Transcript Document

Which Books
Belong In The
Bible?
With Emphasis On The NT
Books
1
2
Canon
• In a literal sense the word
means rod, ruler, staff or
measuring rod
3
Gal. 6:16
• And as many as walk according
to this rule, peace be on them,
and mercy, and upon the Israel
of God.
4
Phil. 3:16
• Nevertheless, whereto we have
already attained, let us walk by
the same rule, let us mind the
same thing.
5
Canon
• We are using the word to refer
to a list or index
• With reference to the Bible it
refers to those books regarded
as Holy Scripture – Those 39
books in the OT and 27 books in
the NT
6
Canon
• Do we have all that God
intended for us to have in the
Bible? In the NT?
• Are there other writings that
should be included?
I. Who Decided Which Books
Were To be Included In the NT?
• Paul - NO
• Peter - NO
• The church - NO
• God determined which books
were to be in the NT! --- In the
Bible!
7
1. Who Decided Which Books
Were To be Included In the NT?
• Through means of inspiration,
God long ago determined that a
writing was SCRIPTURE
8
9
2 Pet. 3:15-16
• And account that the longsuffering
of our Lord is salvation; even as our
beloved brother Paul also according
to the wisdom given unto him hath
written unto you; As also in all his
epistles, speaking in them of these
things;
10
• in which are some things hard to
be understood, which they that
are unlearned and unstable
wrest, as they do also the other
scriptures, unto their own
destruction.
11
1 Cor. 12:10
• “discerning of spirits” – gave the
one who had the gift the ability
to discern whether a prophet or
teacher was true or false
• “inspiration recognizing
inspiration”
12
2 Tim. 3:16
• All scripture is given by
inspiration of God,
13
I. Who Decided Which Books
Were To be Included In the NT?
• God determines which books
belong in the NT
• It belongs in the NT because it is
inspired
• Neither men nor the church
determine which books belong
in the Bible
14
• II. Man’s Obligation
Is To Recognize
Which Books
Belong In the NT
1. Was The Book Inspired?
15
• Does its author claim to be
guided by the Holy Spirit
• Luke 1:1
• “Forasmuch as many have taken in
hand to set forth in order a
declaration of those things which
are most surely believed among us,”
16
2 Pet. 3:1-2
• This second epistle, beloved, I now
write unto you; in both which I stir up
your pure minds by way of
remembrance: That ye may be mindful
of the words which were spoken before
by the holy prophets, and of the
commandment of us the apostles of the
Lord and Saviour:
2. Was It Written After The Period
Of Inspiration
• The period of inspiration - A.D.
35-A.D. 100
• Book of Mormon – first
published in 1830
17
3. Does The Teaching Of The Book
Agree With The One Faith?
• Eph. 4:4 “one faith”
• Does it teach something known
to be false?
• Does it promote things that are
unholy, immoral, sensual etc.
18
3. Does The Teaching Of The Book
Agree With The One Faith?
• Gospel of Peter
• This book implies that Jesus did
not really suffer on the cross
19
20
4. Was It Widely Accepted?
• The NT writers encouraged their
writings be read by Christians
21
Col. 4:16
• And when this epistle is read
among you, cause that it be read
also in the church of the
Laodiceans; and that ye likewise
read the epistle from Laodicea.
22
Rev. 1:3
• Blessed is he that readeth, and
they that hear the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things
which are written therein: for
the time is at hand.
23
1 Th. 5:27
• I charge you by the Lord that this
epistle be read unto all the holy
brethren.
24
4. Was It Widely Accepted?
• During the time of inspiration, a
book known to be inspired
would have wide circulation
III. Quotations From Men Who
Lived When The NT Was Written
• “These quotations alone do not
prove the worthiness of the books
being included in the canon.
However, it does prove the early
existence of these books, and that
many of the “fathers” considered
them as inspired.” Tom Bright
25
26
• Application of
Lesson
1. Understanding These Facts Helps27
To Provide Confidence In The Word
God Today
• If we are to make important life
decisions based upon the
Scriptures, we must be
convinced they are from God
and express His will to us
28
2. Helps Us To Defend The Bible
• We must be equipped to defend
the truth and we must be
prepared an willing
3. Will Help Us To Reject Writings 29
Of Men That Don’t Belong in The
Bible
• Are there any “lost books of the
Bible”? - NO
• Should other books be included?
NO
30
2 Pet. 1:3
• According as his divine power
hath given unto us all things that
pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him
that hath called us to glory and
virtue
31
Conclusion
• 1 Pet. 3:15
• “But sanctify the Lord God in
your hearts: and be ready
always to give an answer to
every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is in you
with meekness and fear:”
32
Jude 3
• Beloved, when I gave all diligence to
write unto you of the common
salvation, it was needful for me to
write unto you, and exhort you that
ye should earnestly contend for the
faith which was once delivered unto
the saints.
33
References
•
•
•
•
The Canon of the Bible, Don Walker,
Southwest Lectures, 2011
Who Decided Which New Testament Books
Belong In The Bible? Tom Bright,
Shenandoah Lectures, 1995
The “Canon” of Sacred Scripture, Wayne
Jackson, Christian Courier, Feb. 2004
Biblical Canonicity, Louis Rushmore,
gospelgazette.com