rejected by Protestants, known as by Catholics?

Deutrocanonical, recognising that they appeared later in the development of the canon, nonetheless, they are of equal authority

How do Prosteatnts refer to the collection, that they rejected? What could this refer to, both positively and negatively?

‘Apocrypha’ meaning hidden. Positively, this could refer to the books having hidden value or negatively, this could refer to the books having hidden (doubtful) origins

what was the only canon known to the earliest Christians?

The books accepted as the TNK

What did Luther view 2 Maccabees 12:41-46 as giving support to?

The doctrine of purgatory. The doctrine, in turn, undermined the theme that was most important for Luther: justification by faith, as a gift of God - not something to be earned through purgatory or other means

How were Christian messages conveyed by the Apostles?

Orally

what were the first books to have made it into the Christian canon?

The letters of Paul written from the 6th decade of the Common Era

what is believed about when the Gospels were written?

between 70-100 CE, with other letters and one books of prophecy (Revelation) at the end of this period

how would the New Testament books be considered canonical? Give the three points.

• A connection with the apostles

• Be widely recognised as supporting the Christian faith and practice

• Had to conform to the faith of Christianity, which proclaimed a resurrected Jesus as both Lord and Saviour

What did the lack of clarity about apostolic origins lead to?

led to debate, e.g. about the book of Hebrews and Revelation (which were eventually included) as well as Didache and the Shepherd of Hermas (which were eventually excluded)

What was the Didache?

Had three main sections dealing with Christian ethics, rituals such as Baptism and Eucharist, and Church organisation. The opening chapters describe the virtuous Way of Life anf the wicked Way of Death. The Lord's Prayer is included in full. Baptism is by immersion. Fasting si ordered for Wednesdays and Fridays

What is the order of the biblical canon not? What is it connected to instead?

Chronological. It is connected to: story line, importance and authorship

how does the Hebrew scriptures end?

With he return from exile and rebuilding the nation

How does the Old Testament end for Christians?

Looking ahead to Elijah's return (whom Christians believed to be John the Baptist)

What does the New Testament order tell us the story of?

Christ's death and resurrection followed by the birth of the Church and the future for believers

How does the Bible follow a rough chronological order?

From creation in Genesis and the announcement of new earth in the book of Revelation

however, what does the Book of Ruth follow? what do the letters of Paul follow?

the Book of Ruth follows the Song of Solomon in the Hebrew Bible, even though it refers to events far earlier and the letters of Paul follow the Gospel, which were written later

what does order often reflect?

Importance. Near the beginning of the Hebrew Bible is the Law of Moses, and the Christian Testament begins with the life of Jesus - each called a canon within the canon

how does the Hebrew Bible close? What does this reflect for the Jewish nation?

With Ezra and Nehemiah, possibly reflecting a focus on rebuilding the Jewish nation after exile

how does the Christian Old Testament close?

With the minor prophets which look ahead to the return of Elijah (John the Baptist)

What have been placed together in the Biblical canon?

Books believed to have been by the same author (Jeremiah - Lamentations and Luke - Acts)

how does narrative play a factor in the canon?

Joshua through King’s tells one continuous account

how are books sometimes organised?

By genre:

• Prophetic books

• Wisdom

• Literature

• Gospels