This is Part 9 of 9 parts answering the basic and very important question, “What does Canonicity mean and why is it important?”
What about the New Testament? Why were those books collected? Was the Old Testament not enough? Continue reading
This is Part 8 of 9 parts answering the basic and very important question, “What does Canonicity mean and why is it important?” Part 9 will be posted tomorrow.
In review of Canonicity: Canonicity Discovered and Distinctions.
Why are these extra-biblical writings, like the Apocrypha (and the Pseudepigrapha), not considered part of the Canon? Reading through the various writings and books, it may not seem like all the books were that different. However, Continue reading
This is Part 7 of 9 parts answering the basic and very important question, “What does Canonicity mean and why is it important?” Parts 8-9 will be posted on succeeding days.
The writings included in the “Pseudepigrapha” were rejected by all as spurious or false. While the Apocrypha was a collection of writings connected to the Old Testament, the Pseudepigrapha was a collection of writings associated with the New Testament. Continue reading
This is Part 6 of 9 parts answering the basic and very important question, “What does Canonicity mean and why is it important?” Parts 7-9 will be posted on succeeding days.
What about the Apocrypha? Apocrypha, which means “hidden,” was hidden from the normally accepted writings of Scripture. Continue reading
This is Part 5 of 9 parts answering the basic and very important question, “What does Canonicity mean and why is it important?” Parts 6-9 will be posted on succeeding days.
We have looked at the Lord Jesus’ view of the Old Testament and some of the guidelines men used to acknowledge which books were considered Canon. Let’s look at several examples of the Divine nature of the text and how God was consistent even while using different authors. Compare what Joshua said and a prophetic fulfillment of it, Continue reading
This is Part 4 of 9 parts answering the basic and very important question, “What does Canonicity mean and why is it important?” Parts 5-9 will be posted on succeeding days.
Before we jump into the question regarding guidelines that men used to acknowledge what was Old Testament Canon, let’s review Canonicity: Canonicity Discovered and Distinctions.
This is Part 3 of 9 parts answering the basic and very important question, “What does Canonicity mean and why is it important?” Parts 4-9 will be posted on succeeding days.
The Canon of the Old Testament.
Before we consider what made books of the Old Testament canonical or Canon, let’s review several notes regarding canonicity.
Canonicity is determined by God. It is the determination for authority in life. Both canonicity and authority are recognized by men of God. Men do not determine anything. All men can do is recognize what God has done. A book is canonical because it is inspired. Edward J. Young, an English Theologian, wrote, Continue reading
This is Part 2 of 9 parts answering the basic and very important question, “What does Canonicity mean and why is it important?” Parts 3-9 will be posted on succeeding days.
How do we know what is Scripture?
There are two main ways we know what Scripture is. Continue reading
This is Part 1 of 9 parts answering the basic and very important question, “What does Canonicity mean and why is it important?” Parts 2-9 will be posted on succeeding days.
Canonicity refers to the understanding of what is Scripture. Canon means a measuring rod, a rule, or a standard. Continue reading
The miracle of God is that He communicates to us. We, His creatures, rejected God in the Garden of Eden, prior to the flood, at the Tower of Babel, at the incarnation of Christ and we will reveal our rejection of Him prior to His return and even at the end of the Millennial Kingdom. It’s a miracle of God’s mercy that He communicates to us from His holiness.
There is no way that we could ever understand God unless He revealed Himself to us. Because He is infinite and we are finite, He had to reveal Himself to us in ways and language that we could understand. It would be impossible for man to understand the infinity of God’s person and purpose. So God revealed Himself in nature we call General Revelation and He revealed Himself in Jesus and Scripture we call Special Revelation. We can only learn about some aspects of God in General Revelation (Romans 1:18-20). We needed Special Revelation to understand God’s plan for man.
Here’s the key to understanding God’s plan:
God’s divine plan can only be fully understood by the completed canon of Scripture. It is from progressive revelation over a period of 1500 years by 40 authors that God’s Administration of History can be fully understood.
As was stated under “Explaining Divine History – Part 2” the Bible must be interpreted with a literal historico-grammatical approach to interpretation. Some people develop their theology and then use various forms of interpretation to make Scripture fit that theology. Please refer back to that segment for a clarification of biblical interpretation. What we need to understand is that God’s plan and history will only be understood by the completed canon of Scripture and then only when it is harmonized in, through and by means of all Scripture. Leave the world behind and study God’s Word and you’ll understand Divine History.
Shepherding Truth 