II. THE OLD TESTAMENT CANON
A. The thirty-nine books of the Old Testament were accepted as the inspired word of God from ancient times.
1. One important qualification for the books of the O.T. canon is that they were accepted as inspired by people close to the times in which they were written.
a. The inspiration of the O.T. books was recognized early by the Israelites, which is evident by their treatment of these books.
i. The Law of Moses was accepted as God’s Law and was preserved in the ark of the covenant (Deut. 31:9), in the tabernacle, and in the temple.
ii. The O.T. writers recognized the inspiration and authority of each other (Jer. 26:18 cites Mic. 3:12; 2Chron. 36:20-23 refers to Jer. 25:12 and 29:10; Dan. 9:2 cites Jer. 25:11-12; etc.).
iii. All thirty-nine O.T. books were canonized as Scripture and even translated into Greek between the third and first century B.C. (in the Septuagint).
b. Acceptance of the complete O.T. canon is difficult to trace historically because of its age, but historical evidence shows that all O.T. books were generally accepted by 200 B.C.
2. The Israelites accepted the O.T. canon for the same reasons for which it should be accepted today.
a. They recognized that the writers of the Hebrew O.T. canon were genuine, inspired prophets of God. These prophets were authenticated by accurately prophesying future events (Deut. 18:20-22; Jer. 28:15-17). Ancient rabbinical writings and the Jewish historian Josephus (A.D. 37-100) acknowledge this qualification.
b. They also recognized that the individual books of the O.T. were consistent in their themes and doctrines and that they were accurate in such things as history and geography.
3. For Christians, the most important acceptance of the O.T. canon was by Christ Himself.
a. Jesus recognized the three groupings of Scripture that were accepted by the Jews – the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms (Luke 24:44).
i. The Law (Torah) consisted of the five books of Moses (Genesis-Deuteronomy).
ii. The Prophets (Nebhiim) were grouped as "the former prophets” (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings) and "the latter prophets” (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets).
iii. The Psalms were part of the Writings (Kethubhim), which included Proverbs, Job, the Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Esther, and Ecclesiastes, and several historical books (Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah and Chronicles)
b. Jesus, His apostles, and the other inspired writers of the New Testament quoted from the O.T. canon, including the Septuagint (Greek translation).
4. Note that the thirty-nine O.T. books were at one time counted as twenty-four because the twelve minor prophets were counted as one book, the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles were counted as one book apiece, and the books of Ezra and Nehemiah were counted as one book.
B. Another collection of books, known as the Apocrypha, has been rejected from the Old Testament canon.
1. The Apocrypha (Greek for "hidden away”) consists of fifteen books of Jewish origin that are sometimes found with translations of the O.T. and were written during the last two centuries B.C.
a. The Apocrypha includes books of history, wisdom, fiction, and O.T. supplements.
b. These books were included in the Septuagint and were widely read by the first century.
c. The Vulgate (Latin translation of the Bible, A.D. 400) included these books but maintained the distinction between them and the twenty-four books of the Hebrew O.T.
d. The Roman Catholic church accepted most of these books as part of the Scripture (Council of Trent, A.D. 1546). Seven of the books were placed separately in the Catholic O.T., four were incorporated into Daniel and Esther, and three were rejected.
e. These books represent only a portion of the non-biblical Jewish writings from this period.
2. The Apocrypha has been rejected as part of the Bible canon for very good reasons.
a. Jesus, the apostles, and the writers of the New Testament did not accept the Apocrypha as Scripture. No references to the Apocrypha are made in the New Testament.
b. The Apocrypha itself recognizes the O.T. canon of twenty-four books (same as the thirty-nine books) in 2Esdras 14:44-48. It does not include itself as part of Scripture.
c. The Apocrypha actually disclaims inspiration in 1Maccabees 9:27.
d. The Apocrypha contains teachings contrary to the Bible, such as prayers for the dead (2Maccabees 12:45-46) and salvation by works (Tobit 12:9).
e. The Apocrypha contains errors, such as the claim that Nebuchadnezzar was king of the Assyrians in Nineveh (Judith 2:1).
III. THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON
A. The twenty-seven books of the New Testament were accepted by early Christians as apostolic.
1. An apostolic book was either written by an apostle or a close associate of an apostle who had the Holy Spirit. All N.T. books fit this criterion and were immediately recognized as inspired.
2. Shortly after such inspired books and letters were written, they were read publicly (1Thess. 5:27), circulated widely (Col. 4:16; Rev. 1:11), copied into collections (2Pet. 3:15-16), and even quoted in other Scriptures (1Tim. 5:18 quotes Luke 10:7; Jude 17 quotes 2Pet. 3:3).
3. The N.T. writers accepted and endorsed one another as apostolic writers so that their writings stand or fall together. For example, one cannot rightly accept Peter’s writings without accepting Paul’s writings also (2Pet. 3:15-16).
4. Most of the N.T. books were accepted from the beginning (the "Homolegomena”), but some were later disputed for various reasons (the "Antilegomena” – Hebrews, James, 2Peter, 2John, 3John, Jude, Revelation). By A.D. 400, all twenty-seven N.T. books were widely accepted as Scripture.
