DAY 7 3/7 SOLA
SCRIPTURA- THE MAKING OF THE CANON
I am astonished You are turning to different gospel- which is no gospel at all…But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned.” (Galatians 1:6,7)
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described by this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city.” (Rev. 22:18-19)
Wasn’t the Canon of Scripture affirmed centuries after it was written? Doesn’t the church (or humans or scholars) therefore give scripture its authority?
This was the argument used against Sola Scriptura by the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic church claims that it picked and chose which books would be part of the Bible and which books would not. In about 140 the heretic Marcion came up with a list of what he thought were canonical books. This spurred the church to affirm what was already attested to by orthodox believers. The Gnostics (like Valentinian) too were writing new gospels (Nag Hammadi texts) that were not accepted by the orthodox church because of clearly contradictory teachings. Montanus (c. 160) tried to add new teachings and books. This encouraged the church to note that the age of the Apostles was over and the canon was closed. The basic test of the book in the New Testament was being written by an apostle or apostolic witness (like Luke or Mark), the unity (not contradiction) of the basic message, and the broad approval of the church (East and West). Luther’s test of canonicity was its ability to speak of Christ. Oscar Cullman said, “among the early Christian writings the books which were to form the future canon forced themselves on the Church by their intrinsic apostolic authority, as they do still. Because the Kyrios Christ speaks in them.”
There have always been those who wanted to add to the canon. We have noted the Gnostics. Modern day Gnostics also want to add Nag Hammadi and other Gospels to the Bible. Just because a book is ancient does not make it scripture. Just because we may think we have good teachings to add to scripture does not mean our authority is from God. Joseph Smith wanted to add the Book of Mormon. The apostolic test keeps many out, but the clear contradiction to the themes in both Old and New Testaments keep others. If the book is history but doesn’t add much spirituality (like Maccabees of Thomas) it could be kept out as well.
Calvin has a great answer to the idea that the church approves the Bible (Inst. I.7.2). He said that Paul says that the church is “built upon the foundation of the prophets and apostles.” (Eph. 2:20). Thus, the scriptures and teachings were there before the church began. The Word of God calls forth the church- not the other way around. The Word gives authority to the Church, not the other way around. God’s Spirit inspired the Word whose reading/preaching brings people to Himself. Calvin said, “Thus while the church receives and gives its seal of approval to the Scriptures, it does not thereby render authentic what is otherwise doubtful or controversial.” Much is made that the Council of Nicea in 325 and later councils approved the canon officially. It should be remembered the church could not meet together until it was legal and not persecuted. Church gatherings were illegal until Constantine. At Nicea the church from all corners of the world came together to put in writing what it believed and what it was doing. The Scriptures, were virtually agreed upon before Nicea ever met, but the Church could not come together to say this as it was being persecuted. Calvin also notes that it is the Holy Spirit that gives authority to the Scriptures and unsaved people cannot think rightly about heavenly things. For him the testimony of the Spirit is superior to all rational arguments proving the canonicity or inspiration of Scripture (Inst. I.7.4).
There has been much study on the ancient manuscripts of scripture. The Dead Sea Scrolls confirm the veracity of the text of the canon we now have with no significant changes.
I am astonished You are turning to different gospel- which is no gospel at all…But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned.” (Galatians 1:6,7)
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described by this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city.” (Rev. 22:18-19)
Wasn’t the Canon of Scripture affirmed centuries after it was written? Doesn’t the church (or humans or scholars) therefore give scripture its authority?
This was the argument used against Sola Scriptura by the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic church claims that it picked and chose which books would be part of the Bible and which books would not. In about 140 the heretic Marcion came up with a list of what he thought were canonical books. This spurred the church to affirm what was already attested to by orthodox believers. The Gnostics (like Valentinian) too were writing new gospels (Nag Hammadi texts) that were not accepted by the orthodox church because of clearly contradictory teachings. Montanus (c. 160) tried to add new teachings and books. This encouraged the church to note that the age of the Apostles was over and the canon was closed. The basic test of the book in the New Testament was being written by an apostle or apostolic witness (like Luke or Mark), the unity (not contradiction) of the basic message, and the broad approval of the church (East and West). Luther’s test of canonicity was its ability to speak of Christ. Oscar Cullman said, “among the early Christian writings the books which were to form the future canon forced themselves on the Church by their intrinsic apostolic authority, as they do still. Because the Kyrios Christ speaks in them.”
There have always been those who wanted to add to the canon. We have noted the Gnostics. Modern day Gnostics also want to add Nag Hammadi and other Gospels to the Bible. Just because a book is ancient does not make it scripture. Just because we may think we have good teachings to add to scripture does not mean our authority is from God. Joseph Smith wanted to add the Book of Mormon. The apostolic test keeps many out, but the clear contradiction to the themes in both Old and New Testaments keep others. If the book is history but doesn’t add much spirituality (like Maccabees of Thomas) it could be kept out as well.
Calvin has a great answer to the idea that the church approves the Bible (Inst. I.7.2). He said that Paul says that the church is “built upon the foundation of the prophets and apostles.” (Eph. 2:20). Thus, the scriptures and teachings were there before the church began. The Word of God calls forth the church- not the other way around. The Word gives authority to the Church, not the other way around. God’s Spirit inspired the Word whose reading/preaching brings people to Himself. Calvin said, “Thus while the church receives and gives its seal of approval to the Scriptures, it does not thereby render authentic what is otherwise doubtful or controversial.” Much is made that the Council of Nicea in 325 and later councils approved the canon officially. It should be remembered the church could not meet together until it was legal and not persecuted. Church gatherings were illegal until Constantine. At Nicea the church from all corners of the world came together to put in writing what it believed and what it was doing. The Scriptures, were virtually agreed upon before Nicea ever met, but the Church could not come together to say this as it was being persecuted. Calvin also notes that it is the Holy Spirit that gives authority to the Scriptures and unsaved people cannot think rightly about heavenly things. For him the testimony of the Spirit is superior to all rational arguments proving the canonicity or inspiration of Scripture (Inst. I.7.4).
There has been much study on the ancient manuscripts of scripture. The Dead Sea Scrolls confirm the veracity of the text of the canon we now have with no significant changes.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, thank you that you not only
inspired scripture but illumine it to me.
Thank you that you also, in your providence, protect it, unify it, and
keep it for us. ******************************
Norman L. Geisler and William E. Nix (A General Introduction to the Bible, Moody Press: Chicago, 1986, p. 221),
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