A Biblical Vision, Part I: Mastering the Old Testament Witness to Christ

Sess ion 1: Int roduct ion

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C. Canon of the Scriptures

1. “Canon” = a group of books held by the early church to be spiritually superior and authoritative, seen together as the “rule of faith and practice” (cf. Greek kanon , which designated a carpenter’s rule, possibly borrowed from a Hebrew term, qaneh , referring to a measuring reed six cubits long).

2. Those not acknowledged to be in the canon were deemed to be of secondary authority for faith and use in the Church.

3. Canon views

a. The Hebrew canon: The Hebrew Scriptures = our Old Testament (39 books)

b. Protestant canon: Our Old and New Testaments (66 books)

c. Catholic canon: Our Old and New Testaments, and the Apocrypha (88 books) (note: the Apocrypha are regarded by most as of deuterocanonical status)

4. Canonical processes are not absolutely known for either the Hebrew or Christian canon. What were the standards used?

a. Jewish understanding of their own inspired literature

b. Jesus’ endorsement of the Old Testament (cf. Luke 24.44-49)