• The question of which books were the inspired word of God was a pressing controversy for the early Christians
• The controversy over which books were truly inspired ultimately led to the formation of the biblical canon, or list of inspired books
• As important as the scriptures are, they are only one part of the revelation of God
• The Bible is translated into different languages because the Bible is the living word of god meant for everyone
• The Bible is the most well known book in history
◦ It took centuries to come together
• Old testament was written by Jewish people during the thousands of years before Jesus’ birth
• Apostles are fulfilling Jesus’ last words Mt 28:20
◦ Last words before ascension
• Apostles spread Jesus’ message
• Pentecost happens 10 days later
• Jesus says “go”, “teach”, and “baptize”
• The apostles preached as they taught since He was their example
◦ After the resurrection, Pentecost happened
◦ Now we call their preaching tradition
• Eventually some of the Apostles wrote down tradition
◦ It became New Testament
• New Testament was written by Jesus’ eyewitnesses
• How did the Bible become what it is now?
◦ Church settled in the 5th century
• Churhc declared canon as the official dogma
• Which books are sacred?
◦ Septuagint
1. Bishops were organized one Christianity was made legal
A. They organized the Church by having councils
a. Ecunmaical council
b. Synod
1. Church decalres false writing
1. Gnosticism - denied Christ’s humanity
2. Arianism’s- denied Christ’s divinity
• Once the emperor Constantine made Christianity legal in the aroman empire, bilshops were free to organize the church
◦ They organized the church by having councils
‣ Significant council = ecumenical council
‣ Smaller council = synod
• For a book to become cannon in the New Testament, it need to meet 3 requirements
◦ Apostolic Origin
◦ Universal Acceptance
◦ Liturgical Use
• Both Old and New Testament books were accepted into the Church
• The Council of Trent affirmed the biblical canon as dogma
◦ Reacted against Protestant heresies
‣ Protestants argued that some books in the Old Testament were apocryphal
• Now the original canon is. Matter of Catholic dogma
• The Bible has been translated over 500 times
◦ A variety of translations can raise questions
‣ Which version is accurate
‣ Which version does the HS endorse
‣ What if translators disagree