Canonicity--Discerned Authority

by Laura Springer, Th.M., Ph.D.

Life is full of gray. We all face choices that are difficult or unclear. Who gets to speak into those choices? Whose voice do you trust? We likely have family and friends who we trust to help us, but sometimes they don't know any more than we do. Whose voice is authentic and has authority to speak? Whose voice always brings wisdom?

Proverbs tells us that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). God is that authentic and authoritative voice. But how do we know which words are God's words? Canonization is the process by which the people of God have answered that question for over two millennia.

Before the birth of the Church, the people of Israel discerned and recognized the Old Testament Canon over a span of about 1,300 years, recognizing various documents and collections as authentic and authoritative: (1) speeches and sayings, (2) individual books, and (3) collections of books. The Old Testament Canon (known as the Tanakh, which includes the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings mentioned by Jesus in Luke 24:44) was fixed around 164 BC.

The New Testament followed a similar path over a span of about 350 years. During the first century, some writings were already recognized (for example, the writings of Paul were recognized by Peter in 2 Peter 3:16). During the second through fourth centuries, lists of books appeared noting sacred writings appropriate for worship and private devotion. In AD 397, at the Council in Carthage, the New Testament Canon was fixed.

Canonicity is a quality of those sacred writings that have divine authenticity and authority. God's people discover this quality; they do not determine it. We recognize the Canon; we do not regulate it. It guides and commands life and ministry (Deuteronomy 31:24-29), and it is our task to read, meditate, and obey (Joshua 1:8-9).

A life well-lived can only happen through wisdom, and wisdom begins by respecting, honoring, and worshiping God. The 66 books of the Christian Bible are the written word of God, discovered and recognized by prayerful believers over centuries and confirmed through use and obedience over the centuries until now. So let us fear God, study his book, and live out the wisdom only he can give.

Sources
Deuteronomy 31:24-29
Joshua 1:8-9
Numbers 21:10-15
Joshua 10:12–14
1 Chronicles 29:26-30
Luke 24:44-49
2 Peter 3:14-18
J. R. McRay. Bible, Canon of. Ed. Elwell, W. A. (2001). In Evangelical dictionary of theology: Second Edition (pp. 155–156). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Inerrancy—True Truth

by Laura Springer, Th.M., Ph.D.

Let’s say you’ve headed out on a driving trip across the country. You have your trusty map-app in hand, stops are all planned out, and the car is packed. All goes well for the first couple of days. On the third day, you arrive at a crossroads and take the one the app says leads to your next stop. You end up on the “shore” of a swamp. This is not on the map. The map says this is a cute bed and breakfast. The map was mostly true. But not today. Truth is important.

Inerrancy refers to the truth of the original transcripts of Scripture. It says that Scripture is true, conforming to reality and speaking the truth in everything it affirms. Scripture is not false. It conforms to reality. It is the true, written word of God. A correct understanding of the truth in Scripture requires proper interpretation, using appropriate bible study methods and assumptions. At a minimum, these tools and assumptions include considering the whole of scripture and approaching the text with the assumption that God’s Word does not contradict itself.

God always speaks truth, so his Word is truth, and he himself is a sufficient basis for the assumption of biblical inerrancy (Hebrews 6:16-18). God never lies (Titus 1:1-2). Scripture follows the same rules that it makes for prophets. The Old Testament set strict criteria for those who spoke for God. First, even if a prediction took place, the person making this prediction was not to be followed if he encouraged listeners to follow other gods (Deuteronomy 13:1-5l). Second, those who spoke for God were to declare only what God himself had said. If what they declared did not occur, the declaration was not from God (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). Just as a prophet of God must always speak that which is proved true, so also Scripture always speaks that which is true. The Scripture claims this truth and authority for itself (2 Timothy 3:14-17).


Our life in Christ is a journey. We have companions and spiritual leaders along the way, but Scripture is the only true and completely trustworthy map. We must put forth every effort to understand this trustworthy map and follow it alongside our brothers and sisters as we journey together to becoming like Christ.

Sources
2 Timothy 3:14-17
Deuteronomy 13:1-5
Deuteronomy 18:20-22
Hebrews 6:16-18
Titus 1:1-2
P. D. Feinberg. Bible, Inerrancy and Infallibility of. Ed. Elwell, W. A. (2001). In Evangelical dictionary of theology: Second Edition (pp. 156–159). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.