Introduction to Biblical Canonicity and Interpretation

Introduction to Biblical Studies and Course Administration

• Course designation: BIBC / BIB200C.
• Learning materials: The "Intro PowerPoint" and Module 1 materials are located under the "Learn" section on the Canvas learning management system.
• Attendance and community members: Isaac, Damil, Clayton, Chris, Christopher, Chris Baron, Kim, Emma, Ray Bues, Ethan, Riley, Kadu, Braden, Hoddle, Ruthie, Sarah Beth, Phoebe, Drake, Nami, Terrence Marco, Kiara, Barbara, Addy, Edna, Kayla, Celeste, Pedro, Caitlin, Alfonso, Daniela, Charlie, TJ, and Yvonne.

Theological Framework: Covenants and Testaments

• The Bible is divided into two primary sections: The Old Testament and the New Testament.
• Etymology of "Testament": The English word "testament" originates from the Latin word testamentum, which is a translation of the concept of a "covenant."
• Definition of Covenant: A covenant is an agreement that establishes a relationship.
• Metaphor of the Marriage Covenant: A wedding ring serves as a symbol of a covenant relationship. A specific example of such a commitment is the marriage between a husband and wife (e.g., a marriage established on June $27$, $1998$). This relationship involves sharing mountain-top experiences, battles, challenges, joys, and life’s burdens.

Major Biblical Covenants

• Noahic Covenant: This is the agreement God made with Noah. The specific sign or symbol of this covenant is the rainbow. Through this covenant, God promised never to destroy the world by a flood again.
• Abrahamic Covenant: God's covenant with Abraham, detailed in Genesis chapter $12$.
• Mosaic Covenant: Established at Mount Sinai with Moses, this includes the $10$ Commandments and the Law contained within the first five books of the Old Testament.
• Davidic Covenant: God made a covenant with David, promising that from his lineage would come the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus.
• New Covenant: Realized in the New Testament through Jesus, the Messiah and King.

The Narrative of David and Goliath

• Biblical Description of David: David is described as a shepherd boy who was short, ruddy, and handsome, rather than having the appearance of a massive power-lifter or bodybuilder.
• The Battle in the Valley of Elah: David arrived at the front lines to bring food to his brothers. Despite their criticism and laughter, he questioned, "Is there not a cause?"
• The Victory: Refusing to wear Saul’s armor, David took five perfect rocks from a stream in the Valley of Elah. Using only a sling and these stones, he faced the giant.
• Spiritual Significance: David’s power was not in his physical abilities but in his dependence on God, declaring that the battle belongs to the Lord. He slew the giant and used the giant's own sword to cut off his head.
• The Relationship with Jonathan: Jonathan, the son of Saul, recognized that David had been anointed by Samuel, the last of the judges, to be the next king. Jonathan demonstrated courage by readying his horse for battle alongside David.

The Canon of Scripture

• Etymology: The word "canon" comes from the Hebrew word kana, which means a reed, rod, or stick. It originally served as a unit of measurement.
• Ecclesiastical Meaning: Over time, the term evolved to represent the basic doctrine, beliefs, and practices of the church. The "Canon of Scripture" specifically refers to the collection of books in the Bible that are regarded as authoritative and divinely inspired.
• Difference Between Books: While many historical or good books exist, only those in the canon are considered "God-breathed" or authoritative for faith.

Criteria for Canonicity

To be accepted into the New Testament canon, a book had to meet five specific criteria:

1. Inspiration (Theo Neustos):
   • Theo is the Greek word for God; Neustos means breathed.
   • Definition: Second Timothy $3:16$ states, "All scripture is given by the inspiration of God." This refers to the superintended influence of God the Holy Spirit on human writers to record God’s revelation exactly as God intended.
   • Principle: God brought forth His perfect word through imperfect humanity.
2. Apostolicity:
   • A book must have been written by an apostle or a close associate of an apostle.
   • Matthew and John were apostles.
   • Mark (associate of Peter and Paul) and Luke (a physician and associate of Paul) were close associates who gathered information from those who walked with Jesus.
3. Orthodoxy:
   • The writing must contain "right doctrine" or correct biblical beliefs. It must align with the oral tradition passed down by the apostles who lived with, ate with, and witnessed the ministry of Jesus firsthand.
4. Christology:
   • The books must contain the correct teaching about Jesus Christ and be Christ-centered.
   • Counter-Example: The "Book of Thomas," which depicts a young Jesus "zapping" a bully who broke a water levee, was excluded because it contradicts Christ's servant nature and his refusal to gain followers through sensationalism.
5. Reception:
   • The books had to be widely received and recognized by the early church across various regions, including Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and Antioch.