B. Like the Apocrypha of the Old Testament, there are books and letters that have been rejected as part of Scripture even though they give the appearance of Christian origin.
1. One category of such books is the Pseudepigrapha ("false writings”).
a. This collection contained more than 280 writings that originate mostly from heretics. They were never accepted by early Christians as part of the N.T. canon.
b. The contents of these books often betray their false and uninspired origins, for they contain elements of mysticism, asceticism, and Gnosticism in contradiction to true N.T. doctrine. Some of these books falsely claim to have been written by men such as Thomas, Peter, and James.
2. Another category of such books is the Apocrypha of the New Testament.
a. These books are not the same as the Apocrypha of the O.T. These were written after the time of Christ and were locally or temporarily accepted by some early Christians.
b. Not all of these books are heretical, but they were not inspired by God. Some of them have value as sources of information about the early church and their practices, but they do not have the authority of inspired Scripture and do not belong in the Bible.
IV. CONCLUSION
A. There is much, much more that can be presented on this topic, but this lesson serves to present some simple answers to explain why the books of the Bible were accepted as Scripture while others were rejected.
1. It is important to keep the horse in front of the cart on this issue. Understand that God inspired the books of the Bible, and this is why they are accepted. The acceptance of men does not prove inspiration of the Scriptures, but the evidence in favor of God’s authorship of the Scriptures gives men reason to accept them.
2. Those books that are not supported by convincing evidence do not pass the test for proof of inspiration. This is why they are rejected.
B. This next lesson will address the topic of translations of the Scriptures.
V. POST-SCRIPT APPLICATION: WHEN YOU READ, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND
A. Consider the message of the apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:4 – "By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.”
1. Paul was referring to a previous letter he had written about the mystery of Christ. He went on to explain his ministry and the mystery of Christ in greater detail in verses 5-13.
2. Let us give special attention to the phrase "when you read you can understand.”
a. In the immediate context, this phrase means that the readers of Paul’s letter can have the same level of understanding of the mystery of Christ as Paul had, even though he had the added benefit of direct revelation from Christ and inspiration by the Holy Spirit.
b. In the larger context of the whole New Testament and even the whole Bible, this phrase expresses the concept that we can understand the Scriptures when we make the effort to read them. The message is self-explanatory, but we must be certain to make the correct and complete applications.
B. For certain, the message of Ephesians 3:4 emphasizes the importance of reading, but what exactly are we to read? The correct answer is obvious, but we do not always apply the correct answer.
1. Many times we spend time reading the writings of men and think that we have been sufficiently edified.
a. We may find that commentaries can give us some insight into the Bible, but they can also teach error and unfounded speculation, and they are never a substitute for the unfiltered word of God.
b. Many people look to "inspirational” books, self-help books, and so-called Christian fiction books to increase their faith, but let us beware.
i. Books such as The Prayer of Jabez, the Left Behind series, and The Shack, and authors such as Joel Osteen and Max Lucado have found a massive market of willing readers, but their messages are often hollow, misleading, or downright wrong.
ii. Some parts of these books may be helpful, but they can also plant false ideas that can actually hinder our understanding of the truth. Any book authored by men should be read with a great deal of caution and scrutiny.
iii. Let us recognize that "inspirational” books are not inspired books, and they, like the Apocrypha, need to be regarded as nothing more than the works of fallible men.
2. Of course, the Scriptures commend us to read the Scriptures.
a. In 2Timothy 3:16-17, Paul extolled the Scriptures as the inspired word of God that is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, training in righteousness, and fully equipping the man of God for every good work. It is only by reading the Scriptures that we can be thus profited, for only they contain the powerful, truthful words that have come from God Himself.
b. Regarding the word of God, Paul told the evangelist Timothy, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2Tim. 2:15).
i. As we apply this message to ourselves, we see that reading the Scriptures must be more than a casual effort. We must "be diligent,” meaning that we must exert ourselves in the pursuit of understanding and "accurately handling the word of truth.”
ii. Only by being diligent with the Scriptures can we present ourselves to God as understanding workmen.
C. When we follow the Scriptures’ advice and diligently read the word of God, we are assured by the Scriptures that we can understand God’s message.
1. This is a wonderful promise, for it means that we "may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that (we) may be filled up to all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:18-19).
2. Reading the complete revelation of God’s word gives us privileged insight, for by reading we may understand "things into which angels long to look” (1Pet. 1:12).
3. No wonder Paul told the Ephesian elders, "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). No other book in the world can give us understanding that leads to such blessings as the Bible.
D. Sadly, many people do not understand because they have chosen not to read the Scriptures.
1. It is not as if there is a shortage of Bibles, for nearly every home in the United States possesses at least one Bible, but rather it is that many people simply do not read them.
2. May it not be so with us, but rather let us reject the darkness of ignorance in favor of the light of understanding. "So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17).
3. Diligently read your Bible because "when you read you can understand.” Do not depend on others to lead you to God’s will, but instead find it for yourself. As you do so, have the full confidence of knowing that you will be successful, for it is God who has promised you understanding from His word.
