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Topic: The Canonization of the Bible
Introduction
When one wholeheartedly begins to seek God and desires to obey His
Word, the question that frequently comes to mind is, "Does
the Bible contain all of God's revelation to man or are there other
books?" Some Bibles have 66 books and others have 7 additional
books, so how does a person know exactly which books make up God's
Word? This study guide will help you investigate and answer suchquestions
which have to do with the canonization of the Bible.
Old Testament
ROMANS 3:1-4 "What advantage then has the Jew..."
1. What are the "oracles of God"?
2. Who was to keep and maintain them?
3. Has God promised that those oracles would be faithfully preserved?
4. What have the Jews done to carefully transcribe the scriptures?
5. Did Jesus assert that the words of the law had still been faithfully
preserved in His lifetime? Read Matthew 5:18.
II TIMOTHY 3:15-17 ...from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures....
6. What was considered scripture when Paul wrote to Timothy?
7. Why were the books of the Bible preserved? Could man learn this
knowledge on his own?
II PETER 1:21 "...for prophecy never came by the will of man,
but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."
8. Who authored the scriptures? Could any man claim inspiration?
New Testament
ACTS 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine
....
1. Jesus' disciples wrote most New Testament books. Why would at
least some of their writings be canonized?
2. Luke was not a disciple. Why would his gospel and Acts be accepted
as scripture? Did he accompany an apostle?
3. Did James and Jude know Jesus well, and, therefore be able to
write authoritatively?
II PETER 3:15-16 "[Paul] has written to you ...some things
hard to understand, which those who are untaught and unstable twist
to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures."
4. Were Paul's writings considered Scripture while Peter was still
alive?
I TIMOTHY 5:18 For the Scripture says... "The laborer is worthy
of his wages."
5. What is the source for Paul's quote?
6. Were the words of Jesus to be preserved? Read Matthew 24:35.
II PETER1:12,15 Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you
always of these things [regarding entering Christ's Kingdom], though
you know them, and are established in the present truth. (15) Moreover
I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these
things after my decease.
7. How could Peter ensure that we would "always have a reminder
of these things" after his death?
8. Was Revelation to be the last book? Read Revelation 22:18-19
and comment.
"Lost Books" and Other Books
II THESSALONIANS 2:1-2 Now, brethren... we ask you, (2) not to be
soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or
by letter, as if from us...
1. Did Paul predict there would be false writings?
2. Why would Paul deem it necessary to often call readers to note
his handwriting?
(I Corinthians 16:21, Galatians 6:11, Colossians 4:18, II Thessalonians
3:17)
3. Other books are mentioned in scripture (Numbers 21:14, II Samuel
1:18, I Kings 11:41, I Chronicles 29:29, II Chronicles 9:29). Why
would these works not be preserved? Consider the purpose of Scripture
when answering.
4. The "lost books of the Bible," or "Pseudepigrapha,"
claim authorship by well-known Bible characters. Why were these
writings not canonized? Was their authorship credible? Do they teach
heresy? Why would they not be universally accepted?
Summary
1. What does God say about the canonization of the Bible? Has He
promised to preserve His Word through the ages? Is God, in the final
analysis, the One who determines what works are canonized?
2. What are some of the beliefs in the world concerning which books
are inspired?
3. Do you believe the Bible contains exactly the right books? List
the criteria you think should be used to determine inspiration.
Reprinted with permission. Published by United Church
of God, an International Association, P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati,
OH 45254-1027. © 2005 United Church of God. This article is
not to be sold. It is a free educational service in the public interest.
www.ucg.org
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