Example of Human Inspiration: The Apostle John

• Early Character: Known as one of the "Sons of Thunder" due to a quick temper.
• Transformation: John was transformed by Christ to become "the disciple whom Jesus loved."
• Responsibility: At the cross, Jesus entrusted the care of his mother, Mary, to John.
• Later Life: John was the only apostle not to die a martyr's death. He served as a pastor in Ephesus and was later exiled to the Isle of Patmos, located approximately $60\,miles$ from Ephesus, where he labored in salt mines.
• Writings: He wrote the Gospel of John, First, Second, and Third John, and Revelation. His Gospel was written later than the others to supplement the accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke and to encourage persecuted believers.

Three Names for the Bible

1. The Bible: Derived from the Greek roots biblia or biblion, meaning "book" or "books." The Bible consists of $66$ books: $39$ in the Old Testament and $27$ in the New Testament.
2. Scripture: Derived from the Greek roots graphe or gramma, meaning "writings."
3. The Word: Refers to a divine message.
   • Greek term: Logos.
   • Hebrew term: Dabar.
   • Theology of the Word: According to John chapter $1$, the Word (Christ) existed before Bethlehem ("In the beginning was the Word").
   • Theophanies: Occurrences in the Old Testament where the pre-incarnate Christ took human form to carry out God’s mission, such as in Genesis chapter $14$ when the "Angel of the Lord" appeared to Hagar.

Barriers to Biblical Interpretation

Because the Bible was written in a different time and culture, four primary barriers exist:

• Language: The Bible was written in Hebrew, Greek, and a small amount of Aramaic, not modern English or Spanish.
• Culture: The biblical world was non-Western. Interpreting it through modern Western lenses can lead to "culture shock" or misunderstanding.
• Time: The Bible was written in a much earlier era with different communication methods and infrastructure (e.g., no planes or modern road systems).
• Situation: Many books are "occasional," meaning they were written to address specific problems. For example, First Corinthians was written by Paul to address extreme disunity and fractures within the church at Corinth.

Five Factors of Biblical Interpretation

To overcome interpretive barriers, scholars use five critical factors:

1. Historical Factor: Examining the author, the audience, and the occasion of the writing. For example, understanding the significance of Bethany as a small place where Jesus stayed with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus before his final week.
2. Literary Factor: Identifying the genre or literary character (e.g., Law, Gospel, Prophecy, or Epistle). Revelation must be interpreted differently than a standard historical letter.
3. Grammatical Factor: Analyzing word usage, syntax, and sentence structure. This involves distinguishing between different types of Greek words for love, such as agape.
4. Contextual Factor: Reviewing the verses before and after a passage, the chapter, the book, other books by the same author, the testament, and the Bible as a whole. For instance, John $3:16$ must be understood within the context of Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus.
5. Spiritual Factor: Recognizing that we are created in the image of God (imago dei) and require the Holy Spirit—who originally inspired the text—to help us understand the divine dimensions of the Word.

Questions & Discussion

• Question: How do we get information about Jesus today?

• Answer: It began through word-of-mouth (oral tradition). Key figures like Mary (the mother of Jesus) were part of the early church. She experienced the visit from the archangel Gabriel (meaning "Strong man of God") and the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, demonstrating true love, intended to put her away quietly to save her life before God instructed him to name the child Jesus.

• Question: What is a takeaway regarding the reliability of the Bible?

• Reflection: Faith in the reliability of the Word is strengthened by understanding that God brought forth His perfect word through imperfect humanity. Even the ability to translate Hebrew does not change the fact that God uses flawed people to communicate His truth.